Page 35 of Playoff
“I didn’t mean to. Didn’t realize you were nervous.”
I released a breath and dropped my hand. “Well, I am. Sometimes.”
“Are you traveling with us?” he asked, nodding at the suitcase.
I looked at it like I had no idea what I’d come down here for. “Oh, no. I’m flying west to see family while you guys are gone.”
Something flickered in his eyes. Then his polite mask was back. “Need a hand?”
I frowned. “Not really. The suitcase has wheels.”
He nodded. I grabbed the handle but he stayed in the doorway, so I paused.
His gaze lifted from the floor to my face. “You know, I was kicking myself after you left that night.”
No need to ask which night. I shot a glance around us, worried someone could hear him.
The corner of his mouth quirked up in a mocking smile. “No one else is here.”
As if I was being needlessly cautious. “You don’t want to publicize what we did any more than I do.”
“Of course not.”
He was still standing there, so I gave in to my curiosity. “Okay, I’ll bite. Why were you kicking yourself?” I could understand if he’d known who I was, but he hadn’t, right?
“I wished I’d gotten your name. And your number.”
My heart stopped, then jerked into an uneven beat. I felt my cheeks heating up. My whole body warmed and I licked my suddenly dry lips.
“Why?” I whispered.
He was still for a moment, and then took two steps forward. "Because of this." He placed a hand on each side of my face and kissed me.
The kiss was gentle, without any force, but behind it was heat and the promise of the same passion from that night. My blood fizzed and my heart raced. My brain was sounding alarm bells, reminding me this was dangerous. I would push him away, any second now…
I finally stepped back, lips warm, and I had to fight the urge to press my fingers to them. Or to grab his face and take that kiss up several notches.
I shook my head. "My brother is your teammate. Your parents…” There were so many reasons this could never happen again.
"I know." He stepped back, giving me room to pass by him with my bag rolling behind me.
It was a quiet ride up in the elevator, but the air shimmered with tension. There were very good reasons why this couldn’t happen. It wouldn’t happen. But…
The doors opened on his floor. He stepped out.
“If you’d asked, I’d have given you my number. And answered when you called.”
For once, I’d timed it right. The doors slid closed as his eyes widened, and he jerked as if he wanted to step back in the car.
I drew out a shaky breath as the elevator climbed the two floors to my floor. Why had I said that? How had I found the nerve to say that?
It was playing with fire, and that wasn’t me.
Chapter 16
I wasn’t here to make friends
Alek
