Page 7 of Home for the Holidays

That makes me think about what he’d look like in that bed, his strong body warm and cuddly, his hair rumpled from sleep.

No. It’s entirely inappropriate to lust over my new roommate. It’s even more inappropriate to think about what he’d look like underneath that white button-down straining over his strong muscles.

Jake clears his throat. “You okay?”

Startled, I nod, turning to check out his bathroom. “Yeah. I’m—holy fuck.”

He has a soaker tub. A giant, claw-foot, old-fashioned soaker tub.

“I—you—will you marry me?” I blurt.

He chokes. “What?”

“That’s inappropriate.” I squeeze my eyes shut and try to recalibrate. “Your tub. That’s gorgeous.”

His eyes widen. “Well, you can use it anytime.”

“Oh. No. I couldn’t—I wouldn’t want to impose.”

“Rachel.” Jake reaches out and squeezes my arm again. “You are many things, but you are not an imposition.”

And when he says it… I almost believe him.

four

. . .

Jake

“I have a problem,” I announce to the room of half-naked men.

Instantly, the locker room falls silent. We’re getting ready for pre-game skate, preparing for tonight’s game against Minnesota.

“What do you need, bro?” MacGregor asks. An assistant captain, he’s always there to lend a hand.

“I need…” I scrub my hand over my face. “I need to get laid.”

“We’ll go out to the bar after the game,” Gonzo says. “We’ll be your wingmen.”

“I can’t.”

Gonzo raises his eyebrows. “Is it, like, a performance issue? I’ve heard rumors…”

“Fuck you, no, you haven’t,” I snap back. “It’s not something to be ashamed of, if there were issues. But that’s not my problem.”

“So what’s going on?” MacGregor pushes.

“I offered up my spare room to an old family friend.”

“So now you can’t bring a chick back to your place to get it on?” Logan asks.

“She’s the one I want to get it on with.” I sink onto the bench in front of my locker stall. “She’s entirely off limits. But, fuck…”

“Is she hot?” Pope asks. He’s a dick of epic proportions on a good day.

I glare at him. “You’re not touching her.”

He raises his hands in mock innocence. “I wasn’t going to.”