Brett laughed out loud. “Andrea gave me her number for emergencies. She didn’t think you’d given me any contact information for members of your family, which you hadn’t, by the way. She also gave me Theo’s number just in case.”
Penny grinned. “You have Kelty’s number, and she’s connected with Andrea on social media.”
“Perfect. If you get in a car accident, I’ll text Kelty, who’ll send a message that will sit in Andrea’s unchecked inbox for two weeks. Maybe while I’m at it, I’ll call the RCMP and they can send up a smoke signal and hope your family sees it.”
Penny pushed against his shoulder, but Brett pulled her against him. She searched his eyes. “So you wanted this. This whole time?”
“Hell, yes. But with everything going on . . . with my history. Then, with what you told me about your brother . . .”
“You didn’t think you were ready. Didn’t want to stretch yourself too thin.” Penny filled in the blanks, and Brett nodded. She reached up and twisted his hair around her fingers. “Did we push it? Is this going to be too hard?”
“Penny, I haven’t thought about my knee or my life being out of control for weeks. I know I still have a long road ahead of me, but you’ve made this easier, not more difficult.”
Something flickered over Penny’s face, but a smile replaced it so fast he wondered if he imagined it. “So we make things easy. Even if it’s only for five weeks.”
Brett felt a twinge in his midsection.Five weeks. He’d take five weeks over nothing, but he already knew he was never going to be satisfied with that. Five weeks was just enough time for his heart to fuse with hers. Hell, it already had. If and when she left for Vancouver, they’d both be left bleeding.
That meant he had five weeks to convince her this was nothing like the relationships she’d had in the past. Five weeks to prove he wouldn’t require her to be a chameleon. Five weeks to convince Penny to stay.
ChapterTwenty-One
Monday night,Penny sat in the stands at the rink, watching with fascination as the Snowballs glided across the smooth, glassy surface. The chill in the air was a welcome contrast to the heat of the day, but because she’d forgotten the inside of a hockey rink wasn’t comparable to the blazing Calgary sun, she’d failed to dress appropriately.
"Here, take my jacket," Brett offered, draping it over her shoulders.
“You won’t need it?”
He shook his head. “I work out while the guys are on the ice.”
“Hence the reason you didn’t go to the gym this morning?”
Brett’s face broke into a devilish grin. “I still got my cardio.”
Penny laughed then pulled his jacket around her knees as Sean barked out drills. This was Brett’s world, and while she’d watched plenty of hockey, she didn’t know how it felt to play. To be a part of a team. “Have you always played?”
Brett grunted as he held his plank. “Always. From the time I was six. Except for those years when I was out of my head.”
Penny swallowed hard. She’d never asked him about those years. She wanted to, but didn’t know if she was ready to hear the details. “You never considered hanging up the skates?”
“I considered it every season for years. Hockey chews you up and spits you out. Then you come back and ask for more.”
Penny laughed. “Gluttons for punishment?”
“The worst. But that’s why it’s so important.” He dropped to his forearms, then pushed back up. “If I can be uncomfortable there, I can be uncomfortable anywhere and not give in.”
It clicked then, why Brett was so desperate to get back. Desperate enough that he invited a stranger to move into his house so he could receive treatment. Lucas never figured out how to take charge. Every time he tried, he was dragged back under. Maybe if he could’ve forced himself past his physical limits for a game, he could’ve done it for his life.
“I’m glad you have this,” she whispered.
Brett looked up, and that sadness she’d glimpsed the first time they met flickered behind his eyes. “I’m sorry he didn’t.”
_____
On Tuesday, Penny woke in Brett's arms for the second time. Technically third if she counted camping. Now that she knew he’d wanted her there all along, it felt like it counted. Brett kissed her temple and pulled himself out from under her.
“I was trying to escape without waking you up. Looks like I failed.”
“I’m glad you failed. I wouldn’t have wanted to wake up and find you gone.” She propped her head up on the pillow as Brett sat on the edge of the bed and stretched his legs. “Still sore?”
