Page 115 of Rebel Bride
Franky came back in and assessed the situation like we were slugs in her lab. “Everything okay?”
Rosie looked at me, seeking permission. I nodded.
“Summer’s got a thing for Little Lord Hatchling.”
“Little Lord Hatchling?” I loved it.
“When he was a kid, we used to call him the golden child and the puck prince, but I liked Little Lord Hatchling.” She looked positively gleeful. “So you were in Saugatuck? How did that happen?”
I filled them both in on my church getaway and lakeside bolthole, skimming over the more salacious details. Not that I could get away with that.
“So, was it good?” Rosie asked. “The sex, that is.”
“It doesn’t matter.” My cheeks were on fire.
Rosie turned her thumb down. “Boo!”
Franky retook her seat. “I’d rather not know about the sexual prowess of a boy I used to babysit. Also, I can see this causing problems with Dash and the team dynamics.”
“It won’t. Hatch and I will not be taking it any further.”
Rosie looked aghast. “Why not?”
“There’s no future in it. I vowed not to get involved with any more hockey players. I’m choosing my career first.”
Franky squinted. “The delivery career? Because that doesn’t seem incompatible with a professional athlete.”
“No, I want to work as an analyst or a scout for a franchise. Those jobs are team-specific, so I won’t be following any guy if he’s traded.”
Rosie looked skeptical. “And does Hatch know this?”
“Of course he does.”
Hatch might claim I was his end game, but even he couldn’t fight the forward momentum of Project Summer.
“Hey, Ken, it’s Summer. So, I’m calling to verify my afternoon schedule.”
Kennedy hummed. “Didn’t I send it to you?”
“Yes, you did. So I need to do a grocery run for Hatch Kershaw. And when I’ve delivered that, I need to pick up his dry cleaning but not before five p.m. It’s only two p.m. now, so I don’t have anything on the schedule in between?”
“Yep, that’s it! You can take it easy in the break, grab a coffee, run some of your own errands. Whatever you want. It would be easier if you could pick it up earlier, but Hatch was steadfast about the timing.”
“Okay, thanks. Just wanted to be sure. Oh, one more thing. Did Hatch request me?”
“He did. Said you did a great job the last time, and he wondered if you were available. Is that okay?”
“It’s fine! Just curious.” I clicked off and considered Hatch’s grocery list.
Triple crème brie cheese
Maple syrup
Salt n’ vinegar chips
We could have ourselves a real party.
Armed with my small batch of groceries, I found Hatch waiting outside his door, looking every inch as delicious as the man of my dreams. His Rebels tee bunched at the sleeves, and the outline of his pecs made my fingers itch. He smiled as I approached, and a pure giddiness overtook me.
