Page 37 of Chocolate Cherry Cabin

“I’ve got this. Large or extra large?”

“I won’t be able to reciprocate next time.”

Next time.

The phrase hung in the air between them, and she panicked. She was implying this might go somewhere.

“Chill, Hannah. Live in the moment.”

“Their pizza is expensive.”

“I invited myself over, remember?”

“You also rented the movie, as well as brought snacks and drinks.” She glanced at his phone screen. “And delivery costs extra.”

“I have it on good word from Maverick that the delivery guy is a college kid with a new baby. He could use the five bucks, since his scholarship doesn’t cover diapers. And besides, neither of us is leaving this couch.”

“We aren’t?” she asked doubtfully.

“It’s my duty to distract you, and I can’t do that without pizza.”

She waited in silence as he placed the order.

“Really? It’s your duty? And you have to do it with pizza?”

“Well,” he said slowly, “I could find other ways to distract you, but I’m not sure you’d be game.” He gave her a wicked smile and Hannah gave him a playful slap on the chest, secretly pleased with his teasing.

She shifted so she could face him better. “You would know that I only do relationships. I’m not a side adventure.”

“But you’ve given up having relationships?”

She looked away, gnawing on her bottom lip.

“So we’ve found a gray zone?” he suggested.

She wanted to give in and live in the moment, as well as in his arms. But to do that would mean learning to let go, which wasn’t easy for a mom. Everything she decided about her own life had a direct impact on her boys, especially something big like this.

Louis shifted, tugging her left foot out from where she’d tucked it under her. He placed it in his lap and began kneading the ball, gliding his thumbs over the arch. She let out a moan of contentment.

“Right there?” He glanced up as he moved back to the spot that had made her groan.

Hannah nodded, letting the hitch in her shoulders loosen. She allowed herself to unspool, movie forgotten as she sagged against the cushions. A rebellious part of her wanted to stake a claim on the night, to studiously avoid considering the possible consequences of kissing and snuggling with a man who wanted things she couldn’t understand.

“Gray zone, huh?” she mumbled, her muscles releasing their tightness as his thumbs worked their magic.

“We don’t have to define our moments together. We have time to explore without the fear of hurting or confusing your boys.”

Her lips curved upward. “Know what, Louis?”

“Hmm?”

“I’ve always felt gray’s an underrated color.”

* * *

It was nearly midnight when Louis slipped back into his shoes to head home. He could see Hannah shifting, tightening up. She’d let go, allowed him to treat her to pizza, kiss and cuddle her. But now she was obviously worrying about how to minimize his expectations.

Tonight it felt as though his luck, which had been amazing since the day Miranda Fairchild had hired him to coach her NHL team, the Dragons, had been building momentum. To have Hannah in his arms had made him the luckiest man he knew, and if there was one thing he could give her—even if he was unable to hold her for as long as he desired—it would be to open the shutters on her world so she could have the life she so richly deserved.

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