Page 16 of He Has MVP (Boston Brawlers Hockey)
“It suits you.” She opens the refrigerator a crack to preserve the cold and pulls out the orange juice. It’s weird that I have mixed feelings about leaving the island. I need to get back to Boston as much as she does, but Monday night is soon enough for me.
“Why do you want to leave so much when we’re having such a good time?”
“Good time? Hah. We’re making the best of the situation, I’ll give you that. But we don’t even have hot coffee.” She smiles and pats my cheek as she rummages through the food choices in the cabinet. “Seriously, I have work to do and the Internet is down for who knows how long. That’s just unacceptable.”
I let the puppies back inside. My stomach growls and I’m hungry, but more for her than food. She’s standing at the counter unwrapping a protein bar or some such shit as I move up behind her. Putting my hands on her hips, I relish the sweet heat and swell of her ass against my rising dick.
“Maybe the universe is trying to tell you something,” I say into her ear.
She snorts and turns in my arms, pushing me away. I try to hold onto my smile. I know she likes me, know she’s hot for me, but her refusal to give in to it is fucking disappointing.
Hell. What’s the matter with me? I’m no quitter.
“The universe is telling me to leave the island,” she says. “It’s telling you too. In a very loud voice.” She does a double take like she’s had a lightbulb moment. “You can take the dogs to your place. I know they allow pets.”
“How the hell would you know that?”
“Finn had a kitten. I know he did.”
Her eyes gleam with excitement now as she grabs for the leashes. I don’t bother telling my building doesn’t allow dogs. I watch in fascination as she starts clipping them on even while the puppies are scarfing down some treats laced with medication I added to their dishes.
“Watch out they don’t bite you for interrupting their meal.”
She spins around, her face lit up in triumph like she’s just won the Cup.
“Let’s go. Let’s pack up the car just in case we can get on the next boat out of here.” She moves to go by me and I grab her arm to slow her down.
“Hold on there. I can’t believe I’m accusingyouof this, but don’t you think you’re being a little impulsive? I never agreed to take the pups to my place.”
She scowls and tugs her arm, but doesn’t move away from me. Fuck. Now I’m all aware of her and my dick notices her proximity and jumps for joy.
“You can’t say no.” Her face loses the scowl, all the edge disappears, and I don’t know when I’ve seen her this vulnerable—or vulnerable at all. She licks her lips and I stare at the pink tongue and the glossy wetness of her lips. My dick reminds me how much I want her.Fuck.
She says in a whispery voice, “Hell, Aiden, can’t you see I’m desperate here?”
And just like that, she has me. I’ll do anything she asks. I’d swim back to Boston with her and the pups on my back to give her what she wants. Never mind that I’ll probably get fined up the wazoo if the association manager ever discovers I have three puppies in my condo. But who cares when this woman needs me to do her this favor?
“Okay. I can do it. Let’s go.”
She throws herself into me, her arms wrapped around my neck, and kisses me—on the cheek—but hell, I’ll take it. My arms automatically go around her, pressing into the enticing curve of her waist. It takes an act of iron will not to slide my hands up her rib cage to capture her perfect pert breasts in my hands. Gritting my teeth, I step back before my will melts under her heat.
We pack up the car with all our stuff—mostly hers—and the puppies and their gear in back. The road to the wharf is littered with random tree branches. I pull into a nearly empty lot at the island’s ferry services. It doesn’t look good, but I don’t say this because I know Pink needs to hold onto the hope of finding a way home.
The wind whips up as we dash to the small office of the high-speed ferry. But before we get there, we see the bold red CLOSED sign on the door.
“Shit.” Pink looks around, her brow furrowed.
“Let’s check with the Steamship Authority office, because that one has to be open,” I say. “They’ll let us know when ferries will be running.”
A smile splits her face as she grabs my arm and she runs, tugging me behind her, and I admire the view. It’s not far and we slow down to go inside, breathing a little heavy.
The manager at the Steamship Authority tells us there will be no ferry service because this is a short lull. The storm isn’t far out and is swinging back around, joining with a storm cell coming in from the west. I’m no meteorologist, but it doesn’t sound good to me.
“There’s a shelter at the high school if you have no power,” he says.
“We’ll be fine where we are,” Pink says and I salute him. I recognize the appreciation as his eyes follow her walking out the door. I’m right behind her, but this time I catch up. Flinging an arm around her shoulder, I’m prepared to console her, but she’s ahead of me.
“Maybe the airport is open,” she says. “We could get a flight. But then there’s the dogs and what are the chances they’d let us take three puppies even if we paid for their seats? Maybe I could . . . but that wouldn’t be fair for me to leave you with the dogs.” She stops walking and her face collapses in disappointment.
