Page 38 of Rainbow Kisses

Rain

I couldn’t believeI’d gotten Brian to agree to the bet so easily.

I mean, I’d gotten exactly what I wanted, which was dinner with him. But the fact that he’d agreed so fast made my heart race. And I couldn’t stop smiling and staring into his eyes like some lovestruck idiot.

Enough of that.

Breaking the mesmerizing hold of his gaze, I stood.

“Just let me clean up this stuff,” I said as I gathered the plates and bowls from dinner, “and we can watch the game.”

“I’ll give you a hand.”

I waved him off, needing a few minutes to get my hormones under control.

“Why don’t you go find the game and sit down. You want something else to drink?”

“Sure, just some water. Thanks.”

It took me two minutes to get the table cleaned off, and when I came back out, I saw the game on the TV in the front corner ofthe room and Brian rearranging the covers over the girls. They’d built their pillow fort in front of the fireplace along the side wall, which left the couch in front of the TV open.

Brian had closed the doors to the fireplace, as the logs were basically ash, and turned off the only lights in the room, I assume because they were on the tables closest to the girls. But that left only the TV and the faint glow from the kitchen. It made the room seem way more romantic than it should.

Get a grip.

There were still two girls in the room. Romance was probably far from Brian’s mind, anyway.

I handed Brian his glass of water as he sat on one end of the couch, and I set my glass on the side table as I sank onto the other end. My couch was an L-shaped sectional, which allowed Brian to stretch out his long legs. He looked completely relaxed, one arm behind his head as he watched the game.

“Not looking good for your guys tonight,” Brian said as the second period ended. He’d sunk even deeper into the cushions, practically lying full out. I’d lain on my side, head on a pillow that was nearly touching his leg. Only inches separated us, and it took all my self-control not to scoot even closer.

“They could still come back.” Though the 6-2 score in favor of Calgary didn’t bode well. A yawn caught me off guard, and I lifted a hand to cover my mouth.

“I guess miracles do happen.” Amusement laced his voice. “Damn, this couch is comfortable. Don’t let me fall asleep, okay?”

I made a noncommittal noise because, honestly, I didn’t think he should drive home. And yeah, my couch was comfortable and long enough to accommodate his body.

“I like your house.”

Smiling because he sounded completely relaxed, I said, “Thanks. I bought it from an older lady who moved toa retirement community after her husband died. They were season ticket holders since the beginning. She still is. I fell in love with it the first time I saw it. Before her husband died, I told them I’d buy it if they ever decided they wanted to sell. Harry died about five months after that, and Kathy decided she didn’t want to live here without him. They were so close. They did everything together. And then he was just gone. Massive heart attack.”

I still got sad thinking about it. Next to me, I felt Brian shift just before his hand gripped my shoulder. The warmth of it felt like a drug seeping into my blood. Every muscle in my body went liquid, and I stilled, not wanting him to move.

“Sounds like you knew them well.”

“I did. They were the sweetest people. And Harry loved the Devils.”

“So you had a lot in common.”

Did he think I was sweet? Or just that I loved my team?

Great, something new to obsess over.

“They were members of the booster squad, and Kathy would make gingerbread cookies of the players every year.”

“Wait, I think I remember them. She gave them to the team. Small-town hockey. Can’t beat it.”

I sighed, the idea that we could screw up our team by moving to the ECHL pushing its way back into my brain. I’d managed not to let it take up space there for a few hours, but now it was back.

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