Page 5 of Christmas Agreement
I was sure of that, so I didn’t want to appear too eager. But I definitely wanted Rugar to notice that I’d put in some kind of effort.
When he’d invited me to breakfast, I’d worried for a moment that he was texting the wrong person. But I knew he had my contact information saved in case something were to happen to Kyle and he needed to get a hold of me.
Rugar and I had never gone anywhere as just the two of us, and it was baffling why he wanted to now. I doubted he knew that I had a crush on him, but I knew without a doubt he’d never thought of me as anything other than Kyle’s bratty little sister.
The thing was, every time anyone talked about the Dynamic Duo, I wished they were talking about Rugar and me. It was stupid, and I needed to let this go. I’d spent years pining for a man that barely knew I existed.
Now, my world was tipped on its axis, and I felt a little out of control. Breakfast? Why did he want to have breakfast with me?
As I pondered, I realized what was probably motivating it, and my nerves started to calm. Christmas was coming, and he likely wanted to know what he should get for Kyle. This wasn’t a date. It was a fact-finding mission.
With a small sigh, I pulled out a pair of jeans, a pale pink sweater and my fuzzy snow boots. After I got dressed, I wrapped my hair up into a clip and slid on my boots. I was just finishing when a knock rapped on my apartment door.
“Hey!” Rugar said brightly when I let him in.
“Hey, yourself,” I replied, fighting the urge to run my eyes over him and ogle the heck out of him. “Are you ready?”
“Your chariot awaits,” he teased, motioning for me to walk out.
He closed the door behind us, and I turned to lock it then followed him down to his Jeep.
“Where’s the Mustang?” I asked as I climbed into my seat.
“Stored for winter,” he said, a hint of sadness in his tone. “She’s a great car, but she wasn’t built for Adirondack Decembers.”
“Front wheel drive,” I agreed, nodding.
“Yeah,” he said. “But old Rusty here gets the job done.” He patted the dashboard affectionately then started the Jeep and took off towardAnna’s Diner.
“You didn’t have to take me to breakfast,” I assured him. “We could have just gone to theChristmas Every Daycoffee shop or something.”
“Well, we both need to eat.” He shrugged. “And I, for one, am craving Sweet Dreams French Toast.”
“It’s that hockey metabolism.” I rolled my eyes. “You and Kyle both. I’ve never seen two people eat so much in my life.”
“Between conditioning and ice time, we burn it off in training,” he said.
“I’m sure.” I nodded. “It must be hard work. Skating around with your stick in your hand for hours at a time.”
“You’re such a brat,” he laughed. Reaching over, he poked me in the side, making me squirm away from him. “What about you? What are you getting?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “All the coffee, though. I need caffeine.”
“I’m sorry. Was nine too early?” he asked, glancing over at me with his brow furrowed.
“No,” I insisted. “I don’t sleep well. Never do. Never have. That’s actually why I have an apartment, instead of living at the sorority house. Any little noise and I’m wide awake. I think it’s left over trauma from Kyle sneaking into my room at night to scare me.”
“Did he really?” Rugar’s lips quirked up a little. “What a jerk.”
“”You know he did. You witnessed it a couple times.”
“Stopped him a couple times, too.” He shook his head with a smile, obviously recalling it.
“It’s okay. You can laugh,” I assured him. “It’s funny now, but back then, I used to be terrified of everything. I’m only marginally better now.”
“I don’t know,” he challenged. “You’re tough. I’ve watched you go toe-to-toe with your brother on numerous occasions. I wouldn’t want to fight you.”
“That’s just with Kyle.” I shook my head. “He doesn’t count. He’s not remotely scary—except when he sneaks up on me. Probably a twin thing.”
