Page 23 of Peach Blossom Hollow

“You can leave them on.”

She glanced back, her eyes dropping to his boots as though questioning why he wouldn’t remove them.

Leo paused a beat. He knew it was a Japanese tradition to remove ones shoes. Was it Korean as well? He shrugged and balanced on his right foot while using both hands to wrangle a boot off the left. Switching legs, he hopped across the linoleum floor, working on the right boot. With them tossed aside, he followed her into the apartment, trying to see it from her point of view.

He realized with a glance that it was sorely lacking. Her place, from what he’d seen while she’d been packing her overnight bag, was homey and cute.

He bet she had real art and matching furniture. Meanwhile, the only things hanging on his walls were tacked-up workout and meal plans from the team’s trainer and dietician, Athena. His furniture was an uninspired collection gathered mostly from front yards, under signs that said Free. In essence,everything important to him could be packed in his car and taken with him at a moment’s notice, the rest left behind.

“You don’t have much,” she noted, poking her head into his living room.

“The habit of living lean is hard to break.”

“Yeah?” She eyed him. “Is that why you’re so stingy with yourself?”

He smoothed a hand down his pale green shirt. “I’m not stingy.”

“Uh-huh.” Her tone said she was unconvinced.

“I was on the road a lot with rodeo, sending money home. Since leaving the ranch I’ve never really stayed anywhere for a long period. Nowhere you’d really call home.”

He was building toward buying one, but he wasn’t sure where it would be, seeing as players could be traded to other teams with little notice. Buying a home may have to wait until he was out of the NHL.

Violet was peering into the guest room, and he hurried ahead of her so he could turn on the lights, close the blinds and collect the hockey equipment spread out over the black futon. He shoved it all into bags lined up against the wall.

“Sorry it’s not much.”

“Impressive.”

Leo took in the room again. He saw nothing about the architecture or decorating that could be considered impressive.

“It doesn’t smell like gear.” She waved her hand.

“I try not to stink.” He began collecting the bags, then paused. “Would you prefer to use my room? I can sleep in here if you want.”

“This is fine.”

“The futon, it’s, uh…” He dropped the bags and laid the futon flat, feeling self-conscious.

He had no idea how he’d gone from boosting her car after Thanksgiving dinner to having her as an overnight guest. It was already past midnight and tomorrow was a game day. He was normally so rigid about his diet, training and sleep patterns. But tonight he felt like it was all unreal, his energy wild and restless.

Maybe it was just nerves, which was weird because this was Violet. But currently, he was even more nervous than she seemed to be.

“Are you hungry? Thirsty?” He wished he could cook more than the basics. Casually whip up something that would dazzle her.

“I’m good. Carol overfed me.”

Maverick’s mom had indeed overfed them all. It had been wonderful. She’d taken over Maverick’s kitchen and had been well prepared to feed a bunch of young athletes.

“How about a glass of wine? No, I don’t have wine.” He was trying to play host and failing. “No drinking during the season. Or at least limit it. I have herbal tea?” He winced. If anyone asked for his man card right now he wouldn’t argue, just hand it over.

“That would be nice, thank you.”

She looked pleased with the offer and they moved from the guest room. He stacked the hockey bags in the hallway closet and continued the tour, which took approximately another thirty seconds. He pointed out the bathroom, his room—she laughed, spotting a loud-patterned Hawaiian shirthe’d bought for a party—the living room again, and then the kitchen.

“Are you a minimalist?” she asked when he pulled out two cups from a cupboard, revealing his sparse set of dishes. “Other than your belt buckle collection.”

She was smirking at him and he found he was really beginning to adore the way she teased him.

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