Page 52 of Hard Hitter
He smiled into her hair. “That’s not a good enough reason?”
“Fuck no.”
He laughed, and she bounced on his chest with the motion. “Because you’re funny and smart. You’re the coolest chick I know, and I like you a lot.”
Whether she was ready to admit it or not, those words warmed her everywhere at once. “That’s really nice of you to say, but I can’t bewithanybody right now. I haven’t been single since I was twenty-one years old, and my only ex ison a crime spree. The universe might be trying to send me a message.”
“I’m not that guy, Ari,” he said, his voice low and serious all of a sudden.
“I know that,” she whispered. But the truth was shedidn’tknow Patrick O’Doul very well. And there wasn’t any room in her life for romance. A girl had to bail all the water flooding into the boat before she could set a new course.
“Then you should also know that it’s not like me to tell someone how much I like her. In fact, I want you to guess how many times I’ve done that.”
“Wait, you keep track?”
“Guess so.”
“I can’t guess.”
“Fine. One.”
That shut her up. “One other time?”
“Nope. One including right now.”
“Oh.” Could he even be serious? “I’m honored.”
He stroked her back. “You should be.”
“We still can’t date, though.”
“Okay.”
She lifted her head. “Okay?” She’d expected him to argue.
He palmed her head and brought it back down onto his chest. “I’ll take what I can get, sweetheart. Now get some sleep. I’ve got a game tomorrow.”
And even though she’d rather not give him the wrong idea by obeying his every whim, it was late, damn it. His body was warm and comfortable. So she slept on it.
FIFTEEN
SATURDAY, MARCH 19TH
Standings: 3rd place in the Metropolitan Division
13 Regular Season Games to Go
O’Doul woke up curled around Ari’s body, amused with himself. Who knew that sharing a bed with a woman was so easy? Like rolling off a log.
He spent a couple of minutes just admiring her in the morning light which filtered through the hotel drapes. But he had an early morning skate to get to. So he eased away, tucking the covers behind her back, so she wouldn’t be cold. He tiptoed into his own room to start the day.
Forty minutes later, at the rink, he stretched his hip flexors carefully. His body had an easy looseness which was either attributable to a good night’s sleep or intense sexual gratification. Or both. When it was time to hit the ice, he skated as hard as he dared.
“You look good this morning,” Coach said after the final whistle blew.
“Feel good,” he agreed.
“You okay to fight tonight?”
