Page 11 of Stick Move

“I’ve been waiting for you,” she tells her.

“Can you show me my room?”

Brighton lifts her head, seeking my approval and I nod. Camryn slips her hand into Brighton’s—an instant, easy bond—and as they take off, my resilient little girl skipping to the stairs, my heart jumps into my throat.

Have I made a mistake?

I don’t want Camryn to get too close to Brighton, especially when this arrangement is only going to last for the NHL season. She’s lost her mother, thinks her mother doesn’t love her. I can’t have her falling for Brighton only to have Brighton leave her at the end of the season.

“Daddy, are you coming?” Camryn asks from the top of the stairs.

“On my way.” I take the stairs two at a time, and meet them on the landing.

Camryn’s eyes go wide when she sees a candy bowl on the table. “Can I have one?” she asks.

Brighton picks up the bowl of chocolates and holds it out. “Of course you can.” Camryn peels the foil off and tosses it into her mouth as Brighton points to her wing. “I live there and you and your daddy are over there.”

Camryn pokes her finger into her mouth as Brighton leads her down the hall. She swings the door open, and Camryn stands there for one moment, admiring the big space. Honestly, the living room alone is bigger than the apartment we were living in. But it’s not the space I’m admiring. No, it’s the woman who is so warm and kind to my daughter, despite the way she feels about me.

Camryn throws her arms around Brighton’s waist. “I love it, Ms. Brighton.” She then takes off to check out our new digs.

With her back to me, my gaze moves over Brighton’s small shoulders, and down her back, admiring the way her blue sundress hugs her curves, and her backside. She glances at me, and I lift my head quickly.

“Not white,” I say.

For a moment she looks confused, then she laughs. “I decided not to wear white around you anymore. For some reason, I always end up wet or dirty.” She blinks quickly, her body stiffening. “I mean wet from the ice cream and dirty from changing my tire.”

“I knew what you meant.” That’s still not stopping me from thinking about her wet and dirty, and not in an innocent way. “But you’re still dirty.”

Heat colors her cheeks. “I…what?”

“Camryn’s fingers were full of chocolate when she hugged you. There’s a smudge on the back of your dress.”

“Oh God,” she groans with a laugh as Camryn squeals from her bedroom. “I think she likes it,” Brighton says with a smile, breaking what feels like sexual tension arcing between us.

She’s about to move, leave us two alone in our new place, but I catch her hand. “Brighton, you’re okay with this, right?”

I catch a flash of vulnerability in her blue eyes, before dark lashes blink it away. “I’ve just been having a hard time, Noah.” She sniffs and tries to pull herself together, but she doesn’t need to be strong for me. Hell, I think she’s been strong too long, with no one to rely on but herself, which is why I wanted to give her a break from the business. She belongs in the driver’s seat, just not yet.

“It’s okay,” I say and pull her to me. She’s stiff at first until I rub her back and she relaxes into me, her body practically collapsing against mine. It’s all I can do not to take her to my bed and hold her until her pain subsides. I don’t think that’s going to happen anytime soon, considering she’s trying so hard to be strong, and unbreakable.

“I…I lost so much.”

“I know.”

As if realizing it’s me who’s holding her, and that she doesn’t take comfort from a guy she hates, she stiffens again, and inches back, and my arms fall to my sides. “Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate you purchasing this place and keeping it running as a resort. I also appreciate you allowing me to stay here, and your daughter is such a sweetheart. She’s going to be a joy to be around.”

“She likes you too,” I tell her again.

She laughs, like that’s ridiculous. “I don’t know why. What do I have to offer anyone now?”

“Hey,” I say. “You have a lot to offer, Brighton.”

She goes quiet and glances down, but not before I catch the disbelief in her eyes. “I don’t know why I said any of that.”

“Because you’re grieving.”

Her throat makes a painful sound as she swallows. “I just never should have said any of that…to you.”

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