Page 52 of Tackle

“Well, with Colt out with his injury, it’s understandable.”

“I can see him practically stewing on the sidelines even from here.” Ivy’s expression turned serious. “Colt really wants to go to the Super Bowl.”

“I think that’s the goal for them all,” Emerson chuckled.

Ivy didn’t crack a smile and Emerson realized how serious she was. “No, it’s different. He has this drive. I’m not sure what’s motivating it, but it’s all he cares about.”

“That’s not true. He cares about you too.”

She lost Ivy’s eyes as she turned her gaze back onto the field. Then in a sorrowful tone she’d never heard Ivy use before, she said, “Maybe a little but not nearly as much as winning the Super Bowl.”

Emerson placed a hand on her shoulder. “They’re having a good season. They’ll make it.”

“For all our sake, I hope so.”

“That sounds ominous,” she said, trying to lighten the mood.

Ivy didn’t respond, only stared down at the field, lost in thought, and Emerson got a niggling feeling that maybe things in her friend’s world were more dire than she’d thought.

Chapter Seventeen

“So what do you think, Mr. Olson?”

Oz made a full circuit of the Escalade.

“We lowered the lift, changed the rims and tires to twenty-twos, and added the passenger-side step.”

It did look a lot lower and should make it easier for Emerson to get in and out of. “It looks great.”

“Wonderful. Come into my office and we’ll finish up the paperwork.”

Twenty minutes later Oz was walking through the door of The Parting Glass.

Emerson came straight for him, getting to her toes to give him a kiss. That never got old. “When you texted to say you were going to be late, I didn’t think you’d bethislate. I was getting ready to send out a search party.”

Oz grabbed her hand. “I have a surprise to show you.”

He led her outside and to his car.

“Oh, wow.” She looked at it for a few seconds. “It’s lower, right?”

“Yep.” He opened the passenger-side door. “And that’s not all. Hop in.”

She noticed the step right away. “That was so easy.” She turned to him, smiling, once seated.

“Want to go for a spin?”

“I’d love to but Matt’s not here yet.”

Oz’s brow furrowed. “It’s after three.”

“I know. He had an appointment and is running late.” She gave him an apologetic smile. “I’ll make you something special while we wait. I bet you’re starving.”

Thinking about it, he was hungry. “Okay, but as soon as he gets here, you’re all mine.”

She leaned over and kissed him. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Not satisfied with a small peck, he captured the back of her head and kissed her again. This time doing it properly, slipping his tongue past her lips.

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