With several empty chairs in the room, I thought it was about the sweetest thing I’d ever seen.
“So Dell, you’re a hockey trainer?” Ryke said. “What made you decide to do that?”
“My dad’s a hockey coach.”
“Anyone I might know?”
Probably. “Butch Price.”
“Holy shit, that’s your dad? He’s got the best record in the league.”
“I’m my parents’ only kid, so I’m sure many a swear word was screamed in the delivery room when a girl came out.”
Ryke laughed and rubbed a hand over Kate’s thigh. “Nah. My daughter plays. Did you ever play?”
“Never wanted to after seeing my dad light into grown men over hockey every day.”
“I can understand that.” He glanced at his watch. “Luke, I hate to say it, man, but we have to head back to the rink soon.”
Luke sighed his disapproval. “Yeah.”
“Dell, I hope you and Kyler will stay for the afternoon and ride to the game with us later,” Kate said.
“Sure, we’d love that.”
“Can we all have dinner after?” Luke asked me. “Will it be too late for Kyler?”
“No, it’s not a school night so that’ll be fine.”
“Good.” He surprised me by leaning in for a kiss. If I’d had time to think about it, I might have been embarrassed since his friends were right there, but instead I was wrapped up in his sweetness. This was the opposite of the man who’d screwed me up against a washing machine. He was trying hard to show me he was sorry.
“Good luck,” I said when he pulled away. He kissed me again, this time a little deeper. It stirred a reminder of our last encounter between my thighs.
“Mom!”
I jumped away from Luke at the sound of Kyler’s approaching voice.
“Mom, they have a pool!” he cried, rushing into the room. “In their house! Can we go swimming?”
“Um …”
Kate jumped in. “Sure! Do you like swimming, Kyler?”
She herded him out of the room and I turned back to Luke. “Sorry,” I whispered.
“Don’t be. I shouldn’t have been all over you like that. It’s just hard to control myself around you.”
He kissed me on the forehead and rose from the couch. I told myself this was like getting an appetizer and no meal. I’d gotten a taste of my desire for him, and his for me. But other than a little kissing, this visit would be a reminder of our hands-off introduction to each other.
***
Luke
We hadn’t even made it out of the driveway when I jumped Ryke for his opinion of the woman whose spell I’d happily fallen under.
“So what do you think of Dell?”
“I think she’s great.” He waved at the kids, who were standing at the front window watching as we pulled out to head to the game. I rolled down my window and waved at them too.
“She is,” I agreed.
“And I think you’re in love with her.”
I considered. “She’s definitely a woman I could fall for.”
“Already fallen,” he said conclusively. “I’ve never, ever seen you like this over a woman. I thought you were gonna call her ‘poopsie’ or some shit and rub noses with her.”
I rolled my eyes and punched his arm. “Motherfucker, this from the guy who can’t even sit in separate chairs with his wife?”
“I like having her on my lap.”
“Well, I like having Dell here. And I was an ass last time I saw her. I don’t want her to feel like a piece, you know?”
“That’s good. Just don’t go all soft on her in the bedroom.”
“There isn’t gonna be any bedroom in this visit.”
Ryke wrinkled his face with disapproval. “That fucking sucks, man. Especially if you’re not getting it from anyone else.”
“I’m not. But she’s got Kyler here and they’re staying at a hotel.”
“They’re not staying with you?”
“She didn’t want to.”
“Is that cool with you?” Ryke asked.
“Yeah, it is. I was disappointed, but she’s right, you know? Kyler needs to get to know me better before they stay over at my place. I love the way she puts him first.”
“Funny how shit changes as you get older,” he said. “When I saw Kate loving on Vic and Dawn’s baby that time, it got me. Having a woman you know will be a good mom to your kids is huge.”
“Slow the fuck down,” I said, and Ryke moved his hand to glance at the speedometer. “No, with the talk about us having kids. Christ, we haven’t even known each other that long.”