Page 33 of No Pucks Given
“Seeing my love before the game.”
I didn’t know what was more endearing. The fact that he was here, the way he was so damn casual with his words of endearment, or the fact that he could make me forget that I had to deal with Russell’s crap next.
His fingers continued to rub out the knots in my neck. I melted with his touch. He leaned forward and whispered, “What’s got you so stressed out? I thought things were pretty good when you left this morning.”
I hated how easily he picked up on things like this. But he was right when he said things were so much better lately. There had been no more cases of vandalism to my house.
“I finally talked to Stephanie. She wants to come home, and of course, Russell just texted. I haven’t worked up the strength to read the text since lord knows what he wants.”
His fingers worked their way down my neck as they tried to rub out my stress. It was such a subtle way to let me know he was there for me as I read the text message.
There have been no new attacks on your house or you. Steph doesn’t want to be here. Pick a date for her to fly back.
That was far easier than I expected, although his tone was curt. Then again, he’d really gotten used to the world bending over backward for him.
It was weird how he knew that nothing new had happened to me or the house. I hadn’t mentioned anything to Stephanie,and I wouldn’t, since I didn’t want to scare her, so it made me wonder how he knew.
Was he behind some of this shit? But that seemed a little insane, even for him.
Carter sucked on my earlobe, and as I reopened my eyes when he pulled back, he whispered, “So?”
“He wants to send Stephanie back. Would you mind if she comes back to our little bubble and stays at your place again?”
Before I could get an answer or even try to give him a pre-game quickie, there was a knock on the door, and a voice called out, “You’re needed on set in ten.”
Damn, it was time to return to the world and get back to work.
“She’s your daughter. Of course she’s welcome to stay.” He turned me so I could see clearly into his crystal blue eyes. “Kill it out there. Sorry that I can’t stay.”
He was always so damn practical. But it was a relief that Stephanie could move in with us again.
“What did I do to deserve you?”
It was more meant as a hypothetical question, but the way it made Carter break out his trademark grin, I didn’t regret saying it.
He answered, “I ask myself that every day.”
It was such a sappy line, but I loved it. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and as our kiss deepened, he grabbed my ass and hefted me into his arms.
There was another bang on the door, so our lips slowly broke apart. There was sadness in his eyes. Not being able to bear that, I put on a brave face. “Go kick some ass. I’ll be watching you and waiting for you to get home.”
“In my jersey, I hope.”
I laughed at that request since it wasn’t far off. He shook his head and did that growl guys did when they were sexually aroused but couldn’t act on it just yet.
Chapter 31
Carter
Stephanie sat in front of the TV doing nothing. She claimed she didn’t have homework, which I didn’t believe. When I was her age, I always had some sort of homework. But maybe things were different. Maybe the reason I always had homework was because I left school early on Fridays for hockey tournaments. Sometimes we would miss Thursday afternoons and Monday mornings too.
The remote lay on the sofa arm. I grabbed it and turned off the television, causing Stephanie to groan. Trying to keep things light even though I was pissing off the tween, I folded my elbows on the back of the sofa and used one of my trademark smiles. “All right, it’s time for a cheer workout.”
“No, it’s not.” Stephanie even rolled her eyes and reached for the remote that was in my hand.
She was a tween and wanted to relax, which I understood, but that was the directive I had. Instead of letting her get a rise out of me, I said, “Your mom said you had to do your homework and your stretching for cheer.”
Stephanie folded her arms in front of her chest and said, “I don’t want to do it, and you can’t make me. You’re not my dad.”
