You and Diego are my family.
He’d said it with so much steadfastness in his voice, those blue eyes pinning me, that the thought of turning him down after that wouldn’t have even occurred to me.
“I told you to wear sneakers, sugar.”
“I hate sneakers,” I snapped at Carter’s teasing.
“Want me to carry you?” He didn’t even finish his question before he was bending low as if preparing to pick me up.
“Don’t you dare! Your family’s right there.” I would not have him carry me around as if I were too prissy to walk on a damn football field. Especially not in front of his entire family. I was nervous enough about that.
“Don’t be nervous. You’ve met them all already, remember?”
I glared at him. “I was working for them when I met them all. This is entirely different. Plus, I obviously didn’t make a good first impression on your mean brother, and Tyler probably still thinks I’m some loose floozy!” I whispered the last word, not wanting Diego to hear what I was saying.
Carter’s gaze narrowed and his face hardened, taking me by surprise.
“Tyler knows I’d end his football career before he’d ever dare say anything so tasteless about you. Aaron’s been taken care of. He’ll be on his best behavior.”
I sighed, and flattened the front of the Williamsport Panthers jersey I wore. Carter had told me as much at least five different times. I was just feeling uneasy about this entire ordeal. Like I was totally over my head by agreeing to attend family day for our city’s famed football team.
“Diego will have a great time. I told Tyler all about him and you.”
“Okay.” Pushing out a breath, I took Carter’s extended hand. Still uncomfortable from the way my feet slipped around in the flip flops I wore due to the wetness of the grass. It’d rained earlier that morning but the sun was shining brightly by nine a.m., promising another scorching summer day. It was perfect for family day, and hearing the giggles of Diego as he looked around the field and saw all the play areas and obstacle courses they had set up for the kids, my heart lightened a little.
“Thank you for inviting us.”
Carter stopped and began to say something but I pressed a finger to his lips. “Don’t tell me not to thank you. Just accept it, okay?”
His lips spread underneath the pressing of my finger. “Kiss me,” he growled.
I quickly glanced over his shoulder and saw Diego was distracted, playing with another little boy.
“Kiss me,” he insisted again, this time pulling me into him.
I angled my head and let him take what so obviously was his. I was no longer in denial about that fact. The kiss, just as always, melted away any worries or insecurities I had. Nothing could withstand the heat of one of his kisses and I quickly lost all mind of where I was, aside from the comfort of knowing I was in his arms.
“At least somebody’s getting some action while on the field.”
I pulled back from Carter at the interruption from his younger brother. I was met with a pair of sinful green eyes. They almost reminded me of Carter’s. Apart from the color difference, those eyes also held an intense … something. That seemed to be a trait of all the Townsend men as far as I’d seen. The ferocity in their eyes and the freckles were the commonalities that tied them altogether.
“Next time you wait until I’m finished kissing my woman to interrupt, jackass.” Carter’s voice was harsh as he wrapped an arm around my lower back.
I’m sure his tone alone would’ve scared the hell out of anyone, but Tyler laughed. He seemed the type to push everyone’s buttons at every opportunity. Like he poked the sleeping bear to see just how far he could get, and then poke some more once it finally awakened. Those types were dangerous in their own right.
“Michelle, great to see you again. Though I can’t say I envy your position right now. My older brother seems to be on edge when he’s not putting out fire … or starting them.” Tyler winked at me.
Oh, he’s definitely dangerous in his own right.
“Pleasure to see you again also, Tyler. Thank you for having us at your team’s family day.”
“No problem.” He extended his hand, lifting mine to bring to his lips. The man to my left made a sound at the back of his throat, pulling me impossibly tighter into him.
“Don’t put your lips on my woman. God only knows where those fuckers were last night.”
Tyler frowned. “My lips were safe and sound last night, thank you for your inquiry. No ass getting while at camp, bro.”
“That wasn’t the case a few weeks ago.”
