Perfect Song (Mason Creek Book 2) by Lauren Runow (christmas read aloud .txt) 📕

the chance, and I’m thinking I want to see if he can.

When I nod, he grins from ear to ear just as the next song begins. He pushes me out, twirling me around before bringing me closer to him again, and we continue our dance to the faster beat.

We spend the rest of the night hanging out with my friends and dancing on and off. Tucker joins me for a few dances and stays back for other ones. The DJ doesn’t play another round of slow songs, and I’m torn that he doesn’t.

I shouldn’t even be thinking about a man in any shape or form. My world is too upside down. Hell, I don’t even know where I truly live right now. I’m in limbo between cities, between two completely different lives.

As the night comes to an end, we all exit the bar, and Laken nudges me toward Tucker. “You’d better ask him for a ride home.”

I open my eyes wide. “You’re my ride home.”

She laughs as she runs away. “Nope. You’re on your own tonight. Love you.” She giggles as she turns to look over her shoulder with a huge smile on her face.

“So, yeah, she’s leaving me here.” I point to Laken, who’s walking away as Tucker approaches me. “Would you mind giving me a ride home?” I say coquettishly.

His lips tilt up into a sly smile. “You know I’d love to.” He takes my hand in his and leads me toward an older Chevy truck.

“Are you a farm boy at heart?” I ask, tilting my head toward the truck.

“I’ve had this baby since I was sixteen.” He leans into me. “One of the perks of now working as a mechanic. Everything under the hood is brand-new, but the outside is just as I’ve always had it. Plus, it helps carry the equipment for the band.”

“When did you start singing?”

He rubs his jaw. “I guess I started playing guitar around fifteen. I wanted to impress the girls.” I laugh, and he continues, “It wasn’t until about five years ago that I formed the band and got more serious about it. I knew Matthew, my son, was going to need college tuition, and there was no way I could afford it on just my salary. So, I got some guys together, and it kind of took off.”

“Kind of took off?” I ask with a laugh. “Local legend is more than kind of took off,” I repeat the words some of my friends said when I introduced him to them tonight.

“Those were your friends’ words, not mine,” he says modestly as he opens the passenger door.

“I think that’s pretty cool.” I grin as I step inside the truck.

He pauses, meeting my eyes, and I see the appreciation he feels for my words.

After he hops in on his side of the truck, he cranks the engine and backs out of the parking spot. “Where to?”

I give him my parents’ address, and we drive, listening to the radio. Sitting with him is comfortable. I don’t feel the need to talk even though the music is low enough that we easily could. He hums slightly to the song as he drums his fingers on the steering wheel.

In a town so small, we’re only in the car for a few minutes before he’s pulling in front of my childhood home. After placing the truck in park, he jumps out and walks over to my side, opening the door for me.

“Okay, now, you’re just showing off,” I tease him as I exit the truck, standing mere inches from him.

“I told you, I’m a gentleman.”

I place my hand on his chest. “You don’t have to try so hard.”

His large hand covers mine, and I feel the calluses he has from working on cars and playing guitar. Our eyes meet, and the strong pulling sensation we’ve had all night is there more than ever. I instinctively wet my lips as his part, letting out a breath.

After a moment, he grins and says, “See you soon, Justine. I’m glad you came out tonight.”

I inhale a breath and nod. “Yeah, me too.” I remove my hand and head toward my house. “Thank you for the ride.”

“Wait.” He reaches for me and pulls me back toward him. “I haven’t gotten your number yet.”

I hold my palm up, silently asking him to hand me his phone. As I punch in my number, I question what the hell I’m doing, but I do it anyway. His lips tilt slightly to the side when he hears the faint noise of my ringtone coming from my purse. I hand him the phone back.

“Night,” he says, all breathy, sending chills down my spine.

I rub my lips and take a breath in. “Good night, Tucker.”

As I walk up the driveway, I turn to wave good-bye and find him staring at me. Seeing his attention locked on me as I walk away fills me with butterflies, both good and bad.

Feelings like this never work out right. The thought kills the mood instantly.

Chapter Four

Justine

“You were out late last night. Did you have fun?” Mom asks the next morning while we’re sipping on our coffee and sitting on the couch.

“We did. I got to see some people from school. And Tucker was there again.”

“Really? Was it him or Beau who helped you with my tire?”

“It was him.”

She lifts her eyebrows, and I can tell she’s contemplating something with the way she’s taking an extra-long sip, keeping her head straight and staring off into space.

“What is it, Mom?”

“Did you two plan to meet there?”

“He mentioned he might go again, but it’s not like it was a date or anything.”

“Hmm,” she says as she gets up to start cooking breakfast.

“What do you mean, hmm?”

“Nothing. He’s pretty popular around here, is all.”

“Yeah, so?” I stand to follow and help her. She doesn’t need to be the only one cooking every morning.

She sets some eggs on the counter while I pull out a bowl. “He’s a great performer, and I like to