Page 61 of Hot for the Hockey Player
My belly did a flip, then a flop.
I already knew who it was, and there was nothing I could do to avoid him this time.He obviously saw me pull in, and I couldn’t make it up the porch steps and into the house before he got out of the truck.
“Hey, Gabrielle,” Maverick called, jogging lightly to eat up the distance between us as I climbed the steps and opened the door.
“Oh, hey,” I said, determined to be light and breezy, even if it killed me.
He came up right behind me and not only did his heat wash over me, but so did that impossibly delicious scent.All him, all man, wafted up my nostrils and zipped straight down between my legs.“How was your weekend?”he asked, following me into the entryway.I ditched my shoes and hung up my jacket and purse.
“Uh … it was fine.Thanks.How was yours?”
He continued to follow me into the kitchen, giving me a little bit more space, but definitely not enough.“Really great, thanks.Hung out with Logan and his friends.Watched a movie, ate tacos.”He huffed a small laugh and raked his fingers through his hair as I … I had nothing to do in the kitchen.So I did busy work of opening my linen drawer and refolding the tea towels.“I’ve been so focused on hockey for as long as I can remember, that getting to justhang outwith people, grab dinner, and watch a movie feels novel to me.”
I swallowed.“Wh-what did you guys watch?”Why the fuck was I stuttering?
“Have you seenThe Beekeeper?It’s a Jason Statham film.”
“Uh … no.I don’t think so.”
He shrugged.“It was all right.Not his best.But entertaining.Penny and Renée wanted to get up and do the sunrise yoga class at the yoga yurt, so Logan and I headed home just after ten.”Rather than wear a rain jacket like a normal person, and hide his physique, Maverick wore a white, nearly see-through T-shirt, and an open green and brown padded flannel jacket type-thing—which he removed and placed on the island.Either way, it all just made him look rugged and extra sexy.And the T-shirt clung to hisveryripped abdomen, showing off ridges and valleys of muscles like a damn topography map.
All I could do was nod, and focus on the tea towel folding like it was the hardest Sudoku in the world.“Mm-hmm.Mm-hmm.”
“Gabrielle?”
“Hmm?”
“Can … can you look at me, please?”
I swallowed again and lifted my gaze to his face.
Concern and honesty gleamed back at me in those deep, dark blue orbs.“Have I done something to upset you?”
“What?No.Why?”My words came out rapid-fire.
“Because it feels like you’re avoiding me.I stayed away this weekend, even though Damon texted me a lot, asking me to come over, because I feel like maybe I’ve been smothering your family.I wanted to give you all space.HaveI been around too much?”His brows lifted a little.“You can be honest and say so.”
Fuck.Fuck.Fuck.
I folded, unfolded, and refolded the same towel in my hand, before making a noise of frustration and throwing it down on the counter.He approached, and I backed up until my ass hit the counter.
Seeing me retreat like that caused him to back up again.“Are you … are you not comfortable around me?”Fear replaced the look of the concern in his eyes.“I have done something.Haven’t I?”
I shook my head.“No.It’s …”
“It’s what?”
I glanced down at the floor.
“Look at me.Please,” he pleaded.
“You’re flirty with me,” I blurted out.“You’ve been flirtatious and complimentary and … and it’s not right.”
His head reared back.“It’s notright?How so?We’re both adults.Neither of us are married or attached.”
“You just can’t.Okay?”
“Do you find it …icky?Do you see me as a son?”Terror filled his voice and made it almost crack at the end.
