Page 74 of Sven

She smiled and looked down at her lap. He took that moment to slip her hand into his and give it a small squeeze before entwining their fingers.

“Is that a good idea? I mean, since I work for you?”

“Probably not. But, Natalie”—he waited for her to look into his eyes—“I have never felt like this about a person before. I want to be around you all the time. I want to tell you things. I want to know things about you. And I mean, that kiss... Damn.” He shook his head.

“It was a good kiss.”

“It was more than a good kiss,” he said, inching his way closer. He brushed the hair out of her eyes, leaned in, and pressed his lips to hers.

“Before we do that, I really do want to figure out what is happening,” Natalie said.

“Okay,” he said, sitting back. “Why don’t we just take it slow?”

“That doesn’t actually clear anything up,” she said, looking at up him with her big blue eyes.

“Do you like me?”

She rolled her eyes. “Clearly.”

“Okay, and I told you that I like you.”

“But I still work for you.”

He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “I know that is sticky, but you’re so good with her, and I need you. What if I keep paying you for the time being, but I pay for everything you need, so you can just save the money?”

She thought it over. “What happens if we don’t work out?”

“I don’t know, but I’m willing to cross that bridge when we come to it because I don’t think that bridge will ever come.”

“Come on,” she said, pushing at his chest.

He captured it and held it there.

“I’m serious, Natalie. I know I’ve only known you for a couple months, but in those months, you and Winnie have made me a better person. I’ve never given much thought to whether I like myself or not, but if what I feel like now is liking myself, I’m pretty sure I didn’t before. You did that.”

“I didn’t do that.”

“Yes, you did. You expect more of me than being a cocky playboy hockey player. No one has ever expected more than that out of me before. I wasn’t even sure if I could do it, but after these past couple months, I know I’m capable of more. That’s how I know that we’ll figure this out.”

She smiled up at him, and it was just about enough to stop his heart. “Okay, let’s see where this goes.”

And with that, it was like the floodgates broke. He knew she needed time, but he was all in.

He bent his head and gave her a sweet kiss. “I’m going to make you so fucking happy.”

“You already have,” she said, reaching up to cup his face, bringing him into another kiss. “And now you are about to leave for an eight-day road trip.”

“Yeah, the timing sucks... or maybe it’s good timing.”

“How do you figure?” she asked, tracing her fingers along his hand.

“Because all I want to do is take you up to my room and make you feel so damn good, but I know that is old-Sven behavior and not taking it slow, so the distance might help.”

She nodded. “It is tempting, though, isn’t it? I mean, I remember the first morning when I walked in and you were feeding Winnie without a shirt on...”

“Yeah, I saw how you looked at me.”

She batted his chest, and he caught her hand and pressed a kiss to her wrist.

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