Page 191 of Tangled with the Tight End

“Lucky me,” I tease. “Cheese curds and a kiss.”

He steps past me and heads for the couch, setting his gifts on the coffee table. “Come over here, Winona. Did I mention that I missed you?”

“Not as much as I missed you,” I admit, walking toward the couch.

“I don’t know about that,” he says. “Are we having a contest now?”

I stand in front of him. “Yes. And I win.”

“Well, let me congratulate the winner, then.” He tugs at my waist and I come not-so-gracefully tumbling toward him. He catches me with ease and wraps an arm around me, pulling me into a kiss that scrambles my thoughts and makes my whole body hum.

I sink into Declan, loving the feel of his arm around me, the way he holds me like he wants to keep me forever. Being apart is hard, but I’ve got no complaints about reunions.

Chapter 31

Declan

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world

in a conspiracy of love.

~ Hamilton Wright Mabie

Christmas is everywhere. As soon as the Thanksgiving leftovers were sealed in Tupperware and stashed in the refrigerator, the whole town shifted into holiday mode. Candy canes and elves, garlands and wreaths are everywhere. Twinkle lights criss-cross over Main Street and cover the eaves of most of the houses.

We’re playing the Dallas Cowboys this weekend. I’m in my fifth week wearing the boot. I take it off for workouts and conditioning training. I’m getting around without the crutches, bearing more weight and rebuilding my leg muscles to prepare for my return.

I can almost taste the finish line.

But my recovery’s not what’s dominating my thoughts while I towel off and dress in the facility locker room.

I’m taking Winona to the Waterford town square tree lighting tonight.

It’s less than two weeks ‘til Christmas and I need to figure out what to get her.

I made the mistake of opening my mouth and asking Linc for suggestions in front of the guys.

“Just buy her a new car,” Treyvon says. “After putting up with us crashing Thanksgiving, it’s the least you can do.”

“Do I look like Oprah?” I ask Trey.

“No. Oprah’s way cuter than you.” He flicks his towel in my direction and cracks up at his own joke. “And she’s more generous.”

A chorus of “You get a car … and you get a car … and you get a car!” erupts from my teammates.

“I know what you should get her,” Keller shouts from where he’s tossing his practice jersey into the hamper.

I take the bait. “What?”

“How about an invisibility cloak?”

“I’m serious,” I say, shaking my head.

“So am I,” he says. “With all this talk about your relationship in the media … it has to be hard on her.”

“It’s not easy,” I say. “I hate that she has to endure it. I wanted to protect her from all of that.”

“It’s a necessary evil,” Linc says. “Comes with the job.”