I stretch my arms over my head. “It’s a tough job, dating a sexy and sweet football star, but someone’s got to do it.”
She laughs. “Co-sign!”
I cross the room and open the door to find TJ looking devastating in jeans and a worn, brown barn coat with a tan, corduroy collar.
“Hey, you.” He steps forward and sweeps me into his arms, kissing me soundly. “Missed you,” he says as he buries his nose in the crook of my neck and inhales.
I sigh in contentment. These are the moments I live for. “Missed you too.”
He leans back and his eyes bounce up and over my shoulder. “Oh, hey, Rose.”
“Hello, you sweet, little obsessed man,” she coos back.
“Guilty.” TJ grins.
I laugh at the look of puppy love on his face. I could say something about how he’s being silly, but I know he’s not. He constantly shows me how much he adores me—how much he values me. He dropped off an afternoon coffee at Daisy’s Inn every day while I was pushing to meet my manuscript deadline back in January. He planned the coziest winter date nights where we watched romcoms and adventure flicks and laughed and talked and kissed until well into the early morning hours. We’ve cooked family dinners together with Martin and Loretta, and we play cribbage at their senior living complex whenever we have a Thursday night free. I’m helping TJ with a new crop of chicks, which are currently living in his basement until they get big enough to join the rest of the ladies in the coop. Last month, after his Super Bowl win, he flew home with me to California and proceeded to charm Ruby, Hilary, and Kait to within an inch of their lives.
TJ is considerate and warm, and we talk about everything and nothing. He’s my biggest champion and my soft place to land.
“You ready for this?” he asks, tucking a strand of hair behind my ears.
I pout. “Ready to get it over with.”
He grins. “You’re gonna be great.” He grabs my hand as we turn to go.
“See you tonight for dinner?” I say to Rose, playing it cool. Every month, we have a standing dinner date at Guadalupe’s with her sisters and our other friend, Mallory.
Rose is looking at her screen, but she bobs her head in response. “I’ll be there.”
“Good. I’m in the mood for tacos.”
“Same here. You two have fun. Show that car wash who’s boss, Lu.” Rose winks.
I nod with determination as TJ leads me to his truck. He opens the driver’s side door for me. I take my seat behind the wheel and he joins me on the passenger side.
“Do you think she suspects anything?” he asks as he clicks his seatbelt in place.
“Not a chance.” I grin, glad to have something to focus on as I back out of the duplex’s driveway that is not my upcoming standoff with an automated car wash. “How’s Anton holding up?”
“He’s a wreck. In a good way,” TJ adds with a grin. “The guy has been ready to propose to Rose for over six years now. He just wants to do the dang thing.”
Little does Rose know that when she shows up to girls’ night later, it won’t be us waiting for her, but Anton.
I do a little shimmy in my seat. “Second chance romances are the best.”
TJ’s hand finds my thigh and he gives it a squeeze, which makes me shiver for a whole other reason. “I think our romance is the best,” he says.
I flick my gaze over to him and smile. “That goes without saying.”
He leaves his palm resting on my thigh, and I glance down at it and over to him again. “Maybe the car wash can wait. I can think of some other things we could do in this truck.”
I stop at one of the only red lights in Cashmere Cove and glance over to find him staring at me, eyes smoldering. He leans across the console and kisses the tender spot behind my ear, making me gasp and grin, because I think I got him, but then he whispers, “Good try.”
He leans back in his seat and I groan, focusing on the road as the light turns green.
He chuckles. “Be a good sport, Lu. You promised you’d conquer the car wash today.”
“Why are there so many car washes in Wisconsin?” I grumble. “It’s like they’re popping up on every corner for the sole purpose of taunting me. I could wash my own car. Or your truck. I could wash your truck!”
