Page 37 of Behind the Net

“Oooooh.” I nod, smiling at him. “Okay. I see it now.”

“What?” His expression is concerned.

I just continue smiling at him. “You’renice.”

He looks at me like I’ve grown another head.

I nod. “Yeah. You are. You take care of your mom, you took in a stray dog that needed a home, and you made me move in.” I hitch my thumb over my shoulder in the direction we came from. “You bought us lunch. Jamie, you’re nice.”

He beeps his key fob at the entrance of our building and opens the door for me, not meeting my gaze. “It’s not a big deal.”

“I told you Hazel’s coworkers were bitchy, so you came with me to help her out.”

His eyes rest on me as we wait for the elevator, and there’s something warm in his gaze. “Maybe I just wanted to hang out with you.”

I chuckle. “Mhm. I’m sure. You probably have supermodels on speed dial, so it makes perfect sense that you’d spend your day off withme.”

We step into the elevator. Amusement twitches on his lips. “Speed dial?”

“I said what I said.” My chest shakes with laughter. Something about the way he’s pinning me with his gaze, and how maybe I’m amusing him, is making my stomach do excited backflips.

Our gazes hold, and there’s a drop in my stomach that I’m going to attribute to the elevator ascending. His eyes glitter, and I can smell his fresh, sharp scent.

Oh, wow.

He isn’t smiling, but his gaze is warm. Delight sparkles in my chest, and I fight the urge to rub my sternum. This feeling is new.

“I owe you one for today.” My voice is barely above a whisper, and I’m aware of how small this elevator is and how much room he takes up.

His throat works as he swallows, still holding my gaze. “You want to make it up to me?”

My lips part, and a shiver rolls down my spine. There’s heat in his eyes, and I blink at him, stunned.

His words sound suggestive. An intimate muscle tugs between my legs. Oh god. I can’t get turned on in an elevator. I’m not that kind of girl.

The corner of his mouth slides up into a smirk, and my heart beats faster.

Iamthe kind of girl who gets turned on in an elevator. It’s too late. It’s happening. We’re there. I’m horny for my hockey player boss in an elevator.

I really can’t be doing this. Jamie is totally off-limits. He’s too hot, too nice, and he smells way too good. Letting my crush balloon into something more will only end in heartbreak for me.

“Okay,” I say, still holding his electric gaze.

“Play me a song.”

I flinch. A heavy weight extinguishes my horniness as my thoughts freeze.

“Any song,” he says, and my skin prickles at the low tone of his voice. The elevator door opens. “One of your favorites; I don’t care.”

I open my mouth to tell him I can’t, but he dips his head down to meet my eyes so we’re on the same level. His arm is holding the elevator door open.

“Yes, you can,” he says in a firm, demanding tone. The corner of his mouth is curling, and I wonder if I were to sit down and play a song for him on my guitar, would I get a full, high-watt smile from him?

It’s tempting.

I’m standing there frozen, but his hand comes to my lower back, and he gently guides me out of the elevator. His warmth permeates my layers of clothing, and I want to lean into his hand.

Inside the front door, Daisy jumps up and runs over to greet us, and he grabs her leash from the side table. I still haven’t said a word.

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