Page 36 of The Hero Next Door

“Hm. Wonder if Adam would be into a game. He’s not generally into sports, but since it’s his new city, maybe he’d make an exception.”

She opened her mouth to tell Brian what Adam had said getting out of the car earlier, then smacked her lips together. That subject might be a little too leading for what they were doing. “Have you been to one of their games?”

Brian shook his head, leaning back as the server brought their food. “No, I haven’t.”

He peered down at his steak quesadilla. It looked good. Her chicken chimichanga looked really good too. Before she started eating, she cut him off a piece and put it on his plate. Grinning, he did the same.

“Oh, man,” they said together, sinking into the food. They grinned at each other, then continued eating.

Sage was struck with the fact that this was their first date. And possibly the first of many firsts with Brian. Her eyes suddenly filled with emotional tears, but she fought them away before he noticed.

But he did anyway.

“What’s wrong,” he asked, reaching across the table to take her hand.

She looked into his melted-chocolate eyes and lost her words. She just shook her head. “It’s stupid. Just… this date is already better than any other I’ve ever been on. And it just started.”

Brian grinned at her, his smile a little lopsided. “I still have plenty of time to mess something up. Don’t set the bar too high for me.”

She shook her head and ran her fingers over his. He had broad, gentle hands that had seen some history. They’d helped her son, and they’d helped her, and she had a feeling they would feel wonderful on her skin later.

“I know,” she sighed dramatically, and let his hand go. “You probably have a girlfriend and five kids hiding out somewhere, and warts on your ass or something. I’m sure you snore.”

Brian barked out a laugh, his eyes twinkling. “No kids, no girlfriend, no warts. Yes, I snore a little, and I probably have too many pocketknives, but…” he shrugged. “I’m a pretty good guy, in general.”

“So why haven’t you settled down?”

“Why haven’t you? It’s not as easy as just deciding to do it.”

“True,” she murmured.

He nodded at her plate. “Better finish that. We need to go soon.”

Her interest piqued, she ate the last few bites of her delectable dish while he waved for the check. She didn’t say anything about him paying, but the tally in her head said she owed him. Several times over the past couple of weeks he’d bought them takeout since she’d been hurt. Sometimes he’d let her pay and other times he hadn’t. More often, he hadn’t. She needed to come up with a way to pay him back.

They left the restaurant, and he turned her to walk up the block. Into the flow of people heading into the arena.

“Wait, are we going in here?”

Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, he grinned down at her. “How do you feel about a hockey game?”

Sage blinked, looking up at the huge building. “Seriously? Sure, why not,” she laughed.

“You’re not carrying, are you?”

She shook her head, grinning. “Nope. Can’t while I’m on medical.”

“I almost said something earlier but figured that was the case. Let’s go, then.”

Brian walked her into the flow of traffic. Within a few minutes they were through security and walking around the concourse, then they were getting onto an elevator. Brian produced two tickets for the Club Level, and they walked further around the concourse until they found their section. It was semi-private, with a table and stools, and it had a fantastic view of the ice. Almost immediately, a server approached them, offering drinks and snacks.

Sage blinked, looking around. “This place is amazing!”

Brian grinned and before she could think better of it, she leaned over and kissed him. It wasn’t a deep kiss, just a quick press of the lips, but she could tell he liked it.

“This is thanks to my boss Parker and his fiancée Andy. They have season passes for the Club Level and they let me have them, tonight.”

“You’ll have to tell them thank you, from me. Seriously. I’ve never been to a hockey game.”

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