Page 23 of Home Ice

CHAPTER 19

PRETTY SURE I SMELL LIKE A MIX OF MAN AND FRESH MOUNTAIN AIR

BRANT

Once Lily is beside me, I tell her we're going to the park, and that I'll let her lead so she can set the pace. I try to play it off like I'm a gentleman and I don't want to push her faster than she wants to go this morning. But the truth is, I want to stay that half step behind so I can watch the way her ass bounces with each step despite those tight workout leggings she's wearing. So I can see that ponytail swing side to side. Before her, I never thought a simple ponytail could do this to me. Serenity would wear them sometimes—usually when I insisted we just stay in for the evening—but they never made me feel the way this one does.

I thought I was in control this morning. I know what I felt the first time I saw her. And I know the way her touch made me feel when we were in her kitchen. But I thought I could handle it. Seeing her during practices has been fine. Mostly. Other than the time I let Kayden score because I was too distracted by her. And the time Poppy snuck one by me just as I heard Lily's voice. But those were momentary lapses. Now? Watching her body as we run? I want to touch every single inch of her. I want to run my hands down those sides. I want to cup those breasts. I want to be the one who makes her ass bounce. Fuck.

Lily stops at the intersection before the park. We have the red Do Not Walk sign, so she turns toward me and jogs in place. Holy hell. This view is even better than the one from behind. "Did you say something?"

Do not look at her breasts, Brant. Not at her breasts. Not her breasts. "What? No. I don't think so."

"Sounded like you said 'fuck.' Can't keep up with me?" She winks, and I bite down hard on my tongue. It doesn't work, and my dick starts to stir. Luckily, the light changes just then, and I sprint across the street. Glad to focus on anything but her and to get away before she notices anything.

When I get to the other side, I turn, and she's right behind me. "Not your first run?" I ask, even though I know it's not. Despite her pledge to avoid running by my house, I've seen her jog by. And each time I'm tempted—so fucking tempted—to join her, but I've never had the balls to do it. Now that she's partnering with me for the Charity Bee, though, I have an excuse.

"What kind of athletic trainer would I be if I didn't work out?"

My mind flashes with ways that I want to work her out. Not helping. "You have met Elijah right?"

She laughs. "Elijah is one of the sweetest people I've ever known."

"And I don't think he's ever jogged a day in his life, but he's still a great trainer," I say. "He's one of only two I would trust to look after me."

"He is great, I've learned a lot from him already," she says. "But who's the other one you trust? Leito? Don't tell me it's Jason."

I laugh. "What's wrong with Jason?" Aside from being one of the worst trainers I've ever worked with. The only reason he has a job is because his mom works in the front office. "No, it's not Jason." I grin and dash further into the park.

I lead her all the way around to the shelter house, sure that I'm at least a few seconds ahead of her. But when I take my last stride, she's right there beside me. She's not even out of breath. I'm bent over, hands on my knees, and sucking in air.

I look up at her and notice a drip of sweat at the side of her jaw. It rolls down her neck. Then along her collarbone toward the center of her chest, where it disappears behind her tank top. I imagine my finger following its line. The microscopic hairs on her neck would rise a fraction of a second before goosebumps spread over her skin. She would tilt her head back, baring herself to me, all while giving me a look that says it's about time. My finger twitches as I just begin to reach for her, but her laugh stops me.

"That all you got?" She has the biggest smile I've seen on her yet. It's beautiful, but it's not the look I wish I could see on her face.

"Who's the rude one now?" I stand up straight and clutch my hand to my chest in mock indignation. "I'm a goalie. I'm best in quick bursts."

"That must be so disappointing for your girlfriend." She sticks her tongue out and jumps back a couple of steps like I would try to grab her.

Okay, maybe I do try to grab her. "There isn't a girlfriend. But any girl I'm with is never disappointed. I always come up big in the moment."

The grin drops from her face, and I curse myself for pushing things too far. "Sorry," she says. "I shouldn't have said that. We're coworkers."

It feels like my stomach was just replaced by a slab of concrete. I need to lighten the mood. "Still not prepared to admit I'm your boss, eh?" Her gaze stays fixed on the grass at her feet. Fuck me. "Anyway, I thought maybe we could just do some basics today. To see our strengths and weaknesses as a team."

"You're that serious about this charity thing?"

I nod. "You act like you haven't spent years around professional athletes. You know how competitive we are."

Lily looks at me for a second. "How do you know this isn't my first job with a team?"

Shit. I'm not sure if I should tell her I asked Elijah about her. Or that I asked around the front office when he didn't know much. Maybe she would think I was just checking on the qualifications of the new trainer like I would for any new hire. But I've never even thought of asking about any of the others, and I get the feeling she would see right through me if I lied. So I settle on a shrug. "Just a guess. Anyway, yes, I take this very seriously. I've won it three of the four years I've been here. Not counting last year. I need to win again this year to show everyone I'm back."

"It is for a good cause." A hint of her smile returns, and even though it is just like flicking on a dim light bulb in a dark basement compared to before, I'll take it. "You said you do it for an animal shelter?"

I nod. "Yeah, I know they do good work, and they can always use the extra money. Do you have something else in mind, though? I'm open to suggestions, but it's kind of hard to top a no-kill shelter, right?"

"My friend Em would agree."

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