Page 87 of Trial By Fire
I point a finger at the cougar chaser. "Stay away from Lindsey. What is it with you guys? She's pregnant."
Sully, Hud and Jameson grin at me, and I realize they all know how I feel about her and are giving me a hard time. Losers. "She's moving into an apartment this evening. Doesn't have much, but I can't carry with these crutches."
"I'm in," Sully says.
"Yeah. Me, too," Jameson adds. "Happy to help."
I glance at Hudson, ready to tell him he's off the hook just so he won't spend the evening flirting with Lindsey, but before I can, Dani comes running up to me.
"Daddy?"
"What, baby girl?"
Dani glances at the guys and then tugs me low to whisper in my ear. When she's finished, I shoot her a stern glare. "No way. You're my girl. You'll have to ask him that yourself."
She has all their attention now, but just when I think she'll be too embarrassed or shy to voice her question aloud, she grumbles a "Fine" to me and then turns to Hud.
"Hudson?" she asks sweetly
"Yeah, Dani-girl, what's up?"
"Daddy says you should dance with me."
Hours later, the sun is setting, the wedding is over, and Bronwyn and Gabe have left for the airport for a short trip to Aruba for their honeymoon. Neither can be out of town for long due to their occupations, but they'd wanted to do something to celebrate their special day.
Sully drives me and the girls home. I get them settled, change out of wedding clothes and offer Sully some shorts and a tee to change into before we climb back into his old truck to go back to the loft to help Lindsey.
I didn't mention us pitching in, mainly because I think Lindsey would argue. Or not want me around. Maybe it's overstepping a boundary, but if Gabe and Bronwyn were moving, or one of the guys, we'd do the same thing. Lindsey's family, whether she likes it or not.
We arrive outside the building, and Lindsey has propped open the lower-level gate. I frown because it means anyone could just walk up to the private balcony and gain access to the loft. Sully jogs up the steps while I silently curse the crutches slowing me down. He waits for me at the top, and I'm just about to knock on the glass door when I see Lindsey on the other side, eyes wide when she spots us.
She leaves the box she carries on the table as she walks by to open the door. "What are you doing here?"
"We came to help," I tell her. "Hud and Jameson will be here soon."
Lindsey's expression softens. "You guys don't have to help me. I don't have a lot."
"We've seen your car and those monstrosities you call suitcases," I tell her. "You shouldn't be carrying those up and down stairs."
She gives me a small smile and sighs. "I will admit I wasn't looking forward to those. But how are you going to carry anything on crutches?"
"I'm the official door holder and stuff watcher while the guys do the heavy lifting."
That earns a bigger smile from her, and I relax a little. Lindsey and I might be moving forward separately, but we still have an undeniable connection.
Sully claps his hands together and rubs them. "Got my truck downstairs. What's first?"
I watch while they get started.
Boxes are easy. But every time Lindsey walks by, I'm stuck figuring out what to do with the tension still crackling between us.
Chapter 37
Lindsey
Kace and his buddies made moving a breeze. It would have taken me hours and more than one trip to get things to the apartment in my car and then carried upstairs.
They had me loaded up and then unloaded within an hour.
