Slap Shot(43)

“That’s what you are, isn’t it? We’re spending time together, having great sex, sharing secrets. Doesn’t that put us in a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship?”

A hot bubble of pleasure popped inside me. Girlfriend. Rick wanted me as his girlfriend. That meant he was my boyfriend. We were together. An item.

“And,” he added, “just so you know, I only do exclusive these days.”

Oh my god. It had gone so much further than a quickie in an office or a grope in the spa. Relationship. Exclusive. But instead of feeling scared or as though I was relinquishing some of my hard-earned independence, it felt right, it felt natural. Being with Rick was right for me. Good for me.

“Girlfriend,” I said, trying the word out on my tongue.

“Is that okay?”

He looked so worried that I couldn’t help but kiss him. “It’s better than okay,” I said onto his lips. “It’s perfect, and just so we both know where we stand, I only do exclusive too.”



Rick set about preparing wraps and setting out bowls of chips and plates of cookies. I made coffee but every time I tried to help with the food he urged me to relax, telling me I was helping just by being there and looking pretty.

Before long the intercom system buzzed and he went to let in his family.

I nibbled on my bottom lip. Sipped my coffee. Straightened my T-shirt. My heart was thudding. I’d never been formally introduced as anyone’s girlfriend before. “Piece of ass” once, and another time “current fuck”, but never girlfriend.

Chatter filled the hallway, the chatter of children and people familiar enough with one another to all talk at once.

Rick loped back into the kitchen. He had a smiling boy with black tousled hair on his shoulders and another standing on his left foot. The child on his foot had his arms wrapped around Rick’s thigh and was clinging so that when Rick took a step he went with him. Each step produced a squeal and a giggle.

“Uncle Rick, Uncle Rick,” shouted another boy with russet hair, running into the kitchen. He held up a giant piece of paper painted with bright blobs of color. “I made you a card, look.”

Rick grinned and stooped down, holding the child on his back secure. “That’s really good, Elliot. What is it?”

The child was unconcerned by the fact his scribbles were unrecognizable. “It’s you, playing hockey. Look these are all the people watching, this is the net and these are sticks.”

“It’s really great, I love it. I’ll put it up on the fridge in a minute.” Rick scooped the child off his shoulders and set him on the tiled floor. “Just as soon as you all say hi to my girlfriend, Dana.”

The kids all suddenly stopped scampering and turned to study me. Eyes wide, mouths slack.

I smiled self-consciously and waved. “Hi,” I managed.

“Elliot, Teddy and Jack,” Rick said, placing a hand on each little head as he said their names.

“Hello, Dana,” said a deep voice from the doorway. “Apologies for my grandchildren, they’re not used to seeing a woman in this house.”

A tall, silver-haired man wearing jeans and a short-sleeved checked shirt strolled into the kitchen.

I slid from the stool I’d been perched on gingerly and took his offered hand. He bent and placed a light kiss on my knuckles.

“Lovely to meet you,” he said, smiling the same smile Rick gave when he was being his most charming.

“And you too. Mr. Lewis, I presume.”

The older gentleman bobbed his head in confirmation.

“Rick, for goodness’ sake, what are you playing at?” A high-pitched female voice rang through the air.

“Yeah, Rick, for goodness’ sake. Trust you to be so secretive.”

Two tall brunettes tapped into the room on high heels, their eyes glued on me.

“Typical, he didn’t think to mention he had female company,” the woman with a fluffy pink sweater said.

“Well, he wouldn’t would he?” The other, wearing a flowery orange top, poked Rick in the ribs, causing him to feign injury. “I’m Nancy,” she said to me, leaning into the fridge and pulling out a bottle of white wine. “And this is my twin, Lucy. We’re two of this lumbering great brute’s older sisters.” She jabbed a thumb in Rick’s direction.

Lucy proceeded to reach four wineglasses from the cupboard and set them before Nancy who duly filled them all to the brim.

“So are you going to tell us her name?” Nancy directed at Rick.

He held out his palms and raised his brows. “If I could get a word in edgewise.”

The twins tightened their mouths and frowned at him.

Rick smiled as though enjoying a small triumph. “Nancy, Lucy, this is Dana Wilcox. We’ve been seeing quite a bit of each other over the last few weeks.”