Page 74 of A Rancher's Love
“So you told me,” Luke said dryly.
Well, shit. “I did? I don’t remember that.”
“I think I raved about her at some point in the beginning, and you pretty much told me to take a second look.” Luke looked away. “You’re a smart man, Tucker Stewart. In retrospect, I now know that any time you poke me about something, I should listen.”
It was quite a compliment. “I’m sorry things didn’t work out, but I am damn glad you’re with Kelli. She’s awesome.”
“She’s the best.” He eyed Tucker speculatively. “Now we need to find someone for you.”
Hell, no. Or, more likehell, yes, but Luke wasn’t ready for that revelation yet, and Tucker couldn’t say anything until Ginny agreed.
Luke probably would’ve pushed it and said something else but at that moment, his bobber jumped into action and the two of them had to grab for their lines.
For a while the fish arrived. Every time they dropped a hook into the water, they had a strike, so the relaxing was over and the fishing had begun.
After they’d caught their limit, Tucker got out a fillet knife and cleaned while Luke packed up their gear and loaded it onto the back of the snowmobile.
“I’ve missed having time like this with you,” Luke said. “I really am glad you’re back. No matter how busy things get, we’re going to take time for this kind of shit, yes?”
Tucker didn’t have the heart to draw it out and tease. He agreed whole-heartedly. “Yes, we will do the shit. As much as our— Your wife and our jobs will allow.”
Luke grew quiet for a while. They packaged up a bag of fish to drop off for Tamara, and a bag for Ashton, as well as one for each of them to take home.
Then Luke shocked Tucker by pulling him in for a hug. He pounded him on the back briefly before tilting his head toward the skidoo. “Come on. I’ll give you a ride.”
“Sounds good.”
Tucker slipped into his trailer and grabbed what he needed. Then he sent a message to Ginny to meet him in the old hayloft in half an hour.
He waited for her return message, which thankfully came only minutes later.
Ginny:What are you up to?
Tucker:Come to the barn, and you’ll find out.
15
She’d seen the fishing tent out on the water earlier but had deliberately stayed away. Not only was it good for Tucker to have time away from work with his guys, fishing was not one of her favourite activities.
Figuring out what Tucker was up to now? That hit all of her interest buttons.
She grabbed a couple of important contributions to their meeting and headed out the door, striding through the crisp snow toward her destination.
She passed her brother Caleb headed the opposite way and waved a greeting. “Say hi to Tamara for me.”
“Why don’t you come and join us for dinner?” Caleb asked, pausing in the path.
She thought quickly. “Nope. Thank you for the invite, but I don’t want to stop in too often.”
He chuckled softly. “Ginny, you’re family. You live five minutes away, so stopping in on a regular basis is kind of expected.”
“Good thing I like to do the unexpected then,” she teased. “Seriously, thanks for the invite, and I will have you and everyone over to my place sometime. But not tonight.”
He dipped his chin, began to turn away then paused. “Where are you going?”
“To the barn.”
He frowned. “Ginny.”
