He laughed and pulled her in close, giving her a hug. “I was wrong about everything.”
When he released her, he saw her smile. This one was mischievous but somehow vulnerable, too. “Thanks for realizing I’m not a horrible beast.”
“Well, I wouldn’t go that far,” he began, and she yanked back her hand and punched his arm with it. He looked down and blinked his eyes as if she’d actually hurt him.
She laughed. “You big faker. Does that work on the field?”
“No, unfortunately, it does not.”
She pushed on his arm. “Let’s go. There are cupcakes with my name on them at The Bakery.”
She pointed ahead to a white-painted brick building. There were large paving squares placed diagonally with strips of green between.
“I’ve never been inside that one.”
She stared at him as though he were crazy.
He shrugged and laughed. “Hey, I was in Denver for a while. Plus I don’t do much shopping.”
“That’s no excuse.” She slipped her hand through his arm and he made a square of it.
“Hey, the food trucks are open. We could have eaten right here.”
“I just wasn’t sure.” She shrugged. “You win some, you lose some. But if you’d eaten here, you might not have that nifty ketchup stain on your sleeve.”
They walked toward the bakery. Even on a Wednesday, there was a small line. “This is a popular place.”
He opened the door for her. A young woman welcomed them and handed them a large card with the menu printed on it. “Thanks,” he said.
“You’re one of the Reid brothers,” she exclaimed, her voice excited. “I know your brother, Bobby.”
“Are you going to Baylor?”
She nodded. “I’m in the computer science program.”
“That’s awesome. Good for you.”
“I want to finish before I really date and get married.”
“Good plan,” Amy said.
The line moved and they shifted along with the others. He glanced at the card. Cupcakes and cookies. Good thing she’d had them stop for a burger first. “Do you know what you want already?”
“The lemon lavender cupcake. It’s delicious.”
He made a check mark for hers and studied the menu. Finally, he put another mark next to the Silo cookie, a chocolate chip cookie with peanut butter chips and walnuts.
When they reached the counter, a college-aged guy behind the counter opened his mouth to speak as his eyes widened. “You’re Knox Reid!”
He nodded.
“I saw you, man. That game with Atlanta! Wow.”
“Thanks, man.” He reached over and shook the young man’s hand. Then he handed the mini menu sheet over to the guy, who must have realized he was at work, because he straightened and took on a more professional air.
But, when Knox glanced back, the guy was looking at him, almost awestruck. Knox smiled and winked at him.
They chose a table. She took a bite of her cupcake first, closing her eyes and making a yummy sound. That sound alone could undo a man. When she opened her eyes and found him staring at her, she pushed his cookie toward him. “Taste it.”
He did — and closed his eyes and made an exaggerated yummy sound.
Amy laughed, and, when he opened his eyes, he joined in.
* * *
Wow. When Knox Reid wasn’t determined to kill her career, he was really fun to spend time with. Amy had to admit she could have been putty in his hands if he just smiled at her again like he had been.
They’d wandered around the grounds of the Silos. Into Magnolia Market, where tourists milled about, even on a Wednesday. He humored her by walking through aisles of home decor.
When they reached the Bakery signs she’d mentioned before, she ran a finger along the top. She actually would like one in her kitchen, but she didn’t want to spend the amount of money they were asking for it. Maybe next month.
“Where to next?” he asked.
“I’d like to go through the Magnolia Seed and Supply.”
“You’ll just see more things you want to buy.” He motioned to the bag she already held, full of irresistible items.
“I know. Isn’t it great?”
He shook his head, but he did it with a chuckle.
They found a bench and he sank onto it. “You’ve worn me out, woman. I can’t go another step.”
She laughed and sat beside him. “When are the folks at the Wranglers going to realize you can barely walk? Won’t that hurt your career as a ...” She looked up at him, batting her eyes innocently. “What are you again?”
“I’m a superstar, that’s what I am. I protect the quarterback and the runners. I keep the other team from blitzing anyone.”
“Wow. I had no idea you were so important.”
“That’s because the media rarely toots the horn of a left tackle, or any of the guards or tackles. The quarterback and the receivers, now those guys get a lot of press.”
“Am I sensing some resentment?”
“Maybe a little,” he admitted. “I work my butt off on the field but I’m not in a glory position.”
She touched his arm. “I watched some of your plays on the internet, and you’re pretty good.”
“You did, huh?” He grinned. “Which game?” When she laughed and named the team, he nodded, apparently satisfied. “You’re right. That was a good game for me.”
“I can see you take your work on the field seriously. I guess it runs in the family.” She grinned. “As it were.”
“My brothers have running positions. I mostly sit like a tank and keep people from coming through. My nickname in college was The Wall because I kept people out.”
“Who changed your nickname to Ft. Knox?”
“Mr. Maloy, owner of the Denver Defenders. He thought it would go over big, and it has. Christopher Burke, the owner of the Wranglers, continued the tradition.”
“You like him, your owner?”
“I do, and I’d like to clarify that he owns the team, not me.”
“You know what I meant, big guy.”
“And I’ve seen that you work hard on your team, too,” he said. “You’ve made a huge difference with my brother. Thank you.”
The praise made her heart race, warmth spreading through her.
“I respect commitment and dedication, and you’ve got both. And skill, too.”
“Ahh, shucks,” she said. “You’re gonna make me blush.”
He grinned. “You do all that and you can blush, too? This I’ve got to see.”
“I’ve gotten to see you around your family, and I admire your love for them. Look how you stood up for Daniel, protecting him from the likes of me.”
He took her hand. “Sorry about that.”
“How sweet,” a woman’s harsh voice sounded a few feet away.
Startled, Amy looked up.
Knox stiffened and let loose of her hand. “Sylvia, now is not the time for this.”
“Now is the perfect time.” She raised her phone and clicked a picture. “The famous Knox Reid getting sweet on a girl.”
“Sylvia, please don’t.”
Sylvia — a beautiful, blonde, slender woman who reminded Amy of all the cheerleaders she’d worked with — sneered. “This is the woman you left me for? She’s hardly worth the trouble.”
What the heck? What was this rude woman talking about?
Knox went to rise, but Amy put a hand on his arm. When he glanced her way, she smiled at him. “I’ve got this.”
He looked surprised.
Amy stood. “I don’t blame him for leaving that rude mouth of yours.”
Sylvia’s eyes widened and she reached out to slap Amy — but Amy’s black-belt father had taught her moves from the time she was teeny, and she slipped out of the way.
Off balance, Sylvia went flying to the ground. Served her right.
She landed at Knox’s feet.
He looked from Sylvia to Amy, then started to laugh
.
“She hurt me,” Sylvia said, pouting up at Knox.
“Your pride, maybe. She didn’t lay a hand on you. Get up and move on.”
Sylvia rose and turned to face Amy. If Sylvia had been a cartoon character, there would have been steam pouring from both of her ears.
Amy shrugged. “I’ve got lots more moves where that came from. Wanna try your luck again?”
Sylvia brushed herself off, obviously not hurt, grabbed her phone that had flown out of her hands, and stomped off.
“Wow,” Knox said, staring at her in admiration.
Amy stared right back. “Wanna try your luck again, Ft. Knox?”
He put up his hands. “Only if it involves you kissing my lips and not kicking my butt.”
She smiled and he moved toward her. Stopping two steps away from her, he tipped his head and studied her. “You’re a feisty little thing, aren’t you?”
“And don’t you forget it, big guy.”
“I won’t.”
* * *
“You should have seen her,” Knox told Sam. “She was magnificent.”
They were at Zeke Jackson’s home, Sam’s friend and one of their teammates on the Waco Wranglers. Sam had been staying with him since Daniel came home.
They were in Zeke’s large and well-equipped workout room, and Zeke was in the theater room with a date.
“What’d she do?” Sam huffed out as he lifted the heavy weights.
“She told her off — and then Sylvia slapped her.”
Sam lowered the weights to the ground and sat up on the bench. Wiping his forehead, he said, “Say what? Sylvia slapped Amy? What did you do?”
“I didn’t have to do anything. I should have said Sylvia slapped at Amy. Amy sidestepped the slap and the momentum of her own slap sent Sylvia sprawling on the ground.”
“Dang.” Sam grinned. “You’d better not get out of line with that itty-bitty thing.”
“Better not say that to her face. She might be shorter than us, but she’s feisty.”
“You like her, don’t you?”
“I do,” Knox admitted to his brother. “A lot.”
“I can tell. And when I came to dinner, I could see that she likes you, too.”
Knox smiled, but didn’t say anything. “Hey, isn’t Zeke getting a little tired of having you here, bro?”
“I stay out of his way mostly. He said I can stay as long as I want.”
“Don’t wear out your welcome.”
“I’m not planning on it. I’m thinking I might look for a place of my own to rent.”
“That’s good, because maybe you’ve already worn out your welcome with Mom and Dad.” Knox laughed. His brother was twenty-eight, and had always been a homebody. “Do you have a realtor?”
“No. I haven’t gotten that far. I’ve been too busy doubledating with Zeke. I don’t know where he comes up with all these women.”
“Same place you could. Women love football players.”
“A lot of them just want a notch on their belt. I’m no notch.”
Knox knew how he felt. They both wanted a genuine woman, someone they could trust.
He didn’t know who Sam was waiting for, but Knox wanted Amy.
10
Do You Like to Run?
Amy watched with pride and satisfaction as Daniel completed his last exercise. His three-week program was completed — Cerebration Works had granted him an extra week inhouse to make up for not getting the full benefits while working offsite — and he seemed much, much improved. When he’d arrived, he’d estimated he was at about only 40 percent of normal, and now he felt he was at least 80 percent or maybe even higher.
This was why Amy loved what she did. She loved helping people have fast, almost miraculous recoveries from post-concussion symptoms. This is why she would continue working with Paul forever. Unless he wanted her to move. He hadn’t mentioned it again, but it hung in the air between them.
Daniel’s family was here, and they started clapping — his father and mother, his sister, and his brothers.
They each hugged her in turn.
When she reached Knox, his hug was the tightest so far and lasted the longest. “Thank you,” he whispered.
She beamed up at him. “I’m so glad it worked for him.”
“Me, too.”
“Maybe now you’ll stop calling me a snake-oil peddler.”
He grimaced. “I deserve that, don’t I?”
She hugged him again. “Why, yes, you do.”
Everyone was laughing and crying, even the technicians.
Amy wiped a tear off her own face.
When she hugged Daniel, she blinked back more tears. As they pulled back, she said, “I am so proud of you, Daniel. You’ve worked so hard and look at the fantastic improvement you’ve made.”
“Thanks for helping me adjust my expectations, too,” Daniel said. “I’m looking at other career options, some that don’t require time on the field.”
“The good part of that is there’ll be a lower risk of a sixth concussion.”
“I like that.”
Ace Reid thanked her, as well.
“We’re going to dinner to celebrate,” Rebecca said. “We’d love to have you come.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t feel right about crashing another family party.”
“Are you kidding?” Ace patted her shoulder. “He wouldn’t be walking around like this without your help. And you’re dating Knox. You are family.”
She looked over at Knox. Though he studied her, she couldn’t read his emotions. Did he want her to come with them? Suddenly she felt insecure. Had Knox been seeing her because he wanted to keep tabs on what she was doing with Daniel? Now that Daniel was out of the program, would he lose interest in her? She couldn’t stand not knowing.
Daniel said, “Come with us.”
Knox nodded. “Yes.”
She needed more reassurance, but that was all she was going to get at the moment.
Everyone donned jackets.
As they walked out the main doors, a cameraman clicked away, standing next to Sylvia.
Oh, great. The woman who enjoyed confrontations.
But Sylvia apparently didn’t want one with her today. Perhaps she’d learned her lesson? Though that seemed too much to wish for.
“Mr. Reid, you’ve improved significantly since you entered this two-week program. I can tell just from watching you walk. Is there any truth to the rumor that you and your therapist are dating even though you’re married? I see your wife is not here with you.”
Daniel said, “That’s a lie, Sylvia, and you know it.”
Knox fisted his hands.
As Daniel and his family walked toward the vehicles parked close by, Sylvia turned to Amy, putting down her camera. Her voice was softer. “He’s walking better now.”
“Yes, he is,” Amy said.
“Did you do that?”
“Our team did that. I helped.”
“Wow. It’s really quite amazing.” Sylvia turned to study her. “I want to do a story on you.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Amy forced a smile. “Goodbye, Ms. Matthews.”
Amy followed the family, but, suddenly, it didn’t seem like a good idea for her to get in the car with them.
She climbed in her own car. She could feel Sylvia Matthews watching her. She really didn’t want to become her next target.
Making her decision, she pulled out of the parking lot and turned in the opposite direction from the Reid family. When she was out of view of Sylvia Matthews, she pulled into another parking lot and texted the family members in a group text: I regret that I won’t be joining you for dinner, but I want to wish y’all congratulations again.
Her heart ached to miss this celebration. To miss out on more time with Knox. But she needed to lie low and let Sylvia Matthews forget all about the story on her.
* * *
Knox checked his phone again. Why had Amy changed her mind? She hadn’t said. He s
tarted a new text, to only her. I really wish you’d join us.
She waited for thirty minutes to respond. I wish I could have come, too.
Which still didn’t answer his question.
Luckily, they knew the restaurant manager, and he had arranged for them to have the private room at the back. A few minutes after he’d seated them, he led Jessie, Sophie, and Levi back to join them.
Jessie sat beside Daniel, and their children across from them and on either side of Knox. He ruffled Levi’s hair and patted Sophie’s arm, and chatted with them. He loved little children, and they loved him.
As he teased them, he glanced at their parents. They were smiling at each other, and Jessie’s hand was in Daniel’s on top of the table, their fingers intertwined.
Relief flooded through Knox.
This was what he’d been hoping for since the night of the masquerade ball. He’d wanted Daniel to get better but hadn’t believed it could happen — but he had believed he could get back together with his wife. If only a certain adorable therapist didn’t steal him away.
Man, had he misjudged Amy. She was sweet and honorable and would never do that. She wasn’t one of those cheerleader types who just wanted to end up with a rich athlete. She had a passion for what she did.
He missed her.
“We got a new puppy,” Levi said, his eyes bright with excitement.
“You did?”
Sophie nodded her adorable little head, bobbing her teeny pigtails. “Her name is ’Ola.”
“Ola ...?”
Levi said, “Mom called her Lola. Sophie can’t say it right.”
“Can, too.” Sophie crossed her arms in a move that made Knox laugh.
“Oh, I bet that’s going to get you far in life,” he told the little girl with a chuckle. “Try doing this at the same time.” He batted his eyelashes.
The little girl tried to do it, and Knox nodded. “Oh, yeah. You’re going to be Kryptonite to your parents and to men, in general.”
“Thank, Knox,” Jessie said, “for spoiling our daughter even more than she already is.”
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