Page 94 of Offside Attraction

“She’s sixteen months?—”

“Fostering?”

Jenna shook her head, her eyes glassy. “Adoption. We finalize the paperwork Monday.”

“What?”Rhonda shrieked, and Jenna motioned for her to keep her voice down.

“I know! Thankfully I already had the nursery set up from the last time?—”

“When? When do you get her?”

Jenna shook out her hands. “Christmas Eve.”

Rhonda pulled Jenna into a hug so tight, she might’ve bruised her ribs. “I’m so happy for you.” Jenna squeezed tighter, and as Rhonda pulled back, she caught movement at the other end of the lobby. The doors opened. Jenna stepped back, and Rhonda’s already racing heart kicked up another notch.

Jordan was the first of his teammates to step through the door, his dark hair curling out from under his backwards baseball cap. He laughed at something one of his teammates said. Not Chubs or Cam. Those were the only two she knew.

Jordan strode across the lobby with his bag slung over his shoulder. The muscles in his arms flexed with each step, and she wanted to scold him for only wearing a T-shirt.

Until he looked up.

He did a double take and his steps slowed for the briefest of seconds. Then he dropped his eyes and kept walking toward the stairs. She turned her head and saw the Snowballs ascending, fresh from the showers. Country and Ryan led the pack with Tyler and Sean close behind.

Rhonda's pulse rushed in her ears. This had happened once before. Back then, the idea of the Snowballs seeing her with Jordan felt like a death sentence. But now? She was going to have to tell them at some point because quitting Jordan wasn’t an option.

Her heart fluttered like a moth around a porchlight as she put a hand on Jenna’s shoulder. “Hold this? I promise I’ll explain.” Jenna gave her a puzzled look as Rhonda handed her the gift she’d been holding. Rhonda jogged forward, bolting faster across the lobby until she could reach out for Jordan’s hand.

He turned in surprise, and she threw her arms around his neck and his bag slipped from his arm, nearly knocking her sideways. He quickly dropped it as she pulled his lips down to hers.

And then she was floating. The warmth of his skin. The familiar scent of his cologne. The softness of his lips, and the rough stubble on his jaw.

A shockwave ripped through her as his hands pressed into her lower back. His mouth was minty, his tongue cool as he flicked it over her lips.

Then he tensed, and the reality of where they were and who was standing in the lobby rushed back in. She hadn’t asked him. She’d only been thinking about herself—about how she was okay giving away their secret. She hadn’t even thought to find out if he was.

Rhonda pulled back, her lips tingling. “I’m sorry. I?—”

Jordan kissed her again, drawing the breath from her lungs. When she pulled back a second time, he watched her, his eyes dark and hooded. She ran her fingernails over his chin.

“You know what this means?” He asked, his voice low and rough.

Her lips twitched as she nodded. “I know exactly what this means."

Jordan’s eyes seemed to liquify. "I didn’t know you’d be here.”

“I wanted to surprise you. Preferably in the parking lot.” She shrugged, her cheeks starting to flush. “Have a good practice?”

Jordan reluctantly let go of her and picked up his bag. “Not sure I’ll be able to focus, but I’ll try.” He winked, then walked on toward the stares.

Rhonda watched him go, then turned to find every pair of eyes in the lobby trained on her. Her confidence from seconds before waned, so she did what she’d done so well for thirty years of her life and pretended nothing happened. She slapped on a smile and walked back to Jenna, plucking her gift from her friend’s hand.

Jenna gaped at her. “Ummm . . . “

“Later.” Rhonda linked her arm in Jenna’s and started toward the exit.

They walked across the street to One Place and found a central table to sit at. The whole pub had been booked out for them, so there wouldn’t be any real competition, but she still wanted a good view of the gift opening.

The others filtered in, and Rhonda busied herself with bringing over pitchers of beer and plates and napkins for the pizza that was about to come out of the brick oven. Jenna watched her like a hawk, but once Country and the other guys were there, they didn’t have a moment to hash this out alone. And it was going to take a good hashing.

---