Page 140 of Just One Season
“Now I’m a condiment?” I burst out laughing and Kellen shrugs sheepishly. I step closer. “I love you too, Kellen. I love your daughter. I love everything about your life.”
“Thank god.” Kellen lifts a hand and pushes back a curl from my forehead. It immediately springs forward. “I can’t lose you, Lucy. That’s why things went so far on New Year’s Eve. I was heartbroken at the idea that you’d be gone forever soon.”
I love this man.
I don’t want to leave.
I can’t leave.
“Kellen.” I pull my hands out of his and reach up to his face. His eyes burn, and he slides his hands on my waist, pulling me against him. I can feel his heart thumping against mine. “You’re not going to lose me.”
“I’m not?” His face is open and vulnerable. He looks less like atough hockey player and more like a man who is naked and baring his soul without knowing what will happen.
“Kitty, I can’t believe you said all those things at a press briefing,” I quirk a smile. “Wow, that name really doesn’t work. Sounds like an eighty-year-old woman rocking a water aerobics class.”
Kellen laughs. “I had to convince you that I was serious. I meant every word.” He squeezes my waist. “Can I kiss you now?”
I nod, unable to squeak out an answer aloud. Kellen leans down and presses his lips against mine, and it’s everything I’ve missed since our fake breakup. Since New Year’s Eve.
Everything I can’t live without.
I relish the feel of his soft, warm lips. His kisses are a seal to our love. A promise. A confession.
“I missed you,” he says when he finally pulls away.
“Me too.” I press my forehead against his and try to catch my breath.
“So will you? Go out with me?”
I laugh.
“Of course, I’ll go out with you.”
“And… when are you leaving for England?” His voice is tortured.
“I’m not.” I shake my head. I’ve made my decision.
I can’t leave Fort Collins.
This town is giving me all the opportunities in the world to build a life here: family, a job, friends, my dog, Kellen.
“What?” Kellen’s brow furrows deeply.
“Lina just offered me a job. Fiona’s not coming back.”
Emotions swirl in his widened eyes.
“You can kiss me again,” I say.
He smashes his mouth on mine. I press my body up against him and move to my tiptoes. Kellen’s phone buzzes in his pocket, pressed firmly against my thigh.
“Want to check that?” I say, my lips moving against his mouth.
“That’s probably the Kellcy Fake Dating Planning Committee text chain. We should fill our friends in.”
I release him from our embrace so he can pull out his phone, loving the sound ofour friends.
Kellen flips the screen around to show me, keeping one hand on my hip. There’s a stream of texts coming in a group titled Kellcy Fake Dating Planning Committee (No Lucy).
