“I’m not mad.” His voice rises.
“Then why are you shouting?”
“I’m not shouting!”
The click of doggy nails precedes Ladybird bounding to where we are, plowing straight into me, and knocking me into his arms.Again.
I fall against his hard chest with a littleoof!And ofcourse, his strong arms go around me, holding me close as he gazes into my face.
We’re both breathing fast, but I won’t fall for a man who plays games. Not again.
“What are you doing?” I try to push away.
“I really want to kiss you right now,” he growls, flexing his fingers against my skin and sending currents of lust through my veins.
Jerking my chin, I meet his eyes head-on. “What’s stopping you?”
The muscle in his jaw moves attractively, momentarily hypnotizing me. He flexes his fingers on my arms once more before releasing his hold and stepping back.
Looking down, he shoves both hands in his hair, pushing it back before stepping away with one word. “Everything.”
8
OWEN
Gina Grace Bradford is wearing me down.
I’m pretty sure she isn’t trying to, but being so close to her, sharing a bathroom, catching her scent everywhere I turn… I only want to press her against the wall and kiss her until neither of us can see straight.
I almost did it last night, but I stopped myself.
What I said to her was the truth. I’m not boyfriend material. Hell, I’m probably too old to even be called aboyfriendanymore.
I’m a single dad, a widower. It’s my job to put Maddie to bed at night and be sure she’s comfortable and secure and not afraid of the dark or monsters in the closet.
I read bedtime stories. I’m asleep by ten.
None of this is appealing to a woman as full of life as Gigi is. Not to mention she’s beautiful, and she could probably have any man she wants. Why would she want someone broken like me?
“Head in the game, Sly!” Gav gives me a shove as he glides by on the ice. “We’re going to practice T3G again.”
We’ve done all the warmups and drills, now it’s time for our scrimmage.
“I’m ready,” I lie.
I wasn’t paying attention to a damn thing just now. The only thing on my mind was shimmering gold hair with deep red highlights, how I’d love to thread my fingers in those silky locks, pull her head back, cover her mouth…
“Stone!” Donovan’s voice cuts through the noise. “Let’s do this!”
Nodding, I focus my eyes on the small, black disc, skating hard to the side of the net, where Hancock sends it to me. Gav rounds the net, and I pass it to him, then he slaps it in for the goal just as fast.
T-T-T-G. Time to win.
I’ve just finished showeringand returned to the locker room when Mav holds up his phone.
“Dangit.” He looks over to Gavin. “Gigi’s car broke down in Hidden Creek. Can you pick her up? I’ve got a photo shoot in twenty minutes.”
“I’m going with Haddy to Lucy’s doctor’s appointment.” He winces. “She’s getting her first shots today. Haddy will kill me if I’m not there. Can’t she get an Uber?”
