Chapter 18
Marlie groaned, wondering how she’d lost not one but all three rounds of Rummikub to the smirking giant who’d sat way too comfortably at her dining table just a few hours ago.
She’d picked up terrible tiles the first few plays. But the later ones had been stellar. She had to admit he’d been damn good, making patterns with runs and threes and fours of a kind.
That intelligence, in addition to the way he’d rubbed her nose in her losses, made her like him even more. She was crushing on the bruiser a ton. And now she owed him three favors.
She shivered, wishing she hadn’t felt so full of cake that she couldn’t have ridden the Damon train at least once.
Spending the rest of the day doing chores, hitting the grocery store, and heading to her parents’ place to catch up on their earlier meeting with her aunt, she spent a fun afternoon into evening being part of family. Belonging.
She didn’t know how Damon had left home without missing it. She loved her parents, though her mother was often overbearing. Marlie understood that Mona loved them all, so she could often overlook her mom’s high-handedness.
Plus, it amused her to see her mother manage the men in her life with ease.
If only I could do that. She imagined herself asking Damon to pick the kids up from school, to grab a pound of butter from the store, or to fix the leaky faucet in the bathroom.
Would he be as laidback and amenable as Irving Reynolds was?
Would he argue, try to prove his manliness whenever she stood up for herself, as many of Marlie’s exes had?
Or… Stop it, Marlie. It’s just sex. Where the hell did the thought of kids come from?
“You okay, honey?”
She blushed. “Sorry, Mom. Just remembering I forgot to get butter at the grocery store.”
“Oh, I thought it might have been thoughts of the new man you’re seeing. The one who thought it appropriate to verbally assault Henry Weathers.”
Marlie froze. “What?”
Mona smirked. “Don’t even try pulling a fast one over on me, missy. I know all about the giant hunk making eyes at my baby girl.”
“Who told?”
“Ah-ha! I knew it.”
Should have denied everything. “He’s in town visiting his parents. We met for lunch. He’s helping the guys out with the hockey game.”
“Oh? And his name might be…? Fill in the blank, honey.”
“Damon Sinclair,” she bit out. “But you knew that.”
“Of course I did. I know everything.”
Marlie snorted.
Her mother’s eyes narrowed. “What does that mean?”
“Nothing.”
“And what’s this about your brother ‘cock-blocking’ your new man? Are you that close already, considering you just met him?”
“I knew Steve would narc.” Just wait until she got ahold of her mouthy twin.
Her mother’s smug expression warned her to be wary. “I’ll be going to the game tomorrow with your father. We’ll check him out for you.”
“I’ll save you the time. Damon is a younger son. His sister’s in the Marine Corps. His dad and mom live in town. Damon lives in Portland.” I think. “He’s a professional hockey player and a nice guy.” Mostly. “He just looks mean.”
“Jeff said he rescued kittens.”
“You’ve got your hooks into my best friend too?”
“Honey, I’ve had my hooks in that boy since he was seven.”
Marlie grudgingly admitted, “He thinks you’re great.”
“I am great.”
“That ego. Must be where I get my confidence.”
“Exactly.” Her mom grinned. “Now tell me more about Damon.”
“What’s to tell? He’s the goalie for the Portland Ice Raptors.”
“Age?”
“Um, I’m not sure.”
“Single?”
“Yes. He’s here healing a busted knee. He’s not staying. He’s going back to Portland after Christmas.”
“But his family is here.”
“That’s what I said.”
“Hmm.”
“Mom, just don’t.”
Her mother had the nerve to look wounded.
“Please. Leave it alone. Damon and I are friends. Just friends. I like him, and he makes me laugh.”
“Okay.”
Marlie watched her mother carefully. “You’ll leave him alone. No traffic stops. No running his background for no reason—which is illegal.”
Her mother waved her concerns away.
“And no interrogating him. I mean it.”
Mona shrugged. “I’m not sure where this paranoia is coming from. Have you been getting enough sleep, Marlie?”
“Argh! I’m done. I’m leaving.”
“Want some pie?”
“No. I’m full of cake.”
“Oh?”
Marlie left before her mother somehow dragged details of her date out of her. An all-around master sleuth, Mona Reynolds always knew who to ask to find out whatever one wanted to hide.
Knowing she had a score to settle with Steve and maybe Jeff, Marlie went home and puttered around, muttering to herself. She also went over her notes for class on Monday, as well as her game plan to get the girls back in game mode for their upcoming game against their rivals.
By nine, she decided to watch a movie and turn in early. She’d be bright-eyed and awake for the hockey game, dealing with her nosy parents in addition to her nosy brothers.
A knock at the door took her by surprise.
She cautiously peered out, spotted Damon’s truck, and opened the door in surprise. “What are you doing here?”
He stared at her pink kitten lounge pants and red sweatshirt that showed off a smiling Freddy Krueger wishing everyone a Happy Kills-mas. “Yep. That fits.”
“Damon?”
He walked forward, forcing her back, and closed the door behind him.
Dressed in the same clothes he had on earlier, he still looked like a brute and a sex magnet all in one.
“I’m here to make good on one of your lost bets.”
She blinked. “Already?”
“Yep. Lose the clothes.”
“Ah, well, right now?” Her pulse skyrocketed.
“Is there some problem?” He paused. “You on your period?”
“What? No.” She hated that she was blushing. “How is that your business?”
“Just thought I’d ask before I went down on you. But if you’d rather I left, I can—”
“No, no. I lost fair and square.” She shucked out of her clothes in record time, aware she stood in her living room, naked, while he loomed over her still dressed.
“Bedroom. Now,” he growled.
She fled.
He followed.
And when he found her, he made good on date number three.