She laughed softly. “You are too sweet, you know that?”
“It’s all those iced snickerdoodles Anna makes. She even has boxes delivered to the arena all the time.”
Her eyes were bright again, and I loved that her sparkle was back.
“I could totally go for one of those cookies right now.”
“Then you’re in luck, because I know she did a huge dessert spread for tonight. Let’s go spoil our dinner.”
She leaned forward and cupped my cheeks, then she was up on her toes and sealing her lips to mine. It was the first time she’d initiated a kiss. Okay, not true. She’d started the one that brought us to this, but this was the first since we started our ruse.
However, before I could truly get into it, maybe swipe my tongue against her lips, she pulled away and dropped back down on her heels.
“Thank you, really. I owe you so much.”
“No, you don’t. We’re friends and I’m always happy to help out a friend.”
Which was a lie. The more time I spent with her, the more I wanted something beyond friendship with her. I knew saying that out loud would freak her out though, so I was keeping it close to the vest for now.
“You really are a good guy.” She gave me a full smile and my chest squeezed.
I would do anything to get her to smile like that at me all the time.
Chapter 10
DANI
Fucking hell, why did my father have to be here tonight? I was already on edge to begin with, and now that he was in the same room with me, my stomach was churning. I had no desire to paste a smile on my face and chat with dear old Dad, but so many of the people in this room were hockey players who no doubt looked up to him. And I had no plans to air our family’s dirty laundry, even if he deserved it.
“Would you like another glass of wine to go with your spread?” Gabe asked, eyeing my plate piled almost as high as his. We’d both loaded up on Anna’s sweets, including two iced snickerdoodles for each of us and a selection of appetizers, and had found a high-top table where we could indulge. I bit back my smile. I seemed to do that a lot around him—smiling, that was. I’d just hinted at crushing his idolization of my father and not once did he try to placate me or say, “Oh, Malcolm Albans can’t be that bad.”
His reaction was a shock to my system. The man was a walking green flag, a situation so unexpected that it was honestly unsettling at times. Which said so many shitty things about the men I’d dated.
“No, I’m good for now. I just don’t know what to sample first. Probably the apps.”
He scoffed. “But what if you get too full? Nah, go for the cookie first. That’s my plan.” He grinned and took a massive bite of the frosting-covered treat. “So damn good,” he mumbled, a cookie crumb or two sticking to his lips.
Heat swirled through my body. I could easily lean around this table and kiss those crumbs away. It would be very girlfriend of me, but I held back.
“Am I a mess?” he asked, picking up a napkin and wiping his mouth.
“No, you’re fine.”
So very fine.
Shit.
“So, I know I said I wouldn’t pry, but I’m all ears if you need to get something off of your chest.”
Then I glanced over Gabe’s shoulder. “For fuck’s sake,” I gritted out.
“Sorry. That’s a bit of a pry, isn’t it? I’m sorry,” he said.
“What?” I turned back to meet Gabe’s gaze. He looked contrite.
“Kiss me. No, hold it. Say something funny.” I started to laugh. He probably thought I was losing it.
“Uhh, okay? Something funny.”
