Page 96 of Tangled with the Tight End

I stand up, stepping back to catch my breath. My head swirls with thoughts I can’t entertain—distracting, inappropriate, unrealistic thoughts about Declan O’Connell.

He’s still smiling. “Picturing my dad's face when he sees it will have me smiling the rest of the day.”

“Your dad likes geese?” I ask.

“I'm not sure. But this one …” Declan’s eyes drop to Geese, then come back to me, “... will definitely make an impression on him.”

We stare at one another again. My body heats like I’m sitting by a campfire.

I glance around for the bag of Geese’s wardrobe.

"We should go," I say.

"We should," he agrees, but he doesn't move.

I pick up the bag. “Where do you want all of Geese’s accessories?”

“Hall closet works.”

I head there and Declan reaches for his crutches, propelling into the hallway and ending up right behind me. I turn and there’s a moment where we're standing in the same small space and I can smell him—like a fresh load of laundry and morning coffee, being curled on a couch in his arms …

“Winona.”

I look up at him. I shouldn't, but I do.

“Thank you,” he says, his voice low and sincere, all traces of playfulness gone. “For the goose. For—” he pauses, searching for words, maybe pushing some down so he won’t let them slip. “All of it.”

I nod. And I feel the helpless upward pull of my smile, unstoppable and all for him.

“Don't thank me yet,” I say, stepping away from him before my fingers take on a mind of their own and rub down the stubble on his jawline. “You still haven't seen her bikini and pool floatie.”

He laughs—a real one, low and full—and I turn toward the door before he sees what he does to me.

The train is headed downhill. No brakes. And it’s picking up speed.

Chapter 15

Winona

You can kid the world, but not your sister.

~ Charlotte Gray

“I sent you a payment,” I tell Cass as I pull into the Thunder parking lot.

I spent the afternoon handing out celebratory ice cream at elementary school track and field day. The money I earned today came just in time to give Cass my share of our utility bills.

“Thanks, Win. What are you up to today?”

“I’m about to pick Declan up from his day at the practice facility.”

“I hope he’s paying you extra to be his unofficial chauffeur.”

I don’t answer her.

“Win. Are you running him back and forth for free?”

“It’s not like that, Cass. Declan’s not taking advantage of me. If I’m free, I take him. I’m not going to ask him for more money. He’s not my employer. Riverview is.”