Page 79 of Lucky Laces
Huddy and I watch them get in, Smitty grumbling loudly about there being some unknown matchmaker who specializes in helping hockey players find love who lives up in Tahoe and is “intruding on my territory!”
I snort because that’s ridiculous.
“What is it?”Hudson asks.
“A matchmaker.”I roll my eyes.“You guys don’t need matchmaking help—you get enough women as it is.”
“Idon’t,” he says.
I deliberately point my gaze down at his arm, still snaked around my waist.“You don’t?”
He laughs and it’s beautiful.Then he presses his lips to my jaw.“I didn’t until you,” he whispers.“Or I don’t remember any other women anyway.”
I giggle despite myself.“Such a handsome liar,” I accuse lightly, turning in the circle of his arm and swatting him across the chest.
“Rude,” he says, brushing his nose along mine.
“Nope.”I pop the p.“The truth isn’t rude.”
He grins, and fuck, but his smile hits me deeply.Mostly because I know there’s no chance at keeping my distance.Not when he put himself between me and the collapsing ceiling, not when he showed me who he is, not when he shared something so deeply personal and painful with me?—
He gently runs his fingers through the ends of my hair.
And not when he does things like that.
Soft touches, gentle touches, holding me close like I’m precious.
It’s dumb.It could be career-ending.
But I know, without a doubt, that I need to see where this goes.“I thought you might be mad,” I whisper.
His expression goes even softer.“For what, baby?”
“For overstepping,” I say.“For telling Smitty and bringing him here and?—”
He presses a finger to my lips, cutting off the flow of words.“Don’t you understand?”he whispers.
“Understand what?”I ask against his finger.
“Don’t you understand that you brought me a gift?One I never thought I’d have?”
“But what if…” I nibble on the inside of my cheek.
“What if what, DeeDee?”
I exhale softly.“What if it doesn’t help?”
Gentle gray eyes.“If it doesn’t help, I’m no worse off.But”—he tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear—“I think it’s going to help, sweetheart.Ifeelit.The way Smitty was talking, the things he was saying…it’s like the pieces are finally coming together, finally making sense.I might—” He breaks off then exhales quietly.“I might be able to have a different life, and just having the chance to try for that?”His gaze holds mine.“I’m so thankful you helped me get there.”
The flurry of emotions in his eyes are so intense that my heart spasms.
I wrap my arms around him, hug him tightly.“I’m glad you’re not mad.”
He smooths a hand down my back.“Never.”
I keep hugging him but I can’t resist lightening the mood, can’t resist saying, “Because you’re being so sweet, I’m not going to hold that lie against you.”
He weaves his hand in my hair again, this time tugging my head back.“What are you talking about?”
