Page 310 of Branded
Even from across the rink—he was standing on the bench at the far side of the ice—I could feel his gaze on mine, warm and searching and?—
The connection was broken as he turned away to talk to one of the people on the bench.
Then he straightened and hopped over the boards, skating across the ice.
Coming toward me.
He paused in front of Ethan, grinning when my son held up the puck Smitty had given him, waving at the other kids who mirrored Ethan’s actions.
But then his gaze was back, and it was heavier and hotter and more intense than anything I’d ever experienced.
I saw how much he liked that I was there, that Ethan was there.
He wanted us there.
And…a piece of my heart unlocked.
Another piece.
A dangerous piece.
Yet, I couldn’t even summon a modicum of panic because the moment it began to gather in my belly, to grip the back of my throat, a voice called my name from behind me.
I glanced up, saw another employee of the arena, only this time his arms were full. He held a huge tray of nachos and pretzels, a tub of popcorn, two drinks, some boxes of candy, a hot dog and a huge, wrapped sandwich that smelled so delicious, it immediately had my stomach rumbling.
Before I could say that I hadn’t paid for any food, he was setting the tray in my lap, was slipping away?—
No slipped back.
To make room for the other employee who was standing behind him.
Holding two huge bags emblazoned with the Breakers symbol.
Those were tucked at my feet.
Then both employees were gone, and I was staring at them, my mouth hanging open, trying to process what in the fuck-all was going on.
“Whoa! Is this for us, Mom?” Ethan said, using his superhuman skills to scent food to magically reappear at my side.
“I—”
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Gasping, my head jerked up, eyes finding Cas’s again.
Intense green eyes.
Stubborn green eyes.
Oh, I was so getting him back for this.
“Yeah, bud,” I muttered. “It’s for us.”
Twenty-One
Cas
Smitty nudged me.
