Page 82 of Tight End

“I needed this,” he murmurs. “It just feels right, you know?”

“I get it.” My eyes drop to where his hand rests on the floor shift. A tingling sensation attacks my fingers and they itch to lace with his again. I swallow hard. “Giving back is really rewarding. And the kids will love you.”

“You think?”

I nod, a lump lodging in my throat. “I know.”

Because I do…

The thought explodes in my brain before I can extinguish it.

I shift in the seat, wincing when my right leg twists.

“Are you okay?” Brixton asks. “You want me to pull over?”

I shake my head. “No,” I rasp. “It’s fine. Really.”

“We’ll put some ice on it when weget to Allie’s.”

The rest of the ride passes quickly. My mouth runs at about a mile a minute, saying whatever I can to keep my mind focused on anything other than the way my body hums at Brixton’s nearness and the way his cologne makes my head dizzy with lust.

I let out a relieved breath once we pull up to the curb outside a light blue house with bright white shutters. There are baskets of yellow flowers on either side of the stairs and I can’t help but smile at the sweetness the house exudes.

Brixton helps me out of the truck and I take the crutches from him. “I’ve got it.” I nod my head at the bags in the backseat. “Better start loading up your arms with those toys, Santa. Looks like you have a whole workshop back there.”

I hobble to the front of the house and make my way up the few steps. I have to hop because my knee is taped up and when I reach the top, I heave a deep breath.

“Sorry I’m kind of useless right now.” I smile at him buried under mountains of bags.

“Never,” he says lightly, jogging up the steps and leaning on the bell with his shoulder.

The door swings open.

“Unca Bee!”

“Jujubee!”

I look down at the adorable little girl jumping up and down next to the woman I take to be Allie. Her eyes shine as she looks from Brixton to me and back again.

Allie lifts her daughter into her arms. “My goodness Jules, what did Uncle B bring you this time?”

Julianna blows us kisses and points at the bags. “Toys!”

“You gonna let us in?” Brixton grunts at Allie. “I don’t know how much longer I can carry this stuff before my arms break off.”

The door opens and Brixton nods at me to go infirst.

“Wow,” Allie says once we’re both inside and the toys cover the foyer. “I didn’t realize you were bringing…company.”

“He begged me to take him. Said he had to meet this gorgeous girl,” Brixton says, lifting Julianna into the air and blowing raspberries on her pudgy belly.

I stick my hand out to Allie. “Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise. Although, truth be told, I didn’t think this day would ever happen.” Her eyes glitter with excitement and my heart hammers.

Does she think we’re together?

Is that what he told her?

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