“No problem. At least my friends are getting laid.”
“Dude. We had our first date two nights ago.”
Jake just stared at him. “And this means what?”
Justin opened his mouth to explain but shut it just as fast. Most of his teammates would’ve already had sex on their first date but that wasn’t how Justin had been raised. Yeah, it made him a relic. He didn’t care.
Just like he didn’t swear much, he didn’t sleep around. Not that he didn’t want to have sex with Vivi. He really did. He just had ingrained standards.
“This means I’m going to take a shower.”
As he stood, he finally saw Jake smile. He looked kind of rusty at it but the guy hadn’t had much to smile about lately.
“Glad to hear you’ll be back soon.”
“Glad to hear you might have sex soon.”
Rolling his eyes, Justin got up and headed for the showers but not without giving Jake a well-deserved middle finger on his way out.
He actually heard Jake laugh as he left the locker room.
*****
“Well, that pretty much sucked, huh? Sorry ’bout that.”
Vivi smiled at the total sincerity in Justin’s apology as he drove them toward West Reading.
“Not your fault,” she said. “You looked like you were having a good game. Just didn’t go your way.”
“We had a couple of good chances in the third period but we didn’t take advantage of them and—sorry.” He shook his head as he turned into the parking lot of the diner where they’d decided to eat. “I promise not to complain about the game all night.”
“No problem. I’m sure it’s frustrating when you’re playing well but the rest of the team isn’t.”
He huffed out a sigh. “Appreciate the vote of confidence, but I sucked too.”
Since she’d watched the entire game with Sophie and had kept her eyes on Justin every moment he’d been on the ice, she was pretty sure she knew what she was talking about.
“Actually, you didn’t. From what I heard, the ice just didn’t tilt your way tonight.”
Shutting off the ignition, he turned to her with a slight smile. “I thought you didn’t know much about hockey.”
She turned to him with wide eyes and a deliberately vapid expression. “But it’s just like soccer, right? Just on ice. With sticks and pucks. And less players.”
For a few seconds, she thought he didn’t get it. Then his lips curved and his eyes narrowed and he started to laugh.
And she would’ve sworn her heart flipped over. Like, seriously, it did some weird maneuver behind her ribs that should’ve signaled some life-threatening disease.
Instead, it made her nervous as hell.
At least, that’s what she thought that pit in the bottom of her stomach was. Nerves.
Yeah, right.
“You’re funny. I like that.”
Not many people called her funny. Sarcastic, yes. Wicked. Exasperating. Never funny.
“Huh.” He grinned. “Did I finally figure out how to make you blush?”
He sounded amused and a little pleased with himself. And that smile...
She was going to give him this one, if only because he made her want to jump his bones. Which she totally wanted to do tonight.
Except, damn it, he had to be up early to go on a road trip. Gone for three nights.
She wanted to pout. She wanted to lean across the seat and kiss him. But she didn’t want to scare him away. Which was stupid. That was stupid, right? He wouldn’t be scared if she tried to kiss him.
He might be turned off—
“Viv? You ready?”
She waited for a beat, wondering if he’d offer something more private. Like, maybe he’d ask to go back to her house and get naked. Hell, she’d settle for a hot and heavy make-out session with full petting privileges. She so wanted to run her hands over his naked body. If his arm was any indication of the rest of his body, she couldn’t wait to see him naked.
When he didn’t offer to take her back to her place and let her pet him, she smiled and nodded. And sighed after he’d gotten out of the truck to walk around and open her door.
He took her hand to help her out then kept hold as they walked to the diner. Such a simple thing, but he made it into something so much more.
What the hell was it about this man that made her act like she wasn’t a grown-ass woman who could ask for what she wanted?
A few of the booths in the diner were taken but not many, and the waitress settled them into a booth near the back. Far from the other guests. No one would be able to hear them if they kept their voices low.
After the waitress walked away, Justin smiled at her. Neither of them looked at the menu.
“Do you know what you’re getting already?”
Yes and what she wanted didn’t come on the menu. “Yep. Margie makes the best pies in the state as far as I’m concerned. Her crusts are amazing.”
He laughed again, shaking his head and making her swallow hard.
“You probably know the best food in a fifty-mile radius, don’t you?”
She shrugged. “Hazard of the job. The restaurant business is kind of like a family. Everyone knows everyone else. That can be good and bad. If you need a job, there’s always someone you know to ask. But you can’t be a dick and expect to get hired. Well, you can be, but then you better be really damn good at what you do so people overlook your personality.”
“I can’t imagine anyone would have a problem with your personality.”
That made her laugh. “Most people would say you really don’t know me.”
“I guess that’s true. But what I’ve seen so far, I like.”
“You really are the sweetest guy I’ve ever met.”
Her turn to make him blush. And he did but he didn’t drop her gaze.
“Nah.” He shook his head. “I just know when I got a good thing going. And this seems to be a good thing.”
Okay, she totally wanted to skip straight to the naked and petting part. She’d give up Margie’s pie completely if it meant she could get her hands on him instead.
“Then let’s get you fed so we can go back to my place and we can figure out just how good we can be together.”
His blush deepened but she had a sense that, this time, it wasn’t embarrassment. He leaned back into the booth, crossing his arms over his chest.
She had a momentary twinge of guilt at how she was ogling his body but no woman in her right mind would blame her.
He might appear awkward off ice, but when he skated, he looked like so much contained male power.
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea. I have to be up early tomorrow morning. And I don’t want to have to watch a clock when I’m with you.”
She couldn’t help herself. “And when you say ‘with you,’ do you mean in the same room or...”
His lips twisted in a ghost of a grin as he leaned forward, putting his arms on the table. Now she could clearly see his beautiful brown eyes and she had to make a conscious effort not to lean forward and run her fingers along that lean jaw.
He shook his head. “You’re dangerous to my dedication to my profession.”
“Oh, I’m all for dedication. It can lead to some amazing...encounters.”
She saw him try to come up with a response but was saved by the return of the waitress. After putting in their orders, they returned to staring at each other.
Vivi couldn’t believe how comfortable she felt with him. That just never happened with a guy on a second date. But with Justin... There were a lot of things about Justin that felt right.
To cover up the sudden anxiety that thought caused, she blinked and broke the connection.
“So. What’s a road trip with a bus full of guys like?”
His smile widened until his eyes practically closed. “Probably pretty much what you’d expect. Loud. Annoying. Mostly fun. Sometimes Derek can’t shut up and we all want to kill him. If Will wants to talk to you abou
t something, he’ll corner you on the bus. He’s the oldest so he’s kind of the team dad. Especially for the defensemen. If we have a problem, he’s the one we go to.”
“You and Will room together, don’t you?”
“Yeah. When he’s around. I’m pretty sure he and Jess are gonna get married so I’ll probably be looking for a new roommate next season. If I’m even here next season.”
Sobering thought. “Do you think they’re going to trade you?”
He shrugged. “Don’t know. My contract’s up at the end of the season so I’m trying to prepare myself. I don’t know what they’re going to do.”
“But you’re playing so well. Why would they get rid of you?”
Looking comfortable in a way she didn’t think she’d ever seen him before, he started to talk about the ins and outs of trades and free agency and how coaches used players as chess pieces. She understood some of what he was saying. Mostly, though, she listened to him talk, let his husky voice sink into her skin and make her blood fizz.
He had one of those voices that made her heart flutter. There weren’t that many guys she could say that about. Actually, the only other one had been her ex.
She wasn’t going to hold that against Justin.
“Sorry, you’re probably not interested in hearing about trade deadlines and line matchups.”
“Honestly,” she batted her eyelashes, not bothering to contain her smile, “I’d listen to you recite the lineup all night. You have the most amazing voice.”
She should’ve felt sorry for the speed at which his cheeks flushed. But honestly, she liked that, too.
Luckily, the waitress saved him once again by delivering their drinks.
When she moved away again, Justin shook his head as his lips curved in a wry smile.
And totally ignored what she’d said. “So, ah, do you like watching the game?”
She couldn’t help herself. “I like watching you.”
He shook his head and the flush on his cheeks burned even hotter. When he didn’t do anything except pick up his glass and sip soda, she wondered if she’d pushed him too far.
A split second later, he looked her straight in the eyes. “You can watch me do whatever you want.” He paused. “But you have to return the favor.”
Okay, maybe there was a little bit of a bad boy in there.
Her eyelids rose. “Anything I want?”
He held her gaze even as the color in his cheeks deepened. “I think we could probably work something out.”
Her smile widened. “I like the sound of that.”
“And I like the idea that I get to ask you to do whatever I want.”
Oh, there was definitely a streak of something rough and maybe a little dirty beneath that boy-next-door appearance. And she was going to have one hell of a good time teasing it out of him.
*****
“Thanks again for the ticket. I had a lot of fun.”
“Sorry again that the game sucked.”
She stopped just inside the door to her home, and turned, wondering if he’d follow her inside. He stopped just on the other side of the threshold.
“Can’t win ’em all. Do you want to come in?”
He didn’t respond immediately, his gaze locked with hers. She had no idea what he was thinking but her blood fizzed in her veins.
“No, I better not.”
Her lips curved. She liked the sound of that. “Afraid you might not leave?”
Shaking his head, he put one hand on the frame above her, making him seem even taller. “You don’t scare me.”
“Good to know, although that wasn’t really the question I asked.”
“Yeah, I know. And I’m not sure I want to answer that question. Yet.”
She fought back a grin. “Do you think you might have an answer Sunday?”
Teasing him had become her favorite pastime, she realized. She couldn’t help herself. His blushes had become catnip for her. She didn’t want to embarrass him, and she didn’t think he was embarrassed. But she was so absolutely infatuated by him, she couldn’t help herself.
She’d become addicted to his smiles. He didn’t do it often and, when she got one, it was like she’d won a game she hadn’t realized she was playing.
And this was no game.
“I might. I might have some questions of my own for you to answer.”
She didn’t want him to go yet so she grabbed his hand and tugged. It was close to midnight and she knew he had to get up early tomorrow, but she didn’t want him to go yet.
Holding her breath, she finally released it when he took a step forward.
“I really should go.”
“But I’m not done with you yet.”
He stepped inside but stopped just inside the door. She’d take that, only because she knew they weren’t going to be taking this any further tonight. But she was determined to get a real kiss from him tonight.
Even if she had to climb him like a tree to get it. She had a feeling he knew exactly what he was doing to her.
“What do you want to do with me?”
The gleam in his eyes made her heart pound faster.
“I have a few ideas.”
He shook his head. “And I absolutely want to hear them. But I have to be up in seven hours. And if I stay any longer, Will’s gonna be dragging my ass out of bed. And I don’t want to rush my time with you.”
“You act all sweet and shy off the ice, but that’s not who you really are, is it?”
His gaze narrowed and she couldn’t tell if he was smiling or not. “What makes you think that?”
“Because of your smile.”
She could see him think that over before he took a step forward, closing the distance between them. The intensity in his eyes made her want to lick him. That feeling hadn’t happened in quite a while, and it took her a little bit by surprise.
She wasn’t surprised that he could make her feel this way. She’d realized he was special. No, what surprised her was that she was enjoying it.
She hadn’t had this feeling in a while. She’d told herself she was okay with it. And then she’d looked into Justin’s eyes one night and fallen for the absolute unlikeliest guy she could find.
“What about my smile?”
He had stopped inches away from her and she had to lean her head back to look at him. She really liked how tall he was. Not overly muscled, like football players tended to be.
But he wasn’t scrawny either. He was longer and lean, but he had broad shoulders and a broad chest, and she would bet her last bag of chocolate-covered pretzels that he had a six-pack.
Now she wanted to lick his six-pack.
“Your smile is a little wicked.”
That smile widened. “You think I’m wicked? My friends don’t think I’m wicked.”
“I’m pretty sure you don’t smile like that at your friends.”
“And how am I smiling at you?”
Like you might actually want to see me naked.
It was on the tip of her tongue but she bit it back. An unusual thing for her to do. She wasn’t really known for her restraint. But there was something about this man that made her...different. Made her want to be the kind of girl a guy like him would want.
Her inner feminist began to rant, but she shut her down because Justin was staring at her like he wanted to kiss her.
Please, please, let him kiss her.
Fuck it.
Reaching up, she pulled him down to close the last few inches between them and sealed her mouth over his.
She had a split second to think, “Shit, I should’ve let him do this on his terms.”
But then he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her back.
She’s been dying to do this all night and now that she had him...
She wanted to devour him. Wanted to slide her tongue into his mouth and taste him, but he seemed to be content with just this chaste press of their lips together. So instead of rushing, she forced herself to take it slow. S
he kept her tongue to herself and let herself sink into the feel of his lips against hers.
Soft. Decadently soft. His lips lulled her into a state of pure sensation. Where the only thing that made any sense was the sense of being surrounded by him.
She took another step, closing the last bit of space between them...and now she knew she’d been right about those six-pack abs.
This close to him, she felt how solid he was. A wall of muscle. She wanted to run her hands all over him but managed to restrain herself. Justin was still so much of an unknown.
One thing she did know about him: He was irresistible. Like chocolate, she’d had a taste and now couldn’t stop herself from wanting more.
She didn’t know how long they stood there, letting her lips learn the feel of his. Tilting her head to the side, she changed the angle...and so did he.
Her breath caught and held as he took more control. His fingers felt cool against her cheeks but still managed to make heat flare even hotter in her gut. She shoved it down, didn’t want it to overwhelm her. Didn’t want to scare him off.
Not that he seemed scared at the moment.
No, he seemed to be warming up. His fingers tightened, tilting her head just a little farther to the right so his lips could cover hers more completely.
Wow. The man knew how to kiss and he hadn’t even opened his mouth yet.
She was practically panting now, her lungs working harder to keep up with the lack of oxygen. Her hands had dropped to his shoulders and she realized she gripped him so tight, her fingers actually ached. Flexing them, she put them flat on his shoulders...then let them slip down.
Beneath his coat, she felt the rapid rise of his chest, swore she could feel the pounding of his heart. Her own heart seemed to match the pace of his. Fingers curling into the lapels of his jacket, she held on tight while his lips moved over hers, coaxing her into exchanging sweet, fast kisses that revved her desire while satisfying her need to taste him.
And just when she thought he might finally deepen the kiss—
He pulled away.
The little sound she made deep in her throat would’ve been embarrassing if she hadn’t cared more about his retreat.
She barely restrained herself from climbing him like a tree and forcing him to kiss her again. So she stood there trying to get her breathing to return to normal.
The D-Man Page 8
