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

When I told Tucker I was going back, I was surprised by his reaction. I told him he didn’t have to come, but he refused to let me come back to New York for the first time alone.

The way he said he was my man and my protector made me melt in his arms. Knowing I had someone who would never run away and leave me alone was the exact comfort I needed to step back into the city I’d once loved.

As we exit the cab from JFK Airport, all the familiar sights and sounds hit me like a bucket of cold water. The streets are surrounded with people and noises of busses braking to let new passengers in as cabs swerve around them with mere inches in between. It’s such a stark difference to how I’ve been living this past month.

I got used to the quiet streets of Mason Creek, and I laugh to myself at just how different two worlds can be.

I look over to Tucker, who’s staring wide-eyed at everything. He said he’s never been to a bigger city than Billings, and believe me, New York City is nothing like there, especially when you’re standing in the middle of Manhattan.

Cars race by us while a guy on a bike nearly hits the cab, only moving at the last second. Horns blare as people are cut off, and the construction on the building next to us rattles our ears like a bad trombone.

We enter the lobby of Park Central Hotel, which is old-school New York with the slate stone facade on the outside and nothing but opulence on the inside.

“Whoa,” Tucker says as he looks around.

“You’re definitely not in Montana anymore,” I tease as we check in before heading up to our room.

Tucker opens the door for me and steps back, so I can enter first. I set my stuff down on the bed as Tucker walks through the room with our suitcase.

“This is a nice room. Look, we have a view of Central Park.” I open up the curtain.

Tucker comes up behind me, placing his hands on my hips, and pulls me back to him. “I like the view I have right here more.”

I lean my head back on him and rest there, in the comfort of his arms.

He flips me around, so I’m facing him. “You know, the best part of a hotel is hotel sex.”

He kisses me, and I melt into his lips, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him into me more. He walks us back to the bed, and right when we fall against it, my phone goes off.

I sigh as I look into Tucker’s eyes as he lies on top of me. “Sorry, I have to get that. I’m here for work, and they knew when my plane landed. I’m surprised it didn’t go off before now.”

His beard tickles my neck with the kisses he’s giving me before he rolls over with a sigh and adjusts the growing erection in his jeans. “Fine, I guess the amazing sex we were about to have can wait.”

I laugh and hop up to get my phone to see Susan calling. “Hey, Susan.”

“Oh good. You’ve landed.”

“Yep, we just got to our hotel room.”

We go over the plan for the day and our schedule for while I’m here. I glance at Tucker, feeling bad that I have so much to do.

After I end the phone call, I head over to where he is and lie beside him, wrapping my arm around him. “I’m so sorry I can’t hang out with you more.”

He tilts his head down to see me better. “It’s all good. I’m a big boy. I can tour a city on my own.”

I laugh because he’s totally right. He’s been Mr. Independent, and I’m sure he can navigate his way through the mean streets of New York.

We make a game plan of things I think he should do, and he walks me to my work. As he stares up at the huge building, I laugh at his expression.

“You really used to come here every day for work?” he asks in disbelief.

The building was originally built in 1928, but they retrofitted the top portion to be the most innovative glass-and-steel design you’ve ever seen.

“Sure did. Do you want to come inside and meet everyone?”

He glances down at his plaid shirt and his jeans with a belt buckle and then over to all of the people dressed in suits and work attire. “Nah, I’m good. You go do your thing. Call me whenever you have a break.”

I stand on my tiptoes to give him a kiss. “I will. Have fun.”

“You too.”

I head toward the building as he walks away, looking like a fish out of water. Knowing he would put himself in this situation, where I know he feels he doesn’t fit in, just for me fills me with both happiness and guilt. I love that he’s here and just hope he has a good time.

Everyone is excited to see me back in the office, and I have to explain to a ton of people where I’ve been—leaving out the reason why I’ve been gone, of course. Thankfully, they all seem to accept my working away from here and don’t push too much, which helps me in feeling more secure about being back here.

My day is spent jumping from one task to another. We tour the venue and work with the set designers on where the cameras will go in conjunction with the stage and the tables. Tickets are already being sold to the event, and major sponsors are securing their table seating.

In total, we have three other acts performing a couple of songs each with Adam and Sarah being the headliners at the end. With all of the buzz around them right now, this couldn’t be a more fitting time for them to join us.

I check in with Tucker while I stuff food in my mouth, and he seems to