Juliette: Not helpful.
Evie: So let me get this straight. You didn’t want a long-distance relationship, and now the fling you have feelings for lives in your town. Thereby alleviating the whole long-distance thing. That about sum it up?
Juliette: Prettymuch.
Evie: I’m not seeing the problem here.
Juliette: You forgot the part where he’s my brother’s teammate. Sisters are off-limits. Especially with Bubba.
Evie: Uhh, your brother married one of your best friends. Double standard much?
Juliette: It totally is, but it’s a whole thing with hockey players. I’ve seen teams blow up over shit like this.
Evie: Hmmm.
I can picture her drumming her fingertips over her lips as she thinks, so I wait.
Evie: I think you have two options. Number one, you can bang Reno to your heart’s content and tell your brother to put on his big boy panties and deal with it.
Juliette: That option is very tempting, but what if things go sideways with me and Reno? I don’t wantto be responsible for discord among teammates.
Evie: That brings us to option two. You bang your boy toy in the privacy of your own home and see how things progress. If it’s good, you both sit Bubba down and tell him the truth. That will circle back to option one and the whole big boy panties thing.
Juliette: So both options involve me banging Reno Swain?
Evie: Exactly. You’re welcome!
Juliette: He’s on his way to my house right now. I know we need to talk because I think he’s still hung up on his ex.
Evie: Where is she?
I frown at my phone screen in confusion.
Juliette: I have no idea.
Evie: I’m assuming she’s not at your house?
Juliette: Uh, no.
Evie: But you are, and that’s where he’s headed. To YOU, not her.
She makes a good point.
My body freezes when I hear a vehicle slow on Maple Court and then turn into my driveway.It’s him. He’s here. Holy shit.I send Evie a quick goodbye and thank you text before setting my phone on the dark-greencountertop.
I twist my fingers into knots at my waist as I hear a car door open. Peeking out the door, I see a large, dark figure rounding a silver SUV, and I make a mental note to change the overhead light in the garage. It’s been out for a couple weeks, but I need to borrow a ladder from someone.
I press the button to close the bay door, and my eyes follow the big man mounting the two steps from the garage to my kitchen.
Before I can even say hi, I’m being lifted into strong arms, the door is kicked closed, and my legs are around his waist. Lips and tongues meet in a desperate greeting as he slams my back against the door.
Dear god, this man can kiss.
“Do you know how long I’ve been wanting to do this? Kiss you and hold you like this?” he mutters into my mouth.
“Me too,” I admit.
He pulls back an inch and goes to work on my earlobe, nipping and sucking the soft flesh as our bodies meld together.
