Page 156 of Tangled with the Tight End

“Hey, Cass,” Declan says, backing away from me and giving my sister one of his killer smiles. “Sorry. I just left you standing there holding a casserole. Kitchen is this way.”

He pivots and propels toward the kitchen.

Cass’s eyes go wide and she silently mouths, “Oh my gosh! He’s so into you!”

I just shake my head softly. Truth is, I’m so into him too.

Cass sets the dip on the island among a bunch of other food: mini tacos, hot pretzels, cheese dip, wings, pizza bites.

“This is so not a party,” I tease Declan.

“Claudette insisted on fixing some snacks.”

“Claudette?” Cass asks, her brow drawing in. She glances at me, preemptively jealous on my behalf.

“My chef,” Declan says, as if everyone has a chef.

“Your …”

“Let’s get this over with,” I say. “Declan has a housekeeper and a chef … gardeners …” I look at Declan. “Anything else?”

“No one I want to mention right now,” he says with a smile. “I have too much time on my hands right now, but during the season, it’s just easier if someone cleans and cooks for me.”

“Yeah. It’s never easier for me if someone does those things,” Cass jokes. “I was saying to Winona just the other day, ‘Winona, I never want a chef. Or a housekeeper. I love doing my own chores.’”

Declan cracks up. “It’s not normal. I know.” He looks at me. “Also, Pierce is here. He’s in the front room. He pulled his hamstring, so he’s out for a game, maybe two. He’s got to ice and elevate, so I told him, join the club. We can elevate together while we watch the game.”

Cass might have stopped breathing. She finally eeks out, “Jaxon Pierce? The safety? He’s in this house?”

Declan nods, sizing up my sister’s reaction for exactly what it is: nuclear-level fangirling with no attempt to tone it down in the least.

“Is that going to be a problem?” Declan asks, his brows raising slightly.

“No problem. Not a one,” Cass answers. She turns to me, shaking her hands out. “Jaxon freaking Pierce is in the house.”

“We established that,” I say. “We also established that this won’t be a problem.”

She’s flushed. I laugh softly and look at Declan. “Give her a minute. She’ll be fine.”

“I’m fine. So fine. Jaxon Pierce. O.M.goodness. Okay. No. No. Okay. It’s okay.”

She fans herself.

“Give us a second alone here,” I tell Declan. “We’ll be in when we gather our wits.”

He just chuckles, then he propels past me, leaning in to kiss my cheek on his way out. “Patrick and Daisy are on their way.”

I glance into his eyes and our gazes hold. He smiles a private smile and then he leaves me with my sister.

“Sorry,” Cass says. “I don’t mean to get all weird.”

“You’re fine.” I smile at her. “You know I eat lunch with Jaxon at least once a week. He’s totally normal. Just another guy.”

“I know. I know. I’m just … give me a minute.” She blows out a breath. “Normal guy. Normal. Pro football safety who happens to wear a Super Bowl ring and who was selected to play in multiple Pro Bowls.”

“I think we’re heading in reverse,” I say. “We’re aiming for calm, normal-person reaction territory, not …” I wave my hand toward her face. “Whatever this is.”

“I’m good. I’ll be so calm and normal. I’m just walking in there like a bunch of people are watching the game together.”