I grinned with a mouthful at him and winked at Rayne. “And what way is that?”
“Keep your eye on the puck,” he started.
“Not the target,” we finished together. “Great job.” I slapped the open hand he held up.
I paid the check and we headed outside to walk along the lake.
“Whoa. Look at that blackbird.” Jax pointed to a creature walking by the lake. He started running.
“Not too close,” Rayne called out. Doubtful the kid heard her.
“He heard me,” she nodded in his direction then raised a brow, “right?”
“So you’ll put him in front of flying pucks and kids with sticks, but you’re afraid he’ll get eaten by a bird?”
She squinted in the sun. “So you’re worried he’ll get eaten by that thing too?”
I shook my head and chuckled silently.
A tentative smile crept up her face. “You’re worried about him playing as much as I am, aren’t you?”
“Probably not as much as you.”
She shrugged. “It’s okay if you are. Admit it, it’s a dangerous sport for kids.”
It’s a dangerous sport for anyone.
Especially when others didn’t play by the rules.
“You have nothing to worry about.” I snuck a hand on her back and leaned in close, while Jax was busying himself with a rather annoyed bird. “Marty’s watching him.”
Since I can’t.
Her eyes turned distant again. “Thank you. For looking out for him. Even through Marty’s eyes. I appreciate how much you care.”
“Of course I care. And not just about him, Ray.”
“Rayne,” she snapped. “Please… call me Rayne.”
My first instinct was to apologize. But instead I asked, “Why?”
“I like it better.”
The bitterness in her voice didn’t convince me of that.
It was clear this woman had more to hide than I needed in my life right now.
But I realized I didn’t care. “So what are your plans tonight?”
“I’ve got a hot date with my laptop and prescription book.”
I nodded simply, missing her already. “Hmm. You sound busy, maybe I forgo the plans I had for you instead.”
“What plans?”
“It involves kissing you senseless, touching you—a lot—and whispering the dirtiest of things in your ear.
It was a slow week, so Tisch’s cold shoulder was on high since she didn’t have much to distract her.
