Page 70 of Playoff
It took me a minute. “Uh, yeah.”
He maneuvered me inside and set the bag of bread on a box. Then he dragged me to the back, between a set of skis and a stack of Christmas decorations. He pressed me against the wall, his big body hiding me from anyone who might come by.
I stared up at him. “What exactly do you think we’re doing in here?”
“I’m taking that challenge.”
“It wasn’t supposed to be a challenge?” It didn’t come out as a statement but a question, and my hands were wrapping around his waist.
“So should I stop?”
“No.”
Justin was unpacked, laundry in the machine, and watching some game footage when I got back to the condo.
“You okay? You look a little flushed.”
I shrugged. “Decided to get out a couple of floors early and use the stairs.” I insisted that Alek go up before me, and I’d set my watch timer to five minutes before I followed him, paranoid that Justin would be on Alek and Fitch’s floor for some reason and when the doors opened he’d see Alek and me together and…figure out something.
It wasn’t logical. I’d bumped into the guy by accident on the elevator before. But the bold part that came out when Alek smirked at me was no longer leading the way.
“Want to go out for dinner?” he asked.
“Sure.” Justin tended to be a real homebody, especially after a series of away games. If he wanted to go out, I would do anything I could to encourage him getting out of his shell.
“Thought we’d go to that Italian place. Maybe in half an hour? I invited Fitch and Alek to join us. Trying to get along better.”
My smile froze. How the hell was I supposed to pretend I barely knew Alek when ten minutes ago he’d been inside me?
There was no good reason I could think of to say no, so I just said sure again and fled to my room. I splashed water on my cheeks, to get rid of any flush or other incriminating evidence. Then I crossed to my closet. Here was a clothing dilemma. What to wear to have dinner with my twin brother and two of his teammates, one of whom I’d just had sex with? And it was a secret we’d both have to carry to our graves?
Red lace was not it. I chose a nice sweater and some dress pants. Would Alek like— I shoved that thought down.
Fitch and Alek came up to our condo. Justin mentioned the Italian place we liked, and they agreed. I busied myself with rearranging the contents of my purse so that I didn’t have to look at anyone. Justin said he would drive, so the four of us took the elevator to the parking garage.
Fitch insisted I have the front seat and I didn’t argue. Being in the back seat with Alek seemed like a really bad idea.
The maître d’ was pleased to see Justin again and led us to a private booth. Alek sat across from me, with Justin at my side. I tucked my feet against the bench seat so I wouldn’t touch Alek. I was so tense I had to fist my hands on my lap.
“You guys ever been here?” Justin asked. They both shook their heads. “Cooper brought me the first time. Then I brought Jess her first day in Toronto. Cooper knows all the best places.”
“He took me to a hole-in-the-wall that had the most amazing Thai food before my first game,” Fitch agreed.
“He does that with everyone, then,” Alek said, and I kept my eyes on the menu. I didn’t need to, since I knew what I’d order before we arrived, but I had no idea what my face would show.
“He also took me to get a new suit right after we ate.” Justin was smiling as he talked, and I hated the thought that I could take that away from him with one slip.
“I missed that.” Do not shiver when Alek uses his deep voice.
“We must be better dressers since he didn’t take us out,” Fitch gently teased. “So what’s good?”
“Everything,” Justin raved. “Everything pasta is done perfectly, but I love the rigatoni. To die for.”
Alek nudged my foot and I shot him a glance. “What do you like, Jessica?”
There was no reason that should make goose bumps rise on my arms. I smiled at his earlobe. “I usually get the lasagna. I always take some home, since I don’t have hockey player metabolism.”
“You don’t work up a sweat very often?”
