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The characters and events portrayed in this book are a work of fiction or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

Dedication

To my friends Jen Helmer and Ashley Nickel, two of the strongest women I know

Acknowledgments

A big thank you once again to my good friend and fellow author Rachelle Ayala for your thoughts and encouragement while writing Waiting For Wren.

Chapter 1

Park City, Utah

July 1999

S
tars twinkled above and the moon glowed bright as Tucker took the mountain curve a little too sharply. Cool air blew through the open windows and music blared from the speakers as he approached the next twist.

“Take it easy, Tucker,” Staci shouted from the backseat.

He turned up Will Smith’s
Wild Wild West
louder, grinned at his sister in the rearview mirror, and gunned the engine into the next wind in the road.

Staci and Jasmine screamed, and Tucker and JT let loose enthusiastic whoops, as the black Mustang fishtailed closer to the guardrail than Tucker had planned. Heart thundering, Tucker eased off the gas and gripped the wheel tighter until he had full control of the vehicle again.

“Damn it, Tucker, knock it off or I’m telling mom.” Staci gave him a smack on the shoulder.

“Chill out,” he smirked, slowing as they approached the neighborhood of large summer houses scattered among the trees. Staci wouldn’t really tell mom—at least, he didn’t think so. He was just showing off a little. It wasn’t everyday Jasmine Smith sat in the front seat next to him. Staci
knew
how much he liked her. He and Staci never told on each other. Tattling on your twin went against every rule in the book.

They approached JT’s rambling stone-and-glass house, and Tucker rolled to a stop. Jasmine opened her door and slid out. She swiped a golden lock of her chin-length hair behind her ear and gave Tucker a smile as she pulled on the lever, sending the seat forward. Tucker smiled back and snuck a glance at the lush, tan breasts peeking from Jasmine’s spaghetti-strap sundress. JT unfolded his long, well-built body from the back, stretching as Jasmine sat again. Crouching down, he leaned his arms against the window frame. “Good movie tonight. We still planning on baseball and swimming tomorrow?”

“We’ll be by to pick you up—ten sharp. Be ready to kick some ass.”

“Better believe it. Fucking Johnny Simmons,” JT said with uncustomary venom. “His bragging’s really starting to piss me off.”

“No shit. He turns into a bigger tool with every passing summer.”

“Guess we’ll have to show him a few things.”

“We have nine innings to shut him up.”

“Maybe he’ll end up falling on his way to second base, like Nick did when Johnny’s foot ‘accidently’ tripped him. Payback’s a bitch.” JT extended his hand through the window, and Tucker gave him a high five. “I’m looking forward to it.” He rose to standing. “See you guys in the morning.”

“Bye,” Jasmine and Staci said in unison.

“Later.” Tucker waved and drove the quarter mile to Jasmine’s house.

“Go ahead and drop Staci off first if you want. You can walk me home.” Jasmine bit her lip and looked up from under her lashes.

Tucker swallowed as his hormones immediately shot into overdrive. He accelerated, wanting to park the Mustang and get on with the evening. Curfew was forty-five minutes away, and Jasmine had just given him the invitation he’d been waiting for all summer. He drove another eighth of a mile past four more houses and turned into the U-shaped lot, circling around and coming to a stop in front of the massive double pine doors of the Campbell summer estate. He opened his door and almost forgot Staci in his rush to be on his way with Jasmine.

“Hey.”

He stopped the door mid-swing and released the front seat. “Sorry.”

“What’s your hurry?” Staci smirked as she got out and drilled her finger into his stomach, full well understanding where his mind was. “Don’t stay out too late. I don’t want to have to cover for you again.”

“I’ll be home by midnight. Promise.” He tugged gently on a lock of her shoulder-length black hair as he stared into dark hazel eyes, which were exactly the same as his own.

She pulled the keys from his hand and pocketed them in her jean shorts. “Oh, and I get to drive to the ball field tomorrow. It’s my day. I call it.”

“But—”

“You’re hogging the car. Dad said we have to share.”

He huffed as he held her gaze. This sharing-the-car crap sucked. They’d only been driving for four months, but it was hard to take the passenger seat after getting used to having his own wheels. Less than thirty days until they went back to Monterey, then they would have their own vehicles back. He tugged her hair again. “Brat.”

“I’m driving to the resort too and home and wherever else we decide to go.”

He shrugged. “We’ll see.”

Her brow shot up in challenge. “I guess we will. I’m going to sit in the hot tub for awhile.”

“Later.” He walked over to Jasmine and took her hand as they started down the drive. Tucker waited until the front door shut behind his sister, then looked over at Jasmine and smiled in the bright moonlight. He’d dreamed of this moment since Staci brought Jasmine to the house almost a month ago. Jasmine was extremely hot, and athletic too—a perfect package. She didn’t pretend to know about baseball or football the way other girls did; she actually
knew
what she was talking about. He was pretty sure he was half in love, and he wasn’t about to blow it. He’d been out with plenty of girls now that he was allowed to date, and Kimberly Hastings had let him get her off in the theater while they pretended to watch ‘The Matrix.’ He knew what to do; he had moves. He just had to keep cool. “So, what did you think of the movie?”

“It was pretty good. I love Will Smith.”

“He’s a great actor.”

“And a good musician too.”

They fell into silence as they passed the first three driveways, then the fourth, and strolled on to hers.

“Thanks for walking me home.”

“No problem. It’s a nice night—not too cool.” With every step they came closer to Jasmine’s front door. He was going to miss his chance to ask her out if he didn’t hurry up. “Hey, um, do you want to go to the lake with me tomorrow night? We could start a fire and roast some marshmallows or something.” He was counting on “or something.” He wanted to spend a couple hours rolling around with Jasmine on a blanket by the water.

“Tomorrow?”

“If that doesn’t work, maybe we could go another night.”

“No, tomorrow’s good. I have to ask my parents, but I’m sure it’s fine.”

Yes!
“We can play some ball with everyone in the morning and go swimming, then I could pick you up here at six.” Shit. It was Staci’s turn to have the car. He’d have to work around that little issue. She could use the Mustang free and clear for an entire week, heck two weeks for all he cared, if she agreed to give it up for one night. He would explain how important this date was, and she would be okay with it. Nobody understood him the way his sister did, and vice versa. Mom called it a ‘twin thing.’

“I’ll talk to my mother.”

“Cool.” They took the three steps to the front door and faced each other in the dim outside light.

Jasmine licked her lips. “Thanks for inviting me tonight. I thought spending the summer in the mountains was going to be boring. You, Staci, and JT have made Park City pretty fun.”

“I love coming here. We’ve come every summer since Staci and I were babies. This is the only place my dad can get away from the hotels.”

She smiled. “Didn’t he just leave on a business trip?”

Tucker shrugged, grinning. “There was a problem in Boston. He’ll be back in a couple days.”

“It must be cool to have a hotelier for a father. Luxury resorts all over the world.”

He jerked his shoulders. “It’s okay. If you’ve slept in one bed, you’ve slept in them all.
Your
father’s a producer. Now that’s cool.”

“I guess.” She licked her lips again as the easy conversation died away into nervous anticipation.

He glanced at his watch—quarter to midnight. “I should probably get going.”

She held his gaze. “Okay.”

He took a step closer, until his chest brushed her firm breasts. “Thanks for coming tonight,” he whispered as Jasmine closed her eyes and he moved in for the kiss. His heart pounded as glossy, strawberry lips pressed against his, and silky tongues collided. She wrapped her slender arms around the back of his neck, and he dove deeper. The outside light blinked off and on twice, and he eased away, staring into her beautiful blue eyes. His stomach clenched as waves of lust erupted through his system. Kissing Jasmine was even better than he’d imagined it would be. He’d never felt like this before. This had to be love.

“I guess I should go in.”

“I’ll—I’ll see you in the morning. Staci and I will pick you up around nine thirty.”

She nodded, twisted the doorknob, and let herself inside. “Bye.”

He gave her a wave and looked down just in time, catching himself before he fell down the stairs. “Bye.”

Smiling, Jasmine shut the door behind her.

Tucker started toward the road in a daze. He’d kissed several girls over the last two years, but it had never been like that. Jasmine was different. He twisted his wrist to look at his watch, then heard the snap of a branch among the trees along the driveway. He paused, peering into the shadows. More twigs broke as something took another step. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead. Ms. Hayes said mountain lions were spotted in the area a couple days ago. Tucker walked backwards, scrutinizing the thick mass of pines, waiting for a huge cat to pounce. His breath puffed out as he shuddered, and it no longer had anything to do with a kiss under the stars.

There was another crack somewhere in the woods, further away this time, but he wasn’t about to wait around to find out what was lurking in the brush. With little pride, Tucker turned his athletic body and sprinted the eighth of a mile home. He’d never been so happy to see the timber-and-glass work of art, designed by his father, tucked among the trees. Breathless, he slammed the door behind him and pressed his head against the heavy wood, groping for the lock and twisting it into place.

“Tucker?”

He swiped at his sweat-soaked face with his forearm. “Yeah, I’m home, Mom,” he hollered to the other side of the house.

“Lock up, honey. I’m already in bed. I’ll see you in the morning. Love you.”

“I did, and I love you too.” Adrenaline still rocketed through his veins as he moved through the large open-concept living room, dining area, and kitchen to the left wing he and Staci shared. He knocked on her bedroom door. There was no answer, so he walked down the hall to the glass doors and outside to the brick terrace his father had dug into the side of the mountain several years back. The large jellybean-shaped pool glowed blue. Staci sat in the bubbles of the adjoining hot tub, which was big enough for at least ten, looking up.

“Spot any aliens tonight?”

She turned her head, smiling. “No. Just three shooting stars.” She sighed. “I love being here. Summer’s going by so fast. Before you know it, we’ll have to go home.”

He stepped into the warm water and sat on the brick edge, staring out at the bright lights of downtown Park City miles in the distance. “Maybe we can talk mom and dad into coming for Christmas. We could ski and go tubing like we did a couple years ago.” That was his favorite Christmas. He couldn’t remember another time he and Staci laughed so hard, their tubes colliding as they careened down the steep mountain trails.

“Maybe, although I think mom has her heart set on Paris.”

He rolled his eyes, huffing. “I don’t see what the big deal is. We’ve been there a million times.”

Laughing, Staci drilled her finger into his stomach. “You’re so basic, Tucker.”

He grinned, shrugging. “One of us has to be. You and mom could bankrupt us the way you burn up the plastic.”

“I’m happy to spend the money you don’t.”

He snorted. “So dedicated.”

“Darn right. I’m the best part of both of us.”

He chuckled, but she was right; she was definitely the better half of the Campbell twins. He would never love anyone more than Staci. “But I’m older.”

“By two minutes,” she scoffed. “You’re always in a rush. I’ve always chosen to be fashionably late.”

“Don’t I know it.” He tugged on her ponytail. “I need to talk to you about something before you start listing off all of your inflated virtues.”

“What?”

“I need the car tomorrow night.”

She plopped her hand back in the water, sending small droplets flying over his legs. “It’s my turn, Tucker.”

“I have a date with Jasmine.”

“So?” She leaned her head against the bricks.

“Come on. She’s really…important. I’ve never felt like this about anyone.”

“That’s what you said about Denise Gordy.”

“This is different. When I kissed her, my stomach got all…weird. Please, Staci. You can have the car for a week.”

“A week?” Her brows arched as she sat up. “You have my attention.”

“I want to take her to the lake. We’ll roast marshmallows or something.”

She scrunched her nose. “I don’t want to know about the ‘or something.’”

“Two weeks. You can have the Mustang free and clear for two weeks.”

“Deal.”

“Yes! This is going to be great.”

“I bet.” She settled her head again and closed her eyes.

He glanced at his watch. “It’s twelve thirty. We should call it a night.”

“I’m not tired.”

“I’m going in.” He stepped from the water and grabbed a towel for his legs. “Make sure you’re ready to go by nine thirty. JT and I have to kick some ass on the ball field.”

“Good night.”

“Night. Lock up on your way in.”

“Got it, dad.”

“I’ve gotta take care of my girls.” He imitated Dad’s Massachusetts accent perfectly as he repeated what his father had said to him every time he’d gone out of town since he and Staci were little.
Take care of our girls, Tucker
. Tucker reached for the knob.

“Hey, Tucker.”

He paused and turned back. “Yeah.”

“If you ever drive like that again, I
will
tell mom. You scared me. I’d like to live to see my seventeenth birthday, and since I love you, I’d like for you to see yours too.”

A wave of guilt swamped him as he thought of the way she had screamed. “Sorry. I won’t do it again.”

“Good.”

He reached for the knob again.

“Tucker?”

“What?”

“I would’ve given you the car for free. I know how much you like Jasmine. You two make a cute couple.”