Page 39 of Much Ado About Hockey

She didn’t move.

She couldn’t.

Jett came to a stop in front of her, holding up a ragged dandelion—its petals sparse, its stem bent—but he offered it to her with such solemn tenderness that her throat tightened.

“A flower for you,” he whispered.

She blinked back the sting in her eyes. A weed, yes—but it had petals. It came from the ground. It was alive. And he’d thought of her.

“I love it,” she said quietly, her voice thick with emotion.

“It’s a weed,” he chuckled nervously, his gaze soft and searching as it lingered on hers. “But I think it’s time to find a florist because I miss giving you flowers.”

“You’ve only given me flowers once.”

“Twice,” he corrected with a grin, gently tapping the top of the dandelion. Then his smile softened, faded into something more intimate, more real. “You look beautiful.”

Her heart skipped, thudded, fluttered. She tried to breathe past it.

“I didn’t see you get hit in the head last night,” she teased, her voice trembling just slightly, unsure if the moment was real or if she’d somehow dreamed it into being. “And why haven’t you hugged me yet?”

“Is that an invitation?”

“Do you need one?”

“Maybe.”

“How about you have an open-ended invitation to hug me anytime you could ever want to.”

“Anytime?”

“Yes.”

“Three in the morning?” he asked, his tone playful, but his eyes still locked on hers, searching.

“Let me sleep through it, but yes,” Karen smiled up at him, warmth and affection spilling into every corner of her expression.

“Sounds like an amazing invitation,” he murmured as he wrapped his arms around her, drawing her in close.

And just like that, the chaos in her mind quieted. The uncertainty, the loneliness, the wondering if she belonged—it all faded as he held her. Here, in his arms, she didn’t have to pretend. She didn’t have to find the right words or force a smile. She could just be… and he accepted, welcomed, and cherished.Thisis what he’d been offering – and she welcomed it now that she knew and understood.

“Gosh, this feels good seeing you here,” he said softly.

And it did.

It felt like home.

8

KAREN

Karen movedto open the driver’s door – and Jett stopped her, his hand resting on top of her where it touched the door handle. He pulled her hand away, slowly walked her to the passenger side, and opened the door, waiting. His eyes were intense, his lips twitched slightly as he waited, and she moved to get in the car before he finally spoke.

“My lady…” he murmured, almost in an invitation, causing Karen to look up at him again in surprise as her heart skipped a beat. He was already devastatingly handsome, but laying on the charm like this? Treating her like she was special to him? She wasn’t sure she could take the intensity of feelings that exploded within her chest or the glimmer of something in his gaze. Instead of commenting, questioning, or protesting that she could drive her own vehicle – she sat down mutely and waited.

Jett shut the door once she was inside and walked around the car, holding her gaze the entire time, and moved to slide into the driver’s seat before extending his hand to her. “Keys?”

“What is going on?” she finally asked, curious.

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