Kickstart My Heart (Burgers and Brew Crue #1) - Lacey Black Page 0,57

fifty dollars.”

“I would happily pay more,” I whisper, grateful for the deal, yet acknowledging the fact she’s undercutting the value.

“And I would happily give it to you.”

***

An hour later, we’re pulling out of the driveway, Jamal’s truck following behind us. Inside is my brand-new bed. Well, new to me.

Lizzie is chatty, but only for a few minutes. As we pull into the parking lot of my apartment building, her talking falls to silence. I glance back and smile the moment I see her sleeping. “Figures. She used to do that all the time when she was a baby. Fall asleep right before we arrived to wherever we were going.”

Walker pulls into a parking spot and glances back, his own smile crossing his lips. “I can carry her up,” he says, shutting off the ignition and unbuckling his seat belt. He points to the front door, motioning for Jamal to back up to the steps. Then he heads to my daughter, carefully unbuckles her harness, and slowly lifts her awkwardly from the car seat. Lizzie remains like a limp noodle as he cradles her against his chest and heads for the building.

I dig out my keys, stealing glances of Walker and Lizzie. She’s always been an easygoing, carefree child, who warms up eventually once the shyness wears off, but I don’t recall seeing much of that shyness where Walker was concerned. She took to him right away, probably much easier than he did. I could definitely see the apprehensiveness in his eyes that first time he met her in Isaac’s office, but it only lasted a short while. Now, they’re fast friends, which makes my heart do little somersaults in my chest.

I unlock my apartment and watch as Walker carries Lizzie into her room. He places her on top of the tiny mattress and kisses her forehead, before covering her up with the princess blanket. “Why don’t you stay up here while we carry the bed up?”

Nodding, I reply, “Okay.” As he heads for the door, my eyes seem to drop to his ass, all on their own. I mean, it’s such a nice one, probably the best I’ve ever seen in a pair of Levis, so why not enjoy the view while I have it, right?

Several minutes later, I’m standing at the front door while Jamal and Walker carry up the mattress. “Are you even helping lift it?” Walker asks, clearly teasing his cousin.

“Fuck you. You made me go up backward on purpose. Quit trying to knock me down,” Jamal argues as he hits the landing for our floor.

“Thank you so much,” I insist, as they maneuver through the doorway.

“It’s no problem, Mal. If only Walker was a little stronger and actually helping me,” Jamal says with a big dopey grin as the walks by me.

I can’t help but return his smile. Walker throws me a wink as he goes by, without so much as breaking a sweat or showing any sign of exertion.

They head back down to retrieve the box spring, and while I wait for their return, I grab two glasses and fill them with water from the fridge. Once they place the second piece with the mattress, leaning against the wall in the bedroom, I offer them both the cold liquid. “Thank you both so much. I couldn’t have done that without you.”

Walker takes a drink, his eyes locking with mine. “I would hope you wouldn’t have tried that by yourself.”

I shrug, but he’s right. No way would I have attempted to carry a queen-sized mattress and box spring up two flights of stairs by myself. Even I, a woman who has made questionable life choices, wouldn’t have ever thought that was a good idea. I couldn’t even carry a toddler bed up without almost having an emotional breakdown.

“All right,” Jamal says, finishing his glass of water and setting it on the table. “I’ma head out. You need anything else, just call,” he says to his cousin, but gives me a look, letting me know he’s talking to me too.

“Thank you, Jamal.”

“You’re welcome, Mal. You ever get tired of this shmuck, give me a call.” Jamal barely has the words out before he’s punched—playfully—in the side. Well, at least I think it’s playfully.

“Get out of here,” Walker demands with no heat behind his words. He gives his cousin a smile and walks him to the door.

Once he leaves and the front door is locked again, the apartment feels a bit smaller. I don’t know what it is