Page 19 of SlapShot Sweetheart

And Theo laughed loudly, grinning as he heard her doing the same on the other side of the door, opening it a moment later.

She was looking at him, reading glasses perched on the end of her nose in the most adorable fashion, as she stood there in leggings and a T-shirt. Her hair was swept back with twopencils stabbed into a loose bun that had strands poking out everywhere.

He loved it.

“How is that heavy if it’s sitting on the porch?” she asked pointedly, raising an eyebrow and looking at the pot between his feet.

“Bonjour, ma belle fille,”he said easily and then held his breath, hoping she didn’t understand his words. He called her a beautiful girl, and his prickly woman might balk at the compliment. “Are you busy?”

“Handling an unexpected solicitor – yes.”

“I’m not selling anything but offering my time.”

“Gee,” she said in a snarky voice, crossing her arms and then looking at the pot once more. “What is that?”

“A French family recipe.”

“Which is…?” she drawled, and he fought back a smile as that delicate eyebrow arched a little higher.

“Delicious,” he replied, not giving an inch and waiting.

They stood there, staring at each other with the storm door between them, and for a moment, he thought she might back away, shutting the door in his face. Just as he started to open his mouth, she stepped to the side and turned the knob, pushing the door open for him. He bent over quickly, yanking the pot up with holders to keep from burning his fingers and nodded at her.

“It better be,” she chuckled, trying to sound tough as he walked past, winking at her.

“It’s mymere’srecipe…”

“The onion soup? No, thank you.”

“You remembered.”

“My brain’s like a steel trap, buddy…”

He couldn’t help but laugh, smiling at her proudly.

“What?”

“You’re learning French,” he replied. “You remembered ‘mere’is mother.”

“Don’t think that just because you are here and that I learned one word, this makes us besties or in a relationship. I refuse to learn another language to date some guy I can barely stand,” she warned, reaching over his arm to lift the lid, only for Theo to turn away playfully, smiling at her.

“No peeking.”

“I’m hungry – and you said that’s edible.”

“I told you it wasdelicious.”

“Even better.”

“But you know what is more appealing?”

“Is this where you get weird or creepy?” she asked, glaring at him as he laughed in delight, putting a hand on the knob that was on the lid in a teasing manner, waiting.

“The game is getting ready to start. I brought you a jersey to wear,” he offered, waiting.

“I’m dressed already. I don’t watch hockey. You mentioned food, and now you are backing out – what kind of weird friend are you?”

“The best kind,” he whispered softly, trying to sound enticing as he waited for her to get curious once more. It was like baiting a protective animal out of its cave, and he loved the play between them. “Can you bend just a bit,mon couer,and let me treat you?”

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