“I want this. I want you. And we’ll go at whatever pace you’re happy with. You want me to call up a few reporters I know and tip them off so I can stand out the front of this hotel and shout at the top of my voice that I’ve fallen for Casey Watson, then I’ll do it. You want to keep me as your dirty little secret a while longer, then I’ll happily do that, too.”
She squeezes my hands, a small smile playing on her lips.
“Promise me something.”
“Anything.”
Her smile grows. “Never, ever do anything even close to the first one.”
A laugh rumbles in my chest before it explodes.
Wrapping her up in my arms, I hold her tight and press my lips to the top of her head.
“I can’t promise things like that,” I tease, my smirk growing.
“Kodie,” she warns.
“Casey,” I counter, lifting her hand and kissing her knuckles. “When the time comes, I want everyone to know you’re mine.”
“How are you so perfect?”
A self-deprecating laugh falls from my lips.
“Baby, I’m so far from that it’s not even funny.”
She shakes her head. “Not to me.”
My chest tightens as she gazes up at me. I’m not sure anyone has ever looked at me and seen me the way Casey does.
It’s as exhilarating as it is unnerving.
“If we do this, you might learn a few things to prove otherwise.”
“If we do this?” she asks, concern pulling at her features. “I thought?—”
“We’re doing this,” I confirm. “I just want to warn you that you might find something you don’t like.”
“That’s a risk I’m willing to take.”
A knock sounds at the door as my head lowers to kiss her, halting my immediate plans.
“Dinner’s here,” she whispers.
If she weren’t so hungry, I’d say fuck it and eat her again instead. But my girl needs sustenance if we’re going to have anywhere near the kind of night I’m planning.
“Get comfortable, baby,” I say before releasing her and stalking toward the door. “I’ve ordered you a feast.”
Iwasn’t lying. Even for a hockey player, I’d ordered an obscene amount of food.
We gave it our best shot though before we both slumped back on the bed, full and content.
We didn’t have sex again; instead, we shuffled under the sheets and kissed and cuddled like a couple of teenagers. Under the cover of darkness, locked away together, talked about what we wanted, where we wanted to take things, and how we wanted it to go.
It turns out, we didn’t have any answers other than the fact we want to do it all together.
When we eventually drifted off to sleep in each other’s arms, I slept better than I have in a long time.
I had my girl back, and everything was going to be okay.
