“Of course you do,” he mutters. “And, apparently, when “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” plays during a penalty, there will be wigs and giant sunglasses.”
I nod. “I love that.”
“There was also swaying. And kicking.”
I grin. “Amazing.”
“I don’t sing and dance. I play hockey.”
“And that’s what you’re going to do here. You might have to do a few other little things. But there are plenty of guys to do the big stuff. Beckett wants to be the goofball front man anyway.”
His eyes narrow. “You don’t seem too bothered by me being bothered.”
I prop my chin on my hand. “Should I be?”
He leans in. “Shouldn’t mygirlfriendcare when I’m upset?”
God, he smells good. He must have showered at the arena, becausesurelyhe would have commented on the apartment upstairs if he’d seen it.
And he’s sowarm. The air around me and between us seems to heat ten degrees.
“That’s a good point. I probably should,” I agree.
“You should probably make me glad to be herein spite ofbonkers hockey,” he says.
Hot tingles race over my body.
“And how would I do that?”
“I only have fifty-eight ideas,” he says.
I laugh.
His eyes heat. “So how are we going to let everyone know we’re dating? Should we make some kind of announcement?”
“Oh, we’re not going to need to do that,” I say.
“No?”
I lean in, wrap both arms around his neck, and say, “Trust me. It’s going to be all over town in about twenty minutes.”
Then I kiss him.
CHAPTER 10
ALEX
The mattresson the bed in my new apartment is too short. I am also too tall for the showerhead in the shower. The water pressure sucks, and it takes forever to heat up. It’s also cramped. But instead of being upset about it, all I can think is that it would be very difficult to fit Nora in here with me. Which makes me wonder about the shower at her place. And her bed. And the fact that I am going to find out about both of those things.
I understand that we are pretending to be in a relationship. But we are actually going to date. I’m going to take her out. We’re going to get to know each other. Which also means that I’m going to get to touch her, be very in her personal space, and kiss her some more. Now that I’ve had a taste, there’s no way I could resist it anyway, and it’s absolutely imperative that we make it seem real. If Nora is the key to making this town like me, and this town liking me is the key to making the team successful for Astrid, Nora, and me, then I’m going to have to kiss Nora. A lot.
Darn.
I’m grinning as I towel off my hair.
Her kissing me in the bar last night did exactly what she said it would. Everyone noticed, people immediately started askingus what was going on, confirming that we were a couple. One woman, I think her name was Jesse, was very disappointed and said one of her nephews was also going to be disappointed.
Good.
