Page 28 of Peach Blossom Hollow

In return Violet teased her friend, saying that the For Sale sign next door to her was soon going to turn to Sold, and that Mr. Dreamy Pants would be moving in to sweep her off her feet. Her divorced friend had choked with laughter and referenced something about Florida freezing over before that ever happened.

Violet ended the call, sighing loudly as she headed to the bathroom. Love. It was so hard to find.

The bathroom was steamy and warm from Leo’s shower, and she longed to soak in the tub and let her problems wash away.

“Hungry?” Leo called, coming down the hallway to look for her.

She opened the bathroom door.

He had a frying pan in hand. “Breakfast is almost ready…” His voice faded as he took her in.

“Ugh, don’t look at me.” She covered her face. Her eyes always looked especially puffy right after she woke up.

“You’re a cute, grumpy little panda first thing in the morning.” He was using an adorable, annoying cutesy voice and she rolled her eyes. And he was sticking with the panda bear thing, too, but somehow she didn’t mind. It made her feel special that he’d given her a nickname, even though itwouldn’t have been her first choice. “No makeup on your sleepy face. And look at your perfect black hair. Cutie-patootie.”

“You’re going to die. You know that, right?”

“Breakfast?” He held up the pan of slimy, half-cooked eggs.

She peered at his offerings and grimaced. “Are you going to cook those some more?”

“Of course. I just didn’t want them to burn.”

“Well, this far from the stove I don’t think that’s likely.” She went back into the bathroom. What was it about dealing with that man? It felt like she was flirting, then snarky all in one breath.

“Ready in two minutes!”

She washed her face and changed out of her PJs. She heard a blender go on in the kitchen and meandered that way, secretly loving that he’d made them breakfast.

Buttered toast, eggs and fruit were set out, and she took a spot across from where she assumed he’d be sitting.

“Game day.” He lifted the blender, which held something green and gross looking. “I love saying that. Do you have a special game day breakfast?”

She gave a shake of her head, watching him pour the contents into a tall glass. “Does Athena make you drink those?”

“Yup.” He swallowed half of it. “Best if you down it fast,” he said, his voice choked.

“Worth it?” she asked, when he set down the empty glass, then turned to chug water.

“I love being part of a team. I can lean on these guys, you know?”

“You couldn’t in rodeo?”

“Oh, yeah. Those guys will always be anywhere you need them in a heartbeat.”

“Did they tease as much in rodeo?” she asked, thinking of Dylan O’Neill and the weird vendetta thing between him and Leo.

“Sure. Rodeo’s family. So’s hockey. But it’s different.”

“Which do you love most, or is it too early to tell?”

“I love ‘em both, but I have a feeling I might come to love hockey even more.” He winked at Violet and she felt the heat hit her hard. She reminded herself that him coming to love hockey more would have nothing to do with her involvement in the sport. It was about the game, plain and simple.

“What time do you have to be at the rink?” she asked, trying to focus on eating.

“We have lots of time to go to the parts store. The limo will be here in forty-five minutes. I hope that’s okay?”

She nodded and tipped her head down, busying herself with spreading jam on her toast.

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