Page 65 of Some Like It Hot
“They’re also going to count the recovery time in the hospital as time served, so…it looks like he’ll be released when he’s discharged.”
“Oh, Stevie, that’s fantastic.”
She reached for a napkin. Pressed it to her lips, her eyes glossy. Nodded.
He touched his hand on the small of her back. And then, she sweetly leaned over and put her head on his shoulder. Needing him, apparently.
He liked being needed.
“Sorry to interrupt…”
She leaned away, and Tucker looked over to find Jed standing beside him. His boss had shown up two days ago, having heard of the firestorm in Montana, and hustled himself, Reuben and Gilly back as soon as he could to help.
“How’s Kate?”
“Still pregnant. False alarm. She’s got three weeks left, and the baby is fine. First baby jitters.” Jed gave a wry smile. “Sorry to leave you with such a mess.”
The fact that he’d let a tiny ten-acre fire take out miles of forest.Don’t do anything stupid—Jed’s last words to him.
Yeah, well…
“I’ve been pretty busy with mop-up, but I wanted to thank you for keeping your promise.”
Tucker frowned, glanced at Stevie, who was devouring another rib.
“You got everybody home alive.”
Oh. That. “I’m not sure that was all me—a lot went wrong out there.”
“There are no guarantees in this gig, Tucker. You can follow all the rules, and things will still go south. But you have great instincts. A great leader has to know when to break the rules. You just need to keep the faith that God still has your back when you do.”
Yeah. And pursing him with goodness and mercy. That thought had started to settle into his bones with Stevie sitting close enough for him to pull into his arms, with his team joking behind him, the sense of victory in the air.
Everyone lived.
The fire was out.
Although yes, God had lit something else inside him.
Faith.
“Listen,” Jed said. “When Kate has our baby, I’m going to take some time, and I was hoping you’d consider taking on the role of Jump Boss for the rest of the season. Maybe…maybe even permanently.”
Tucker stared at him.
“Yeah, he will,” Stevie said, wiping her fingers with a napkin. “He’d love to.”
Tucker turned to her, but she was grinning at him. “No one fights fire like you do, Tucker. I saw you in action. You do have great instincts. But you also know how to handle yourself, and these guys—they trust you. You’d die for them, and that means something. You are a great leader—so just suck it up and say yes.”
Oh. Well. He turned to Jed, who wore just a hint of confusion as he glanced at Stevie.
“Okay,” Tucker said.
Jed shook his hand. “Good. Because I really didn’t want to have to ask Riley.” He winked and glanced down the bar where Riley was, of course, entwined in the arms of a blonde. Whatever had gone down between Larke and Riley had changed the guy.
Turned him into a man who probably could helm the team.
Jed walked away, and Tucker’s gaze landed on Skye on the dance floor, her arms around the neck of the guy who’d saved Tucker’s life. The man he’d thought most likely to commit a crime, with his tattoos and dark-eyed look. Rio Parker, the guy most likely to surprise them all.