Page 9 of Rush

She looked up at her name, smiled, then patted the cushion beside her.

“You want me to sit next to you?”

Nora slid onto the bench seat. “Looks like breakfast is nearly over.” The remains of what looked like peanut butter toast were on the little girl’s plate. A glass lay abandoned on the table at the seat next to Sophie, holding the dregs of the same yucky protein shake Oz downed before a workout. Wrinkling her nose, she held back a shudder. “Please tell me your Uncle Linc didn’t try to make you drink that goop?”

Sophie giggled and leaned into Nora’s side, mimicking Nora’s expression and shaking her head.

“Hey now, you two aren’t supposed to gang up on me,” Linc said with a mock frown. Looking Nora’s way, he added,“I’ve gotta head out. I should only be a few hours, but if you need anything, call. I’ll be training at the stadium gym so I’m close by.”

She threw Linc a sunny smile. “Okay, I’m sure there won’t be any problems. Sophie, you wanna hop down and tell your uncle goodbye?”

Nora finally dropped the smile that’d felt forced and unnatural. She’d need to work on that, but for now, she was grateful to scoot out of the way and let the two have their moment.

“Have a good day and don’t give Nora any trouble, and if you go feed the ducks, give them an extra slice of bread from me.”

Sophie smiled and hugged Linc’s leg, skipping off to the living room, leaving an awkward conversational lull behind.

Linc still hadn’t left, and he had an oddly intent look on his face as he stared at her. She thought maybe he wanted to say something else or give her some instructions, but he just kept staring.

Finally, after what felt like forever, his head dipped and he repeated, “I’ve gotta head out,” and abruptly walked away without even a goodbye. A few seconds later, she heard the door to the garage slam shut.

Welp, Nora guessed that was that. Boys were weird. She headed off after Sophie, content to leave all thoughts of the male species behind for the day.

***

Linc came home with lunch.

Walking into the kitchen, pizza box in hand, Nora hadn’t been expecting to be invited to stay. Especially not after she’d informed him Sophie had just gone down for a nap.

He’d thrown out the invitation while casually leaning with his butt against the kitchen counter, the soft material of his t-shirt pulled taut emphasizing the broad expanse of his chest and his long, denim-clad legs kicked out in front of him, the pizza sitting on the counter at his hip.

Looking at him now, Nora swallowed down her regret because while she’d very much like to get to know the man a little better, lunch with Linc would not only feed her, but also feed her crush. Staying without a Sophie buffer would be an extremely bad idea. “I should probably head home.”

“I thought all mid-westerners were taught to be polite. Seems kind of rude to make me eat all by myself.”

Nora knew from his tone he was teasing so was about topolitelydecline again but the aroma of the tomato sauce was getting to her and her stomach choosing that moment to growl like a grizzly, sealed her fate.

Chuckling, Linc stated, “That settles it, you’re staying. Can’t send you home hungry, Oz would never let me forget it.” He pushed off the counter and turned to grab a couple of plates from the cupboard.

“Anything I can do to help?”

“If you could grab me one of the sodas from the fridge door and whatever you’d like, that’d be great.”

“Pizza and soda? Seems Oz isn’t the only one who likes to cheat on his diet.” A drink in each hand, she bumped the fridge door with her hip to close it.

Linc threw open the lid of the pizza box and pulled up a slice. Seeing the stringing cheese had her mouth watering.

“Technically, it’s not cheating until training camp starts. That’s when the team’s dietician gets on our asses if we don’t watch what we eat. Oz pisses her off… a lot.” He shot her a wink and a mischievous grin.

Nora laughed along with his joke because she could picture her brother, shoulders hunched, while being lectured on his junk food habits. Setting the cans of soda on the table, she took the plate Linc handed her and slid into the seat.

“Damn, I didn’t think to ask. I hope you’re ok with pepperoni.” Linc took the seat across from her on the u-shaped bench.

“No worries there, it’s my favorite.” To prove she wasn’t lying, she took a big bite. Flavor burst over her tongue, and her eyes nearly rolled back in her head. Tangy sauce, gooey cheese, and chewy crust, she’d had good pizza before, but this wasgoodpizza.

“Guess you weren’t lying about pepperoni being your favorite,” Linc commented, his voice sounding strained. He took his own bite and leaned over her way, reaching a long arm out to grab a napkin. “How was yours and Sophie’s day? Any upsets?”

Heart beating rapidly, she could’ve sworn his fingers had brushed her arm, but that had to be her overactive imagination. Nora swallowed, grabbed a napkin for herself, and wiped her mouth. “We had a great day—she was a perfect angel.” He did that one eyebrow raise that she loved so much, and she chuckled, amending, “Okay, so perfect is a stretch for any child. She got a little fussy before finally falling asleep for a nap, but I stand by the angel part.”

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