Page 59 of Anything for You
He looks at me strangely. “You don’t go there. I didn’t know you even knew where the ice rink was.”
“I practiced at that arena for more than three years. Of course, I know where it is.”
“I’m just surprised is all. You seem to avoid the hockey camp for some reason.”
Fucking smart friends.
Deflect again, Jeremy.
“That’s what I hired you for. I’ve been focusing on other things.”
“Leave the guy alone, Ash. He wants to go kiss the girl,” Jordan says.
Ben is quiet again, but his face tells a different story. The one where I know I’m going to have to sit down with him at some point and tell him all kinds of things I’d rather never tell anyone. But that’s a problem for a different day. Right now, I have some red-haired girls I need to see.
“As much as I’d like to stay here and keep talking to you guys, I do, in fact, have to go kiss a girl. We’ll reschedule happy hour, okay?”
I don’t even wait for their response. I just grab my phone, wallet, and keys off my desk and hightail it out of my office, feeling Ben’s gaze burning into my back with every step I take.
Chapter Twenty-One
Jeremy
“Jeremy!”
Maddy’s voice echoes in the lobby of the arena as I push the door open. She runs at me full speed, crashing into my legs.
“Hey, Little Red.” I reach down and swing her up. “You ready to learn to skate?”
“Yes!” she squeals. “I wish you could teach me, but Emma said there’s someone here whose job it is to teach kids to skate. I told her I thought it should be your job, but she said you have other important jobs. What are they?”
I chuckle, even as my stomach clenches. All it takes is a glance behind Maddy to where Emma is standing to have the knots in my stomach replaced by curls of lust.
She must have had meetings today because she’s dressed for work. Her hair falls in waves down her back, and whatever makeup magic she conjured has her green eyes glowing. The black skirt suit hugs every single one of her curves, and the heels she’s wearing make her legs look miles long. I have a flash of them wrapped around my head, shoes still on and heels digging into my back while I make her come on my tongue.
My pants are suddenly uncomfortably tight, and my thoughts must be splashed across my face because as soon as our eyes meet, Emma’s face flushes red under her freckles.
I grin at her reaction, walking over to her, still carrying Maddy. As soon as I’m in front of her, I hesitate, not sure of my next move. I feel like I might die if I don’t get my lips on her, but the only place we’ve done any kissing is in her living room after Maddy is asleep.
Taking the decision out of my hands, Emma wraps her hand around my arm, leaning up to kiss my cheek, lingering there for just a few seconds longer than necessary. Tingles spiral out from the place her lips touch my skin, and never have I ever had this strong of a reaction to a woman. I’m surprised, even though I shouldn’t be. The depth of my feelings for Emma has been surprising me for almost a decade.
Just as Emma pulls away, I snake an arm around her waist, pulling her back in and kissing her temple, leaving my arm in place even as I lean back.
“Hi,” I say, a grin still on my face.
“Hi back.” She leans into me just slightly with a grin of her own.
“You kissed,” Maddy whispers, her gaze ping-ponging between us.
Emma swallows down a laugh at Maddy’s serious expression.
“We sure did,” I say.
“But why?”
She looks between us with the expression of a kid unused to seeing affection between adults, and my heart aches a little at the reminder that her childhood has been anything but normal.
“Because Jeremy is my friend and I like him a lot,” Emma says, running a hand down Maddy’s flaming ponytail, resting it on her back.
