Page 62 of Dreams
Chapter Fifteen
Noise from the living room drifted through the door of his room and Josh let out a low growl while cracking one eye open. He shut it quickly to block out the light, rubbing his face with his free hand. His other arm was trapped under something warm.
Of course she’s warm.The thought brought a smile to his face. He finally opened his eyes again, despite the blinding sun streaming through his window. Looking down at Taylor, a laugh broke free from his chest. She mumbled something in her sleep and then curled around his trapped arm with all the covers tangled around her small form.
He looked down at his own freezing feet, but couldn’t even be annoyed. Very slowly, he slid his arm out from under her and sat up.
The voices in the living room were louder now, and Josh knew it couldn’t just be Mack and the girl from last night. He pulled on a pair of socks and left as silently as he could.
Zak’s distinct Russian purr was audible now that there wasn’t a door between them.
“It’s bullshit,” he was saying. “I can’t believe he called you out like that.”
“Some friend,” Mack grunted.
Josh wasn’t surprised the two of them were in there bitching like school girls. Zak may not do the idiotic things Mack did, but when his teammate needed someone to get angry with him, he was there.
Josh stopped in the kitchen before making himself known. They were so engrossed that they didn’t hear him turn on the faucet to fill his glass. He stood there watching them, not really wanting to get involved. Mack stepped in the shit last night. Punching someone at a charity function where the team was front and center was going to have its repercussions. Frankly, Josh hoped Mack got a wake-up call from this. He couldn’t keep treating everything like it was one big joke. That game, that league, was their lives.
“There are pancakes in the oven keeping warm,” a voice said.
Josh turned towards the table where Mel was perched.
“Uh, hey?” He glanced towards his teammates in the living room and then back to the girl, assuming she’d come with Zak. “Thought you weren’t a hockey groupie?”
“Don’t be an ass,” she snapped. “I made you breakfast.”
“Okay, so not a groupie. Stalker?” He grinned. He couldn’t help but like this girl.
“Oh, yes,” she deadpanned. “You’re all I think about. Josh Walker. Mmmm, such a dreamboat.” She finally cracked a smile, and he laughed.
“I knew it!”
“Ass.”
“Fair enough.” He fixed himself a plate and sat down across from her. “I think I’m the only person that’s ever cooked in that kitchen before you.”
She snorted at that. “I’ll bet. Can’t exactly imagine Mack making girls ‘morning after’ eggs.”
“So, if you aren’t in love with me, why are you here? - not that I don’t appreciate the food,” he added.
“Zak and I were supposed to grab breakfast. He’d just picked me up when Punchy in there gave him a call. As to the pancakes, I realized pretty quickly that we’d be here a while and I was hungry.”
Stabbing his fork into a bite of pancake, Josh smirked. “I like you, Mel.” He stuffed it into his mouth.
“That feeling will pass.” She leaned forward. “I drugged your food.”
He was still laughing when the chair beside him was pulled out, the legs screeching against the tile floor. “Why am I so tired?” Taylor groaned, plunking her butt into the seat and leaning her head on the table.
“Probably because you spent all night talking and stealing the covers,” Josh laughed, rubbing small circles on her back.
“I did not,” she stated.
“Oh, trust me, I have the frozen feet to prove it.”
“Only feet?”
“Well, I had something else keeping the rest of me warm.” The color rose in her cheeks and his smile stretched wider. Leaning towards her, he whispered, “You blush a lot. It’s cute.”
