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

be having a good time, watching street performers and eating hot dogs from street carts. I can’t wait to get back to the hotel and spend some time with him, making sure he knows just how much I appreciate him coming here with me.

It’s late when I finally get to leave work. Tucker offered to come get me, but I wanted—no, needed to prove to myself that I was strong enough to be in this city alone and not be scared anymore. This is my final test, and I am up for it.

When I enter the room, I realize just how comfortable I am to be back in this city. I glance around the room and see Tucker is curled up on the bed with his arm behind his neck, watching a baseball game on TV.

I take off my shoes and curl up next to him. “Sorry I’m so late. Did you have a good day?”

He kisses the top of my head. “No biggie. Yeah, it was pretty cool.”

“Did you get lost at all?”

“Nah, I found my way just fine. How about you? Are you hungry?”

“I’m starving. Where should we go?”

“I’ve kind of had enough of the city for one day.” He nods his head. “The room service menu looked pretty good. How about we order in and watch a movie or something?”

I smile up at him. “I’d love that.”

Here we are, in the city that never sleeps, where we could do a thousand different things, yet we’re staying in. Getting to curl up and do the same thing we do almost every night sounds like the perfect way to close out my day. I may love New York but I love this man more.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Justine

The next day is just as crazy with my event planning, and when I arrive back at the hotel, I ask, “How was your day?” as I curl up with Tucker, who’s lying on the bed.

He kisses the top of my head. “I didn’t do much. Just hung out here most of the time.”

“Are you feeling okay?” I ask, taking him in more, seeing that he does look a little flush.

He blows me off. “I’m fine. I toured a lot yesterday and was shocked at how much my feet hurt from it,” he jokes. “I thought I would just take it easy today.”

I contemplate asking him more questions when my phone rings. Hopping off the bed, I grab it off the dresser and smile when I see Kylie’s name flashing across the screen. She’s been out of town and I haven’t got to see her yet.

“Hey you!” I answer, excited to hear from her.

“So, here I am, trying to pop in on my best friend at the hotel she’s staying at, but this place has some strict policy about giving out room numbers of their guests, so my entire plan is out the window,” she says.

I totally envision her throwing her hands in the air in frustration but with her face covered in a shit-eating grin as, I’m sure, she winks at the guy, showing she’s only kidding. That’s so classic Kylie.

“Can you please verify to these people that you do know me and you want me to come up there?”

I laugh at her antics. “We’re in room 310.”

“See, she wants me there, and I just got her room number, so I don’t need you anymore.”

“Ma’am, I’m sorry. It’s our—”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, policy,” I hear her say back.

I can only imagine her saying it, walking away, waving her hand in the air like she’s dismissing the employee.

“Okay,” she says into the phone, “you still have to act surprised, but I’ll be right there.”

“Will do.” I hang up and smile at Tucker.

“Who was that?”

“My best friend, Kylie, is on her way up!”.

“Cool,” Tucker says, sitting up. He takes his time in placing his hands on his knees before standing up.

I want to ask him what’s going on, but Kylie knocks on the door, so I rush to it.

Opening up the door, I’m smiling from ear to ear as she holds her arms out to her sides.

“Surprise!”

“Oh my God, I had no idea you were coming here!” I joke as we rush to embrace each other.

“I’ve missed you.” She hugs me tighter.

“Me too. Come in.” I open the door wide, dying to introduce her to Tucker. “Kylie, this is Tucker.”

He stands, and man, he looks sexier than ever in his jeans that hug him in the right places and a plain, simple white T-shirt. He has his American flag hat on, and I smile at my country boy.

“Now, I get why you’ve stayed in Mason Creek much longer than we all thought,” Kylie says, looking back and forth between him and me.

Tucker chuckles as he reaches out his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Kylie.”

“Nice to meet you too. Thank you for taking such good care of our girl here. Lord knows, she needed a down-home country boy like you. I mean, a country man like you.”

“Come on,” I say as I wrap my arms around Tucker’s waist. “Don’t tease him about being older than me. That’s my job.” I lean up to kiss his cheek.

“Oh, I’m not teasing. I can see every inch of why you’re into him.” She eyes him up and down, and I swear I see Tucker blush. “I’m just kidding.” She laughs. “So, what are you guys up to tonight? Let’s go have dinner together and then go to one of our favorite spots for drinks.”

I turn to Tucker. “Are you down with that?”

“I’m always down.” Tucker winks at me, and I shake my head with a chuckle.

“Come on. I’ll show you my old stomping grounds.”

We head out together to one of my favorite bars that has high-top tables to order some of the best bar food I’ve ever had. The place is crawling with the after-work crowd of men dressed in dress shirts with their sleeves rolled up and women in their best business suits.

Tucker doesn’t give anyone a second