Tucker sighed into the camera and looked away for a moment, seemingly to collect his thoughts. “The thing is, like with so many other stories that have been printed about me, I normally wouldn’t have cared what the press got right or wrong, but I can’t abide by a story that would make my wife appear to be weak when she is probably the strongest person I know. Trust me, Mina would have my boys in a jar on her desk if she thought for a second that anything suspect was going on. And you know what, I’d let her, because I’d deserve it.”

I risked a glance in Tucker’s direction as the video continued to play. He was watching me, waiting for my reaction. I didn’t offer one yet, choosing instead to turn back to the video.

“So, Cynthia, you owe my wife an apology for your appalling behavior. We also will no longer require your services as a real estate agent. We will go with someone a little more professional in the future. As for everyone else out there, the narrative you’re given for people in the spotlight isn’t always the correct one. Keep that in mind before judging people.” Then the crazy man looked directly into the camera, as if he were looking right into my soul. “Mina, I’m sorry that the house didn’t work out, and that the real estate chick turned out to be a problem. I promise, I’ll get you the house of your dreams soon.”

Then the video cut to a gorgeous television news personality as she grinned at that camera and fanned herself. “Is it just me, ladies, or are you all just as envious of Mina as I am right now? She caught a good one there.” I rolled my eyes as I turned to Tucker, so he could finally see that reaction. The egotistical shit took a moment to grin widely at me. Damn the reporter for over-inflating his ego in the midst of a potential scandal.

“All fixed,” he mouthed to me before taking another sip of the sweet tea that my mom insisted on putting in front of him.

“You know,” my father started in then. “You wouldn’t have to make videos like that if you were more careful about the people you involve yourself with. The minute that woman made an overture, you and Wes should have called her a tow truck, a taxi, and went your separate ways. Business sense needs to roll over to your personal life too. If someone seems wrong in business, you cut ties and keep distance. Same is true in life. I shouldn’t even need to address this part, but were you really going to pick my daughter up and put her in the car with the same woman who had just propositioned you about taking her place?”

“While I appreciate the advice in hindsight, it wasn’t something that occurred to me as being an issue, no. I knew where I stood with things, so the rest didn’t matter. Obviously, I just learned a lesson about why it shouldn’t have happened that way. As you already know, your daughter and I have a rather untraditional union that also happens to be new. It’s going to take a minute for the both of us to get our bearings and for things to run smoothly.”