Page 83 of Boarded Hearts

I laugh. “Yeah, you did.”

He begins working shampoo through my hair. “I’ve been waiting to do this for ages.”

“What?”

“Wash your hair with this fucking amazing shampoo. The moment I met you I was hit with this coconut scent, and I couldn’t wrap my head around what it was. Turns out it’s this, and it drives me fucking wild.”

“It’s nothing mind-blowing or expensive, just a drugstore brand.”

“Everything about you is mind-blowing, Angel.” He brings his lips to my ear. “You are an amazing woman and a kick-ass mom—strong, powerful, and so fucking beautiful. It kills me to think he kept you from living out your dreams. Promise me you’ll always chase them from now on.”

I don’t know where that came from but I feel its sincerity deep in my bones. Since my parents passed, no one has ever encouraged me to follow my dreams and believe in myself.

I swipe under my eyes, knowing full well it’s not moisture from the shower. “Thank you,” I whisper. “You are the most amazing man I’ve ever met. You need to believe me when I tell you that you’re everything. You’re so worthy. What you’ve done for me, for my son, and the kindness you put out into the world. Don’t ever believe you’re anything other than perfect.”

Clearing his throat, he places a chaste kiss on my shoulder and then grabs the shower gel and begins scrubbing himself.

The entire bathroom is filled with steam as we continue to rinse ourselves and each other, the experience arguably just as erotic as the way he took me in the bedroom earlier.

“I have a game on Tuesday in New York. Are you still off work?” Jon asks.

“I am.”

“Can I fly you out to come watch me? We can stay in New York for a couple of days and have an extended Christmas.”

Smiling up at him, I throw my arms around his neck and kiss him softly on the lips. “Sounds amazing.”

“Good. Maybe I’ll finally get you in my jersey too.”

I tap my finger on my lips and look to the side. “Um, I don’t know about that. Isn’t that some sort of declaration to the world? Like it’s serious,” I jest, unable to help myself from winding him up.

“Oh, we’re way past jersey-wearing declarations, Angel.”

I pull back slightly, still smiling from ear to ear. “Define way past jersey-wearing declarations.”

Keeping his gorgeous gray eyes trained on mine, I see an emotion pass through them I’ve not seen before. He turns his head to face the misted glass wall as he brings his hand up and begins…writing something.

In a state of confusion, I watch his finger write the letter “I” and then move to another word, “love,” and finally he writes “you.”

My breath catches in my throat, and I fight to swallow the lump forming. Realization hits me hard as it begins to sink in.

“Is that defined enough for you, Felicity? I’m completely in love with you.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

JON

“Just wondering if there was a bigger suite available?” Felicity asks. Her cheeky, sarcastic tongue is in full flow these days, and I love it.

“Would you prefer something a little more elaborate, Ms. Thompson?” I ask, dumping my suitcase on the king-size bed and wrapping my arms around her waist from behind.

“Well, it is a tad on the small side. I expected more of you.”

“I do apologize, Your Royal Highness.”

“For a linguistics graduate, your British accent needs some work.” Felicity pats me on the shoulder and saunters off toward the bathroom, leaving a trail of clothes behind her as she strips down to her red bra and lacy thong. At the doorway, she glances back at me and winks, and I can say with absolute certainty I’ve never moved so quickly, not even on the ice.

“By the way, Kate said she can help with the move. I mean, I don’t have much in the way of personal items, since my apartment came fully furnished, but I do have a few knick-knacks to clutter your apartment with. Sorry.” Felicity looks up at me from her phone.

---