Page 26 of War

“Have I ever steered ya wrong, kid?” he says, wearing the same expression.

She shrugs. “There was that time you promised to let me paint your nails and then you refused to let me pick the color.”

“I told you I’d do any color but pink.”

Brayden hides behind his cards, shaking with laughter, and I find myself doing the same. When I look at War again, he smiles. Then he does this thing that has me all out of sorts.

He winks. Yup. Tyler freaking Warren winks at me.

My body betrays me as a sizzle of heat rushes through me. What was that? I’m pretty sure the man hasn’t smiled at me since the day we met, and I know for a fact that I’ve never seen him wink. It’s dangerous. Deadly. Seriously, a wink from this gorgeous man should come with a warning. He shouldn’t be allowed to do it. The gods, or whoever is out there determining who gets winking abilities, shouldn’t allow people who have that kind of swagger to wink. It’sunfair.

“Do you have a four?” I ask Brayden.

“Go fish,” he says with a smile.

I pick up a card, which is not a four, and sigh.

Tyler knocks shoulders with Josie, and when it’s her turn, she giggles. “Do you have a four, Ava?”

“Tyler Warren, are you helping her beat me?” I say, affronted, as I hand Josie my card. She sets it down next to hers with a big smile.

War is still sporting that same smile, only this time, his eyes dance as he watches me with a focus that rivals how he acts when he’s on the ice. Determined. Cocky. Sure of whatever plan he’s hatched. “What can I say, Vicious? I play to win.”

The way he’s looking at me should make me uncomfortable. It should make me annoyed. Instead, it only makes my heart beat wildly in my chest. An experience I don’t want to even try to understand. Flustered, I look away, only to find both Dory and Xander with their eyes on me. And neither of themappears happy.

After two rounds of go fish, Chandler stretches and says it’s time to go.

My stomach sinks. Though I’m still confused and frustrated by the way he acted earlier, I don’t want him to leave. Once he and Dory are gone, Xander will want to go too, and I’m not ready to say good night. This is the first holiday I’ve enjoyed in years. Despite that bout of tension, it’s been magical. Spending time with Josie is always a joy, but tonight, witnessing how happy and carefree she is in her home, surrounded by the people she considers family, it’s nothing short of beautiful.

For a little while, it made me forget how much I miss my own family. How much I miss the years where the laughter outweighed the tears.

Before guilt can seep in—along with the pressure of knowing my mother is not enjoying this night in the same way I am—Josie grabs my hand. “Will you help me get ready for bed and read me a story before you go?”

My heart melts into a puddle at the request. As if I’d ever say no. “Of course, love bug. What about Scarlett?”

Tyler pushes back from the table. “I’ll take her up. Come here, mon chou.” He holds his arms out to his little girl.

Arching a brow, I hold Scarlett closer.

He chuckles. “I’m French Canadian, remember.”

“So she’s your little shoe?”

“Means cabbage, actually.” Brayden coughs out a laugh. “He tried to use it with me, but I pushed him into the boards.”

Scarlett launches herself at War and snuggles into his neck, already rubbing her eyes.

With a hum, he kisses her head, then smirks at Brayden. “As if I’d ever let you push me into the boards.” With that, he’s sauntering away, tossing an “I’ll be back” over his shoulder.

Watching him walk away while murmuring unintelligible words to Scarlett has my stomach doing that silly little flip again. What the heck? I can’t blame the reaction on his forearms today, since he’s wearing a black sweater. Will he give her a bath before bed? If so, surely, he’d have to pull those sleeves up?—

“You okay over there?”Brayden mutters.

Blinking, I drag the back of my hand over my mouth and swipe at the liquid pooling there.

Crap. I was definitely drooling.

God, this is bad.

---