Page 176 of Tangled with the Tight End

“No. Believe me. I’d rather not come to Nashville. I love my parents, but chances are they’ll have a woman there as my unspoken plus-one. I’d rather avoid that if possible.”

I don’t flinch at the mention of his mom trying to fix him up. He’s not interested. I know he’s waiting to tell them about me. And I understand why the reveal has to be timed just right.

“What about Marcus and Jaxon?” I ask. “And Linc?”

“Some of the guys are planning to fly home, or if they have family nearby, they’ll spend the holiday with family. I don’t think Brady, Marcus or Jaxon have plans.”

“They could come to my parents’ too,” I offer.

We’ve always opened our home up to stragglers over the holidays. These guys aren’t your usual stragglers, but to me, they’re just men without any holiday plans. Declan’s friends.

“I mean, they’re welcome to join us. Unless that’s weird.”

“Shouldn’t you ask first?” Declan asks.

“No. My mom loves hosting people. She’d be thrilled to have extra guests. We always brought friends when we lived at home. Anyone’s welcome. That’s her way.”

“I can see where you get that quality.” His eyes shimmer in the candlelight.

“You say the absolutely sweetest things.”

“All true,” he says, lifting my hand and kissing my knuckles.

Chapter 28

Declan

I need privacy—to be alone with you,

to set this hubbub in order.

~ Virginia Woolf, The Waves

Winona is sitting next to me on our drive back to the airport in Nashville. Her head is resting on my shoulder and my arm is around her back.

She’s talking softly, trying to keep the driver from hearing what she’s saying to me.

“Best night ever,” she murmurs into my chest.

“I’ll always remember our first date,” I say softly, bending so my mouth is close to her ear.

She shivers and whispers, “That tickles.”

I chuckle.

“That fan had gumption,” she says, sitting up and looking into my eyes.

“Let’s call it gumption,” I say. “It was definitely over the line. He could tell we were out on a date. He should have smiled and nodded. Approaching our table went too far.”

“So if you were a ref, you would have thrown a flag on the play?” she asks.

I tug her close so I can kiss her.

“What was that for?” she asks, smiling through the darkness.

“You talked football.”

She laughs lightly.