Page 5 of Love in the Net
“Thanks again for bringing my wallet.” He leans down and scratches Waffles’s head. “Can I take you to dinner after practice?”
His question catches me off guard, and for a moment, I forget how to speak. He’s asking me out. Liam O’Brien, professional hockey player and local heartthrob, is askingmeout.
“I—uh—sure,” I stammer, my stomach doing somersaults. “Dinner sounds great.”
“Great,” he says, his expression softening. “I’ll call you later to set it up.” With that, he leans in and sweeps his lips along my cheek, turns, and grabs his helmet from Chase.
I stand there, my fingers absently reaching up to touch where his lips did.
“Claire,” Poppy calls. “You and Waffles come sit by me.”
I glance over to Chase, but he doesn’t make me show him a pass. So I go sit by Poppy.
“Well,” Poppy says, looping her arm through mine. “I’d say that went pretty well.”
“Did it?” I ask, still trying to process what just happened.
“Oh, absolutely,” she says with a knowing smile. “Trust me, Claire. This is just the beginning.”
3
Liam’s truckpulls up to the curb outside my house, and I don’t know whether to feel nervous or exhilarated. Probably both. Mostly both.
“Definitely both,” I whisper to myself, my cheek burning from the ice arena kiss.
I smooth my palms over my brand new dress, a pretty pink wrap dress that hugs my hips and is perfect for a first date. Yes, Poppy said that, but I could’ve said the same.
Waffles pants with his nose practically against the front door, blissfully unaware of the emotional chaos inside me. He’s just excited for what he probably assumes is an adventure.
When Liam steps out of the truck, it’s like the whole world shrinks down to just him. He’s wearing a dark gray sweater that hugs his broad shoulders in the most unfair way and a pair of jeans that look like they were made just for him.
He sees me watching from the window, and he smiles. I gasp and back up, as if I’ll hide and refuse to answer the door when he knocks. He actually rings the doorbell, and Waffles barks a greeting.
I pull open the door, and Liam’s smile only widens as Waffles rushes him. “Hey, bud,” he says to the canine without taking his eyes from me. They burn with male desire, and my brain blitzes that it’s for me. “You look incredible,” he says.
“Thank you.” I reach for Waffles’s collar and pull him back. “Come on, you,” I tell the dog. “You’re not coming.” I manage to get my dog inside, and I step out into the autumn evening, where Liam immediately takes my hand.
“You’re gorgeous.” He lifts my hand to his lips, that low, steady, sexy voice making my blood hum in my veins.
I climb into his truck, and Liam chuckles as he shuts my door, then rounds the hood to slide into the driver’s seat.
“So,” I say, trying to sound casual as he pulls away from the curb. “Where are we headed?”
“You’ll see,” he says, glancing over at me with a hint of a smile.
I narrow my eyes at him. “You’re not going to tell me?”
“Nope.”
“Not even a hint?”
“It’s my favorite place,” he says, his grin widening just a fraction.
“That’s so not fair.” I huff, crossing my arms in mock annoyance. “If this turns out to be a kidnapping, I’m warning you—Waffles is trained to call nine-one-one if I’m not home by midnight.”
Liam bursts out laughing, a magical sound I want to hear plenty more times in my life. He reaches over and takes my hand again, no question about it—and I find I don’t need one.
The drive takes us out of the town center and into the quieter, wooded outskirts of Blue Ridge. The scenery is breathtaking—golden leaves shimmering in the waning light, the gentle curve of the road winding through the forest. It’s the kind of night that feels like it belongs in a storybook.
