Page 47 of Cold as (N)ice

“Okay, I’m a stubborn idiot…” he chuckled tenderly.

“I meant me,” she laughed – and he treasured the feeling her body tremble beneath him – before realizing that they were on the bench of the van, on the side of the road. Anyone could pull over and see them, and this was not the image he was supposed to present… nor did he want his wife’s name dragged through the mud. “We should do this stuff at home.”

“Promise?”

“You’re killing me, Troll doll…” he breathed softly, caressing her cheek and savoring the way she was looking at him like he mattered. He would never forget her eyes and see them in his dreams until the day he died.

“Date night – tonight,” she urged firmly, holding his gaze.

“You got it,” he promised.

“Really?”

“Just kiss me like this again…”

“Every time…”

“I’ve gotta get to the rink, and every time you speak, I melt.”

“What if I whisper things to you this evening during our date?”

“I’ll die of a heart attack,” he chuckled and saw her curious gaze as she stroked an errant strand of his hair back from her face where it fell, tucking it behind his ear tenderly. “You can’t make me think sexy stuff in front of Stephen and expect me not to react.”

“Do I affect you?”

“Do you have to ask?”

She opened her mouth to speak and then closed it, hesitating. He gave her a simple look, lifting a brow and smirking at her pointedly, before moving to touch her lip and saw her smile knowingly.

“It’s hard to just say what is in my head,” she whispered, and he understood. “But I was just thinking that this is nice, that we are figuring out how we fit together, and I’m really happy, Barrett.”

“I’m happy too,” he admitted, not holding back. “I want us to have it all – and I think we will in time.”

“I do, too.”

“Let’s get you home so I can take my car and leave you with the van – oh, and I think my knee is in the croissants.”

“How do you know?” she chuckled softly.

“Something smushed under me.”

“My cream puffs,” she pouted – and he kissed her lower lip affectionately.

“I’ll get you more, I swear it,” he promised and then paused. “Oh, and make sure we don’t have anything planned on Saturday. They’re doing a ‘meet the team’ family night, and everyone will be there with their families.”

“Oh?”

“Yep. I’m getting your jerseys today, which is why I have to go.”

“We’re supposed to wear jerseys?”

“Babe, you’re both going to have Coeur on your back and number twelve on the front. If you ever come to a game, I want you to wear it for me so I can see you in the stands…”

“I want to see you play,” she interrupted softly and then gave him a lopsided smile. “Get off me because I’ve gotta go to the bathroom – and save what is left of my cream puffs.”

“I’ll be your cream puff,” he taunted, wagging his eyebrows at her.

“You’re my dumpster fire,Cream Puff,”she tossed affectionately, and he laughed, knowing it was so true.

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