“Then why don’t you tell me what’s going on? I’m actually a pretty good listener if you need one.”
Tyler watched her for several long seconds, the intensity of his gaze drowning out everything around them: the noise of the crowd, the sounds of the different televisions, each competing for attention. The crash of silverware and glass as it hit the floor somewhere in the back. Everything seemed to fade into the background, nothing more than a low hum of nuisance as Tyler watched her. Focused. Mesmerizing.
She held her breath, waiting for…something. Something more than just his answer. The air between them heated, grew thick with anticipation. Jenny realized she was leaning forward, her gaze locked with his, drawn closer and closer with each passing second. Waiting…
“You guys ready to order?”
The grating voice doused whatever had been smoldering under the surface between them. Jenny sat back, startled. And disappointed. And maybe even a little grateful. Another minute, and she may have embarrassed herself by climbing over the table and crawling into Tyler’s lap.
They both ordered: drinks to start off, a crab pretzel to share, and wings for both of them. Jenny settled for a dozen, Tyler for eighteen. Messy food, not something she’d normally order on a date.
But this wasn’t a date. It was just dinner. She had to keep reminding herself of that.
Right?
Conversation was minimal until the waitress returned with their drinks. Jenny raised the margarita glass to her mouth, her tongue darting out to lick off some of the salt before taking a small sip. Her eyes caught Tyler’s over the rim of the glass, saw the way he was watching her. Saw the way his eyes flared when her tongue darted out once more and flicked another taste of salt from the rim.
Okay, so maybe she wasn’t imagining the attraction. Was that a good thing—or not?
Tyler yanked his gaze from hers and stared at the dark bottle in his hands. He rolled the bottle between his palms then took a long breath and let it out in a rush.
“The Banners’ goalie went out with an injury last season. I thought—I hoped—I would have been called up. That didn’t happen.” He took a long swig of the beer then sat the bottle on the table. The glass hit the varnished surface with a loud thunk, the noise nearly drowned out by his short laugh. “Kolchak announced his retirement a few weeks ago. The Banners decided to keep Gauthier on the roster as their back-up.”
The names meant nothing to her but she understood the meaning of his words regardless: Tyler had hoped to be called up, to be given a shot at going all the way.
And it hadn’t happened.
“That sucks.”
“Pretty much, yeah.”
“And you think that makes you petty?”
Tyler shrugged, his gaze lowered to avoid meeting hers. “Corbin’s a good kid. A good goalie. He deserves a shot.”
Jenny laughed, the sound soft and sympathetic. “Nice words. Very supportive. Very professional. But that’s not what you really think, is it?”
He shrugged again, still not looking at her. “Told you I was petty.”
“I don’t think that’s being petty. I think that’s normal. I mean, you guys all want a shot. That’s like, the ultimate prize or something, right? I’d probably be upset, too.” No probably about it—she knew exactly how he felt. Didn’t everyone? Maybe the stakes were a little higher in his case, maybe it was a little different than being passed over for a promotion. Or being forced to quit because of something someone else had done—
She pushed the thought away and took a deep breath. “I don’t think you’re petty.”
His gaze finally met hers. Dark, thoughtful. Filled with gratitude? Maybe. She thought his lips quirked, in either a smile or a grimace, she couldn’t tell. Then he reached for the beer and took another long swallow, placed the bottle on the table again.
“It, uh, it got in my head, you know? I’m letting it get to me. Letting it screw up my game.”
“Maybe you just need a distraction.” Oh Lord, did she just say that? Yes, she did. And while the words sounded innocent enough, they were filled with another meaning entirely. It took everything she had not to jump up and wave her arms back and forth and volunteer to be that distraction. Maybe she didn’t have to, not when Tyler’s gaze darkened even more as he watched her. The air between them sparked and crackled as awareness blossomed, growing, exploding.
What was she doing? Hadn’t she learned her lesson already? Did she really want to open herself up to more heartache and embarrassment? Having dinner was one thing. But practically volunteering to be his distraction? That was something else entirely.
Yeah, she was definitely in trouble—because she didn’t want to take the words back. Even knowing that she could be making a huge mistake—another one in a long line of mistakes—she didn’t want to take the words back.
Could Tyler read her thoughts? Did he hear the underlying invitation? Probably. His gaze held hers, dark and inviting. Promising. He leaned across the table, shortening the distance between them inch by slow inch. Was he going to kiss her again? No, he couldn’t. Not unless he pushed the table away because there was no way he could get that close, even with the way she was leaning toward him.
She might push the table away herself if it meant feeling his lips against hers again. Soft. Full. Warm. Just to see if his kisses were as deliciously dangerous as she remembered them. Just to see if her memory had built them up into something more—
Inches. Mere inches. If she lifted her butt off the chair, leaned forward just a little more, she would find out. Another few inches and her mouth would meet his and—
A jarring sound startled her, made her sit back in frustration. Da dum. Da dum. Dadum dadum. The noise grew louder, the ominous tone increasing in speed and building in crescendo.
“You have got to be kidding me.” Jenny muttered the words in frustration and reached into her purse, searching for the phone. She shot an apologetic look at Tyler then tapped the screen to answer the call, frustration and impatience clear in her voice. “What?”
“Why do you always snap whenever I call?” Jason’s voice held just a hint of confusion, and maybe even a little irritation. She closed her eyes, heaved a small sigh, and tried to hide her impatience.
“Because I’m kind of busy. What’s up?”
“What are you doing?”
Trying not to jump one of your teammates. But she didn’t say that. No way could Jason find out—he’d kill her. And Tyler. “I’m, uh, out with friends.”
“Oh.” There was a long pause, filled with loud noise and music that slowly faded, became muffled. “Do you, uh, do you think you can maybe crash with one of them? For tonight, I mean.”
Jenny’s eyes widened in surprise and she shot a quick glance at Tyler. Did he hear Jason? Probably not. If he did, he’d probably be choking on his beer.
Jason must have picked up on her unusual pause because he kept talking, a little hurried now. “I mean, if you can’t, that’s fine. I don’t want you to think—”
“Does this have to do with that girl you’re so hot for?”
“Megan. Her name is Megan.” His voice was a little hard, a little defensive. Then he sighed and she could actually see him in her mind’s eye, looking a little confused and maybe a little unsure. “And, uh, yeah. Maybe.”
Her poor brother. He definitely had it bad. Sympathy shot through her at his dilemma. She’d never seen Jason like this before, so interested in just one woman. And something told her it was more than just simple interest—especially if he was asking her not to come home.
Her hand tightened on the phone as sympathy warred with practicality. She wasn’t out with friends, she was out with Tyler. But she certainly couldn’t tell Jason that. Just like she couldn’t tell him that she didn’t really have any friends, not here. She hadn’t had time to make any. Hadn’t been anywhere to make any.
Jenny brushed away the self-pity that tried to surface at the thought. So what if she didn’t have friends here that she could i
mpose on for the night? She had a credit card. She could crash at a hotel for one night to give her brother some space, to give him a shot at whatever chance he had to woo and impress the woman who had finally caught his attention.
It was the least she could do, after showing up so unexpectedly on his doorstep.
And then she could hold it over his head for at least a solid two months. That’s what little sisters were for, right?
She leaned back in the chair and let out a sigh loud enough for Jason to hear. “So you’re asking me to disappear for the night? To not come home?”
“No. I mean, yeah. You don’t have to put it quite like that, though. If you can’t, that’s fine—”
“Fine. I’ll do it. But you owe me.”
She expected a sarcastic retort, something about how letting her stay with him should be enough. Instead, she heard a heavy sigh of relief, like she’d just removed a huge weight that had been sitting on his chest.
“Anything. Thank you. I, uh, I’ll see you in the morning. Late morning, right? Okay, great. Thanks Jenny-Benny.”
The call disconnected before she could respond. Not that she knew how to respond. She lowered the phone and stared at it, frowning, wondering how hard her brother had actually fallen for this girl.
She shoved the phone back into her purse then turned, surprised to find Tyler watching her with a frown. “What?”
“Did your brother really just tell you not to come home?”
“Well, not really. Kind of. I mean, he asked, not told so—”
“What an ass.”
“Really, it’s not a big deal. I could have told him no. Besides, I think he’s really falling for this girl. It’s kind of sweet. And funny. And cute.”
“It’s not funny if he’s kicking his own sister out.”
“He’s not kicking me out—”
“Really? Because that’s what it sounded like it to me. Where the hell does he think you’re going to go?”
“I told him I could crash with some friends. Not a big deal.”
Tyler’s frown deepened, transforming into a scowl. He opened his mouth to say something then quickly snapped it shut when the waitress brought their food out—all of their food, appetizer and wings at once. Tyler looked like he was ready to say something about the plates being piled in front of them but Jenny nudged him with her foot and shook her head.
He frowned again but didn’t say anything—although it looked like he wanted to. Jenny just hoped that having to eat all the food before it got cold would keep him occupied enough that he’d forget the conversation they had been having minutes earlier.
And hoped it would give her enough time to figure out how to get Tyler to drop her off at a hotel somewhere.
Chapter Nine
“Tyler, this isn’t right.”
“You’re right—it’s not.” He reached for the spare blanket on the top shelf of the closet then turned around, not surprised to see Jenny standing in front of the bed. Her arms were folded across her chest, a scowl on her face, her rosy lips pursed.
She shouldn’t have looked cute but she did.
And fuck, he had to stop thinking like that, especially since the bed she was standing in front of was his.
“I wasn’t talking about Jason and you know it.”
“I know. But I was.” He stepped around her, careful not to get too close as he grabbed one of the pillows from the bed.
“You could have just dropped me off at a hotel. I would have been fine.”
He shot her a glance that told her—again—exactly what he thought of that idea.
What the fuck had Jason been thinking? Telling his own sister to get lost for the night. He needed to have his fucking head examined. If Jason was here, Tyler would read him the riot act. No, he’d smack him upside the head. Hard. Where the hell did he think his sister would go? Yeah, Jason was oblivious. But shit, even he had to have figured out that Jenny hadn’t been living here long enough to really make any friends. Did the man not use his brain at all?
Tyler was half-tempted to call him up and give him shit. To tell him that Jenny was staying here because it was either that or a fucking hotel room—and all because Jason wanted to get laid. Who gave a fuck if Jason had fallen hard for Megan? So what if he thought he was in love? He should have never asked his sister to get lost for the night.
Except Tyler couldn’t call Jason. He couldn’t tell him that Jenny was here.
And he absolutely could not be thinking of Jenny stretched out on his bed.
Naked.
Sprawled on top of him.
Fuck.
“I don’t feel right taking your bed. At least let me sleep on the sofa.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“You’re being ridiculous. You don’t even fit on the sofa! You’re too big.”
Tyler swallowed a growl and held the pillow and blanket in front of him—waist-high. She was talking about his height, nothing else. He had to fucking remember that.
Which was easier said than done when she was looking at him like that, with those full lips pursed and her breasts pushed up high over her crossed arms. Color filled her cheeks and he almost laughed at her irritation. She was so damn cute. And so fucking sexy, with that flush on her cheeks and her hair falling loose around her face and shoulders. Long and shiny and soft and—
Fuck. This so wasn’t funny, not when his own frustration was causing his cock to swell and strain against the zipper of his jeans. It was all his fault. He’d wanted a distraction and he’d gotten exactly that.
Except this distraction might just kill him.
“I’ll be fine.” He repeated the words, thinking he might actually believe them if he said them enough. Jenny frowned and stepped closer to him, too close, uncrossing her arms and reaching for him.
He jerked back then swallowed a curse. She wasn’t reaching for him, she was reaching for the blanket and pillow he was using to hide his raging hard-on. His hands tightened around them, refusing to let go even as she tugged.
“I’m not letting you sleep on the sofa. That’s ridiculous.”
“I said I’ll be—”
“Fine. Yes, I know. I heard you the last two times.” Her hand closed over the pillow, her fingers brushing against his as she tugged again. “But it’s your apartment. I’m not kicking you out of your own bed.”
“It’s not a problem—”
“It is to me. You should have just dropped me off at a hotel and—”
“Yeah. That wasn’t going to happen.” He tightened his grip and pulled, trying to step away from her at the same time. He needed distance—a lot of it, before he did something stupid.
But Jenny didn’t loosen her grip and when he stepped back, she followed. Or rather, she stumbled. The pillow and blanket fell to the floor as his arms automatically came around her to catch her—except her hand was still caught between them. And there was no way in hell she couldn’t feel his erection, not when her palm was cupping him.
An odd sense of déjà vu swept over him. Isn’t this what happened the last time? A stumble, a kiss…
He saw the same awareness flash in her eyes, watched as their blue color turned smoky and sultry. He needed to step back, needed to put distance between them now, before he started something he couldn’t stop.
Something he didn’t want to stop.
Her tongue darted out in a long sweep against her lower lip. Slow, teasing. Tyler watched, mesmerized, unable to pull his gaze away from her full mouth. One taste. Just one taste before he moved away…
The kiss was slow. Hesitant and unsure, like neither one of them knew where it would lead.
Or maybe they did know, and that’s why they were both hesitant.
Because Tyler didn’t want it to stop at just one kiss. No, he wanted more. Now.
He lifted his head, pulling his mouth from hers until mere inches of heated air separated them. “I should probably leave.”
Jenny nodded, watching him through glazed eyes. “Me
too.”
Neither one of them moved. His feet failed to listen to his brain, the message to move getting lost somewhere in transit. His arms remained tight around her waist, the fingers of one hand resting lightly against the delicious curve of her ass. Move. That’s all he had to do. Drop his arms. Take one step back. Then another and another—
And then her hand moved against the hard length of his cock. Her fingers stroked him through the denim, tracing the outline of his erection. Back and forth. Slow, so fucking slow.
He swallowed, unable to stop the tilt of his hips as he pressed himself against her touch. And fuck, this was dangerous. Too dangerous. He knew better, knew she was off-limits. She was his fucking teammate’s sister, for fuck’s sake. He shouldn’t be—
And then she leaned up on her toes, the swell of her breasts pressed more fully against his chest as her mouth nibbled at his. Tiny little nips, softened by the sweep of her tongue against his lower lip. She sighed, the sound quickly followed by a soft moan deep in the back of her throat as his mouth opened under hers.
Her tongue darted in, swept against his like smooth velvet. Hot, exotic. Tyler groaned and leaned into the kiss, taking over as he cupped her face with both hands. Smooth flesh, so warm and soft against his own. Strands of her hair teased his fingers, vibrant and alive. She pressed herself even closer, her arms wrapping around his neck, her hips rocking against his hard length.
He took a step, then another and another, easing her toward the massive bed until her legs bumped against the mattress. She groaned, the sound low and throaty and so fucking sexy. He broke the kiss, watched as her lids fluttered and slowly opened.
“Tell me to stop. Now.”
She shook her head, her hair falling over his wrists with the motion. “No.”
Fuck. He needed her to be stronger, needed her to tell him to stop because he couldn’t on his own. He took a deep breath, pressed his mouth against hers for a lingering kiss, pulled away.
“Tell me, Jenny. Tell me we can’t do this.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s wrong. We both know it.”
“No, it’s not.”
“But you’re—”
Playing For Keeps: A York Bombers Hockey Romance (The York Bombers Book 3) Page 7