Page 20 of SlapShot Sweetheart

“What’s‘mon couer’mean?”

“Something you would ‘ate…” he admitted openly, grateful she didn’t understand the slip. He was going to need to be more careful. “Have you ever had freshpoutine?”

“Put-whaaaat?”

“Poutine,” he breathed. “C’est parfaitwith ‘ockey…”

Theo stared into Aimee’s blue eyes, waiting for her to choose him and decide if she was going to give him a chance to draw herinto his world. He brought her his jersey, and it was draped over his shoulder, where he was wearing his too. It was deliberate and went with his other gift that he hoped she would accept as well.

“You’re stubborn,” she whispered.

“And you’re ‘ungry.”

“I am.”

“Then let’s eat while it’s ‘ot.”

“You’ve got a very thick accent.”

“Some would say it’s appealing and sexy.”

And he expected her to say, ‘that’s not me,’ yet she remained silent, still staring him down in a quiet challenge. He lifted the lid to show her the heady dish that was slathered in beef gravy and melted cheese curds. It made his heart flutter to see her eyes widen as they slipped to peek before looking at him again.

“Are those fries?”

“Poutineis french fries smothered in cheese curds and topped with gravy, meats, and…”

“Gimme the shirt,” she muttered, reaching for two plates quickly and pushing them in his direction as she yanked it over her head without a second thought.

Theo didn’t hesitate. If food was her condition, her love language, then he was going to make sure and provide. This was his part of the silent bargain they’d come to. He shoveled a large pile of the steaming French fries that were stuck together with the melted cheese and heard her passionate sigh of approval.

Looking at her, he caught his breath. She looked so darn good in his team’s colors, with his number all over her chest. This was the best thing ever, and he couldn’t even tell her whatit meant to him. The lump in his throat made him swallow as he cleared it quietly, trying not to blurt out the wrong thing or raise an alarm.

“Dinner,” she mumbled, taking one of the plates. “And the game. This is just two friends having a meal. Don’t read a lot into this. I’m a foodie.”

He nearly smiled. Her words might be blunt or abrasive, but they lacked the conviction and force it needed to really hurt his feelings. It was like she was smack-talking him and trying to get under his skin but failing miserably. He talked trash for a living and had for the last several years. He was a pro… andplayrecognizedplay.

“That’s all this is,” he replied evasively. “Besides, you’re hung up on some mysterious man and I like a girl who is a bit softer, more interested in me. It’s okay to play ‘ard to get – but at some point, everyone knows that the donkey gets the carrot.”

“And you’re the donkey.”

“Are you my carrot?”

Aimee looked at him sharply as she sat on the couch, taking a bite of her meal… and moaned. Her eyes closed in bliss for a moment as she opened them again, shoveling in another bite – and moaning again. Theo nearly dumped his own plate by accident, hearing the sound that unsettled everything within him. Oh man, would she make those sounds if he was ever lucky enough to kiss her? She crossed her legs, balancing the plate on her lap, and took another bite.

“How has this been missing from my life?” she mumbled, taking yet another big bite as he flipped on the television. They settled into their spaces, eating silently, and he tried to focus on the screen instead of watching Aimee enjoy her meal. He was awfully distracted, only to see her pointing at the screen, yelling.

“Is that okay?” she protested. “That looks like cheating!”

“What?”

“Weren’t you watching? This is your thing…”

“I was eating.”

“Well, eat and look at the television at the same time! Right there, ohhh maybe they’ll do a replay… that dude in the number twelve jersey shoved his elbow in the other guy’s face!”

And Theo laughed – unsure if he was tickled that she liked the game enough to protest or the fact that she was now looking at him differently, putting it all together. Her mouth dropped open in shock, startled, as she did a double-take, looking at the screen, then him again, before putting her plate onto the sofa table and leaning into his space. That’s when his laughter dried up…

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