Page 35 of Melting the Ice

“Uh, yeah. Uh, sure.”

I would not laugh right now.

He squeezed the back of his neck, stretching the thin white T-shirt he wore, the artwork on his arm flexing with each movement of his hand. At least he had the decency to put on a pair of black sweatpants instead of gray.

“Don’t you have dogs to walk today?” he asked.

“Can you grab the frying pan?” I asked at the same time.

He shuffled around me to open the higher cupboard and pull down the pan. His shirt lifted just enough to display a sliver of skin and that stupid hot-guy line on his hip. I swallowed hard. I was teasing him, but he was unconsciously doing the same to me. What would he do if I reached out and touched him?

“Here.” He set it down on the stove and shifted away from me. “So, no dogs today?”

“Only two later this afternoon. It’s crazy snowy out, and my other two clients are working from home this week, so they canceled.”

“That sucks.”

I shrugged. “It happens. Good thing Simone hired me for real last night so I can make some money.”

He sighed. “Josie, you don’t have to worry about that. I’m not trying to get rid of you or anything. You don’t have to get a job just to get a job. I mean, how’s it going with that other one? Uh, the drawings thing.”

I couldn’t help but grin as a faint pink tinged his cheeks. Freaking hell. His awkwardness was adorable.

“Actually, really well. Elaine loved the images, and my Etsy shop is doing great. Cora wants some drawings for her new book and pen name, too.”

“That’s amazing. So you don’t have to tend bar if you don’t want to,” he repeated.

“It’s not a big deal. And bartending is fun. I get to hang out, chat with people, and watch your games if I’m not actually at the arena.”

“If you’re sure it’s not just because you feel like a mooch.”

I put my hand on his arm, and he tensed under my touch for a brief moment. “Seriously. It’s fun for me. I haven’t done this work in a while, and you know I’m always up for a new adventure. Maybe Simone will let me come up with some new drink specials that are Stampede related. My spin on a Purple Haze was a big hit last night. Now, get out of my way so I can make breakfast. I’m starving, and I bet you are, too.”

I turned from him and kept my grin to myself after catching him visibly swallow at my last comment.

Today was going to be fun.

“Are you sure you don’t want to join me on the mat?” I asked later that morning. “You can show me your moves.”

He rolled his eyes at me. “I’m good, thanks. I only do yoga on game days.”

I chuckled. “I swear, you’re more superstitious than I realized.”

“Am not.”

“Are you pouting? Also, how can you listen to this thing and not have to immediately pee?” I asked, gesturing to the water fountain I’d turned on and then turned right back off.

“It’s relaxing. Are you just in here to ask a million questions or are you actually planning to do yoga? I mean, it’s supposed to be meditative and quiet. Two things I don’t associate with you.”

“Wow, Micahtron. Shots fired. Maybe you need some meditation yourself,” I taunted.

“Very funny,” he deadpanned.

“So, do you have a list of moves you do, or are you just winging it?” I asked, leaning over to stretch, my ass fully on display. I was taking this teasing up a notch, but I couldn’t resist, even if it got me all hot and bothered with no actual reward except his reactions.

“What? Uh, yeah. I have an app on my phone that I follow and a printed list of positions.” His voice had an edge to it that warmed me from the inside out.

I tilted my head as I stretched to the side to look at him. “Please tell me it’s laminated.”

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