Page 116 of Slap Shot Surprise
I peeked with one eye. “It’s still there.”
“Then maybe you should go touch it. Make sure it’s real.” Pulling a key fob from the mailbox, he took me by the hand. “Come on, cupcake.”
In a complete daze, I let him lead me down the snowy walk to the street. He unlocked the driver’s side door andopened it for me. When I stood there in a stupor just staring at the gorgeous black leather interior, he laughed and took my arm again. “Come on. I’ll help you in.”
Once I was seated behind the wheel, he went around to the passenger side and got in. “Well? What do you think?”
“I can’t think. I’m in shock.” My breath made little puffs of white in the freezing air.
“Start the car, so we can have some heat. Look, you even have seat and steering wheel warmers.”
I did what he said, but as the vehicle warmed up, I shook my head. “Joe. I can’t accept this.”
“Sure, you can.”
“I won’t.”
“You have to. Listen, this is a brand new Honda CR-V. It has a five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. I have been assured of itsrobust safety features,including front-crash prevention, backup camera, rear child safety locks, and more. It’s got four doors, which will make dealing with a car seat easier. And it’s got plenty of room in the back for Nicky’s hockey equipment.”
I stared at him in disbelief. “Whoareyou?”
“I’m just a dad in the making who wants to make sure the mother of his son—and his son, once he arrives—is safe on the road. So I did some research.” He shrugged. “Plus, turns out I used to play hockey with the guy who owns your local Honda dealership. He got the car in and delivered it for me.”
My eyes filled. I slipped my glasses off and placed them in my lap. Pinched the bridge of my nose. “I’m...I’m overwhelmed.”
“Listen to me, Mabel.” He reached over and took my hand. “On that plane you thought was going down, yousaid you regretted being so practical and careful. You said you’d never splurged on a new car, and you didn’t even know what a new car smelled like.”
Tears were leaking from the corners of my eyes, and I tipped my head back, staring at the car’s pristine ceiling. “Why do you remember everything I said on that stupid flight?”
He stroked my hand with his thumb. “I don’t know. I just do. And clearly I have made it my mission to make sure you have all the things you thought you’d missed out on—designer shoes, a new car, a good puck.”
I sob-laughed. “Right.”
“So now . . . are you ready to inhale?”
Wiping my cheeks with my free hand, I nodded.
“Count of three. One, two, three!” At the same time, we both breathed in deeply. “Well? Do you love it?”
The smell was divine—new leather and crisp winter air and a trace of gasoline.
But what I loved was the man who had given it to me. What I wanted was his heart.
“It’s even better than I imagined,” I said. Then I met his eyes, and my insides unraveled. My voice trembled. “Everything with you is. That’s the problem, Joe.”
Joe swallowed. “Why is that a problem?”
“You’re too good to me.”
“All I want is to make sure you’re taken care of, cupcake.”
“I know.” I smiled through my tears. “But this isn’t good for me.”
He frowned. “What do you mean? What’s not good for you?”
“These feelings for you. The sense of belonging with you.” Taking my hand from his, I balled it up against mychest. “Thishopein myheartthat just keepsgrowingevery time we’re together.”
“Oh.” His eyes dropped. “I didn’t think of it like that.”
