“I know, but let me help you in.”
I try one more time and nearly slip again. Scotty’s fingers wiggle in the air, teasing me until I finally give in and take his hand. He lifts me into the truck with one arm, like I weigh nothing. I act like it is nothing, even though my brain is screaming that it might be the hottest thing I have ever witnessed. He does not get the satisfaction of knowing that.
When I’m safely in my seat, I adjust my tiara and fix my dress and then glare at the ever-so-smug hockey player. “I’m going to kill you; I just haven’t decided how yet.”
“I know. I’m sorry, Laura. You specifically asked me not to go in, and I did anyway.”
“Why’d you do it then?”
He runs a hand through his hair, sighing. “Because I'm an idiot with boundary issues and a complete inability to follow simple instructions?”
I take in his words for a second, surprised that he’s being so honest. My lips twitch, but I quickly mask it with a frown.
“I'm serious, Laura. You told me to stay in the truck. I said I would, but then I couldn't stop thinking about what you were doing in there, and before I knew it, I was telling some guy I was your boyfriend—”
“You what?”
“—and he let me in, and then I saw you, and…” He looks out the windshield before blowing out a breath. “You were amazing. Those kids adore you.Iadored you.”
Heat spreads across my cheeks, and I'm grateful for the heavy stage makeup hiding it. “ Okay, no. We are not using the word adore. That is… unnecessary. Kids are easy to please. Just add a little glitter and mention a cute animal sidekick, and then you've got them in the palm of your hands.”
“No.” He shakes his head, starting the engine. “It was more than that. That little girl, Emma, she adores you.”
I turn to look out the window so he can't see the small smile I can't quite suppress. “She's sweet.”
“So are you,” he says, surprising me. “I saw a completely different side of you. And when you sang—” He stops, and I can feel him looking at me. “It was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard.”
My chest tightens. I don't know what to do with compliments like that, especially from him.
“It was just nice seeing you happy,” he says quietly. “And you were. Youare. When you're doing this. You were completely in the zone, and more people need to hear you sing. It’s just… life-changing.”
His voice is soft, almost reverent, and it rattles me more than I want to admit. No one talks about me like that. No one sees me like that. My pulse won’t settle, and the longer he looks at me, the hotter my cheeks feel. I need to get out from under whatever this is before it swallows me whole.
So I blurt the first thing my panicked brain grabs onto.
“You told someone you were my boyfriend.”
“I did.” He doesn’t even sound bothered by it.
“That's… bold, considering I threaten your life on a regular basis.”
“Yeah, but statistically speaking, you haven’t followed through yet, so I like my odds.”
I can’t help myself; I laugh before pulling my face back into a frown. “And completely unprofessional. If my boss finds out—”
“They won't. The dad was cool about it.”
“The dad.” I turn to look at him fully now, eyes narrowed. “Youcharmedthe dad.”
“I didn't charm anyone. I just… told him I wanted to watch you.”
I push down the butterflies in my chest, hating that he’s making me feel seen for the first time in my life. “Well, I hope it was worth it,” I retort.
“Oh, it was,” he says as he pulls out of the parking lot. “Now, can I please have your address?”
“Excuse me?”
“How else am I going to take you home, Princess?”
