Page 27 of Off Season

By the time my eyes meet his again, he’s smirking. A brow arched in question. I’ve been caught red-handed yet again, ogling the guy who bailed me out of one of the hardest times of my life.

“He…umm…” I shake my head, clearing the filthy fantasies from my mind. “He’s good. They’re managing well, which means I can stop worrying now.”

“Good. I knew they would be fine.” He smiles, then tilts his head back and closes his eyes.

I take the moment to really take him in. Sure, I’ve checked him out about a million times whenever he’s visited the bakery or anytime he’s been over at Alex and Blaine's apartment, but I’ve never been able to see all of him.

His dark hair has a slight wave to it, and there’s a few strands of gray at his temples, which only adds to his distinguished look, along with the fine lines at the corners of his eyes. Long, dark lashes shadow the top of his cheeks, andday-old stubble lines a razor-sharp jawline. A crooked nose, no doubt from playing hockey, and frown lines crease his forehead and between his brows, but when I look closely, I can see a small crease in his cheek beneath the stubble. The kind of crease that comes with…

“You have dimples,” I blurt out, then slap my hand over my mouth.

Did I really just say that?

Ethan opens one eye, those full lips tipping in a grin, making said dimples pop. “Are you checking me out again, Jacob? Should I be worried about you objectifying me whenever I’m not wearing a shirt?”

I fucking love how he says my name in that deep, growly voice.

“No! Yes. Ugh!” I cover my face with my hands, groaning. “I mean, how can I not when you look like that?” I wave my hand at his bare chest. “You’ve just come out of the gym looking like some kind of superhero, all sweaty and ready to rip apart a tree stump with your bare hands.” I flop back against the blanket and cross my arms over my face, mumbling under my breath before I have the chance to stop myself, “I wish I was a tree stump.”

“A tree stump, eh?” Ethan snickers, and I hear him move just as I feel a shadow cast over me. I open my eyes, peering behind the safety of my sunglasses.

He’s leaning on one arm, his big body partially covering mine as he comes closer. His chocolate brown eyes slowly roam my body, leaving a path of fire in their wake.

“And you think you’re not a tease, Jacob?” His voice takes on a deep, husky tone. “The only thing I want to be ripping apart right now are those fucking indecent shortsyou wore yesterday. Did you think that coming downstairs yesterday and bending over the way you did wasn’t a tease? Did you think I wouldn’t notice that lacy little jockstrap you were wearing and be left wondering whether you’d let me tear it off you with my hands? Or my teeth?”

I gulp.Please do all of thaton the tip of my tongue.

“You’re playing with fire, J. I’m just here, ready to stoke the flame.” He winks, then gets up and heads back into the house.

Chapter Ten

Ethan

The wedding is tomorrow, and anxiety is beginning to fester in the pit of my stomach. It also doesn’t help that I’m finding it increasingly difficult to stop myself from pretty much throwing myself at Jacob.

Every time I catch him checking me out, I want to just say fuck it and take his mouth with mine because surely an off-season hook-up wouldn’t hurt, right?

Or it could be catastrophic.

Well. Yeah. That too.

And while I don’t think Jacob has a bad bone in his body, it’s that damn fear that I can’t quite break past.

Heartbreak can do weird things to you in the long run.

After that interestingconversationin the backyard, where I may have said too much—or maybe not enough—my mom came over for dinner. She made us a roast dinner and the three of us lost track of time talking about ourselves and ourlives back in Chicago. My mom had a lot of questions for Jacob about himself, the bakery, and Alex, and he answered all of them without hesitation.

It’s clear to see that he loves his job and that he fits right in.

In this house.

With my mom.

With me?

I can’t be thinking like that.

She raised her brows at me a few times when she caught me staring at him, and all I could do was shrug.

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