Marlie wondered how long it would take her brother to glom onto Demon for some ice time.
Some ex-pro athletes had settled in town a few years ago, two football players and, more recently, a big-name baseball player. After everyone got over having sports celebs in town, they started treating them like everyone else.
Probably because people finally realized the ex-pros wanted the anonymity a small town like Hope’s Turn provided.
She’d met the baseball guy once, and he seemed totally normal if a little too handsome for her tastes.
Not like Demon. Nothing about this guy blended in.
Why did that bother her? Perhaps because though he hadn’t quite charmed her, Jeff already loved him, the pregnant cat hadn’t seemed to mind his mauling, and Steve looked ready to jump across the table and hug him.
Demon explained, “My folks live in town. I grew up between here and Portland, finally moved away, then started my hockey career.”
Steve’s eyes glowed. “Do you visit often? I haven’t seen you around.”
“His folks are like ours,” Marlie said, remembering Demon had needed a drink to deal with his parents.
“Ah, enough said.” Steve grinned.
Marlie and her brothers loved their parents, but they could be a bit much to take. Her mother, Sheriff Law and Order, had been super strict growing up. Their father had been good cop to her bad cop, but the pair acted as if their children could do no wrong.
And the Reynolds kids had been plenty challenging during adolescence.
It made rebelling both a necessity and a guilty-pleasure, the clear love her parents had for their children both stifling and reassuring at the same time.
She noticed Steve still staring at Demon, who turned his gaze to hers, looking for help.
She looked back at him and shrugged. You’re on your own, bucko.
He rolled his eyes and turned to her brother. “Fine. Steve, let’s cut to it. I’m trying to woo your sister, who doesn’t seem to like me much. I need some space to up my game.”
Steve’s eyes widened as they shifted back to Marlie.
When he didn’t say anything, Marlie clarified, “He means you’re cock-blocking him. Shit or get off the pot, bro.”
Demon burst into laughter, which drew many gazes to their table.
Steve turned bright red before glaring daggers at her. “I’m telling Mom you said that.”
Though she felt a frisson of fear, she refused to kowtow to her mother over a lack of manners. “I’m twenty-nine, Steve. I’m not afraid of her.”
He just looked at her. They both knew the truth.
“Oh, screw you.”
Steve grinned then turned to Demon. “You up for a game? No, wait. You’re probably still recovering. How about giving my team some advice? We have practice and games coming up.”
Demon gave a slow nod. “Yeah, I could do that. When and where?”
Steve gave him the details, which Demon plugged into his phone. Her brother glared again at Marlie and warned her to be nice to his new friend then took off.
She looked back at Demon to see him studying her. But at least this time he wasn’t leering at her breasts. Which should have bothered her when he had before, but for some reason, she’d been oddly flattered.
I need to have my head examined.
He cleared his throat. “So, I’m helping out your beloved twin brother.”
“And?” Beloved?
