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

“Um, I have no idea what that means.” I laugh, feeling a little dumb that he’s seemingly speaking a foreign language to me when it comes to cars.

He grins, as if he’s trying to comfort me, like it’s okay for me to not know what he’s saying.

“Basically, that means I can’t change the tire.” He walks to where he laid the tire and puts it back in the trunk. “I’ll tell you what. Why don’t I hook the car up to the tow truck and get it to the shop? That way, I can get a lock we have there and put a real tire on for you guys instead of dealing with that spare.”

“Okay. So, should I just call someone to get me?” I hold up my phone, shaking it in question.

“Nah, hop in the truck. You can keep me company.” He leans into me. “Also, I know your dad is at work, and with this being your mom’s car, who are you going to call?”

I laugh, remembering how I wondered the same thing when I first got the flat.

I pause and question for a second if I should hop in the truck with this man, and then I remember I’m in Mason Creek. I can guarantee five people have already passed by and saw me sitting here, talking to him. Besides, if there were anyone bad in this town, he would not be welcome. Period. And I know this guy is more than welcome; he’s loved by many because of his music.

I shrug my acceptance. “Sure.”

He heads toward his passenger door and opens it for me. As I walk by before hopping in, the scent of a woodsy man hits my nose. I try to block it out, not letting any ideas about this man get in my head. After what I’ve been through, it will be a while before I allow anyone new into my life.

Besides, he’s way too old for me, and the last thing I want right now is a relationship, especially with someone in Mason Creek.

He smiles politely as he shuts the door and walks around the truck to his side. After he jumps in, he cranks the engine to line it up properly.

“Hang out here. It will only take a second,” he says as he throws it in park and climbs out.

I watch in the rearview mirror as he works with ease. While he moves around the vehicle, I catch myself checking him out way more than I should.

Snapping myself out of it, I grab my phone and open up my email to see if I have any work stuff I’ve missed. While I’m typing away, replying to an email, he opens the door and hops back in.

“You ready to go for a ride?” he asks as he puts his seat belt on.

My head instantly goes to thinking, On you?

But I blink the thought away, wondering where the hell that came from.

I reach for my own seat belt, hiding the flush that crossed my face.

Why am I even thinking like this right now?

He cranks the engine, and once the truck is put in gear, he pulls forward and back onto the road.

The radio is turned to a country station, and as he hums along to the beat while drumming his thumbs on the steering wheel, I’m put even more at ease. He’s such a laid-back guy. It’s refreshing. Guys aren’t like this in New York. They all seem to have an agenda of either a place to be or how fast they can get your pants off.

Tucker doesn’t seem like that kind of guy. He’s definitely got the small-town charm and old-school manners.

The song ends, and as a commercial comes on, he turns to me. “So, how was your day going before you got the flat?”

“Pretty uneventful. Just had to go to the post office to submit the temporary change of address.”

He glances my way when we come to a Stop sign. “So, you don’t plan on staying?”

I shrug. “There’s a lot of moving factors, so not quite sure yet.”

He takes my answer with a nod as he pulls into the Bumps and Dents’ parking lot.

I exit the passenger seat as he gets my mom’s car unhooked and into the garage.

“Hey, Justine!” a guy calls my name.

I turn to see he’s heading my way.

“I’m Beau, Anna’s husband.”

“Yes, I remember you from high school. I saw pictures of your little boy. What a cutie.”

“Thanks. He’s a handful, for sure. I heard you guys hung out with Tucker last night, but what’s going on now?”

“She had a flat, and they didn’t have the lock for the lug nuts, so I had to bring her back to the shop,” Tucker clarifies, leaving no room for misinterpretation as he lines my mom’s car on the lift.

I nod in agreement. “Tucker to the rescue.”

“Well, it’s nice to see you again.” Beau waves as he gets back to the car he was working on.

I see there’s a waiting room, so I point to it. “Should I go in there and wait?”

“Nah, hang out with me,” he says as he grabs the lug nut lock from the wall. “How late did you girls end up staying last night?”

“Not too much longer after you left. Anna and Leni knew they’d have to get up early with their kiddos. It’s so crazy to think they have kids now.”

“You don’t want kids?”

I pause and think about it. Of course, I’ve always wanted kids, but living in New York didn’t really make it a priority. While I was dating Jimmy, we never even discussed it.

I turn to him and say honestly, “I guess I thought I still had plenty of time.”

“And you do,” he says as he hits the button to lift the car up so it’s eye-level. “So, you grew up with Anna?”

“Yes, and no. She is a few years younger than us. In school, we had art together my senior year,