Matilda walked out, carrying her school uniform and raising a brow at me as if this was going to be a tough one to turn down.
But that wasn’t going to happen.
This girl had gotten her heart hurt today, and if a fancy dress and some boots and a hat made her smile, I’d do it ten times over.
Hell, I’d give her my goddamn kidney if she needed it right now.
This was nothing.
“I don’t see how we can walk out of here without it,” I teased. “Let’s get it.”
“Do you want to wear it out of the store with the boots and the hat?” the older woman asked.
“Yes, ma’am!” Gracie jumped up and attempted to give me a high-five, but she missed, which made me laugh. Matilda cut off the tags and made her way around the counter.
I handed over my credit card, and we tossed her school clothes and shoes into a bag.
“Thank you, Links. This is the best day ever.” Gracie smiled up at me as I reached for her hand to lead her toward the exit, just as the door opened and Brinkley walked in.
One brow raised, she put her hands on her hips. “What’s going on here?”
“Me and Links is extra cool, Auntie.”
Damn straight.
Enough said.
twenty-one
Brinkley
We made our way over to Cottonwood Café because the place was a rite of passage in town. And Lincoln had been avoiding it because he’d heard the rumors about the dirty old bird that worked there.
“So, tell me how we ended up with this beautiful dress and the cute boots and hat?” I asked as Gracie walked between us, with one hand in mine and the other in Lincoln’s. When I’d stepped out of the adorable boutique, they’d been friendly, but now they appeared to be besties. And my niece, who had been completely off when we’d picked her up, seemed to be back to her old self.
“Don’t you love these boots, Auntie?” Gracie said, kicking her foot up from beneath the frilly white flower girl dress to show the pink cowboy boots. “Links says I look very cool.”
She was literally surrounded by an abnormal amount of tulle, and she wore the cutest pink cowboy hat and boots, and my heart was threatening to explode.
I loved this little girl so much.
And the fact that this man had just pampered her the way that he had and turned her spirits around—my heart couldn’t take much more.
I was dying to know what had happened. Gracie had been upset when I’d stepped outside to take that call and now these two seemed to be fast friends, so I assumed she’d shared something with him.
“Links is right,” I said, over my laughter. “But Daddy is going to be a little annoyed, seeing as he has that whole spending rule.”
Lincoln’s head snapped in my direction. “What kind of rule?”
“I’m only allowed to get her presents under ten dollars on our outings unless it’s her birthday or Christmas.”
“When’s your birthday?” Lincoln asked her as he scrubbed a hand over the scruff on his jaw.
“It’s coming up,” she said. “It’s right after Uncle Hughey and Auntie Lila’s wedding, right, Auntie?”
“Yep. June twenty-third, baby girl. It’s my favorite day of the year.”
“Perfect. We can call this an early birthday gift,” he said as he reached for the door. Then he surprised me by leaning down and whisper-shouting to her. “But don’t you worry. I’ll get you something good for your birthday, too.”
Unbelievable.
“Like I said—you’re a softy.”
“I preferred it when you called me a rude gentleman.” He leaned close to my ear, and his warm breath tickled my neck.
Damn, this man did crazy things to me.
This last week had been a whirlwind. So much for taking it slow. Our passion for one another was as strong as our disagreements were. And we had plenty.
He was bossy as hell, and I didn’t like being told what to do.
Tonight, we were staying at my house. He’d gotten his way the last few nights, but I was putting my foot down.
“Well, looky here. It’s about time you brought the football player over. I’ve heard you’ve been everywhere in town but my place,” Mrs. Runither purred as she moved into Lincoln’s space.
It took everything I had not to laugh as his shoulders stiffened. He held on to Gracie’s hand like she was a security blanket.
“Uh, hello. I’ve just been busy.” Lincoln gave a half nod and took the slightest step backward. But Mrs. Runither didn’t miss a beat. She wasn’t about to let a fine-ass man distance himself without a fight. She moved along with him, and he startled, glancing over at me.
“There’s J.R!” Gracie shouted and asked if she could go say hello, and I told her she could. Lincoln looked very unhappy when she dropped his hand and Mrs. Runither took it in hers and intertwined her fingers with his.
This was a new one for her.
“My, oh my. Look at these hands. I like a man who knows how to handle his balls,” she said, and I nearly lost it because Lincoln’s discomfort was impossible to miss.
He tugged his hand back and shoved them into the pockets of his jeans.
“Tell me, Lincoln Hendrix. Do you like a tiger in the bedroom? Or do you prefer your women to be submissive?”
“Are you really just going to stand there watching?” he hissed at me, and I covered my mouth with both hands because this was just too good.
It wouldn’t even matter if the mac and cheese was horrible at this point.
“Mrs. Runither, I’m not sure how to answer that question, but I can tell you this,” he said, looking like his cocky self all of a sudden. “I prefer not to be asked inappropriate questions when I go out to eat.”
“Oh, he likes to play cat and mouse? You know I love a man who likes to play.” She winked at me. “Come on, y’all. Let’s get you a table so we can feed the football star. Nothing better than a well-fed man. Am I right, Brinkley?”
“I prefer to be well-fed myself; I don’t really care how much the big guy eats.” My voice was all tease.
We stopped to say a quick hello to J.R., then Lincoln scooped up Gracie and carried her to the table with us. I wasn’t sure if he was trying to help her, considering she kept tripping over her long dress, or if he was using her as a shield from the old horndog, Runither.
When the elderly woman stepped away and we’d settled into the booth, Lincoln leaned forward so only I could hear him. “I will pay you back for that. Get ready for a tiger in the bedroom.”
I whipped my head to make sure Gracie wasn’t listening, but she was too busy waving at J.R.
“Promises, promises. You made the woman’s day. It wouldn’t kill you to flirt with her.” I smirked.
“You’re barking up the wrong tree, sweetheart. She’s not my type.”
“What’s your types, Links?” Gracie suddenly turned her attention to us.
“I’m looking at it.” He stared at me before leaning down and kissing my niece’s forehead.
The man was full of surprises.
We’d dropped Gracie off at Cage’s house, and he didn’t even give Lincoln any shit for buying her so many things. Instead, he praised the man and thanked him for spoiling his daughter.