Page 56 of The Playmaker
“Nina, I know this isn’t the kind of thing you do all the time.”
She lies back down and averts her eyes. I shift and cup her chin until she’s looking at me. “Why are you embarrassed?”
“I don’t know why I said that. It’s not like I want you to think I’m a puck bunny.”
“I know you’re not. You’re a nice girl, Nina.”
“The kind of girl your decorator designed this house for.” As soon as the words leave her mouth, she blinks rapidly, and her mouth opens and closes like she’s working through an entire pack of gum. “I mean…I’m not saying…”
“Say what you want, Nina.” I press my lips to hers. “None of it matters because we don’t even like each other, remember?”
Nope, we don’t even like each other one bit.
Yeah, I am so fucked.
11
Nina
As Cole jumps from the sofa and does a fist pump, my heart races, I’m so happy for him and his team. They made it to the playoffs, and he’s over-the-moon happy. I just pray he gets the all clear so he can rejoin his team. I drop my notepad and stretch out on the sofa.
“That was one hell of a close game,” I say.
“Yeah, it was. But our man Cason came through.” Cole sinks back into the cushions and briefly closes his eyes
“You okay? Headaches back? You did get a little worked up in the end there.”
“No, it’s been almost a week without one. I’m hoping tomorrow Doc will give me the all clear to get back on the ice. Maybe we can hit the rink after my appointment.” He opens his eyes and turns his head to see me. “I need to be in the playoffs, Nina. It’s the most important thing in the world to me,” he says, a shadow of worry on his face.
“I know. You will be. I’m sure of it.” I look him over, feel stress vibrating through his body. We’ve been relaxing all week, swimming and cooking together, but maybe he needs a change of scenery. This house is huge, yes, and I haven’t even explored it all, but I think he needs to get outside these walls. “How about after your appointment tomorrow, we go to that new Italian café for lunch?”
I put my hand on his thigh, and he closes his over mine. A small quiver goes through me. I’m still shocked at how fast we came to this place, where we’re completely comfortable with each other, and we both know that it’s a given that I’ll be driving him to his appointment.
He gives my hand a little squeeze, humor in his eyes. “Tired of cooking for me already?”
“No, I just thought it would be nice to go somewhere, get out of the house for a bit.”
He eyes me, and I try not to shift, try not to show any kind of discomfort, but this is Cole, who can seem to read my every mood.
“Is lunch after the appointment a stalling tactic because you don’t want to get on the ice with me?”
Maybe a little.
“No,” I say quickly. He doesn’t need to know the fall destroyed my confidence and getting back on the ice scares the hell out of me. “I just thought—”
“We had a deal, Nina.” His voice is firm but there’s tenderness in his eyes as they meet mine. “Are you breaking it?”
I shake my head and turn this around, making it about him and not me. “I just don’t want you doing anything too early and risking your chances of getting back to the game. Let’s just wait and see what the doctor says.”
He glances at my notepad and pulls me to him. I settle against him, feel his strong heartbeat beneath my hand. “Any breakthroughs on story ideas?”
“No, not yet.”
“So, what’s going on, anyway?” He shifts positions, lying on the sofa and pulling me between his legs. With my back pressed to his chest, I settle in, completely comfortable. He runs his fingers through my hair and I relax into his touch. “Why are you blocked?
“Blocked, huh? I like how you worked a hockey term in there.”
“The things I do for you,” he teases.