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“Ooh, that I’d like to see, my little city girl.” My mum chuckles.

I crack the door open just enough to peek into the room and find Taylor sitting at the small round table in the corner of the kitchen. She sits with one leg propped up on the seat, the other dangling beneath her. The morning light from the window illuminates her blonde hair as it flows freely down her back. Tiny dust fragments bounce around her as she cups a steaming mug with two hands. Her head drops back on a laugh, but all the sounds escape me when I see her smile. Her smile rivals the sun.

“Would you like me to get Patrick to escort you on your adventure today?”

“Mmm.” She’s mid-sip. “No, that's okay. Actually, Knox is going to take me.” Her head snaps toward me, a cheeky grin aimed directly my way.Busted.

“Knox?” My mum’s head cranes toward me, following Taylor’s attention.

I walk into the kitchen. “Morning, Mum,” I say, coming to her side.

“Well, I didn’t have you down for chauffeur duties today.”

Taylor bites her lip, but it doesn’t stop the huff of a laugh that bubbles out of her. She leaves the small table and makes her way over to the other side of my mum, turning on the sink.

“Oh, don’t worry about that, dear. I’ve got it. You two go, have fun.”

Our eyes meet from either side of my mum, and an electric current passes between us when our eyes lock.

“Let’s roll, love.”

In the enclosedspace of my truck, Taylor’s scent envelops me. It’s the same scent that I’ve come to know asher. Unique. It’s a smell that evokes an almost nostalgic feeling in me. It calms me down but excites me at the same time. It’s earthy, but sweet. Its?—

“Are you meditating?”

“What?”

“You’re silent and doing a lot of deep breathing over there.”

I narrow my eyes at her, and her chest shakes with a small laugh.Smartass.Her laugh slowly tapers off, her attention drifting to the radio. She listens intently to the song that’s playing softly through the cab of the truck.

“Wait. I love this song,” she says, reaching over to turn it up.

We’ve made it out of the town and are flying down the open road. Taylor throws her head back, singing at the top of her tone-deaf lungs.

“Now you know my secret.” She lifts her shoulder to her chin with a sly smile.

“Thank God you’re beautiful because you can’t sing for shit?”

Her jaw falls open and she reaches across the seat bench to smack me lightly with the back of her hand.

“Count your lucky stars. Not everyone is special enough to get to hear me sing. It’s my ‘thank you’ for taking me today.”

“No thanks necessary.” She’s not offended and I like that. Nothing feels too serious with her. I’ve spent years of my life focusing on how to be the best at what I do—what’s going to give me the advantage on and off the pitch. Hell, even in my recovery time. I spent it constantly learning the best ways to recover. I don’t remember the last time I did anything for simple enjoyment. I don’t know if I’ve ever chosen to openlydo something I’m not perfect at in front of an audience. The little time I’ve spent around Taylor makes me question the things I was missing.

“Mark my words, Browning. You’ll be begging to hear me sing for you again.” The emphasis she puts on the word begging has the blood rushing straight to my cock. I clear my throat and shift in my seat. “You know, I could’ve driven us.”

Her eyes dart to where my hand hangs out of my sling, holding the bottom of the steering wheel.

“You know how to drive stick?”

“I—” Her tongue pushes along the inside of her cheek and I have to look away. “Could figure it out.”

“I like your confidence.” I smile, shifting into fourth gear down one of my favorite stretches of open road. There are only a few ways of getting to the cliffs and this one is typically the least traveled.

“Did you always know you wanted to play Rugby?”

I nod. “I started young and then never thought about anything else.”