Page 22 of Loaded Laces

Yet.

God, the kid is smart.

“I’d like that,” I tell him. “But I’m still working on convincing your mom to want me as her boyfriend.”

Belle gasps, nails pressing into my chest.

I smother my smother, ignore her angry eyes. “If she agrees, I’ll let you know, okay?”

His gaze goes from mine to his mom, whose cheeks flush bright pink.

Then he shrugs again.

“’Kay.” A beat. “Is dinner ready?”

It comesas no surprise that Quinn’s natural athleticism carries over onto the ice.

After a few shaky laps, he found his stride and is currently flying around the rink with a group of Eagles kids, all acting like tiny maniacs.

Grinning, I step off the rink and make my way to Belle.

She’s sipping hot chocolate from a paper cup, her nose adorably pink from the cold.

“Thank you for this,” she whispers as I sit next to her and swipe the cup, stealing a sip.

“Baby?” I ask.

Her eyes are on Quinn as I press the cup back into her hand, but I wait for them to drift to mine. “Yeah?” she murmurs when she’s finally gazing at me again and I don’t immediately speak.

I touch her cheek. “Stop saying thank you for everything.”

Warmth in those eyes. Then she exhales softly and leans against my shoulder, the contact sending a bolt of heat through me. I’ve snuck a few kisses over the last week, but not nearly enough to soothe the constant need churning through my insides.

Even having her this close makes my nerves stand on edge, my fingers tingle with the need to touch her, my cock twitch and threaten to get hard.

I shove that down.

Mostly because she’s talking. “I’m here.”

I frown. Talking but making no sense.

She settles her free hand on my thigh, something that does nothing to soothe that raw, aching need shooting through me.

“Do you get it?”

I shake my head.

“I’m here. Quinn is out there. I’m not going to stop saying thank you?—”

I open my mouth, but she cuts me off.

“But I’m also not going anywhere.”

She leans in, brushes her lips across my jaw. “Because I’m giving us time.”

My heart skips a beat, hope surging through me.

God, I love this woman. I don’t think I ever stopped, even for that brief period of time when I hated her, I still loved her.

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