Page 108 of Banter & Blushes

“You’d really do that for me?” I’m stunned, to say the least. Can’t wait to tell Sophie about this one. She’ll flip.

“In a heartbeat. I don’t want anything to keep us apart again. Not even failed engines.”

I giggle. “I’m bus-free for the next two months, and my car’s running just fine now.”

He sweeps his lips over mine, teasing me. “But we’re not going anywhere tonight.”

“What if you hate my cooking?”

“We’ll order in because I’m not sharing the woman I’m falling for with anyone tonight.” The look in his eyes confirms his words, leaving me breathless. He reaches for the gift bag and hands it to me. “This is for you.”

I push aside tissue paper, noticing the red fabric first, then pull it out.

Ethan takes it from me, turning the jersey around to show his name across the shoulders. “I was hoping you’d wear my jersey at the home games when the season starts again.”

“Of course I will.” I take the jersey from him and slip it over my shirt. The heat I see flaring in his eyes makes me almost giddy. “I’m falling for you, too, Ethan.”

I clasp my hands behind his neck, running my fingers through his hair, ready to tug him down for another kiss if he doesn’t do it first, which he does, nipping my lips and holding me against him until I can barely remember my name, let along how to cook the dinner I’d planned. I think we’re hungrier for each other than food now that we know we can be together.

As our kisses slow, I lean away. “I should start dinner.”

“Let’s order pizza.” He starts kissing me again.

“I don’t mind cooking,” I manage to get out.

He lifts his head and devours me with a smoldering gaze that makes me weak in the knees. “You can’t cook while I’m kissing you.”

I kiss the side of his mouth, tantalizing the corner of his lips with my tongue. “Is that the plan for this evening?”

“Yes, and all summer long.”

“And then what?”

He brushes his lips over mine—teasing, promising, and loving me. “Forever.”

EPILOGUE

MIA

TWO MONTHS LATER…

The cool air of the arena sends a chill through me as I search the ice for Ethan. In the row in front of Sophie and me, a little boy wearing a miniature Sun Kings jersey jumps up and down with an oversized soft pretzel clutched in his hand, even though neither team has scored yet.

Ethan skates by the plexiglass and winks at me as he takes the puck behind the net and back into the fray of players waiting to steal it from him. He passes the puck to Payton, who fires a one-timer into the net. Ethan and several other players fly over and crowd around him in celebration—or a ‘celly’ as they call it, according to Ethan. He’ll get credit for the assist, adding to his already impressive record.

The fans continue to shout and applaud, making the arena seem fuller than its current half capacity. If the Sun Kings keep playing this well, the fan base will surely return to its pre-scandal level. Ethan’s been teaching me all the ins and outs of ice hockey, and surprisingly, I love it. But if you were to ask me if I loved hockey simply for the sport or because I happen to be in love with a hockey player, I’m not sure if I could answer that. Ethan and hockey are one and the same, I’m realizing, so I guess I can say with a clear conscience that I love both.

Still cheering, I bounce on my feet, clenching the bottom of my jersey,relishing that I’m wearing his name because, in a few months, I’ll wear it officially, too.

Sophie grabs my left hand, studying the engagement ring Ethan gave me when he proposed last month. Fast, I know, but when you know, you know, right?

“I still can’t believe you’re engaged already.” She giggles, squeezing my hand to let me know she’s happy for me.

“I know. Me, too.” Took me a day to tell my best friend about it since we both had a string of failed relationships and dating disasters. And things happened so fast for Ethan and me. I was afraid she’d wind up sad or depressed, but I should have known Sophie would be nothing but ecstatic for me. She even offered to help me plan the wedding, which I jumped on in a hot minute. Planning a wedding in a few months is borderline crazy. Doing it alone is just plain insane.

Scanning the arena, I search for Ethan, as always. He’s back on the player’s bench beside Elias, waiting for their turn on the ice. The new guy, Luke Jameson, is sitting next to him.

I nudge Sophie’s arm with my elbow. “So, how are the team interviews going? Did you pin Luke down yet.”

---