“Are they good? I keep declining every time they offer the cookies.”
I look at him, shocked, as I begin to dress. “They’re delicious. I would stay here purely for the cookies. I mean, they are chocolate chip, and they even bring you a glass of cold milk. Come on, live a little.”
He smiles to himself. “For you, I’ll try. Maybe I can meet you for lunch, but I have a few team meetings about moving training here next season.”
I work on the buttons of my blouse. “See? Every day here is getting you closer to your path and will help you let go of hockey-player you and welcome billionaire-team-owner you. Although technically, weren’t you always a billionaire? You don’t seem like one, except for the car, but you get my drift,” I ramble.
“Your perspective is a nice change. People normally hate me or try to kiss my ass. You’re just… blunt.”
He sits up in the bed, and the sheet falls around his waist.Yikes,staring at his chest is not going to get us anywhere. I grab my bag from the chair and decide to steal the paper crane.
I hold it up. “I’ll add it to my Declan Dash shrine.”
He grins. “As long as it isn’t a paper flower, then it’s fine.”
“Why?”
“Because the flowers in your store wilt and die. A paper flower lasts forever. My grandfather told me that the most romantic thing a guy can do is deliver a paper flower because it shows the relationship will endure time.”
My eyes go wide as I think I’ve heard that before, but it’s a beautiful thought, and I do my best to erase the image in my head of what it would be like if a paper flower were to appear in front of me.
After all, flings are temporary.
11
DECLAN
Gliding along the ice, I can’t stop grinning as Ford tries to steal the puck as it travels between the passes of my stick. We’re playing a little one-on-one before the kids hit the ice. God, I miss this. I really miss this.
“Go easy, we don’t have padding on,” Ford reminds me.
We’re only in jeans and hoodies, but still, I’m putting up a fight with my offense and doing my best with my determination to score a goal.
Picking up speed, we make it across the blue line into the attacking zone, and I take my aim.
The moment the puck hits the net and I get my goal, I let go and slow my skating.
“Damn, you’re too good,” Ford curses from his loss.
Something about waking up early to hit the ice without any rules or structure is exactly what I needed to start my day today.
I slept great but woke to the smell of Violet in my room, and kind of wondered what it would be like to wake with her in my bed. Not like that night when I left before she woke up, but actually wake up and face one another.
Would she act shy? Or would she lead us into morning sex?
My vote is on the latter.
Stepping off the ice, Ford and I take a seat on the bench. “I think marketing wants to reschedule the photo op to around lunchtime. That’s cool, right?” Ford asks as he grabs his water bottle. “‘New Spinners’ owner teaches kids how to play hockey,’ that’s probably their angle. Good for the facility and great for your team.”
My brows raise. “Sounds about right. Sure, lunchtime is fine.”
I already texted Violet that I wasn’t sure of my schedule today.
“What did you get up to last night?” Ford asks, making small talk while he unlaces his skates.
Glancing up, I take a second more than I should to answer. I don’t feel guilty for what I’m doing with his sister, we’re consenting adults, but nonetheless, lying even when it makes perfect sense to do so doesn’t feel great either.
“The usual. Room service, checked my stocks, and tried to watch a series.”
