Page 74 of Rookie Move
He had to laugh.Nice work, and I’m fine. I’d feel better if I’d scored, though.
We love you no matter what. Even if you lose to the Rangers next week. But try not to.
I’ll see what I can do.
The game is on my birthday. Can you have a late lunch with us beforehand?
Sounds great, Leo replied, feeling guilty that he’d forgotten that his mom’s birthday was coming up.
There was a knock on the door, and Silas picked his head up. “You order room service?”
“No, but I like that idea.”
Silas slid off the bed and went to open the door. Leo heard him greet somebody, and when he reappeared, there was amusement on his face. “Leo, a visitor.”
Georgia appeared behind him, looking tentative. “Hi.”
“Hi.”
“I just...” She cleared her throat. “Are you okay?”
Aw. “’Course I am, baby. Come see me.”
Silas pulled off his suit coat and loosened his tie. “You know, I think I’ll have a drink downstairs after all. See you in a little while.” He tossed his jacket on a chair and made a quick exit.
“I hope he doesn’t tell the whole bar he’s giving us a few minutes alone. You and Coach don’t seem to be getting along as it is,” Georgia said, still hovering near the door.
“Who cares? Come here and kiss me.”
She approached him slowly, eyeing the ice packs under his shirt. “Are you really okay? Would you tell me if you weren’t?”
“Probably.” Leo chuckled. “Your dad got really weird about the whole thing. He wouldn’t let me skate. He kept sending the trainer over to prod me.”
“Maybe he was worried about you?”
“No way. I think he’d run me over with the Zamboni himself if given the chance. Tonight I felt like he wanted to make me look weak, or something.”
Georgia shook her head. “He doesn’t embarrass anyone. It’s not his style.”
Leo used to believe that was true. But he didn’t want to trash Coach to Georgia any longer, either. It wasn’t fair to make her choose sides. Instead he lifted his shirt. “See, it’s not that bad. Give me a day, I’ll be fine.”
She made a low, concerned noise in her throat. And when she placed gentle fingertips on his bruised skin,something in Leo’s chest tightened. It had been a long time since anyone he’d dated had worried about him. The Amys of his past had found the game-day bruises sexy. Like warrior’s marks. But Georgia’s touch was all worry, no glee.
“That wasn’t a fair hit,” she whispered.
“Coulda been worse,” Leo pointed out, tugging her closer. She grabbed the headboard to avoid falling on his injured chest. But Leo would risk a little pain for a kiss.I love you, he thought, pulling her in. Their lips met softly, and the tenderness made for a wholly different sort of ache in his chest. He kissed her again, knowing that his meddling brother had been right. Nobody had ever mattered to him the way Georgia did. Kissing her felt like coming home.
He grabbed the backs of her knees and swung her onto his lap. “Missed you today,” he whispered between kisses.
“Mmm,” she said, her sweet lips brushing his. Then she tipped her forehead against his and peered at him seriously. “I hate that asshole who hit you.”
“You’re very loyal,” he whispered. “Even though you avoided me at the rink earlier.”
Her expression turned guilty. “You were busy.”
“Uh-huh.” Leo kissed her on the nose. “You had on a different sexy publicist outfit today. And I couldn’t get close enough to you to admire it.”
Georgia rolled her eyes. “You can’t admire me with your hands, mister. That’s not allowed.”
