Page 46 of Here's to Yesterday

“I say end of story. I’ll cut my losses. Deal? Deal,” I tell her firmly as I stack bowls onto a tray and carry themoutside.

The kids, and Perry, come running over immediately to get their hands on the sugar-fest I’m currentlyholding.

It doesn’t take long for me to feel Tucker’s eyes on me. Since he’s so good at reading me, I’m sure he can sense my irritatedmood.

When I finish handing out the last of the bowls, I deposit the tray onto the small table that’s outside. Making my way over to Tucker, because that’s where I’m starting to feel most comfortable, I ignore the pointed stare I’m getting fromRae.

“You good?” he asks as I sit down next tohim.

“Hmm.”

He chuckles softly, and I can see that beautiful smile of his out of the corner of my eye. “Yep. You’re good. Sassy asusual.”

“Sassy? Never heard that one before. Shy, meek maybe, but not sassy. I likeit.”

Tucker leans over and says, “Me too, Maura. Metoo.”

I smile softly atthat.

“You should do that moreoften.”

“Do what?” Iask.

“Smile like that. It’s cute,” he responds, getting up to go grab dessert fromRae.

Did Tucker call me cute?No, no way.He called yoursmilecute, Maura. Not you.But still. It should kind of count.Right?

Screw it. I’m countingit.

I’m not going to think about how I shouldn’t. I’m not going to think about what his compliments mean to me. And I am definitely not going to think about how he accepts me as I am, never pushingme.

I’m not. I won’t. Ican’t.

“He’s right,” Gaige says in a low voice, pulling me from my thoughts and taking Tucker’s seat. “You’ve got a great smile. Or should I say your smile for him isgreat.”

I want to glare at Gaige for being so nosey, but instead I ignore him and refuse to peek over in hisdirection.

He doesn’t wait for a response, because he knows he’s not gettingone.

“You’re different with him. You even sit differently when he’s around. You’re not as stiff. I think he may be good foryou.”

“You know, I always thought you were just the quiet handsomeone.”

“Yeah? What the hell do you think I’m doing when I’m so quiet? I’m a watcher, Maura,” he tells me. I don’t have to look over to know the type of grin he’swearing.

“And apervert.”

“Sometimes.”

I laugh lightly at that. Gaige is…different. He’s beautiful, sure, but he’s also quiet. So quiet that he usually doesn’t say anything until about ten minutes into one of our little group gatherings. His silence is captivating, makes a person curious. Plus, he has this vibe about him that makes anyone within a five mile radius fall in love with him. That’s never good for a heart. And I have a feeling he’s broken a lot of them along the way. He’slethal.

“In all seriousness, I like the person you are when he’s around. You finally seem to be moreyourself.”

Stupid, observant, handsomeasshole.

“I feel it,” I admitquietly.

I catch his head nod out of myperipheral.

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