“Me either.”
“It’s illogical. I still have a job in Portland and travel half the year. I know you love Hope’s Turn. Honestly, I love it there too. Being home the past few months has been a break I didn’t know I needed. I like the anonymity of the place, where I can just be me.” He paused. “But this here, this is me too. I love hockey, Marlie. I’m good at it. It’s in my blood.”
“The way basketball is in mine. I know I’m just a high school coach, just a community college teacher, but?—”
“Bullshit. There’s no ‘just’ about it.”
She gave him a slow smile. “That’s what I love about you. You accept me for me. You don’t see a difference between us, even though I’m pretty sure you’re the one out of my league.”
“Are you on crack? I’m amazing, but you’re even better. Only a …” He blinked. “Hold on. You love that about me?”
“I love you, you big doofus.”
His heart thundered. “You do?” To his shock, tears filled her eyes. “Marlie?”
She turned her face into his hands then backed away. “It’s ridiculous. I barely know you. But I do know you. You’re sweet and annoying and stubborn and easy to get along with. You’ve been with me, in my tiny cottage, for two weeks and I don’t want to kill you.”
“Good.” He smiled at her.
“We don’t make sense falling for each other so hard, so fast.”
“I know.”
“But I feel something for you I’ve never felt for anyone before. We have so much in common. And I feel like you really do respect me.”
“I do.” God, he loved her so much.
“Even our families are alike. You know my parents will freak out when they realize we’re a couple.”
“Well, your dad already knows I plan to marry you. I didn’t want to blindside him.”
“He—what?” She groaned. “He probably told my mom.”
“She’ll be tough, but I’m pretty sure I can win over your brothers with hockey tickets.”
She nodded. “They’re easy.”
“Jeff likes me because I didn’t tell you about Will. And Will likes me.” He frowned. “You can’t tell them you know.”
“But—”
“You can’t. I have to have an in with your best friend.”
“Well, okay.” She was smiling at him. “Aren’t we supposed to have some major fight and make up? So we know we’re compatible even when we’re not happy?”
“You were super bitchy to me last week, and I didn’t freak out. I love everything about you, Marlie.”
“Everything about me?” She huffed. “We’re too new for ‘everything.’”
“Way too new,” he agreed. “But we’ll learn.”
“Our lives are in different directions right now.”
“But they’d won’t be forever. I just need you to know you’re it for me, Marlie Reynolds. I’m done with other women.”
“How can you be sure?”
He waved his arms in the air. “Are you kidding me? Did you not see Bubbles’ perfect tits? I know what they look like because she has a habit of flashing them around. But when you’re in the room, nothing matters but you.”
