Page 16 of Pickled
“You’re talking to the woman whose cat is named Pussy, remember? Just tell me it’s not Cat.”
His eyes sparkled when he laughed. “No. Give me a little credit. Piper, meet C.C.”
“C.C.? Is that a famous hockey player or something?” I cut a piece of steak and smeared potato on it. The combination was so simple, yet so good.
The red from his jawbone spread to his cheeks. He cleared his throat. “No. It’s short for Calico Cat.”
I set down my fork and knife and clasped my hands together as I laughed. “I love it. It suits him perfectly.”
“I can’t tell whether you’re joking or not.” Gideon had finished his dinner. He took a sip of wine and relaxed into the chair. C.C. curled up in his lap into a tiny ball next to his massive… I jerked my gaze away from the cat and the bulge in Gideon’s pants.
“As serious as a heart attack.” I took the last bite of steak and potato. “It’s way better than Gretzky.”
“Whoa.” Gideon’s wineglass clanked as he set it on the clear table. “Easy on the Great One.” He put C.C. on the ground andstood to clear my plate. “Although, if I was going to name him after a player, I’d have to choose Landon Riley.”
I scrunched my brow. “I’ve never heard of him.”
“No?” Gideon tilted his head. “Riley is one of our defensemen. He’s the scrappiest player in the league. A bit of a bull in a china shop when it comes to executing plays though.”
“That name suits the cat too.” I helped Gideon clear the table and followed him into the kitchen. “Would it be weird to name your cat after one of your teammates though?”
Gideon shrugged. “Probably, but I don’t care.”
I was learning that Gideon was massively misunderstood. I interpreted his ambivalence as confidence, anI don’t give a shit what anyone thinks about me, and I liked it. The men I’d met lately seemed to care about their “image” and not much else. Maybe Gideon didn’t have to worry because he was damn near perfect, but there was a quiet confidence to him that guys my age didn’t seem to have yet.
Gideon put the plates in the dishwasher, but before I could rinse the wineglasses, he stopped me. “Would you like another glass?” He rested his hand on mine. Without waiting for a response, he filled the two glasses.
“Gideon.” My heart raced. “I should go.”
He stopped pouring and set the bottle on the counter. “Piper. I’m going to come out and ask it. Are you married?”
He was lucky I hadn’t taken a sip of wine because he would’ve been wearing it. “No.” I gulped. “Although I can see why you’d ask.”
“The way you ran out of here the other day, I didn’t think I’d see you again.”
I sighed. “I’m sorry about that, Gideon. I just got…” I searched for the right word. “I’m not really looking for a relationship right now.” That was easier than saying I was scared. It was easier than telling him I had a five-year-old daughter and cleaned toilets for a living. I was doing him a favor. Shutting the whole thing down before he could.
“Me neither. I have to focus on hockey.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I really like spending time with you though.”
“Same.” I smiled. “Our wildlife rescue program has added a little excitement to my life.”
You. You’ve added excitement to my life.
“Yeah,” he chuckled and uncrossed his arms. “Now, I’m stuck living with that excitement.” He did air quotes around the word “excitement.”
“Tell me you don’t like that cat. I dare you.” I nudged him with my elbow.
Gideon held up his hands. “You got me. I’m still not crazy about theshitting in a box in the housething, but I do like the company.” He swiveled, placing his hands on the counter on either side of me.
We had already established that neither of us was looking for a relationship. The problem? I wanted Gideon Bailey more than any man I’d met in my life. I’d never had a one-night stand, and the whole friends-with-benefits thing really didn’t sit well with me.
I couldn’t sleep with him. Had I said that already?
His biceps bulged as he pressed his weight into his hands, his body angling toward mine. The air-conditioning was no match for the heat between us. An unseen force drew my body away from the counter and my hands to his neck.
Maybe a kiss was all I needed. Maybe feeling his lips on mine would be enough to douse the inferno that burned inside of me. It had been over five years since I’d been with a man.
With the warmth of his strong neck beneath my fingers, my rules and morals started to become a bit more fluid. Maybe I could sleep with Gideon and not need more.
