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

out to celebrate us finally getting Just back in Mason Creek. Grab a seat and join us!” she says, pointing to a stool behind us.

Tucker raises his brows to me, making sure it’s okay.

I guess my rudeness before didn’t go unnoticed.

I give him a slight nod, and he grabs the stool, bringing it over to our table and sitting next to me.

“Not playing tonight, Tucker?” Anna asks.

“Nope. Just hanging out,” he responds, and the girls raise their glasses, happy to have him here.

He seems like a nice guy, and if they like him, I should probably do a better job of not being too rude to him. It’s not his fault I have trust issues when it comes to men.

I relax my shoulders and turn to him. “Playing what?”

“Up there.” He points to the empty stage that sits in the back, next to the brick wall. “Tonight, there are tables sitting in front of it, but on a Friday or Saturday night, those tables are moved for people to dance the night away.”

“You’re in a band?” I ask and then take a sip of my beer.

“Only the hottest band around. He plays all over Montana,” Anna chimes in enthusiastically.

“Seriously?” I ask, getting a better look at him.

He’s not what I would expect from someone in a band. I’m guessing he’s in his early forties with very early speckles of gray mixed in his beard. His toned arms are covered in tattoos, and as I lean in, I see he’s got a scar under his right eye.

He sits up straighter on the stool with his legs spread wide. “Why do you seem so surprised?”

By his expression, I can tell he’s kidding with me.

“What’s the name of this band?” I ask, wondering if I’ve heard my mom talk about them before. She’s all about going to the concert series over the summer, and she attends all the festivals in town.

“The Tucker Simms Band,” he says with pride.

I try to hide my chuckle and raise my eyebrows. “You’re Tucker Simms? The lead singer of the country cover band I hear so much about?”

He gives a curt nod, but I can see the cockiness radiating off of him because I’ve previously heard of his name. “Sure am.”

“My mother loves you.” I try to tamp down his ego.

He places his hand to his chest, faking to be hurt. “Ouch. Is that your way of telling me that I’m too old for you?”

I laugh out loud, trying not to be rude again, but having almost no control over my automatic instincts. “Is that what you’re doing here? Trying to hit on me? Let me guess … have you already hooked up with everyone else in town, so I’m fresh meat that you get to stake a claim on because you’re the ‘rock star’ ”—I hold up my fingers, using air quotes—“and everyone knows you get first dibs?”

He leans back a tad and crosses his arms while slowly nodding his head. His expression reminds me of the movie star Josh Duhamel in one of my favorite movies, Safe Haven. He was so sexy in that movie, and the fact that I’m comparing Tucker to him right now kind of shocks me.

“You’re feisty, aren’t you?”

“You have no idea,” Laken chimes in. “But she’s a blast too. We’re all glad she’s back home even if it’s only for a little while.”

I smile her way, feeling bad that I’ve been such a stick in the mud about wanting to hang out. For years, she’s definitely heard me talk about not ever having plans of moving back.

“You suggest not taking it easy on her then?” he asks with a laugh.

She points her bottle at me. “Don’t let her fool you. Under all the city black is still a small-town Mason Creek girl who can dish it like the rest of ’em.”

He nods his head, like things make sense to him now. He leans over and holds out his hand to me. “Then, let me introduce myself properly,” he says, giving a cavalier smile. “Hi. My name is Tucker. I’ve apparently called dibs on you because I’m hot shit around this place, and everyone knows all new women go through me first.” He takes a sip of his beer to hide the laughter he’s holding back. “If you’re good with that, I’d like to have your number, so I can get the process started and check you off my list, so some other poor schmuck can get his turn.” His tone is dripping with sarcasm.

“Don’t you mean, notch in your bedpost?” I say, thinking he’s kidding but not willing to back down even if it’s less of a fight and more of me releasing some of my inner frustration, making me feel alive again.

“Hey, if that’s what it’s got to be, then I’m all game. As long as you feel welcomed back here in Mason Creek, then I’m your huckleberry.” He holds his hands out wide with a cheesy grin on his face as he quotes the famous line from the movie Tombstone.

“Wow, ancient movie references too. You’re old, aren’t you?”

He narrows his eyes slightly. “Old only means more experienced in my book.”

“Amen,” Laken cheers, and Leni laughs and clinks drinks with her.

Anna reaches over and slaps Tucker on the arm. “Stop messing with my friend.” She scowls at him and then looks in my direction. “That is far from what Tucker is doing here. He and Beau have worked together for a few years now. Believe me, he’s not the type of guy looking to take anyone home just for a notch in his bedpost.”

Tucker grins as he winks at Anna, acknowledging that she just stated the truth.

“Are you saying I got your rock star in a bar vibe all wrong?” I ask.

He sits up straighter. “Looks like you made a bad assumption.”

I turn to face him more. “You’re the one who went all cocky on me and said you were in the hottest band around.”

“Nope. Anna said that. But she wasn’t