“My pleasure,” he said, gracing the older woman with a casual wave as he turned to face Della’s house, big arms swinging by his sides.

Betty ran in excited little circles on the spot as Tucker approached, and Della knew exactly how the dog felt. If Eadie wasn’t still standing at her front gate watching them, she’d probably be doing the same. She didn’t think she’d ever get bored with watching the way the man walked. There was a swagger in his step that was so damn male it made her excruciatingly aware of being female.

“Hey Betty Boop,” he crooned. He let the dog enthusiastically lick his neck, and it was no exaggeration to say that Della’s legs turned to mush. The way he was with Betty made everything mushy.

Aware of prying eyes, Della indicated they should go inside, and she was relieved to be able to shut the door and lock out everyone but Tucker. “You took her another pie?” she asked, watching him pet Betty behind the ear.

He shrugged. “She likes pies.”

“And the faucet?”

“It won’t take me long.”

Della narrowed her eyes. “What’s going on there?”

“Just being neighborly.”

Yeah. There was so much more going on there. But hell if she cared right now. All she cared about was putting her hands on Tucker. “I made some beef stew, if you want to eat?”

His gaze dropped, roving all over her body, eye-fucking her with breathtaking thoroughness. “Oh, I want to eat.” His eyes returned to her face. “I’m very hungry.”

Every cell in her body buzzed. She smiled and took a step backward. “That’s great. Stew is really good for you and very filling.”

He chuckled as he took a step forward, still petting a blissed-out Betty. “I’m not hungry for stew.”

Della stepped back again. Thank you, Jesus. She held out her hand, and he took it, and they stared at each other as she navigated backward to her bedroom door, his eyes telling her exactly what he was hungry for, her pulse thudding thick and slow through her abdomen and thighs and the lips of her sex as her own hunger growled like a beast.

When they got to the door, he said, “Let me get rid of madam pooch here and wash up and I’ll be straight back.”

They had moved their lessons to the bedroom because there was something luxurious about being horizontal, but, after licking Tucker’s foot one night while he’d been busy between Della’s legs, Betty had been banished to the living room and the bedroom door firmly closed.

“And I’ll get naked.”

He groaned as he kissed her hard and quick, muttering “Tease” against her mouth as he withdrew with the dog.