Page 108 of Tangled with the Tight End

“Yeah. I don’t think that’s what she likes.”

“I think she likes you,” Linc says. “She’s always driving your butt around when she doesn’t have to. She looks up at you with that sweet smile when you two are exiting the facility. You already look like a couple. Am I right, Delaney?”

“You’re not wrong,” Delaney says. “I’m cuter, but for some reason, she’s got her eyes on our tight end.”

I practically growl even though he’s just playing around.

“Winona might not know how to show how she feels for you,” Linc says. “You are a pro player. That’s a lot for most women to take in. Our lives aren’t normal. Women either fan all over us or think they’ve got what it takes to nail us down. A woman like Winona doesn’t come along every day. She’s comfortable around the team and she doesn’t seem to have ulterior motives.”

I nod even though they can’t see me.

“Thanks, guys.”

“Anytime. You know that,” Linc says.

“You can buy me dinner to thank me,” Delaney says, and I laugh.

I miss these guys. They’re as much my brothers as Patrick is.

“Rest up, O’Connell. We need you back.”

“Thanks, Linc. I’m doing everything I can.”

“I know you are.”

Delaney shouts, “Go get that girl, Big OC!”

I laugh. “Yeah. I just might.”

We hang up. I propel myself into the guest bath and take a look at myself in the mirror. Winona will be here in a half hour. I run my hand along my jaw. Does she like the stubble or a clean shave? I want to know.

I take the elevator up and shower, change into a fresh set of workout shorts and a Thunder T-shirt.

By the time I’m back on the couch with my leg up, the front doorbell sounds. I check the security app on my phone.

Winona is standing on the porch.

With a goat.

“Sorry!” she shouts into the ring camera. “Sally was running late. I had to bring Jenny.”

I chuckle to myself, grabbing my crutches and propelling to the door.

The agency’s got Winona on a schedule. She has to submit my vitals before a certain time or this medical app starts beeping on both our phones.

Winona’s still talking to the doorbell camera. “Can I walk her around back?”

Her question doesn’t register until I’m already opening the door.

The goat lets out a loud “Maaahhahhhaahhhhaaahhh,” looks me in the eyes and rams forward, head down for a full-fledged butt toward my thighs.

In one swift movement, I plant my crutches and propel myself backward.

Winona yanks the leash. “Declan! Jenny! No! Oh my gosh! Jenny! Stop!”

Winona’s face goes red from holding the goat back. The goat hyperextends Winona’s arm with the force of trying to reach me. Winona’s digging her heels in and the goat is bucking toward me.

I’m cracking up so hard I might not get away.