Page 22 of What If We Do

“That’s kind of deep,” she says. “You okay with hockey not being your life? I imagine it’s pretty damn important right now.”

“Of course. It pays the bills. It’s what I do. It’s who I am. But sometimes it’s not bad to be reminded that one day hockey won’t be my life anymore and what will I have then, you know? There are more important things in life than hitting a puck around the ice for points.”

Scarlett gasps playfully. “You better not let anybody hear you say that mister hockey star.”

“You’re right.” I drag my hand through my hair. “Think you can keep my secret?”

Scarlett rounds on me, wrapping her arms around my waist. “I think if you kiss me, the secret moves from you to me. Then I become the secret keeper.”

“Ah. So that’s how it works?”

She nods. “Mhmm.”

“Perfect.” I lower my mouth to hers, releasing my secrets and passing them to the one person who I wholeheartedly believe would hold them and protect them for me for as long as I needed. Her soft tongue slides across my lips and dips inside my mouth and fuck if my body doesn’t want to react in every way possible.

On any given day I eat and sleep and breathe hockey.

But today, everything about the game of hockey is out the window.

Because I just want to eat, sleep, and breathe Scarlett Dayne.

Chapter 7

Scarlett

“How do you make it so easy to breathe, Scarlett?” Oliver asks me, his forehead pressed to mine.

“Because I don’t expect you to be someone you’re not, Oliver. You’re free with me. Zero expectations. Consider me your safe space.”

“I’m finding myself overwhelmingly attracted to you,” he says. “And I’m sorry if that’s too much. Maybe Rowena was right. I’m not good at hiding my feelings.”

“It’s perfectly fine to have feelings. I have them too.” I bring my hands to his cheeks. “I wasn’t sure how this day was going to go, but somehow, you’ve managed to make every moment perfect. You let me take the lead instead of treating me like your personal arm candy. You’ve asked about my feelings. My desires. What I want for myself and for my future. Do you know how long it’s been since a man has asked how I feel? Hell, I could marry you right now and have no remorse given what I was about to walk into.”

“I’m really fucking glad you didn’t marry him.”

“Me too.”

His lips move with mine in a soft, slow kiss, breathing against me as we share in what is turning out to be a beautifully intimate moment. One that makes my toes curl and the insides of my body tingle. The more I allow myself to let go and feel all of my feelings, the more I know I have to tell him what’s been on my mind since we walked into this party.

“Oliver?”

“Yeah.”

“I want you.”

God, I’ve never been so bold in my life.

Please don’t turn me down.

It will crush me.

“Stay with me tonight.”

He cups my face and gazes into my eyes, a deep and prolonged stare, like he’s diving inside my soul. “Are you sure that’s what you want?”

I slide my hands down his chest, my fingertips brushing against his warm skin through the V cut of his shirt. “I’m dying for you to touch me and as much as I would love to take the risk right here right now,” I tell him as my heartbeat pounds through my body. “It wouldn’t be good for either of us if we were caught being indecent in public, so yes. Please. Stay with me.”

My cheeks flush as my entire body heats at the mere mention of what we could be together.

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