2. Soleil #2
“That’s some elite-level cocky talk right there, mister,” I somehow managed to say.
“Just tellin’ it like it is, sweetheart,” he said with a smirk.
And oh, when he smirked. He has a dimple.
That dimple was trouble. The dimple needed to go sit in a corner for a time-out.
But I also really liked the dimple and wanted to bring that dimple home with me so I could make him soup and Netflix and Chill for a couple of hours.
You know, in an alternate universe where I don’t still live with my dad.
I really need to get a better-paying job so I can move out. Or maybe I should take up Jessie’s offer and live with her until I can afford my own place. But that’s neither here nor there. And no matter how annoying Dad can be, the thought of him living by himself still breaks my heart a little.
Anyway. Dean asked me if I make a living as an artist, and I told him I teach painting at the community center and sometimes get commissioned to paint murals around town.
He asked if I’d show him my murals sometime.
But the way he said it I swear what my vagina heard was “Can you show me your boobs sometime?” And I was like, yes. Yes, Dean Rafferty, I can do that.
I watched him look around at the lake and the mountains across from the park, all the evergreens.
He was in awe. I was kind of jealous of the landscape.
How weird is that? I just wanted him to look at me like that.
I want him to be dazzled and dumbfounded by my peaks and valleys and the body of liquid he’s responsible for in my panties.
I asked him if he likes living in Kenton so far.
“I mean, my first week here was a whirlwind and the last couple of days I was mostly inside, so I haven’t seen a lot of it.
Honestly? I’m used to big prairie sky. I’ve traveled around the continent a lot, but usually to big cities.
At first it felt kind of claustrophobic being surrounded by mountains like this, especially when I first drove in from Vancouver.
But now…” That’s when he turned his head and looked at my face, then let his gaze lazily glide down my torso and back up to my eyes again, and he said, “I think the view is stunning.”
Swoooooon!
Not many guys could have pulled that off, but he really stuck the landing.
When we walked by the outdoor skating rink he said, “I heard the guys talking about that rink. They said there’s a big Last Skate event at the end of March before they melt the ice. You going to that? Because I was thinking about going.”
It was kind of sweet that he brought that up since it’s, like, a month and a half in the future.
I loved that he was angling to make plans that far out.
But I told him I wasn’t planning to go because I don’t skate.
He was shocked to hear this. Slightly appalled, really, but not in a rude way.
He asked why, and of course I couldn’t tell him it’s because my dad is overprotective of me and has always forbidden me from skating.
That might have led to him asking about my dad, and then I would have had to tell him that my dad is the head coach of the Comets.
His boss. And that he would never, ever be okay with me showing Dean my boobs or Dean showing me how vigorously his hips can thrust from various angles.
So instead, I shrugged my shoulders and said, “I just never got around to learning how, and now all my friends are so much better at skating than I am. I didn’t want to slow them down.
So I usually just stay home and paint when they go skating.
” And then I told him, “But to be honest, lately I’ve been thinking it’s time I learned how. ”
He said, so sincerely, “Well, Soleil, this is your lucky day. Because it just so happens I’m an excellent coach who’s very patient and very good at teaching beautiful women how to skate.
And by beautiful women, I mean you. Only you.
” He said he could start teaching me first thing tomorrow morning.
And I said yes. Didn’t even think about it.
I just said yes. Because that’s how I felt when I was with him.
This undeniable, not at all scary, exquisite, full-body yes.
The only thing that ran through my mind was how am I going to get skates?
They don’t rent them out at the outdoor rink.
I figured I could stop by Jessie’s place to borrow hers.
She’d keep my secret. But then he offered to rent a pair of skates for me from the arena.
How sweet is that? Cocky and thoughtful.
I didn’t even know that was a thing. Maybe that’s how they grow ’em over in Calgary.
Or maybe it’s just Dean.
When he asked for my number I told him about Digital Detox Week and that my cell phone, laptop, and iPad were currently locked up in a safe to force me to deal with the world in an analog way.
I didn’t mention it was my dad’s rule. He rolled his eyes, and I get that it sounded like I just didn’t want to give him my number, but it’s true.
I promised I’d meet him at the outdoor rink when it opens tomorrow morning.
I didn’t want to give him the number for the landline because—Dad.
When we got back to the parking lot I gave him a hug.
It was supposed to be one of those casual, friendly, Hey, it was nice meeting you—thanks for the walk kind of hugs.
But as soon as my arms wrapped around his waist, his arms drew me in so close I caught my breath.
The side of my face was pressed against his leather jacket, and I felt his hand touch the back of my head.
He might have been smelling my hair? I don’t know.
It was sweet and tender but also sexy. Like he was telling me with his body that he really hoped I wasn’t lying about Digital Detox Week and that he really wanted to see me tomorrow because he couldn’t believe how much he liked me.
Same, Dean, my body was saying back. Same.
I’ll tell Dad and Noah I’m going to Locally Forked for breakfast and meet him at the rink instead.
I don’t even feel guilty about it.
It’s the right thing to do; I just know it in my bones. And okay, yes, maybe I know it in other parts of me and they’ve convinced my bones and my brain that Dean Rafferty is worth breaking the rules for. But I think for once those parts of me are being smart.
And I’m going to sleep now because I can’t wait to wake up in the morning so I can see him again.