Page 22 of Madden

"I don't know if I'm up to that," she whispers.

"There's no pressure. We can hang out on the tailgate of my truck."

She doesn't say anything, but I can feel her giving in over the phone line. "Okay, but not on the tailgate. There's a park a few miles from my complex. We can go there."

"Is it the same park I busted that couple fucking around at? I have PTSD."

She giggles. "Yes, let's go to the park inside my complex, then. How about that?"

"Sounds better. "I'll be over there in a few minutes."

This definitely wasn't part of my plan tonight, but if I can see Becca, I'm always going to prefer it to the alternative.

CHAPTER 15

BECCA

"I'll just beat the park in the complex," I tell Stephanie as I slip my shoes on.

"You're fine, but don't do anything I wouldn't do. I'll take care of Mick's homework and you know he'll want to go to bed afterward. I can handle this."

Gratefulness for her causes tears to fill my eyes. "Thank you."

"You know you don't have to thank me. Go meet that man of yours. If anyone deserves a good time, it's you."

I don't argue with her, instead I go to my room and grab a sweatshirt. The nights are getting chilly and if we're going to be sitting on his tailgate, then I'll need to have something covering my arms. I pull it over top of the t-shirt I'm wearing, and then grab my phone. There's a text from Madden.

M: I'm here. C'mon down when you're ready.

My heart is pounding with excitement as I wave goodbye to Stephanie, yell out anI'll be backto Mick, and make a beeline straight for the door. I take the stairs two at a time, and then run for where I see his truck parked. His lights are on, and when Iget close, he gets out. I run for him, loving the way he catches me when I launch myself at him.

"You okay?" He whispers as he hugs me tightly.

"I've been better. Thank you for coming."

"Wouldn't miss it for the world. You sounded like you needed me." He tucks his face in next to my shoulder.

"I did, I do."

He walks us over to his truck. He's stronger than any other person I've ever met. I don't know where he hides these muscles, but there's no way I would want to meet him in a fight. He's carried me right over to the passenger side. I bury my head in his chest, as he lifts his, and opens the door. Picking me up, he puts me in the seat. "Whenever you need me, I'm going to be here. I promise."

Looking down at him, I do something I haven't done in a long time. I actually believe what he's saying. "I know, and I appreciate you."

"Let's go." He taps my thigh, motioning for me to turn around so that I'm tucked in, and he can shut the door.

I do as he's indicated and wrap my arms around my middle, holding myself tightly. He hops in and backs out with his arm stretched across my seat, glancing behind us. It's one of the most manly moves I've seen, the tendons of his neck elongate as he checks his blind spot.

"You like that?" He grins. "You made a growly noise in the back of your throat.

"It was good." I give him a smile back. "I can't explain it, but it was a turn on."

"I'll have to keep that in the back of my mind, that everyday things I do turn you on."

He has no idea how true those words are.

We're sittingin the back of his truck, not exactly on the tailgate, but he made us a spot in the back with blankets and what looks to be an egg crate mattress. No one has ever gone to this type of trouble for me. "So do you carry blankets and mattresses around for whenever a woman tells you they've had a bad day and they need to be cheered up?"

He laughs. "No. I had one blanket in here, because I always keep one for emergencies. The other stuff I keep for when I go camping with friends, but I figured it would be a good idea. I'm older than I used to be, and sometimes my back doesn't enjoy sitting on hard surfaces for too long."

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