Page 62 of Crush
“Yeah?”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Look, I'm attracted to you, okay? And I have been since the beginning, or I wouldn't have tried to kiss you on your very first night—yeah, I admitted it, so we can both stop pretending like it never happened. Things have beensoscrewy and tense ever since that night, and it's all my fault. I don't blame you for feeling that tension.”
Ah-ha. He did want to kiss me. I wasn't imagining it!
“So I'm sorry for grilling you,” he said. “I just … I got scared when I saw that picture. I thought I was being conned or set up or something.”
“Conned? Why would you think that?”
He winced. “I have my reasons. It's personal.”
I knew he was talking about his ex-wife, but he clearly didn't want to talk about her.
“Fair enough,” I said quietly. “I guess I can't blame you for feeling that way.”
“Yeah.” He lowered his voice. “I mean, holyshit,Brynn. We almost fucked without protection.”
I nodded shamefully. “Yeah … I know it doesn't mean anything now, but I swear I'm normally not like that …”
“Me neither, but what if I'd gotten you pregnant? What the hell would we do then?”
You have no idea how happy I'd be if I could pregnant,I thought—but I bit my tongue forobviousreasons.
“We just have to remember that things are complicated. And it's not just about us, it's about my kids, too. Just look at the trouble Chloe's going through because of the gala.” He paused. “Brynn, I think what I'm trying to say is, it'd be better if we kept things strictly professional between us.”
“Agreed,” I said, my heart withering.
“Besides, I don't need the distraction. I need to be focused on hockey. This is my last chance at the Cup. I need to be focused.”
“I know.”
“And I'm old, Brynn.My body aches. You need to find someone your age, someone young. Someone who is excited about starting a family with a woman who'd make agreatmom. Don't waste your time with an old fogey like me. I don't want any more kids, and even if I did, I couldn't keep up with them.”
Right. About that …
I stayed quiet, though. I'd said enough already. I didn't need to tell Shea anymore embarrassing details from my life.
“Well, anyway. I had fun tonight, all things considered,” he said.
I scowled at him.Really?
“Er. Maybe not the right thing to say? I don't know. I'm bad at this.” Shea shrugged. A pregnant pause came and went. “Goodnight, I guess.”
I waited for him to leave, but he didn't. Instead he sat on the edge of the bed, staring at me—as if he we were waiting for something.
“Goodnight,” I said.
But still he didn't leave. A smirk creased his mouth. He looked as if he didn't believe me, as if he were calling my bluff. Did he expect me to beg him to finish what he started, or something? Did he think I wouldn't let him go until he gaveme thatonegood fucking that he'd gotten me all worked up for before we could call it quits?
I hoped not. Because I wasn't that type of girl, and if he thought I was, he was sorely mistaken.
With eyes of lust, the athlete confidently moved forward, cupped my face and tried to kiss me.
I leaned away and gave him a shove.
“Shea,” I reprimanded him. “No. Do not.”
“Sorry,” he gulped. “Shit. Sorry. I don't know what got into me just there.”
