“Wildcat.”
He nodded. “Let’s finish this.”
Once practice ended,I skated over to Keelie, who was chatting with Maxim and Nik. I enjoyed seeing her so relaxed around my friends.
“Yeah, give us a bit to clean up and grab something to eat, then we’ll meet you there,” Nik said.
“Meet who where?” I asked.
Maxim smiled. “Coach set up tee times for those of us interested in a golf afternoon. You know, team building.”
I groaned. “No, this is my date with Keelie.”
Maxim slapped my shoulder. “And a bunch of the guys.”
I cursed, anger bubbling. Keelie giggled. I shot her a sour look. “What?”
“I think it’s cute that you guys like to do things together.”
I shrugged. “Until I want to do things with just you.”
“Golf isn’t a just-you thing,” Nik said, his expression serious. “That’s sex.”
“Dude, chicks don’t like that talk,” Maxim muttered.
“They don’t like being called chicks either,” Keelie replied.
To my surprise, she leaned over the boards and kissed me. My lips tingled, but I wanted more. That was going to be a constant issue with Keelie.
“See you in a few—with your buddies—for our golf date,” she said with a wave.
Chapter28
Keelie
Cormac’s frustration was adorable. I understood why he felt that way, but I also appreciated the opportunity to get to know more about him—and his friends. I figured after being blinded by Marian’s duplicity, I needed to do all the research into Cormac I could. How he interacted with the people closest to him should give me a better sign of his true personality.
He grumbled on our way to the course, but when he saw a tall redhead with knockout curves waiting just inside the door of the clubhouse, he strode over and wrapped her in a hug. I hung back, unsure who this woman was or how to proceed.
“Good to see you, Cormac,” she said. “Who’s this?”
He stepped back and took my hand, beaming as he introduced me. “Keelie Hayes, occupational therapist and golf pro, meet Paloma Whittaker, mom extraordinaire and Wildcatters chief wrangler.”
Paloma laughed, but she also grinned broader. Cormac did that to people—he noted what put them at ease or made them happy.
“I’m married to Silas, the coach,” she said. “Cormac left out that detail. I hope you’re not too angry with Silas for stealing your time alone.” Her expression turned earnest. “I don’t want to cause problems between any of you.”
Cormac ran his palm up the back of his neck and shot me a glance. “It’s okay.”
Paloma raised an eyebrow behind the turquoise frames of her glasses. “Mmm… I see how this went down.” She lifted sunglasses from the V of her T-shirt and perched them on her nose. She patted Cormac’s cheek before she strode toward a man outside, who pulled a fourth golf cart into a line out front.
“What’s that about?” I asked.
“Don’t know. Let’s get our gear settled, okay? You hungry?” Cormac asked.
“No. I’m good. The trail mix hit the spot.”
He’d eaten the bulk of it, along with both bananas and another smoothie he’d made at the arena.
