Page 31 of Score on You

On cue, a server stops over to give us menus and take our drink order. Sydney doesn’t hesitate to set her focus on completing the provided activity sheet. That allows Harper’s burning curiosity to unleash on me.

“So,” she chirps. “Yesterday went well?”

“Oh, yes. It was perfect.” My heart flutters at the reminder. “Ridge is such a gentleman.”

She snorts. “Didn’t know we were telling jokes, but that’s a good one.”

“He is,” I defend. “Just like a fairytale hero, he wants to storm in and to protect me from my father.”

“That totally tracks.”

“Some of the stuff he said was so romantic.” I chew on my bottom lip while deciding what to share. “Such as he’ll treat me as a coveted prize, but as his equal. I’ll never be stripped of control again so long as his heart is beating.”

Harper whistles. “Wow, the brute sure puts on the moves fast when he wants to. Guess he saw a green light.”

“What do you mean?”

“That man has been crazy about you since last year, but he didn’t do a thing about it. Until now.” This isn’t the first time she’s mentioned something along those lines.

“I guess the moment was right.”

She nods. “You’re the neighbor material he’s been waiting for.”

Which reminds me. “Did you know Ridge owns the duplex?”

“No, but I’m not surprised. He has plenty of money stashed away from his professional hockey career.”

“I would’ve loved to watch him play.” There’s a wistful edge to my voice.

“Yeah, girl. It’s hot on the ice. I bet he was a beast out there. Google his best games.”

“Oh, that’s smart. I bet there’s a lot of footage.”

“Keep a towel close by to mop up the drool. Better yet, sit on one so you don’t make a mess on the couch.” Harper winks.

It takes me several seconds to gather her meaning. Heat floods my cheeks. “You’re bad.”

“What else is new?” She leans forward. “Have you kissed him yet?”

My blush burns hotter. I think back to how our date ended last night. He politely excused himself shortly after we took the picture together. Something about not wanting to overstay his welcome, which is similar to what he said in our texts. As if it’s possible for him to do either.

I shake my head. “That’s probably not going to happen for a long while. We just had dinner.”

“No dessert?”

A gasp wrenches from me. “Was I supposed to bake cookies or cupcakes? Maybe a pie would’ve been more to his liking. I totally forgot.”

She bursts into a fit of giggles. “Gosh, you’re adorable. I wasn’t referring to that type of sugary treat.” She seems to consider something. “But now that we’re on the subject of baking stuff in the oven, have you thought about protection?”

I furrow my brow. “Like pot holders?”

“Good grief, I can’t even with you. For when your relationship with Ridge progresses to”—she peeks over at Sydney who’s now concentrating on coloring a picture—“the intimate phase.”

“Why would I need protection from him?”

“It’s mostly his swimmers you should be worried about.” She wiggles her index finger to imitate a worm.

“I’m not sure what you’re referring to. This isn’t a topic they taught us,” I groan and rub my temples. “Even more so, that’s private. What happens in the bedroom is sacred between husband and wife.”

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