Page 43 of Offside for Christmas

---

"We did."

"Now we're..."

"Yeah."

"This is a problem."

"Is it?" Cole's arm tightened fractionally around her waist. "Because it doesn't feel like a problem."

Ellie's eyes searched his face. "Cole—"

A loud knock on the door made them both jump.

"Wake up, lovebirds!" Mac's cheerful voice was muffled by the door but unmistakable. "Breakfast in twenty minutes! And we're digging out the cars, so dress warm!"

Footsteps retreated down the hallway.

Ellie and Cole stayed frozen for another beat, then Ellie groaned and buried her face back in his chest.

"He's never going to let us live this down," she mumbled into his shirt.

"Nope," Cole agreed, but he was smiling.

"We should get up."

"Probably."

Neither of them moved.

Outside, the wind howled. Inside, Christmas music began playing again. And in this bed, in this moment, Cole let himself have this—Ellie in his arms, morning light, the feeling that maybe, just maybe, staying somewhere didn't have to be so scary.

"Cole?" Ellie said against his chest.

"Yeah?"

"What are we doing?"

"I have no idea," he admitted. "But I don't want to stop."

She tilted her head up to look at him, and the vulnerability in her eyes nearly undid him.

"Me neither," she whispered.

Then she kissed him—soft and sweet and terrifying in its promise—and Cole thought that if this was what breaking his own rules felt like, he'd shatter every single one.

8

ELLIE

Ellie escaped to the bathroom, grabbing some clothes on the way, before she could do something stupid. Like tell him she was falling for him. Like ask him to stay in Evergreen Cove forever. Like forget every lesson Marcus had taught her about hockey players and their promises.

She locked the door and leaned against it, heart racing.

What are we doing?

I have no idea. But I don't want to stop.

Me neither.

---