Chapter Nine
Alex stopped at the red light, the windshield wipers of her little Tercel barely keeping up with the downpour. She hadn’t expected Nick to agree to come tonight. Especially not after she’d been so cryptic with him earlier.
But, as promised, after his session, where he’d been nothing but professional—and had worked his butt off without complaint—she’d sent him a text with a time and the instructions that he bring his skates.
He’d sent her back a gif of Han Solo giving a salute along with a smiley face.
She’d then spent the rest of the afternoon questioning everything.
Was she doing the right thing, getting involved with him? There was no denying part of her was excited. That part of her was doing a flipping happy dance at the prospect of living out her teenage fantasies.
But that was ridiculous. They weren’t kids anymore. They’d both grown and changed in the last sixteen years. They were different people. With plenty of baggage, and the wounds and scars that came along with all of it.
That didn’t mean she wasn’t fascinated by the man he’d become.
The idea of getting to know this Nick was just as thrilling. If not more so. Because this time, their relationship was going to be physical. As in deep, hungry kisses, and bold, sweeping touches, and naked, sweaty bodies rubbing against one another.
Which were not things she needed be thinking about right now. She kept her gaze focused on the road, her grip tight on the wheel. Heavy raindrops bounced off the windshield. She loved the Pacific Northwest. It was beautiful and lush, with plenty of opportunities to get out and commune with nature.
She could, however, do with a little less rain.
Shockingly, the drop off area in front of the hotel was free. She pulled up, expecting him not to be there, especially given she was about twenty minutes early.
But there he was, standing to the side of the door, his back against the front window.
She put the car in park and made to get out, but he shook his head, already on his way over. He pulled on the passenger side handle. The door didn’t open.
Crap, crap, crap. The power door locks were tricky on the best of days, and it seemed today was not one of them. She flicked the switch and the thunk-thunk of the locks sounded. He tried again. The door still didn’t open.
Shame and embarrassment burned through her. Why now? Out of all the times she needed the stupid things to work properly, today was the day they chose to crap out.
She flicked the switch again, tossing a silent prayer out to the universe. The locks made another thunk-thunk.
Apparently, someone out there was listening, because the door opened when he tried it a third time.
He slid into the seat. “Hey.” He lifted his bag over the space between the front seats, shoving it into the back. His hand brushed her arm and she jerked. Even such an innocent touch lit her nerve endings on fire.
She was in so much trouble.
He settled back in the seat and buckled himself in.
Oh, if only the ground would open up and swallow her whole, she might be able to survive this. “Sorry about that.” She waved in the direction of his door.
He shrugged. “No worries.”
How could he be so blasé about the whole thing? She was absolutely mortified. He probably had a Lamborghini or a Ferrari or something back home, and here she was toting him around in her twenty-year-old Toyota, that was basically being held together by rust and a prayer. It was humiliating.
As if he was reading her thoughts, he reached over and placed his hand over hers.
His fingers were cold, but a sizzle of warmth spiraled up her arm.
He pulled away. Part of her wanted to grab his hand and hold on, but she didn’t give in.
Instead, she flipped the heater up to high and grabbed the steering wheel.
“So, where are you taking me on this date that’s not a date?” His voice was light, a hint of teasing in his tone. A whole load of her tension evaporated. He was smiling. She felt the corners of her lips tilting up.
“You mean, you haven’t guessed yet?”
He glanced at his bag in the backseat. “Well, I think I have a general idea. The instructions were a bit of a giveaway.” He raised an eyebrow.
Once again, she marveled at his ability to control his facial muscles like that.
He was so damn cute. “Unless the whole thing was a fake out and you’re kidnapping me.
Taking me to a seedy motel to have your way with me. ”
She barked out at laugh. He didn’t sound all that worried about that prospect. In fact, he actually sounded eager. She couldn’t blame him. The idea definitely had its appeal.
If only…
She popped the car into drive and pulled back into traffic. “Sorry, it wasn’t a fake out.” She did a shoulder check and changed lanes. “Although your idea does sound appealing, getting arrested for kidnapping really isn’t on my bucket list.”
“I promise. I wouldn’t press charges.”
She laughed again. “That’s what they all say.”
“Have a lot of experience with kidnapping and then having your way with folks, do you?”
She made a humming noise in the back of her throat, neither confirming nor denying. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him shift in his seat. Good, she liked keeping him guessing.
Silence wrapped around them, but it wasn’t tense or uncomfortable.
It was nice, if a little weird. Maybe it was just her.
He brought out the weirdest reactions in her.
She didn’t understand how she could be both nervous and relaxed at the same time.
It didn’t make any sense. But then, nothing about her and him made a whole lot of sense.
They were from different worlds, and always had been. All the intervening years had done was make their differences that much more evident. Which was why nothing permanent or serious between them would work.
Now, she just had to remember her ground rules, and everything would be fine.
She flicked on her blinker and turned into the parking lot of their destination. The building loomed in the distance. He glanced at it and sat up a little straighter. A tiny bubble of happiness bubbled up inside her, confirmation she’d made the right decision inviting him.
Getting as close to the door as possible, she pulled into a parking spot and cut the engine. Now that the defrosters were off, the windows fogged up quickly. She popped the seatbelt and turned to face him. “Ready?”
He glanced out the window, first at the building and then at the sky. The rain was pounding off the pavement. “I guess.”
She laughed at his disgusted tone. “I told you to invest in an umbrella.” She leaned over and reached into the space at his feet. He sucked in a quick breath when she placed her hand on his knee for balance. She pulled out an umbrella, waving it around in victory.
His eyes widened and then narrowed as he reached for it. Or maybe her. And for the briefest of split seconds, she actually contemplated letting him catch her.
Then she came to her senses, reached back and pushed open the door with her free hand. She slid out of the car and popped open the umbrella with a whoosh.
The rain was loud as it bounced off of everything in the parking lot. He grabbed his bag, opened his door, and slipped out of the car with a curse.
She laughed and popped the lever for the trunk.
Flicking the door lock switch was automatic.
Although why she bothered, she didn’t know.
The insurance payout if the car got stolen probably wouldn’t be enough to get her a bus pass.
The only reason it mattered was for Em’s sake.
It was much easier to haul her and her hockey equipment around with a car.
When a vehicle wasn’t necessary, Alex actually preferred to ride her bike.
He sidled up to her, pressing himself fully against her back. “We can share the umbrella.” His warm breath against her ear sent a shiver through her. She just about swooned, right there in the parking lot.
Focus, Alex, focus. She glanced at him over her shoulder. He was right there, all up in her space. She sort of wanted to kiss him. And by sort of, she meant right now and very badly.
Another car’s headlights cut across them as someone else pulled into a parking spot nearby. She mentally shook herself back to reality. “All right, let’s go.”
She walked around to the trunk. He remained right against her, almost like he was glued to her back. It would have been cute if it hadn’t made her so hot and bothered. Before she could grab her bag and sticks, he was there, scooping them up.
She pushed the trunk closed. “Thanks.” She gave in to the urge to glance over her shoulder again. He was still there, close enough to touch, to kiss. His gaze dropped to her lips. He was obviously thinking the same thing.
Unable to resist, she tilted her face up in invitation. He lowered his face toward hers. Slowly, letting the anticipation build, possibly giving her time to change her mind.
Like that was an option.
She twisted her head back a little further, needing to feel his lips on hers again. Closer and closer he came.
And then finally, his lips touched hers.
It was the barest hint of a kiss, just a brush of their mouths, but it sent a shockwave through her. He wrapped his free arm around her waist, pulling her back flush against his front. Electricity crackled in her veins, and she half sighed and half moaned.
She felt him smile against her mouth, and part of her wanted to pull away in a huff, maybe give him a smack on the arm for being such an amused fool. But the sane part of her won out, and instead, she sunk back against him, parting her lips in another silent invitation.
He made a growling noise deep in his chest and slid his tongue into her mouth. His addictive taste burst across her tongue. She felt drunk. It was so good.