Read Online Tucker (The Family Simon) by Juliana Stone - Free Book Online Page A

wore underwear. Sheesh, if her mother knew the state of what was going on between her legs, she’d have a freaking coronary.
    You never know if you’ll be in an accident Abigail. Always wear undies. Clean undies.
    “You look hot,” Betty said with a grin. “Like if I was bent that way, I’d totally do you.”
    Abby managed a smile and took a sip of champagne. She’d thought they’d be overdressed, but Betty had assured her that the Simons didn’t do dinner in a fancy restaurant unless they were dressed to the nines. Judging by the jewels, suits and gowns, Abby had seen as they entered the room, Betty was right.
    Not that it made Abby feel any better, but still…
    Betty leaned in. “Tucker looks more than a little hot under the collar.”
    Even though she hadn’t looked out at the sea of Simons and extended family, Abby knew exactly where Tucker was. She could feel the touch of him, as if he was next to her. That’s how hot her Tucker Simon radar was.
    That’s how much trouble she was in.
    She gulped some more champagne and kept her eyes glued to Betty, who looked real pleased with herself.
    “You’ve already won Eden over, and she’s a hard nut to crack let me tell you.” Betty smiled at someone, a quick sort of thing before she continued. “God, it took me at least six months to get on her good side, and it finally took a home cooked meal which I took credit for but my sister Bobbi prepared.” Betty’s eyes flashed with mischief. “I also promised to cook Beau at least one home-cooked meal a week and I gave her a piece of artwork from my soon to be brother-in-law, Shane Gallagher.”
    That name rang a bell.
    “Shane Gallagher, the hot guy artist with the tattoos and bad reputation is engaged to your sister?”
    Abby remembered Tucker talking about him after a showing of his art at a gallery not far from her family’s pub. Tucker had come in with a blonde on his arm and the blonde had spent most of the evening with a bored look on her face while Tucker had shown Abby pictures of Shane’s work.
    “That’s the one,” Betty nodded.
    “He’s very talented.” This was good. Abby could carry on a conversation without tripping over her words.
    “Don’t take your eyes off me,” Betty said softly. “Tucker looks like he wants to strangle his cousin Cooper, and Cooper looks as if he wants to eat you.” Betty giggled. “This is gonna be epic.”
    Abby’s stomach flipped and she nearly dropped her champagne glass. “I don’t think I can do this.”
    “Yeah, you can,” Betty answered. “Cooper is notorious for wanting something that doesn’t belong to him.”
    “But I don’t belong—”
    “Cut the crap, Abby.”
    Abby’s eyes widened as Betty turned to her and suddenly the flirtatious party girl was gone, replaced with a direct no bullshit version. “I see the way you look at Tucker, and I can feel the sexual tension between the two of you. Even this morning when you were pissed at him. Even then .”
    Abby was silent, her heart nearly beating out of her chest. Was she that transparent? Did everyone know?
    “Jesus, out on that golf course my panties were on fire every time I got near you two, so don’t tell me your cock-and-bull story that making a play for Cooper is only because you want to protect Tucker. To keep Eden and Noah off his back. I’m not buying that. You want to make him jealous as hell.”
    Betty leaned in, her mouth close to Abby’s ear. “And I gotta say sweetie, it’s working.”
    “Abby.”
    Tucker’s voice never failed to make her knees weak. It had a roughness to it, like aged whisky over smooth ice.
    She turned toward him and held a soft smile in place while the butterflies in her stomach took off and whooshed around like they were tumbling inside a washing machine. Abby knew that if she didn’t get hold of her shit, it wasn’t going to be pretty.
    In fact it might get downright pathetic.
    “Tucker,” Betty said stepping forward and giving him a peck on the