Page 114 of Untamed

The half bath on the main floor is a bust. So is the hall bath upstairs.

I can still hear Birdie sobbing downstairs, so I pick up the pace, racing into Brooke’s bedroom and flinging open the door to the attached bath.

Which is already occupied.

“Oh my God.” I slam both hands over my eyes, knowing full well that’s going to do absolutely nothing to erase the image etched in my brain. “Sorry.” I spin away, curving my palms so my peripheral vision is blocked—just in case anyone rushes out after me—all but running for the stairs.

I reach the main floor and Tucker gives me a questioning look. “Did you find any?”

“No. We should just take her home.” My face is on fire. “I’ll go tell everyone goodbye.”

Well. Not everyone. Some people are otherwise occupied.

I go into the pool room where the festivities are being held and give Brooke and Tobias quick hugs, promising to bring Birdie over to swim when she’s feeling better. I say goodbye to Mariah and Titus, giving Walker a wave as I pass. After giving Tucker’s dad Ted a tight squeeze, I dart back inside, finding Tucker ready to go and Birdie cleaned up but still crying.

Deidre gives her a kiss on the forehead, rubbing a hand over her back as my daughter wipes a trail of snot over the shoulder of Tucker’s suit.

It’s so nice to have someone else helping juggle these moments. Someone to ease the burden of always being the caretaker and the only one my daughter can turn to.

But I really wish he’d been the one to look for the Band-Aids.

I give Deidre a quick hug and follow Tucker out to the side-by-side. By the time we get home, Birdie has fallen sound asleep, and I carefully carry her upstairs to her room.

Since we’ve been back, Tucker has not only reassembled her bed, but he’s also repainted the room and added a new light fixture and gorgeous built-ins. He also found a room-sized illuminating lantern similar to the small one she loves so much. As I tuck her in, he switches it on, sending soothing shapes of light circling the room as soft music plays.

I take one last look at her before quietly closing the door and backing out into the hall. But I don’t make it far. Barely a half a step out, my back bumps into the solid wall of Tucker’s chest.

I turn, angling a brow at him in question.

“What kind of a wedding do you want?” His question is low, and carries a level of seriousness I don’t often see from him.

“I don’t know.” It’s an honest answer. “I never thought I would get married.”

It’s probably why I enjoy weddings so much. I’ve believed it was as close as I would get to experiencing an event that felt so out of reach.

A slow smile curves Tucker’s lips. “Me either, but here we are.”

“Is this your way of proposing to me?” I scrunch my face up. “Because I’ve gotta admit, it leaves a little bit to be desired.”

“When I propose to you, you’ll know it.” He reaches out, taking my hand and using the hold to tug me close. “And I promise not to propose to you the way Titus proposed to Mariah.” He smirks. “Either time.”

“Titus proposed to Mariah twice?” I haven’t heard this story, and now I’m curious.

“He did.” One of Tucker’s hands slides up my spine, pressing me closer. “The first time when they were fully engaged in a physical encounter, and the second time he handed her the bag from the jeweler and said it was for her.”

That’s… Actually kind of cute. “Sounds like he was trying to work with his strengths and posed the question in moments she’d be most likely to agree.”

Tucker’s brows lift. “I never thought of it that way.” He gives me a devilish grin. “Can I interest you in a trip to the bedroom?”

Normally I would say yes. Actually, I’d probably already be halfway down the hall with most of my clothes off.

But this is not a normal day, and thinking aboutsex of any sort only sears the sight I witnessed earlier deeper into my brain, killing any sort of arousal I try to muster up.

Tucker must see my hesitation, because his grin softens to a smile. “You can always tell me no, Ruthless. I’m only interested if you’re interested.”

“It’s not that I’m not interested.” There’s nothing I would love more than to take full advantage of my daughter’s naptime and the romantic feelings a wedding always brings on.

I just can’t. And it’s frustrating as hell.

So frustrating, I end up blurting out the reason my afternoon delight is ruined.

“I walked in on Maren and Trevor having sex in Brooke’s bathroom.”