“You look cute in Heston U colors.”
Her eyes glitter. “Yes! You’re the first one that noticed. I made them for some Knights fan spirit.”
“I notice everything about you.”
My hand automatically lifts to find the small of her back, dropping away once I realize I can’t. I settle for bumping my shoulder against hers.
Her gaze softens. “You really do.”
I rub at my sternum, heart beating like it’s trying to leap out of my body to get closer to her.
I’m glad I drove her ex out of town months ago so she can enjoy events like this without worrying if she’ll run into him.
Shawn nearly pissed his pants the first time he found me waiting for him outside his building after the talks I’d had with him at the club and the coffee shop. I didn’t do anything to him, only stared him down. Didn’t have to lift a finger. It took three encounters before he packed up and moved.
It can’t erase the ways he hurt her, but it satisfies me ensuring he’s long gone from her life.
My hand flexes at my side, longing to hold hers. I prefer feeling physically connected with her.
“So, have any dogs caught your eye?”
I hang my head. “All of them.”
She grins. “You keep saying you want a dog. This is a perfect opportunity.”
“I know, but it’s so tough to justify it when the hockey season keeps me?—”
The puppy pen stops me in my tracks.
“Oh my god, they’re so cute!” Eve crouches by the short fence, delighted when a mass of small black and brown lab puppies charge to greet her.
She steps inside and they follow her, circling around her feet. They’re jumping on each other as they vie for her attention with excited yips. She sits in the grass, immediately ambushed by the litter. She falls to her back with a laugh, allowing the puppies to run over her.
“This is the best,” she declares. “Instant serotonin boost.”
Damn, that’s adorable. I take photos for my ever-growing album of her on my camera roll.
“Get in here,” she says. “They’re so soft.”
I kneel by the side, letting a puppy sniff my fingers. If I go in there, I won’t want to leave. I rub my fingertips together.
The kid inside me that’s always wanted a dog takes over. I swing a leg over the pen to join her.
It’s awesome when half the puppies veer toward me. I crouch with a grin, petting as many of them as I can. A small one that must be on the runt side of the litter sticks to me like glue when I move to sit beside Eve.
“Aww. That one really likes you.”
“He’s really damn cute,” I say as the little black lab wriggles beneath my fingers.
“You could take him home,” she suggests as we play with him.
“I don’t know. This is only my second season here. Is it really a good idea?”
“I think so. Don’t you?”
“Of course I’d love to take him home.”
She tilts her head. “What’s really holding you back?”
