She elbowed him. “And how would you respond if I said, let’s meet for breakfast while I’m on break at work, say seven in the morning?”
He leaned in and kissed her again. “I’d say I’ll be there.”
She scoffed.
“What’s that about?”
“You have no problem staying up ’til the wee hours, but I’ve not seen you early in the morning.”
“Just because I choose to sleep in doesn’t mean I’m not capable of getting up early.”
“And I’m capable of staying up late, but I choose not to because I enjoy a good night’s rest.” She hung the damp towel on the edge of the counter and waited. As tired as she was, she didn’t want to push Tommy out the door.
“Get your sleep tonight so you can stay out and play tomorrow.”
“Take the plate of cupcakes for your father. They’re sugar-free.”
Tommy looked over his shoulder at the plate on the table and then back at her with a smile. He caged her against the counter with his arms, and his hips pinned her in place as he kissed her once more. Every kiss was more heated than the last, and her pulse pounded a dual thunderous beat—one in her chest, another much lower.
This whole experience with Tommy made her feel like a teenager again, every sensation new and bursting with power. For so long, she’d thought—and accepted—that something was fundamentally wrong with her. That she couldn’t experience what other women did.
And now she knew it had never been her.
Tommy pulled away and rubbed her back as she rested her cheek against his shoulder. “I need to go before I forget how to stop.”
“Thank you for stopping by.”
“I want to do more than stop by. I want some real time with you.” He stepped away and grabbed the cupcakes. “Thanks. This was thoughtful of you.”
She nodded and she knew that nap or not, tomorrow, she was going to spend the evening with Tommy.
* * *
The following morning, Deirdre had overslept and was functioning on less than four hours’ sleep. The bakery was quiet when she arrived because Al was working the back. For a change, she was glad because she wasn’t up for conversation. She moved through her morning routine without thought.
Setting coffee cakes in the case and piling loaves of bread in pyramids on the shelf took what little energy she had. Her morning customers wandered in at their usual slow pace, and Deirdre was grateful she hadn’t gone without sleep on the weekend. Saturdays and Sundays tended to be nonstop lines of people yelling about doughnuts and birthday cake. A random Thursday allowed her to be partially brain dead.
Once her regular morning walkers had come and gone with their cakes and pastries, she leaned against the counter she was supposed to be cleaning. She also had cases of strawberries that needed to be hulled and sliced. But all she really wanted was a nap. The bell above the door jingled and she pushed away from the counter to see Tommy strolling in.
“Hey,” he called.
“What are you doing here?”
“I know you said seven, but I was going to bring you breakfast. Then I realized . . .” He pointed at the cases full of food. “So I brought you a cup of tea.”
He held out the Styrofoam cup and she wanted to weep. She reached across the counter for the tea and gulped the hot liquid. “How did you know?”
“I know you Irish girls and your tea.”
“You’re a lifesaver.” She’d been desperate enough that she’d considered having coffee even though she didn’t like it. She drank more and then said, “So you woke up early just to bring me tea?”
The idea had her melting a bit, not that he needed the help. The way he kissed alone was enough to make her melt, but that he got out of bed just to see her . . .
“I have ulterior motives.” He braced his elbows on the top of the glass case. “I figured if I showed up here, I could guilt you into coming out with me tonight.”
“You think that a simple cup of tea is enough to entice me to give up more sleep?”
“You don’t have to give up sleep. Take a nap. And I have much better ways to entice you.”
With the cup poised at her lips, she smiled before saying, “Really?”
Who was she? She was actually flirting. And thinking about a whole lot more. She sipped her tea and watched Tommy’s eyes darken. She might not have known him long, but she recognized that look. That was how he looked right before he kissed her. Her cheeks warmed and she was suddenly grateful for the counter between them.
Her stomach flipped—and not in a bad way—with the knowledge that he would take her right now if given the chance.
His voice was low when he spoke again. “I think we both know I could make it worth your while to come out tonight.”
She stepped forward, set her cup on the case next to his forearm, and said, “I think you’re quite full of yourself.”
“Maybe. But I can deliver.”
That he could.
“What time is your practice?”
“Six thirty.”
That wasn’t too late. She could watch him play and even have time for a drink or two before needing bed again. And if she took a nap before going out, she’d be able to spend some time alone with Tommy, which was what she really wanted.
“You’re killing me, you know that?”
She jerked back. “What?”
“That look on your face tells me you’re thinking about being with me and I can’t get you alone until tonight. It’s a hell of an image to carry with me for the day.”
She laughed. She was having a great time not being herself. “Instead of thinking of it as torture, consider it something to look forward to.” She pushed away from the case, taking her tea with her. “I know I’ll be looking forward to tonight.”
“Me too.” He took his arms off the top of the case. Before stepping back, he added, “I wish this wasn’t between us. I really want to kiss you right now.”
“Save it for later.”
“I will. Definitely.”
A customer came through the door. Deirdre welcomed him and turned back to Tommy. “Thanks for stopping by and for the tea.”
“See you tonight.”
She watched him walk out the door as the customer looked at the coffee cakes. When he ultimately decided on cupcakes, she was reminded of the cupcakes she’d made for Tommy’s father. She’d been so distracted by Tommy’s presence that she hadn’t asked if his dad liked them.
As she boxed up the order, she thought about how different her life had become. She tied the string on the box and thanked the customer. The sun glared through the window, so she lowered the shade and then brought out the tray of strawberries that needed hulling.
The mindless work was a good task for a day like this. It allowed her brain to wander to her evening with Tommy and how she wanted much more than a kiss from him.
* * *
Tommy finished giving his client after-care instructions for the Tweety Bird tattoo on his calf and then waved at Kai. “You making it to practice tonight?”
“Not sure.”
“We have a game Saturday night.”
“It’s another exhibition.”
“Please tell me you’re not blowing off practice to be with my sister.”
Kai’s gaze flicked up from where he was sketching. “What I do is none of your business.”
Tommy had thought falling in love would soften Kai, but he was as big a prick as ever. “I’m heading out. See you later.”
“Make sure your station is clean before you go,” Kai said without looking up.
Kai was a decent guy, but Tommy had no idea what Norah saw in him. Norah was sweet and sensitive. Tommy had always thought she’d end up with some easygoing, fun guy. Kai was neither.
He and Norah had always been close, even while she lived in Boston. They’d often talked about the future and what they wanted. As different as they were, they’d both longed for a traditional family, something they’d been robbed of far too
young. Tommy was no different from his sister in wanting the lasting kind of love Jimmy had found with Moira. He hadn’t been in much of a hurry to settle down, but it had always been his ultimate goal, unlike Sean, who hadn’t been looking for anything and had it dropped in his lap.
On his walk to his car, he thought about unexpected things in life and texted Deirdre.
You want a ride to practice?
Her response came quickly, so she wasn’t still asleep.
I can take the bus.
Be ready in 15. While he had nothing against the CTA, he didn’t want Deirdre riding a bus through some of the neighborhoods on the way to the rink. She’d probably be fine, but he’d feel better driving her. It would also ensure that she didn’t back out.
He drove to the O’Leary house and honked. Deirdre came out the front door and paused, talking to someone inside. She shook her head and waved.
When she climbed in the car, he asked, “Problem?”
“No. My aunt wanted to know why you didn’t come to the door for me.” She buckled her seat belt. “I explained that you were on your way to practice.”
“I would’ve come to the door, but then she’d have to watch this.” He reached across the seat and grabbed her neck, pulling her close.
He meant for the kiss to be quick and simple, but as soon as he got a taste, he wanted more. She was warm and soft, and he could spend the night doing this. Well, maybe not just this.
Pulling away, he asked, “Have a good nap?”
“Yes.”
“So you’ll be able to stay awake through practice?” He pulled out into the street.
“Don’t worry. I won’t be begging to go home to sleep.”
If he had anything to say about it, she’d be begging for something completely different.
“How often do you have practice and games?”
“We practice a few times a week. It’s a rotating schedule because there are so many teams. The game you watched was exhibition. Basically practice. The spring/summer season is just gearing up, so now we’re mostly practice.”
“There’s more than one season?”
“Yeah. Fall/winter and spring/summer.”
“So you play year round.”
“Yep.” The thought that she’d be gone before the season ended hit him suddenly. She wouldn’t be here to cheer him on during championship. Wouldn’t be here to be his date for the end-of-the-season party.
What the hell was he doing? He remembered talking to Jimmy on St. Paddy’s Day. He’d told Jimmy not to worry about him because it didn’t matter that Deirdre was going back home to Ireland. It was starting to feel like it mattered.
“Something wrong?”
“No,” he answered. What was he supposed to say? I don’t want you to go back to Ireland? That would make him sound pathetic. He reached over and took her hand, interlocking his fingers with hers. “Tell me about your day.”
“Not much to tell. I handed out pastries. I hulled strawberries.” She paused and then said, “Linda let me decorate a birthday cake on my own.”
“Who’s Linda?”
“She’s the decorator. She’s been teaching me things when we have free time, and she lets me practice. Usually I get to do part of an order while she stands over the top of me watching. Today, she was behind because of changes a bride made at the last minute for a five-tier wedding cake. So I decorated the kid’s birthday cake.”
He liked the sound of excitement in her voice, so he urged her on. “Tell me about it.”
“Nothing interesting. You don’t want to hear about a child’s birthday cake.”
“I do.” He squeezed her fingers.
“I was allowed to use the airbrush because the little girl wanted blue and green. No flowers, though. As she informed me when she came to pick it up, flowers are far too girly. She had a pirate theme. The blue and green were for the mermaid lagoon.”
Tommy listened and realized it was probably the most freely spoken conversation she’d offered him. Her answers to his questions usually tended to be short and to the point, no explanation or expansion. As if she thought no one would want to listen. He wondered who made her feel that way. And now he’d learned the secret. Prod a bit and she’d open up.
No different from kissing her. She held back there, too, until he pushed, letting her know how much he wanted it. This made him wonder if someone had made her feel unwanted in that respect too. Then, and not for the first time, he wanted to kick her ex-boyfriend’s ass.
“How are things back home? Has the—what did you call it?—the ruckus blown over?”
Her hand flinched in his and he looked over at her. She stared out the passenger window for a moment and then turned to him.
“I don’t know. I haven’t checked my voice mail. I almost didn’t turn my mobile on at all.”
“I’m glad you did, or you wouldn’t have gotten my text.”
“I decided to leave it at home because yours was the only message I wanted to get.” She inhaled deeply and released the breath slowly. “I’m taking a break from my family.”
“Won’t that piss them off?”
She shook her head. “I called from Aunt Eileen’s phone and left a message that my mobile was acting up and I might have to purchase a new one.” She lifted a shoulder. “It buys me some time.”
He pulled into the lot and parked. How bad was her family that she not only needed a break from them, but was willing to lie to get it? When he wanted to get away from his siblings, all he had to do was close his bedroom door. That was enough of a break. She was thousands of miles away and it wasn’t enough.
They stepped from the car and he searched for what to say. He hefted his hockey gear over one shoulder and put an arm around her. “If there’s anything I can do to help . . .”
She smiled up at him and wrapped an arm around his waist, which felt right. “This helps. Going out, putting my family and the drama with Rory out of my head, being with people.”
“People? Like anyone?”
“I didn’t think you needed me to point out that I enjoy spending time with you. But if you need an ego boost, I’ll tell you that your kisses are the best kind of escape. You make me forget everything.”
Hell, yeah. He placed a kiss on her temple and yanked the door to the rink. “You know where to go?”
She nodded, but didn’t look all that sure. “Is Norah coming?”
“Don’t know.” He thought about Kai’s dodgy response. “Probably not. But Caitlyn will be here. She almost never misses. You want me to walk you out?”
She straightened her shoulders. “I’ll be fine.”
He turned toward the locker room and couldn’t help but think she was trying to convince herself of that.
* * *
Deirdre hardly paid attention to Tommy’s practice. Practice was nowhere near as interesting as the game she’d been to. And now that she knew it had been a practice game, she wondered how exciting the real thing would be. She’d sat with Caitlyn, who offered more explanation of the rules of the game, as well as gossip about some of the players. Unfortunately, she gave no details about Tommy.
When Caitlyn wound down, Deirdre took a chance and asked directly. “What can you tell me about Tommy?”
Caitlyn’s eyes widened a fraction.
“If you don’t want to say, that’s fine.”
Caitlyn laid a hand on her arm. “It’s not that. It’s just . . . Tommy is kind of quiet, so I don’t know much about him, but he seems like a straightforward kind of guy. Like what you see is what you get.”
Deirdre had been hoping that was the case. She couldn’t trust herself to follow her instincts, which were shaky on most subjects and obviously clueless when it came to men. “Would you honestly tell me if he wasn’t?”
“Actually, yeah. I mean, I wouldn’t talk shit about him, but if he was a player, I’d warn you off. You seem like a nice girl. Tommy’s no saint. I’ve seen him pick up a puck bunny or two.”
“A what?�
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“A puck bunny. It’s what the guys call women who hang out at the bar in order to hook up with hockey players. Like groupies.”
Deirdre leaned forward. “You mean just to sleep with them?”
Caitlyn nodded.
Such a thought had never occurred to Deirdre. To find a man just to have sex. She’d often thought about sex—more so since being with Tommy—but she’d always assumed it would be with someone she loved. Her Catholic upbringing reared its head.
Did it matter if she didn’t love him? Would it be different? At times like this, she wished she had a sister. She pushed those questions aside. Hadn’t she already decided to sleep with Tommy? She’d bought condoms. She enjoyed being with him. She loved the way he touched her and made her feel.
Heavy questions and emotions could wait. Even she knew they weren’t necessary to have a fulfilling sex life. And she had a lot of catching up to do.
Caitlyn stood. “Did you drive?”
“No. Tommy did.”
“Good. Then let’s go. The guys will be a while in the locker room. We can head to the bar.”
Deirdre followed obediently, but said, “Will you text Tommy and let him know I’m with you?”
Caitlyn nodded and tapped away on her mobile.
Although Deirdre wasn’t much in the mood to drink—she was still feeling the other night—she’d told Tommy that she’d go with him. Caitlyn drove to the bar.
“What do you do for a living?” she asked Caitlyn.
“I work at an accounting firm a few hours a week. I decided to go back to school after spending years as a receptionist.”
“What are you studying?”
“I haven’t decided yet. I’m only in my first semester, but after spending time with Norah, I’m seriously considering nursing. I think I’d enjoy it.”
“Isn’t it difficult?”
“What?” She parked near the bar and they got out.
“Working and going to school. Finding time for your boyfriend.”
Caitlyn shrugged. “Chris and I live together and he’s really supportive. It was his idea for me to cut my hours to make school easier. It’s part of why I put in the effort to come to as many practices and games I can.”
Through Your Eyes Page 14
