Page 199 of Securing the Pucking Rebound

“You?” I ask, skipping ahead a few months.

He grimaces, still struggling to imagine a time when he’s back on the ice.

“Or maybe you’ll be back with Rett, and Nash will play with Monroe.”

“Maybe,” he mumbles as I pull his second hand from the bowl and give it the same treatment as the first.

“Whatever your GM and Coach have planned, I’m sure it’ll work out.”

“As long as Kodie doesn’t kill him first.”

“Did he say anything more about what happened between them?” I ask, just as curious as everyone else about the feud between them.

“Nope. He was just pissed. Kodie isn’t a talker at the best of times; he’s a locked vault when he’s pissed off.”

When I press down on the muscle between his thumb and forefinger, he groans just like he did before.

It’s the most erotic sound I’ve heard for a while.

My thighs squeeze together, and I squirm on the chair, something that doesn’t go unnoticed by Calvin.

“I love having your hands on me,” he tells me.

I don’t say anything in response for fear I might confess something I’m not ready to yet.

“Have dinner with me before you leave for your parents’,” he blurts, filling the silence.

“Calvin,” I warn.

“I’m not brushing over everything and pretending it’s all good. I just…I need to see you before you go. I want to prove to you that everything I’ve said is true.”

“I don’t really have any time. I’m working late every night. The only evening the salon is closed is so we can have our own Christmas party.”

“So we’ll have a late dinner after you’ve finished.”

I stare at him, desperately wanting to agree, but also terrified that he’ll sweep me back into his orbit without me realizing.

Would that be such a bad thing?

“When are you going out with the girls?”

“Saturday night. And I fly out on Sunday.”

He nods, realizing he’s running out of time.

“Thursday night?”

“I have clients until nine.”

“I’ll cook. I’ll have it ready for you the second you get in. You can wear your pajamas if you like, and then go straight to bed after.”

He does make it sound tempting.

“At my apartment,” he adds.

“Oh?” I’d be lying if I said that didn’t pique my interest. I’m dying to see his place, to see if it’ll help me figure out a few more pieces of the Vinny/Calvin puzzle.

“Yeah. It’s about time you came up.”