Page 51 of Playing for Keeps (Checkmate 4)

Distracted, I slide on icy concrete and push the snow off my hair to avoid frizz. “Woah.” I hold Nacho close and slow before I fall on my ass. The sounds of fists slamming on muscle bring a smile to my face, but the snow in my hair annoys me. Turning at the doorway, the breath explodes from my lungs when I slam against a heavy chest and fall backwards.

Nacho squeals as we fall. Instinctively, I throw my arms out to catch me, but I still slam to the frozen concrete and land on my tailbone and elbows. “Ah! Fuck.”

“Oh shit!” One of the fighters – Aiden Kincaid, I think – bounds forward and springs me back to my feet so fast, I get whiplash. Almost tugging my arm from the socket, then patting my jeans down, he holds my arm and squeezes too tight. “I’m so sorry, Andi. Jesus, I’m sorry. Are you hurt?”

“I think I broke my ass.” Groaning, I reach back with my spare hand and rub my tailbone. “And my ass is soaking wet. Dammit.”Well played, karma. Well friggin played. Threaten Riley with wet pants; fall on your ass.

Aiden Kincaid – it has to be Aiden, because I know Jimmy, and this sure as hell isn’ttheworld champion fighter, Bobby Kincaid – watches me through gray eyes and grinds a square jaw. He’s sorry, even a blind chick could see that, but he’s stronger than he gives himself credit for, because his squeezing hand is about to snap my arm.

“It’s okay. I’m steady now.” I pry my arm from his grasp, then rub it to get the blood flowing again. “Just…” I breathe through the throbbing in my ass. “Ow! Just give me a sec to catch my breath.” I drop a hand into my satchel and pat Nacho’s ears. Thankfully, I didn’t land on her. In fact, I think she landed on me.

Aiden doesn’t back up, and when a blonde bombshell steps out the front to find us standing huddled barely beneath the eaves, her smile turns to curiosity.

And mine turns up about thirty notches.

“Hey. What’s going on?”

“Your husband busted my ass, Tina. Like, smashed it good and proper. I won’t walk normally for weeks.”

It’s almost comical how wide his eyes flare. “What? No! She fell.” He turns. “Peaches, she fell.”

“Did you shove her over, Aiden Kincaid?”

“No! It was an accident.” He flounders, stammers, and waves his arms in a way that totally ruins whatever cool status he previously possessed.

Laughing, Tina takes my arm right where Aiden did, but much gentler and pulls me toward the door. “He’s a brute, Andi, but he means well.”

“I think I broke my tailbone,” I whisper. Because it really does hurt, and my moment of embarrassing the silent Kincaid has already washed away. “Somebody’s gotta get out there with a shovel.”

“Sorry.” Her blue eyes meet mine, genuine apology shining bright. “You’re right. Jimmy already shoveled once, but this crappy storm is coming in and ruining my day. Mac and Benny!” I jump when the boys in the blue boxing ring stop sparring and swing around to see who’s calling. I haven’t seen Benny in days, so seeing him now makes my heart swell.

Panting and sweaty, Mac rips the Velcro open on his left glove and ribs his palm over his thigh as though to massage away an ache. He’s a teen, on the younger end of teen, and yet, he’s taller than most boys his age and the way his hair hangs in his eyes gives him an air of danger. “Yeah, Mrs. Kincaid?”

“I need you both out front to shovel the path. Andi fell and busted her ass because it’s slippery.”

Of course, Benny hurdles the ropes and sprints forward like I’ve been set alight. “You okay, Aunt Andi?”

“Yeah, baby.” Stepping onto my toes, I pull him down and press a noisy kiss to his cheek. “Can you help Tina out and go shovel? I went splat outside, so it’s kinda dangerous. What if an old lady comes here to visit?”

“I got it.” He pulls me in and crushes me against his chest until the breath explodes from my lungs. He still wears heavy boxing gloves and has a sweaty chest. Despite the cold outside, he’s wearing only shorts now, having tossed his shirt and hoodie to the floor beside the ring. “I missed you yesterday. I thought you would come for dinner.”

“I’m sorry, honey. I got busy, but I’ll come over soon.” I step back when Nacho panics in my bag. Used to her now, Ben rolls his eyes and smirks.

But Tina’s eyes flare wide. “Umm…?”

“Sorry.” I open the bag and let Nacho poke her head out to say hello. “I didn’t stop at home to drop her off. I hope it’s okay I brought her in.”

“It’s fine.” She leans in and scratches little pink ears. “She’s welcome here, but maybe don’t let her on the mats. The guys are weird about respecting the mats.”

Laughing, I pull Nacho out of the bag and nestle her against my chest. “I won’t put her down. Scout’s honor.”

“Cool. Boys, go please.” As soon as they race each other toward the door, Tina turns and makes me think of a horror movie the way her eyes turn to fire. “You two! Get out here now.”

It takes me a moment to realize she’s not talking to me. Turning, I glance over my shoulder and catch sight of a couple teen girls with sheepish grins.

“I’m sure you have something better to do than watch those boys train.”

“We were strategizing, Mom.” Evie Kincaid is her mom’s bombshell twin, but where Tina’s blonde hair is straight, Evie owns tight curls. Even sweaty, even tied back so the ends dangle at the middle of her back, Evie’s hair is big and frames her face in a truly beautiful way.

---