Page 47 of In the Danger Zone
“I hope you don’t think I care about that.” Evan’s voice got all low and serious. He stopped in his tracks, standing in front of me.
My eyes closed briefly. “I didn’t m-mean to sound… M-Maybe that came out b-bad… I just m-meant… We come from two v-very different worlds. If you haven’t already noticed…”
“I know. And I don’t care.” Evan squeezed at my hand. “Tell me more about the bakery. I bet it smells good.”
I smiled at the thought of that. It did smell good. It smelled like home. There was a long list of memories I often leaned on in times of trouble, because I always thought about it with so much fondness. Getting up at four in the morning to help out at the bakery could be an obvious pain in the neck, but I enjoyed it all deep down.
“It’s… home,” I said, still smiling. “It’s perfect and… safe. I always loved being there, even though it was hard work sometimes. Getting up when it’s still dark to m-make b-bread is an oddly rewarding feeling. They sell m-more than b-bread, though. They have little desserts too. Some cookies, some m-muffins. Stuff like that.”
“Wait, wait, wait.” Evan held a hand up. “You’re, like, a dessert making pro?”
Shaking my head, I laughed. “I n-never said that. They’re the pros. I’d just… m-mix stuff together.”
“I don’t believe it. We have to make a cake together some time.”
“I don’t think it’d taste all that good.”
“Hm, maybe I’ll just hit up their bakery then.”
I cleared my throat. “You’d love it.”
“And speaking of food, are you excited for that dinner next week?”
My eyes widened for a second. I had almost forgotten about that. I didn’t mind meeting the rest of Evan’s teammates. There was one I really, really wanted to avoid, though.
Evan eyed me closely. “You look worried. Murph already told me Asher won’t be there.”
“How can you b-be sure of that?” I asked. Caution was a must. Caution was a necessity.
“Because when I beat his ass the other day, I left a few marks,” Evan said so casually. “And it’ll look real bad if he shows up at the dinner looking like that. Everyone will know that he didn’t get into a fight during a game. They’ll have to explain what happened. ThatIhappened.”
Nodding slowly, I let out a long breath. “I’m just… n-not always ready to see him. Especially when I really thought I’d n-never have to see him ever again.”
Evan pulled me close to him, his hands on my waist. I felt pure comfort and warmth from his touch alone. There was a kindness in his eyes as he stared at me, as his fingers grasped at me.
“You don’t have to worry about anyone hurting you ever again,” Evan said. “I know you felt like you didn’t have anyone to help you back home. You felt like you were alone. But you aren’t alone here. Not with me. I’m not the kind of person who’d let you get hurt, Daisy. Things are gonna be different. Things are gonna be better for you.”
My eyes shut. That felt so good to hear.Things are gonna be better. I had really needed that back in high school when I so desperately needed somebody on my side.
“I really b-believe you when you say that,” I whispered.
Evan smiled. “Good. ‘Cause I mean it.”
Chapter 23
EVAN
The week had flown by. Hockey was still there in my mind even though I couldn’t play, and I was itching to get back out on the ice.
But it wasDaisywho really had my focus. My sweet, little Daisy. I was so glad she had accepted my invitation to bring her to the team dinner, ‘cause I so badly wanted to show her off. She was my girl and I didn’t want her to hide away, but I knew just how shy she was. Being around a bunch of loud, annoying hockey players probably wasn’t her thing. But I’d keep the guys in line tonight.
I stood outside her dorm room, all dressed up thanks to Murph’s instructions. I had pulled on that light blue button down I got the other day and paired it with some white pants. My navy blue blazer finished off the look. But I wasn’t too worried about how I was dressed. I just wanted to see Daisy already.
I knocked on her door and a quick moment passed by before it swung open. There she stood. Daisy had picked out a red dress that clung to her perfect curves. I could see the round outline of her hips and when my eyes moved up, I saw the tiniest bit of cleavage on show. I so badly wanted to see what the dress would look like from behind. And maybe off her too.
“Hey, sweetheart.” I smiled at Daisy, instantly needing to put my hands on her. “You look beautiful.”
“T-Thank you,” she said softly, tucking some hair behind her ear. She had curled her dark locks. “You look really handsome tonight.”
