Page 10 of Drop the Mitts

Jenna raised an eyebrow. “He’s a welder.”

That explained the burn scar on his knuckle. Not that she’d noticed everything about his hands. It was justthere.“I didn’t—you don’t think he got the impression?—”

“No, no. You weren’t giving off vibes. He basically forced you to sit with him.”

“I probably owe him an apology.”

Jenna gave her a quizzical look. “Why?”

Grace shrugged. “I barely know the guy. I wasn’t very gentle.”

Jenna laughed. “You don’t know André. He loved it, I’m sure.”

“Are you saying I should’ve fawned over him? That would’ve turned him off?”

“I don’t think anything turns André off.”

They laughed and made their way through the now-obsolete metal detectors. Truly, Grace couldn’t be pissed about André because he’d been a perfect distraction. With him peacocking and Hope being adorable, the spotlight hadn’t been on her. It was the best gift she could’ve asked for.

Grace glanced toward André again as he threw his arm around Brett’s shoulders, dramatically explaining some play. Big, loud, cocky. He’d been over the top all night, but . . . there had been a moment. What had she said? Something about head injuries. Yes, it had been immediately before Country invited her to join the team for the charity game. He’d gone strangely quiet.

She didn’t think too hard about it because, just then, a rush of cold hit her flushed skin as they stepped out of the Saddledome. She’d left her winter coat in the car and now regretted it. At least she’d paid for preferential parking.

“I’ll see you soon. Brunch is still happening.” Jenna gave her a hug, then hurried to catch up with Country. Grace waved at Emma, Penny, and the others, then tried to orient herself since they’d exited from a different door.

Before she could find her lot, André turned and pulled Jenna into his arms, careful not to crush Hope as he pecked both her cheeks. “Don’t be mad. It was my fault, not his.”

“Mmhmm.” Jenna gave him a skeptical look, but her eyes lit up when Country wrapped an arm around her waist.

Grace caught herself staring and averted her eyes.Awkward.She needed to get moving before she had to say goodbye a second time.

Car horns blared, and fans hooted and hollered, still riding the high of the Blizzard win. Ah. There it was. She found the sign for the preferred parking and started off, then jumped when something landed on her shoulders.

Grace stuttered a step and almost lost her footing in her heels.

Two hands clamped around her arms. “Sorry, I thought you saw me coming.”

Grace looked back. André. She shivered at the warmth from his coat. “My car’s right there?—”

“I’ll walk you.” André ’s hands dropped, and he started forward. Grace didn’t move. When he realized she wasn’t following, he slowed and turned. “Is something wrong?”

She shrugged his coat off her shoulders. “I don’t need this, and I don’t need you to walk me to my car.” She stalked toward him, holding out his coat like a sacred offering. Obviously she was going to need to be more blunt.

André’s mouth quirked. “I didn’t ask what you needed. What kind of man would I be if I let you walk alone in a dark parking lot?”

“A normal one?” Grace pointed to the thousand other fans. “Also, not exactly alone.” André shoved his hands in his pockets, but before he could make another inane argument, she continued, “If it wasn’t obvious back there, I’m not interested.Kudos for waiting to make your move until after Country was occupied, though. Real ballsy.”

“Sarcasm?”

She pressed the coat against his chest. “See? You can read social cues.”

André watched her with amusement. He didn’t take the coat. She had half a mind to let it drop to the concrete. He blew out a breath. “Alright. Let’s get it out in the open. Yes. I want to sleep with you.”

“Excuse me?”

“Aren’t you proud of yourself? You were correct in that assumption. But it shouldn’t be anything new for you.” He turned and threw out a hand, grabbing a guy who looked like a former linebacker and pointing at Grace. “Would you sleep with her?”

The man blinked, then said, “Hell, yeah.” His friends cheered behind him.

---