KarsynHe isn't saying anything and that's maybe the scariest thing about this situation. I've never known Tucker to be a man of no words. Few words? Yes. More often than not, but speechless? Never. The longer he stays quiet, the more disconcerting it is. "You're gonna have to explain this to me babe, what the fuck happened?" He pulls away from me, pushing himself up into a sitting position. I sit up too, grabbing the sheet up to shield my nakedness from him. I'm about to lay myself vulnerable and the comfort is needed. The breath I take isn't nearly deep enough, but it will have to do. "We lived in Tennessee," I start. "Jackson, and my dad was working for an aluminum plant. Mom was staying at home back then, but that day she had a doctor's appointment. Thirteen was old enough for me to stay by myself, obviously." I grin.He smirks. "I think I was staying by myself at six.""You've always been an overachiever."We're quiet for a few minutes as I think about how I want to

Karsyn"Stop!" I giggle, grinning widely as I slap my hand on top of Tucker's as it trails up my bare thigh. "I'm trying to get this done." I point to my laptop. "And you're not making it very easy.""It's not my job to make it easy," his deep voice teases. "I'm supposed to distract you.""Well it's working, but we have to get this message out so that we can get the ball rolling on the fundraisers," I remind him. "Not like you've thought anything about it."He moves his hand farther down my thigh, an innocent expression covering his face. "Can't blame me. I mean you've been sitting here in just my t-shirt for hours. Sooner or later, I'm going to want to see what you have under it."I try to bite back my smile because I don't want him to know how much this affects me. The truth is my heart is soaring, my stomach pitching with the thrill of excitement. It wasn't like this before. He wasn't completely open with his feelings; I felt his attraction, but I never felt his affection.

Karsyn"And I was thinking," Darren says as he shows me some of the designs he's made. "That if we could get a paw print of both Rambo and Major, we could burn it into these plaques.""Burn it?" I ask. This kid isn't even old enough to drive yet, and he's lost me already."Yeah, we can get one print from each of them, cast it, and then make a transferrable copy that I can burn into the wood."I'm still lost, I look to Kelsea for help."You know, those tables you like at the flea market? They're made that way," she says as she struggles with Ella. "C'mon, El, eat. We messed up our sleep schedule and it's been hell," she sighs."She wants Dad." Darren rolls his eyes good-naturedly. "She hates the rest of us right now.""She doesn't hate us," Kelsea argues. "I'm her mom."I snort loudly. "She'll eventually hate you for one thing or another.""What do you think?" Darren asks, looking at me for approval. "Should I make them?"The one I'm holding in my hand looks damn goo

Karsyn"I can't tell you how excited I am to have a night out with you two." Stelle claps her hands together as we grab a table at El Chico. "Same," Kels laughs. "I feel like I haven't been out for a night of fun in a long time, and Tucker offering to drive us home? So fucking sweet. It means I'm free to drink my weight in margaritas.""I think we're all pretty excited about that." I grin as our waiter comes over.Stelle takes the lead. "I'm gonna need a pitcher on the rocks, my good man. As well as some chips and queso. Keep it all coming. Mama's having a night out.""With pleasure, my friend," he laughs as he gets a good look at us."It's almost like he knows he's going to get an amazingly good tip." Stella looks around at us. "Like I'm prepared to give him a hundred bucks as long as I don't have to worry about anyone but myself.""Amen." Kelsea holds her hand up for a high-five. I look at the two of them, so thankful to be out together. It's been too long since the

TuckerNormally I don't attack my workouts with the ferociousness I'm attacking this one with today. Most of the guys I typically get in the department gym with will tell you I'm level. I jog at a consistent pace; I don't go fast then slow, I don't lift heavy then light. Always level-headed, always the median. That's me.Today though? Today all the fucking anger about what happened to Karsyn is coming out. I'm looking to completely exhaust my body, because I don't want to have another night of tossing and turning, trying to get what I learned happen to her out of my head. I'd thought I'd been prepared to hear, being the tough guy I am, seeing what I've seen. None of that prepared me for how I felt when I listened to what happened to her. As a cop, I can definitely separate myself from the victims I help every day. This situation taught me I can't separate myself from Karsyn."You may wanna slow it down," Ransom says as he starts on the treadmill next to me. "You're gonna stomp