Page 23 of Catching the Captain

CHAPTER7

RORI

I dumpthe remainder of the salad into a plastic container and hand the empty bowl off to him. “Thanks again for dinner. It was delicious.”

“You’re welcome, but it was only burgers and dogs, not an elaborate feast.” He places the bowl in the dishwasher and closes it firmly.

“You’re right. I’m taking my thank you back,” I jest.

“Next time, I’ll cook something better.”

“Next time, huh? How presumptuous of you.” My lips quirk with the urge to smile.

“I’m not presuming, I’m stating a fact. You enjoy my company too much to refuse me.”

My mouth falls open on a gasp. “Is that so?”

“Yep. Just like I enjoy your company. Why deprive ourselves of spending time together? In this crazy world it’s difficult to find people to vibe with.”

“Isn’t that the truth.”

My list of close friends is noticeably short. I don’t have time for drama or judgment, and if someone brings either to my life, I distance myself. It’s the reason I don’t have close relationships with my mom or Valentina. If they weren’t family, I wouldn’t be around them at all. Although, my mom’s better when we’re one-on-one. For some reason, when she and Valentina are together, it amps up their level of judgment. They play off each other, placing me in the typical odd-man-out situation. It’s not much different than two siblings ganging up on a third. I’m lucky Stella has never subscribed to that mentality. But it’s disappointing my mom and Valentina do.

“What’s wrong?” Kaiden’s voice cuts through my thoughts.

“Nothing. I got lost in my head for a minute.”

“Were you trying to figure out when we can get together again?” he asks.

I laugh. “No, sorry.”

He snaps his fingers. “Dammit. What’s a guy gotta do to get a woman to want to spend more time with him?”

“Maybe ask her.”

“What’s your schedule look like for the rest of the week?”

“I’m working the next four nights.”

“What hours?”

“Five to two.”

“Two a.m.?” he asks, as if he’s never stayed at a bar until closing.

Sure, Mr. Professional Hockey Player.

“Yes.”

“Do you always work that late?”

“No. Sometimes I get to leave early, depending on how busy things are.”

His eyebrows pinch together. “Does someone walk you out to your car?”

Is he concerned for my safety?

“Most of the time I leave with others.”

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