Page 45 of The Keeper

Easton

I’d rather talk to my wife. In my jersey. And princess...

Lock your door.

Holy hotness... okay.

I drop my phone down on my nightstand, and decide to lock my door, just to be on the safe side. I mean, it’s not like we can do anything over the phone, right?

Can we?

Of course we can. Crap.

What’s he thinking?

I’ve never even had real sex.

How am I supposed to know how to have phone sex?

I turn off my overhead light and fan, then decide to turn the fan back on. All my years on the ice have trained me to be more comfortable cold than hot. When I sit back down on my bed, I decide to turn on the lamp on my nightstand. It gives off a soft glow, and I wonder if I should shut it off, but before I can decide, Easton’s calling me.

His gorgeous face flashes on my screen, and I take a deep breath and answer, “Hey.”

His sandy-brown hair is still damp from the shower I’m sure he took after the game. A navy-blue Revolution hoodie is stretching across his chest, and a sexy smile sits on that handsome face. “Hey, princess. How was your day?”

I take a deep breath and try to convince myself I can do this.

It’s Easton, and we’re just talking like we’ve done a million times.

Only this time, I’m wearing his jersey and his rings and thinking about very un-friend-like things. I guess that explains why I’m suddenly so nervous, my hands are shaking.

“Well I avoided my mother. That was fun.” I move my pillows around behind myself and get comfortable. “She called twice, then texted, asking me to meet her at Sweet Temptations for coffee tomorrow. So I’ve got that to look forward to. I only had two baby skaters cry through their lessons, which is one less than yesterday, so that’s winning. I officially congratulated my former partner on replacing me. And I watched the Revolution game tonight with Everly and Maddox. Oh, and Everly asked me to wear one of her designs to the New Year’s Eve gala. So there’s that.”

He drops the phone down, so I’m looking up at him as he takes off his hoodie. His gray t-shirt rides up with it, momentarily exposing his delicious abs before he tugs it back down and sits down. “That’s a lot to unpack. Are you going to meet your mom tomorrow?”

“I don’t really want to.”

Easton shrugs. “Maybe she’ll surprise you. I talked to Jules today, and she was pretty good about everything until she heard Jace. Then she went kind of crazy before I ended the call. Jace better be careful. You know how Jules can get.”

“I do.” I snicker. “Big brother better watch himself.”

“What’s this gala thing?”

I fill him in on the event my brother Max’s wife started a few years ago as one of the many fundraisers she holds throughout the years to benefit the kids in our community. Then I listen as he tells me all about the game and my jerkoff brother, getting more comfortable the more we fall back into our old routine.

Eventually I reach over and turn off my lamp and get under my blanket.

“You tired, princess?”

“Yeah.” I yawn. “Aren’t you?”

“I am, baby.” His sexy voice grows gravelly and pulls at something deep within me.

“I wish you were here,” I whisper.

“Me too. Go to sleep, Lindy. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Stay with me until I fall asleep?” I ask quietly.

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