“Hmm?” she asks, shoving the skates into a duffle bag and setting it on the edge of her desk.
“Baby”—I catch her hand—“are you okay?”
“What?” She shakes herself. “I’m fine.”
“You’re a million miles away.” I tuck her hair behind her ear. “You’ve barely looked at me since you came off the ice.”
“I’m sorry.” She touches my jaw, eyes filled with that apology before she grimaces. “I’m distracted. My mind is going a hundred miles an hour getting ready for the road trip.” A sigh. “Especially with Knox’s ankle bothering him.” Her fingers wrap around mine before she smiles. “But I’m glad you’re here so I can stop going around and around about it.”
“Do you want to talk about lines for tomorrow?”
“No.” She says it a little too quickly, but before I can call her on it, she snags her bag and comes close again. “I’d rather just go home and have you distract me.” Her mouth curves. “Think you can handle that, hot shot?”
My dick twitches. “I think I can beconvincedto handle it.”
“Good,” she whispers.
I snag her bag. “Need anything else?”
“No.”
I jerk my chin to the hall. “Then let’s get on with the distracting.”
We make our way through the corridor then out into the night air, but as we move to my car, she peels off to hers. “I’ll meet you at yourplace?”
“Do you want me to drive—?” My phone buzzes, cutting me off.
“I’ll follow you over.” She presses her lips to mine. “Answer your phone.” Her mouth quirks. “Because I know that’s your favorite thing.”
“Baby—”
“Go on.” She drops back to her heels, moves to her car and I hear the locks disengage.
I pull my phone out, see that Kylie has texted.
KYLIE: Are you and Joey okay?
DAMON: We’re fine. We met up at the rink. Why?
I see the “…” appear and then disappear a few times and my stomach sinks.
“All good?” Joey asks, poised in her open driver’s side door.
My phone buzzes again, but I ignore it for a moment. “All good.”
She grins. “Good.”
I look down at my phone screen again.
KYLIE: Good. I wanted to make sure you two connected.
DAMON: We did and now we’re heading back to the house. Need anything?
KYLIE: I’m all set.
“Am I racing you to your place?” Joey calls.
I glance up to see her smiling, but I’m distracted from the fact that it’s not completely normal when my cell vibrates again.
