Page 85 of When Alec Met Evie
She shows me the picture she took of Alec holding Juno up in the air. It’s a profile shot, revealing a delicious view of Alec’s biceps, the fabric of his black t-shirt stretched tightly across the muscle. But the best part of the photo is the look on Alec’s face as he smiles up at Juno. It’s genuine and warm, and that, even more than the biceps, is what makes heat pool in my belly. Few things are quite so sexy as a good man trying to be a good father. Of course, Alec isn’t a father yet, but potential matters, and he’s brimming with it.
“You really think I’m the right person to ask?” I say. “When it comes to Alec, everything is a thirst trap.”
Summer joins us just in time to hear my comment. “Everything?” she questions. “Because let me tell you, I’ve been in the locker room after practice, and those boys are rank.”
“True,” Parker says. “Nothing smells like hockey smells.” She shows the photo of Alec and Juno to Summer. “What do you think? Can I post this?”
Summer studies the photo. “Oh my gosh, is she a Dalmatian? That’s the cutest.” She hands the phone back to Parker. “But I still wouldn’t post it. Not after what happened with Nathan last season. That’s an ovary-exploding photo if ever there was one. If it goes viral, it’ll be attention for him, but also attention for Juno and Evie. You should send it to Evie, though.” She looks at me and grins. “It should absolutely be the wallpaper on your phone.”
Parker nods. “Okay, good. That’s what my instincts were telling me. That just means I have to get a photo of Juno with the entire team. The Dalmatian/firefighter thing is too cute not to.”
“What happened with Nathan last season?” I ask before the conversation can move on.
“Just a few adoring fans who got a littletooadoring,” Parker says. “Summer had to pretend to be Nathan’s girlfriend to create a buffer.”
“Shut up,” I say. “Is that how you ended up getting together?”
“What can I say?” Summer says, pulling her dark hair over her shoulder. “We’re a walking romance trope.”
Our conversation ends abruptly when Alec returns with Juno, but he makes no move to give her back. Instead, he tilts his head toward the growing party behind us. “Want to walk around a little?”
I say goodbye to my friends and follow Alec into the crowd of people moving their way through the Summit concourse. More than a few people take notice of Juno in Alec’s arms, their gazes quickly darting to me, but Alec is an expert at ignoring them, and since he doesn’t look like he’s wanting to engage, most people just let us walk on by. Eventually, a few fans stop us and ask for selfies, so Alec gives Juno back to me and spends a few minutes chatting and taking photos. It’s fun watching him in action, seeing how charming and genuine he is as he interacts with fans.
We make our way around the arena, talking, laughing, eating a few of the apple cider donuts Harvest Hollow is apparently famous for. When we’ve almost made a full circle around the Summit, we run into Malik and Ruth.
“Well, hello there,” Ruth says as she reaches up to give me a hug. She looks at Juno. “Aren’t you the cutest little Dalmatian I’ve ever seen.” She holds out her hands, and I happily hand Juno over.
Alec talks to Malik for another minute or so, but when he glances over and sees Juno in Ruth’s arms, his gaze narrows the slightest bit, his expression turning shrewd.
“Hey, Ruth, do you mind keeping her for us? Just for a few minutes?”
“You can take more than a few,” Ruth says. She points to a line of padded benches against the wall. “I’ll be right here enjoying my favorite baby girl.”
Alec grips my hand and tugs me toward a shadowy hallway that leads to an access door for a concessions area. There’s a small recess at the end of the hall, and he pulls us inside so we’re completely hidden from view.
He spins me so my back is flat against the wall, his eyes flashing with hunger before he leans down and delivers a bone-melting kiss. He moves with intention and confidence and barely banked passion, and he completely steals my breath.
I lift my hands, hooking them around his suspenders and pull him even closer. His lips part as he deepens the kiss, his palms moving up to my face, cradling my cheeks like I’m something precious, like he’s holding something truly valuable in his hands. His thumbs brush across my cheek, featherlight and soft, then his teeth graze across my bottom lip, lightly nipping until I suck in a breath.
He finally breaks the kiss, but he keeps his face close, his forehead pressed against mine.
“I’ve been wanting to do that all night,” Alec says, his voice low and raspy.
I swallow, but I’m not capable of words just yet. Instead, I let out a strangled sort of “Mmm,” and Alec chuckles.
“You okay?” he asks, his tone a little too cocky. Like he knows he just unraveled me and he’s proud of himself for doing it.
Well. Two can play at this game.
I grab his elbows and spin him around so now he’s against the wall, then I push up on my toes and brush my nose along the curve of his neck. I breathe in his woodsy, delicious scent as I press a slow line of kisses up the side of his jaw. When I finally reach his mouth, I kiss him again, except this time, I’m in control.
He yields willingly, letting me set the pace, the position, the pressure. His hands grip my waist, his fingers pressing into my skin with gentle pressure while I explore his mouth with mine. When I finally pull back,he’sthe one who’s left breathless.
I lift an eyebrow and give him a playful smirk. “Areyouokay?”
He grins. “Never been better.”
He wraps his arms around me, and I settle into his chest, reveling in the solid safety of his embrace.
