Page 28 of Mister Hockey
“That’s the last word I’d use to describe her, ma’am.”
“Go on.” Granny slid her drink over. “Have a sip, sonny. Before you burst a blood vessel.”
He picked it up and took a long swallow. That’s it. This vision problem had been hanging around for too long. He’d have to ball up and make an appointment to see a neurologist.
“I call it the Greenie Meanie. Made it up myself. Like it?”
“Yeah.” He wheezed. It was stronger than jet fuel. Christ, this woman must have rum instead of blood in her veins. No wonder she was so well-preserved.
“You’re a good man, Jed West. And one hell of a hockey player. But I’m glad to hear you have an inkling about my Breezy, because let me tell you, she isextraordinaryand it’s high time someone has the brains to notice.”
Chapter Nine
It was official. Her family had eaten Jed West. Not literally, after all, there he was standing by the BBQ looking all lovely and muscly, nothing like a gnawed pile of bones. But they’d devoured every second of his time at the party. She’d lost all control of him the second she’d entered the house and realized it would look bad if he stumbled on a photograph of her in face paint screaming at hockey games. So she’d let Granny Dee ferry him away for what was likely a grilling session under the subtext of playing a board game.
In the end, the damage wasn’t too bad. Her sleuthing unearthed only two photos on the fridge and she hid those under the fruit bowl, then upended a Hellions Angel group shot from last winter facedown on the mantel.
Each act of subterfuge hit her with a pang. This wasn’t being honest. But she didn’t have the right words to tell him the truth without looking like a crazy fan. She was a little ashamed of herself, and a lot afraid of his reaction.
Because what would he say if she confessed her obsession with his image, the sexy, bearded captain of the Hellions.
The version of Jed West that was growing more and more unrecognizable as she got to know Jed West the man.
If she wanted him to stick around, she couldn’t give him any more reasons to run, especially when Uncle Spencer would not stop with the Shakespeare jokes and Granny was on her third Green Meanie. She’d just conveniently leave out a few facts, and if he wanted to draw his own conclusion that she didn’t like sports, no harm, no foul.
Later she’d tell him. Yes. Yes she would.
Ifthey had a later.
She snuck a second slice of flag cake and shoved a whipped cream-covered strawberry into her mouth, biting down. Chewing, she stared straight ahead, refusing to look over at her mom whose disapproving gaze was burning a hole in the side of her face. Out of spite, she forked off an even bigger bite, this time all cake, and forked it in her mouth.
Jed West was here with her. And she was eating cake.
Take that.
Her swallow felt like a raised middle finger to the status quo.
But even while this small victory felt awesome, she really had no idea what was going on. Halfway through the car ride over here, she’d almost leaned over and grabbed Jed’s shoulder, given it a shake and yelled, “Hello? Can you please tell me what is going on? What are you doing here?”
She checked her mouth for crumbs. The truth was that if she wanted to get to know him better, it wasn’t going to happen lurking over the dessert table. No, she had to stride over and... and...
A cornhole game was set up on the lawn.
Yesssssss.Perfect.
She sauntered over to a board, picked up a bean bag and tossed it up and down in her hand. “Hey, Jed,” she called, casually. Like oh, yeah,Hey, Jed.JedyJed.Jedmeister. What’s up, Jed West. Aka the dude-she-made-out-with-and-who-drove-her-here-and-is-now-stranded-with-her-crazy-family.
She lobbed a bean bag at his feet, but her aim went wild and knocked off the sunglasses propped on the top of his head.
The entire party fell silent. Proof positive if any was needed that everyone had been silently monitoring the situation.
“Oh my God, I’m so so—”
“That’s some arm you’ve got, Vixen.” Jed bent down and picked up his shades with an easy grin.
“Vixen?” she heard Aunt Shell murmur to a table. “Who the heck isVixen?”
“Want to play a game?” she asked quickly.
