Instead, I rise on my toes, but unlike normal, I can’t quite make his cheek, so he picks me up until we’re eye level.
“I can’t fucking believe you’re here,” he says. “Surprises usually piss me off.” He buries his head in my neck, and I thread my fingers through his damp hair.
“Maybe we should go somewhere more private,” I whisper into his ear.
At that, he looks around for what must be the first time, and he seems to realize a lot of people haven’t left. When he glancesbehind him, we both realize we’re on the jumbo screen above the ice.
A frown mars his expression before he kisses my temple and then sets me down. “Text me if you get lost, okay? I’ll see you soon.” He plants one last quick kiss on my lips before trudging down the stairs, scooping his things off the ice in one fluid, practiced motion before gliding over to the team exit and disappearing from view. The minute he’s gone, what’s left of the crowd erupts into loud whoops and hollers of approval.
The middle-aged woman who was sitting beside me lets out a loud sigh. “How can I become God’s favorite like that?” She turns to the guy beside her, smacking him in the chest. “Why don’t you act like that?”
He lets out anoofbut doesn’t respond.
“Sorry,” I say, stepping out of the way. “I didn’t mean to hold everyone up.”
“Honey,” she says, patting me on the arm on the way past, “I don’t care what they’re saying on social media. You keep hold of that man. The look on his face when you first got here and he saw you—gonna live rent free in my head forever. Never seen Logan Bishop look so happy about anything. Come on, Bob,” she says, tugging the man along behind her. “Traffic’ll be a bear.”
Other people openly stare or smile at me as they file past. Being well-known in Bellerive feels different than this, not as invasive. The team rep who escorted me to my seat appears at my side, and I sag with relief.
“Can you get me out of here to wherever Logan is?” I ask.
“Certainly. Follow me.”
Now I just have to hope that once I explainwhyI’m here, Logan is just as happy as he was when he first saw me.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Sawyer
The minute Logan comes out of the team dressing room, he stops in front of me, frames my face, and gives me the longest, slowest kiss. It’s soft lips, the bristly scrape of his beard, minty breath, and a hint of tongue.
And god, if my knees don’t almost give out.
Whatever pheromones he summons should be sold as a lust potion. On instinct, I grab the lapels of his suit, and that only makes him deepen the kiss.Hell, yes.
How wrong is it that I’d let him do whatever he wanted right here in the hallway, and I might not even notice that other people exist? If being with him didn’t feel so good, those thoughts would scare the shit out of me. Those kinds of thoughts are ones that will make me forget how easily trust can be broken and then wielded like a weapon.
“You gave me the best surprise,” he mutters between kisses, “and you should be thoroughly rewarded.”
“Is that what’s happening right now?” I ask, breathless.
“Not even close.” He tugs me tighter. “We won today, and we weren’t predicted to. Means I don’t need sleep tonight. We can lose tomorrow. I won’t even care.”
“Not true,” I murmur before kissing him again. “That’s not how you really feel.”
“I’m feeling all kinds of things right now, doc. Most of them aren’t hockey related.”
“Anyone got popcorn?” Radek asks, his Czech accent pronounced, and other players and their wives or girlfriends laugh along. “Seems like Bishop actually knows what he’s doing. Might be a good show, after all.”
Logan releases a deep sigh, and he frames my face again, his forehead touching mine. “Radek thought I was a virgin,” he says, his voice deep and rumbly with desire.
I can’t help the laugh that bursts out, and the corners of Logan’s lips quirk up before he turns to face Radek, his hand still on my lower back.
“A virgin?” I ask.
Radek gives an exaggerated shrug. “Young hotshot had little interest in women on the road or at home. Thought maybe he was shy or inexperienced.”
“He’s not shy,” I confirm. “Or inexperienced.” Hearing what I sort of already suspected—that Logan hasn’t had a woman waiting in every city—causes a flutter in my stomach. He already made me feel safe, but I’m also becoming sure I can trust him on other levels too.
