Page 39 of Mister Hockey
“I don’t want you to think that I’m not smart,” he muttered, still not making direct eye contact. “In school I was always in remedial English. My dad would give me shit.”
Rage on his behalf bubbled in her belly. “I’d never think that in a million years. Honestly, I bet a reader does live inside of you. It’s a matter of finding just the right book.”
“You make it sound like a challenge,” he said ruefully, even as the wrinkles in his brow smoothed.
She regarded him steadily. “I see a guy who needs the right story and then there will be no looking back.”
“That a fact?” He peppered kisses down her neck, over her breast, to her belly and kept right on going.
“Call it professional intuition, but I’ll find you a book.”
“Right after I eat you like a sundae with a cherry on top.”
He made good on the promise and as she came beneath his clever mouth, another voice in her head appeared. One that marched over to the negative mumbler and punched it hard, right in the nose, then grabbed it by the back of the head and forced it to bear witness to the activity below, Jed West going to town on her pussy like a champ.
What was she even thinking about? This was like a perverted remake ofInside Out.
She crashed her head back in the pillow and covered her face with her hands to muffle a giggle.
“This funny, is it?” He stuck a finger inside her and pushed right in the spot that sent her back arching.
“I’m happy,” she gasped. Because for once, it was as if everything was possible, like maybe all her dreams really could come true.
Chapter Thirteen
Jed pretended to watch the TiVo’d Denver Nuggets game from last night, but spent more time glancing over at Breezy who sat, feet propped in his lap, wearing nothing but one of his old college jerseys, frowning into space.
“Okay, so what was your favorite childhood story?” she asked at last. “Not countingThe Giving Tree.” Her joking tone belied the serious expression on her face, guess she meant what she said, about finding the magical book that would get him excited about reading.
“Okay, okay. Hang on.” He thought it over. “There was this one, it was weird and I don’t remember the name, about a little boy who dreams he is in a baker’s kitchen. There’s this whole bit about how he was in the milk, and the milk was in him.” He laughed, embarrassed. “I don’t know how to explain it, it sounds stupid when I try to—”
“In The Night Kitchen!” She clapped her hands. “An interesting choice. More surreal then I would have pegged for you. Fascinating.”
“Oh yeah?” He tweaked one of her red-painted toes. “I fascinate you?” The bold vixen color killing him in the best kind of ways. He loved her big hair, her soft body, her polished nails. She was womanly, sexy, and yet... if she was going to probe him, take him out of his comfort zone—it could go both ways.
“You definitely do.” She nodded solemnly.
“Okay, okay, so you want to inspire the jock to read, I get it. But what about you?” He rubbed her feet, pressing hard on her arches.
“Mmm. That’s good.” Her eyes rolled a little, her lips parting as his massage deepened. “What about me?”
“You’re pushing me out of my comfort zones. How about you? What sports do you play?”
“Oh. Uh. Hmm.” Her lids flew open and she regarded him wide-eyed. “Does stocking shelves count?”
A chuckle rumbled through him. “Not letting you get off so easily.”
“I used to ice skate,” she said with a shrug.
“You skated?” That surprised him. In a good way.
Until her snub nose wrinkled.
“Honestly? I hated it. I mean, I love watching people skate, but my own legs and feet? They just don’t work that way. Neve was pretty good at it, way better than me. My mom coached us. I think she was hoping for more, but I let her down the most.” She shrugged with a grin. “What can I say? I’m a total klutz.”
Her lighthearted tone didn’t mask the flash of pain in her eyes.
“Breezy Angel.” He stared at her a long minute and then checked his watch. “I never thought I’d say this to you in a million years, but go put some pants on.”
