Chapter Eight

When Susie Met Tucker

Tucker

Swirling his iced water for the umpteenth time, Tucker’s stare burned into the side of Ella. He watched as her delicate palm enveloped her mother’s hand again, unease rising at what he could see of her animated expression. His little girl had certainly been lively during the discussion, but he was alarmed to note she’d scarcely turned around to acknowledge him during that time.

What does that mean?

“Nothing,” he muttered to himself. “It doesn’t mean anything.”

“Can I get you something else, sir?” The curvy brunette waitress hovered by his side, surveying his half-drunk bottled water.

“No, thank you.” He dismissed her with a flick of his wrist. “I’ll be joining a table over there shortly.”

He motioned to the place Ella was sitting, though he wasn’t sure why he’d divulged the information. It hardly mattered to the server where he sat since the place was so quiet, she was basically serving every table.

“I can bring you something to that table if you prefer, sir?” Her glance traveled to Ella and Susie before sliding back to him.

“No,” he snapped, having apparently not made himself clear the first time. “Thank you.”

She nodded at his rebuttal, backing slowly away before she turned on her heel, but as far as Tucker was concerned, she was already forgotten.

Lifting the glass to his lips, he sipped the cold water, wishing the power of his gaze alone could compel Ella to glance his way. He’d noticed the way she and her mother had ordered champagne, and while he didn’t begrudge her the expense, he hadn’t necessarily expected such an extravagance.

Why am I surprised? He bit back on his smile. That’s my little girl.

Based on everything Ella had told him about herself, indulgence was one of the things she did best.

His concentration drilled into the interaction between the two women.

What are they talking about?

His brow furrowed as he tried to imagine the topic of conversation. He was sure they were talking about what had happened since Bennett had left her in the forest, but what did that conversation sound like?

Was Ella telling her mother about him, and if so, what was she saying?

His hand tightened around his glass as his sense of impotency burgeoned. He had to get over there and find out what was being said. He could no longer tolerate passivity. It was time he stepped up and introduced himself.

Draining the rest of his drink, he slammed the glass back on the table, hoping to elicit Ella’s attention, but the cloth, coupled with the droning music that Osbourne’s was piping out, meant it failed to be effective. She didn’t glance his way.

“Fuck this.”

He slid from his chair and rose from his table before striding around the edge of the dining room. His pace slowed as he neared Ella’s table, his ears straining to make out any of their conversation.

“Don’t worry.” Ella’s alluring tone captured his focus. “I have no plans to get pregnant.”

Pregnant?

His brow rose. He should bloody hope not, although there had been multiple times they’d had sex without protection when they’d been at the cabin and first arrived at his apartment.

Shit.

He paused, fleetingly struck by his stupidity. What had he been thinking, screwing her without a condom? His throat dried as the answer flitted through his brain.

I was thinking with my dick.

“That’s the last thing I’d want.” Ella’s amused voice filtered through his internal monologue, drawing his gaze back to her.

“I’m glad to hear it.” Her mother’s fingertips grazed the back of her daughter’s hand. “Whoever this guy is, I’ll need to meet him before I can give anything akin to my blessing.”

“Right.” Ella laughed. “Well, that’s easy to resolve, Mum.” She fidgeted in her place, then, as though she finally sensed the intensity of Tucker’s stare, she turned around to meet his gaze. “As it turns out, he wants to meet you, too.”

“Ella?” Susie’s brow creased as her gaze moved between her daughter and Tucker. “Who’s this?”

He flashed the women his most devastating smile while he waited for his little girl to make the introductions.

“Mum.” Ella rose, gesturing to Tucker. “This is Tucker.”

“You’re Tucker!” Susie’s eyes were as large as saucers as she took him in. “You’re the guy who took her to his cabin in the woods?”

“I’m Tucker Bowman, Ms. Bennett.” He thrust his palm in her direction. “It’s lovely to meet you.”

“My name is Bradshaw.” Disgust echoed in her tone as she surveyed his hand with suspicion. “I’ve never been a Bennett!”

“Apologies.” He removed his hand, jarred to have been spurned by a woman he didn’t even know, yet understanding her distrust. Ella had just spent the last hour telling her mother about what had happened to her, and now the man at the center of the ordeal had come to join them.

“Tucker, why don’t you join us?” Ella shifted to the seat on her left, and he gratefully took her place.

“What are you doing here?” Susie sneered. “I’ve come to talk to my daughter. Not you.”

“And you have spoken to your daughter.” He knew that much for sure, having been observing them. “But Ella and I thought it would be a good opportunity for me to meet you as well.”

“I’ve barely even wrapped my head around what’s happened to Ella, Mr. Bowman.” Susie pulled in a breath. “The last thing I need is you in the mix!”

“Mum.” Ella barked. “That’s enough. We’re here to talk, so please stop being so rude.”

“Rude?” Susie looked utterly stunned at her daughter’s criticism. “Ella, I’m just looking after you.”

“Thank you.” Ella sighed. “I love you, you know that, but I’m not your baby anymore.”

A tense hush settled between them as Susie processed Ella’s words. Tucker squeezed his little girl’s hand, hoping the small act would give her strength during the silence.

“So, what are you saying?” There was a trace of petulance in Susie’s voice. He recognized it from Ella’s occasional outbursts. “It’s him or me, and you’re choosing him?”

“Mum!” Exasperation radiated from Ella. “I never mentioned an ultimatum. I’m not choosing between you.”

“But that’s what you mean, isn’t it?” Blinking back tears, Susie’s fingers stiffened around her flute.

“No, Ms. Bradshaw.” Tucker had listened for long enough. “Ella’s missed you. She’s frantic to have you back in her life, and I support her in that wholeheartedly.”

“So, you speak for her now?” Susie’s jaw tightened.

“I can’t believe you’re being like this, Mum.” Ella stole her hand away and leaned forward on the table. “We only want to talk. Tucker’s being reasonable. Why can’t you?”

“Fine.” Susie folded her arms across her chest and heaved in a breath. “What do you want to talk about?”

“Your beautiful daughter.” Tucker smiled as he met Ella’s gaze. “And what we can do to help her be happy.”

“You’re old enough to be her father.” Susie’s breaths sped up as her gaze narrowed. “You know that, don’t you?”

“Mother!” Ella smashed her fist down on the table. “That’s enough!”

“It’s the truth!” Susie flustered as she turned to her daughter. “He’s too old for you, sweetie. I’m not afraid to be honest with you.”

“Ella is well aware of my age, Ms. Bradshaw,” Tucker persisted. “We’ve both tried to be as open with each other as possible.”

“Very laudable, I’m sure,” Susie muttered.

“I’d like you to get to know Tucker, Mum.” Ella shook her head, pulling in air as though she was running out of patience. “But if you’re not interested, then we’re wasting our time.” She placed her napkin on the table and rose to her feet.

“Ella.” Panic rebounded in Susie’s tone. “Don’t go!”

“I think this has all been a shock for your mother, Ella.” Tucker’s voice was soothing. “Why don’t we give her a chance to process what you’ve told her.”

Ella’s almond, green eyes speared him. “I’m not interested in her rudeness.”

Meeting her gaze, there was a moment of stillness where only the beating of his heart interrupted the intensity of their stares. In those protracted seconds, he wondered if she could read the meaning of his look.

Watch your tone, little girl.

“I’m sorry if I was rude.” Susie let out a breath, her arms falling to her sides. “Do stay, sweetie. I’d like to work this out with you and Tucker.”

Susie’s attention flitted to him, and if he wasn’t mistaken, he thought he saw gratitude in her eyes.

“Okay.” Ella fell back to her chair. “Let’s talk.”

***

Ella

“I can’t believe we never met back in the day!” Susie chuckled as Tucker emptied the last of the champagne into her flute.

“I agree.” Tucker offered Susie a broad smile as he turned to her. “Would you like another drink, Ella?”

“No, thank you.” She pushed her glass away and reached for her water. “I’ve had enough.”

Her attention glided to her flushed-faced mother, her head pounding. With the help of two-thirds of a bottle of bubbly, Susie had morphed from an antagonistic foe to a giggling schoolgirl. In fact, if she didn’t know better, she could have sworn her mum was actually flirting with Tucker! Her batting eyelashes and the way she insisted on touching his hand as she laughed at his latest joke were starting to grate.

Ella couldn’t decide which version of her mother she disliked the most.

This is not how I saw this going. Her brows knitted as she watched her mum guffaw at yet another one of Tucker’s polite quips.

Ella had to hand it to Tucker. He’d certainly turned on his charm since he’d sat down and was well on his way to winning her mother around. At one point, she’d been certain the two of them would have to leave Susie to it, yet there they were, only half an hour or so later, getting on like wildfire.

“How on Earth did a woman as sophisticated as you end up with Alexander Bennett?” Tucker shook his head.

It was a question Ella had asked herself many times since her so-called father had come into her life.

“Well.” Susie shrugged, her inane giggle reverberating around the table again. “What can I say? I was young and stupid.” Her gaze shifted to her daughter as if there was a parallel between them, but it darted back to Tucker as he responded.

“We’ve all been there.” He grinned, sipping his iced water. “But at least you recognized your mistake and got rid of the loser.”

“Yes.” Susie sighed. “Until I welcomed him back for what I thought was Ella’s sake.”

“That was years later, Mum.” Ella’s concentration slid between the two of them.

“Yes,” Susie agreed. “But look where that got us. If he’d never come back into your life, then he couldn’t have offered you to Tucker as collateral.” She screwed up her face as though she couldn’t believe how disgusting her ex-lover was.

Ella was inclined to concur.

“We can’t change what’s done.” The last couple of weeks had reinforced that lesson for Ella repeatedly. “I don’t blame you, Mum. You must know that.”

“I blame myself.” Susie blinked away tears. “It’s a mum thing, Ella. You won’t understand unless you have kids of your own.”

“Well, don’t.” Ella reached for Susie’s hand.

“Exactly.” Tucker placed down his glass. “If anyone here is to blame, it’s me.”

“No regrets.” Ella turned to meet his knowing blue gaze. “We’re all where we are for a reason.”

“Very wise.” His lips curled, and though he never articulated them, she swore she heard his voice offering the final two words in her head.

Very wise, little girl.

“What did you think of Alexander when you were younger, Tucker?” As if she sensed the unspoken energy between them, Susie seemed keen to steer the conversation back to Ella’s father.

“I suppose I would have called him a friend.” His expression hardened as he glanced Susie’s way. “But looking back, I’d have been wrong. I believe we used each other for what we wanted, but we never shared a friendship.”

“The man I knew wasn’t one for friendship.” Susie’s half-smile faded at the memory.

“No.” It was Tucker’s turn to exhale. “He was symptomatic of the sort of lowlife I associated with back then. I’ll be honest, it’s not a chapter of my life I’m especially proud of.”

“It takes maturity to admit that.” Susie sipped her water, her focus traveling between them.

“I’ve had plenty of time to grow up since then,” Tucker smirked.

“What other lowlifes did you know?” Susie traced a fingertip over her condensed glass. “I probably knew them, too.”

“Too many to mention.” Tucker reached for the bottle of water and unscrewed the lid. “Bennett was at the center of a lot of unsavory groups. Sadly, that’s how we came to know each other.”

“Why, sadly?” Ella couldn’t recall Tucker telling her about how he and her father had first met.

Tucker glanced in her direction, the newfound ferocity burning in his eyes spiking her heart rate.

Had she crossed an unspoken line in the proverbial sand? He hadn’t mentioned that she should avoid such a query.

“Let’s just say the mutual friends Bennett and I shared were architects of the saddest times in my life.” He refilled his glass before offering Susie and Ella a top-up.

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Susie offered a small smile as she accepted her refreshed glass of water.

“Me, too.” Staring into Tucker’s gaze, she was reminded of his sorrowful expression when he’d told her about his mother being shot. Was that what he referred to now? “We understand if you don’t want to talk about those times.”

“It’s okay.” His hand moved to envelop hers. “I’m here to be open and honest with you and your lovely mother.”

“Are you sure?” Sir. The final word was perched on the edge of her lips, yet somehow, she held it back. She couldn’t imagine trying to explain the complicated power dynamic between her and Tucker to her already overwhelmed mother. There were times Ella could barely understand it herself.

“I’m sure.” His palm glided to squeeze her fingertips before trailing invisible lines over them. “Ask away.”

“Is this about your mum?” Ella tensed as she asked, conscious of what a justifiably sensitive subject his mother’s passing was. All she knew so far was that his mother had been shot, but looking into his eyes, she couldn’t help but wonder if her demise had something to do with those alleged ‘friends’ Tucker and Alexander had shared.

“That’s right.” His fingertips hesitated over hers.

“Was her passing linked to these so-called mutual friends you shared with Alexander?” Ella’s heart hammered faster as she sensed she edged closer to the truth.

“It was.” His gaze softened as his attention darted to his glass.

“Your mother’s dead?” Susie frowned.

“I’m afraid so.” Tucker dragged his gaze to meet Susie’s. “She was shot by Joel Kenner.”

Part Two

Recognition