Page 56 of Not the Puck Bunny

“You have that backwards,” he said. “You're out of mine. I'm a guy who hits a piece of rubber with a stick. Sure, it entertains people and inspires kids to get up off the couch, put on a pair of skates and have some fun, but…"

“You work hard, and yes, you are a role model, which is important. You're making a difference. I sit in an office making decisions that are designed to make people more money. How is that useful?” I sighed softly.

“I heard about the charity event you're organizing,” he said. “What could bemoreuseful? I tell you what, we're both making a difference in the world, we're just doing it in different ways. But you, you look good doing it.” He leaned over and kissed my forehead.

“So do you,” I said.

He put an arm around me and pulled me to him. “When was the last time anyone made you feel special?”

“I don't know,” I admitted. “My…"

Now would be a good time to tell him about Xander. Cam would find out sooner or later. Better he hear it from me than some other source. Especially if that source was the always unreliable world wide web. Who knew what stories were circulating about my previous relationship?

I didn't want to look it up. Xander was firmly in the past, where he belonged.

“My last boyfriend lived here, up until a few months ago.” It felt like several lifetimes. Every time I was with Cam, I felt more alive than ever before. More real. He made me want to be a better person, one who embraces every day and all the challenges that come with existing. Not just existing, but reallyliving.

“His idea of 'special' was putting his coffee cup in the dishwasher.” Xander knew it annoyed me when he left it on the countertop and walked away. I'd glared at him a few times before he cottoned on to my irritation. He rolled his eyes, but he hadn't done it since.

“And having his assistant message me to tell mehe'd be home late. And I did the same to him,” I said quickly, before Cam judged him too harshly.

“Sometimes, I think he had a better relationship with Rafe than he did with me.” Rafe could have told me what Xander wanted for Christmas, his birthday or an anniversary present. I suspected that went both ways, that Xander got his ideas about gifts for me, from Rafe.

No one else would have suggested he buy me a life-size cardboard cutout of Damon Salvatore, and he wouldn't have figured it out for himself. The cutout sat in front of the window in my home office.

If you're wondering, yes he was better company than Xander. He had a lot more personality. And was always smiling at me.

“Then he wasn't trying hard enough,” Cam concluded. “I'm going to make you feel so special, the next time we get hot and bothered together you won't second-guess yourself and the way I feel about you.”

“You don't want to…" Of course he didn't. Why would he?

In spite of my insecurities, I knew that wasn't what he was saying. What he really meant was something much deeper than our physical attraction. Something more important.

He placed his hands on my cheeks and turnedmy face to him. “I want to fuck you more than I've ever wanted anyone else.” He hesitated for a moment, and shook his head.

“No, I want tomake loveto you. If that means waiting until you understand that's what it is, then that's what I'll do.” He lightly kissed my mouth. “When the time comes, it’ll be worth every second of the wait. Because you're worth it.”

I swallowed down a knot of emotion that threatened to bring tears to my eyes again. This time, not tears of humiliation, but ones of warmth like nothing I'd felt before. The potential of something mind-blowingly amazing.

Was there a hint of doubt in my mind because he was still a smoking hot hockey god? Yes, but I understood he wanted to help me to see myself the way he did.

That was…everything.

“I want that too,” I said. I wanted to feel him everywhere, but he was right. Whatever this was growing between us, it was different.

We might have a lifetime together, but the stronger we build the foundation, the better chance we had of weathering the storms that were thrown at us.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Cam

I placedthe bag of groceries down on the kitchen island and turned to watch Andi.

She'd tied her hair back into a ball of red curls. Some of it had snuck out of her hair tie and sprang up to frame her face. The freckles on her nose stood out, illuminated by the sun slanting in as she stopped to look out at the ocean.

“I didn't realise you lived so close by.” She turned slowly to face me.

“Walking distance.” I started to pull the groceries out of the bag. Flour, eggs, milk, butter, cocoa powder, sugar. Everything the recipe listed.

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