Page 76 of Waiting For Fate

“Iced mocha latte!” I slide my phone into my back pocket and grab the Bruman’s cup from the counter, smiling at Clara before darting out the door.

Me

Mornin Dove.

Dove

Good morning to you.

Me

Hey, what time do you usually head to work?

Dove

I should be leaving now but as luck would have it, I can’t find my keys.

Me

Perfect.

Dove

Huh??

I pull up by her mailbox and throw my truck in park before rushing up the front porch stairs. Why the hell am I nervous?

I knock on the door and a few seconds later, it’s swung open and everything in my mind goes quiet. How does she always look so damn beautiful?

“Mornin’ Dove.” I smile at her as a pleasant look of surprise washes over her face.

“Good morning to you,” she repeats the same response she gave me over text. “What are you doing here?”

“Freezing my balls off if you don’t invite me in.” Normally the cold doesn’t bother me. I mean, I do have a career where I spent most of my time on ice. However, it’s a whopping twenty-eight degrees outside today with a breeze and my hair is still damp from my shower.

“Of course, come in!” She swings the door open wider, ushering me inside. As soon as it closes behind her and her coffee cup is safely on the entry table, I pull her body into mine. She lets out the cutest little gasp just before my lips land on hers and I can feel her smiling as she melts into me. I wrap her legs around my waist, not only because it settles our height difference, but because I need to have her as close to me as is physically possible. I place a few light kisses to her lips, one after another, and she lets out a content laugh.

“Since you’re no longer freezing your balls off, what are you doing here?” My head falls back in laughter, planting her feet firmly on the ground again.

“I wanted to bring you some coffee before you head into a full day of handling kids that are still riding the Christmas high.” I turn and grab her coffee cup from the table and present it to her. “Plus, I’ll take any excuse to see my girl.” I wink at her and the apples of her cheeks heat as she smiles up at me.

“Is there anything wrong with you? Like, at all?” She glares up at me.

“What do you mean?”

“You are like, frighteningly perfect. You do boring Sundays with me; you show up with coffee.” She glances at the label and laughs. “My favorite coffee. You had no issue telling me exactly how you felt about me, no matter how many times I told you to leave me alone?—”

“Well, that was never gonna happen, so…” I shrug playfully, making her smile. But it only lasts a second before it falls along with her gaze as it drops to her feet.

“Do you do this for all the girls you date?”

“Of course not. This is all for you.” I smile and brush a strand of hair behind her ear.

“How many people have you dated before?” She still won’t meet my eye, and that fact along with the questions she’s just asked me doesn’t sit right with me.

“Define dated.” Her eyes snap up to mine and the urgency behind it worries me. “I never really dated anyone, but I did have my puck bunny phase just like every other college hockey player.”

“So, you’ve just…” Her lips fall into a frown as she waves her hand around. “Oh, well hey, that’s fantastic. For you, for them. For everyone really.”

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