Page 134 of Stick Side
“No, no, no,” Ben tsked. “None of that now.” He crooked his index finger and used it to lift her chin up toward hisface. “Please don’t ever feel embarrassed. I like that you’re demonstrative with your affections.”
He dropped a playful kiss on her nose. “And, if need be, I will happily serve as your body shield,” he promised, “as I meet your passions every step of the way.”
“That is a very generous offer,” Melody acknowledged, smiling fondly at the memory of a similar promise made the night they’d spent together at the greenhouse over Thanksgiving, “but maybe let’s just try to avoid all public displays of indecency?”
“It’s a deal, sweetheart,” Ben vowed. “PDA, though?” he asked as he stroked her face with the back of his fingers. “I don’t think that can be avoided.”
“No?” Melody teased, not objecting in the least.
“Nope,” Ben confirmed, popping the “p” sound. Somehow, he managed to be charming even when he was being ridiculous.
Ben was just leaning in to seal his promise with a kiss when there was a gentle rap on the door. “Logan, I hear you’ve been cleared—”
“Hi, Dad,” Melody greeted when the door started to open. She couldn’t help but feel relieved Dr. Simmons and her dad hadn’t exchanged their order of entry. Nowthatwould have been embarrassing.
Despite Ben’s reassurance that he enjoyed her physical overtures, she certainly wasn’t comfortable with her father witnessing them.
“Melody?” her dad said with a note of confusion in his tone. “What are you doing down here, honey?”
Her dad appeared to answer his own question as he took in the scene before him. Melody might not have her leg up around Ben’s thigh—this time—but they were intimately positioned with one of her hands on his still naked chest and one of his spanning her hip and lower back.
Her dad’s eyebrows lifted toward the ceiling before his eyes settled on Ben’s.
“Logan,” he said, his tone as professional as he could likely make it under the circumstances. “We want you back on the ice for third period. Can you be ready?”
“Yes, Coach,” Ben replied affably, somehow striking that perfect balance between a player and a man dating his coach’s daughter.
“I’ll just . . .” her dad said awkwardly, rotating his wrist and pointing his thumb at the door.
“I’ll be right out,” Ben said, likely trying to save her dad from the need to finish his sentence.
“Very good,” he responded with a mite less awkwardness.
Her dad gave them both a crooked smile before turning to her and saying, “See you later.”
Melody laughed softly when she noticed that, unlike Dr. Simmons, her dad didn’t fully close the door. Instead, he left it cracked open a few inches. It was like high school all over again. Or what she imagined high school would have been like had she had a boyfriend at the time.
“I’m beginning to wonder whether or not he likes me after all,” Ben joked as he nodded toward the open door with shared good humor.
Shaking his head, Ben took both of her hands in his and lifted them to his lips. She felt his warm breath on the back of her hands before his lips brushed over her sensitized skin. “I’d better get out there,” Ben said, nodding toward the door, “but you definitely helped me feel a million times better.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Melody stated, so happy with the way her life had righted itself that she could barely contain her delight. “Now you go out there and kick some Penguin butt,” she laughed.
Ben shook his head again, a soft smile playing at his lips. “Why am I now picturing peach and shoe emojis?” he teased with obvious affection.
“How should I know?” she teased right back.
Ben smiled that sweet and sexy smile of his. He squeezed her hands gently before letting them fall. “You’ll be here after the game?” he asked, seemingly more eager than worried.
Melody smiled and nodded. “Absolutely,” she confirmed. At this point, it would take more than wild coyotes—or steely penguins—to keep her away.
Chapter 68
Ben
Benfeltliketheabsolute luckiest of men as he held Melody on his lap with one arm and toasted his teammates with the other.
“Did we dominate in that game or what?” Knight asked with exuberance.
