Rush: The Season (Austin Arrows Book 1)(32)
Oh, right.
Hockey season.
Kingston.
Pretend girlfriend.
“I told her this came at a perfect time since I’m taking the year off from school. Trying to save some money, you know. I’ve been helping out at my friend’s day care, but the whole kid thing … it’s not easy for me. This is so much better.”
I must’ve forgotten how much Julie rambles.
“So, here I am and I’m excited to be helping out. I can work whatever hours you need, whenever you need me. Just holler. I’ll come running.”
I nod. “Gotcha.”
Without taking a breath, Julie blurts out, “Is it true that you’re dating Kingston Rush?”
Obviously it is now.
Before I get to answer, Noelle strolls up, a huge grin on her face.
“Hey. I see you two’ve had a chance to talk,” she offers as she breezes on by.
“We have,” I call after her, narrowing my eyes. Noelle knows I don’t like surprises.
Granted, I like Julie. She’s like a kid sister to me. She has filled in for us before, usually on a part-time basis when one of us needed time off. Julie is one of the few people we’ve had working here who can easily handle damn near any job we ask, including tackling multiple tasks at a time without getting frazzled. There are times on big game nights when things get chaotic, customers will end up waiting at the door for over an hour just to get in, but Julie usually keeps things calm and under control. Probably doesn’t hurt that Julie chooses to wear a white button-down shirt and jeans that look as though they quite possibly could be a size too small. Oh, and she looks like she’s all of sixteen, though she celebrated her twenty-seventh birthday this year.
“Well, I’m looking forward to having you here,” I tell her, purposely ignoring her last question as I take a step back. “I’m just gonna put my purse in my office.”
“Okay. See you in a bit,” Julie says, her expression going from peppy to ecstatic as she peers over my shoulder.
I’m not sure I want to know what (or who) Julie is looking at, so I pretend not to notice. That lasts all of ten seconds before I feel big, beefy arms wrap around me, warm breath tickling my neck.
So, it’s in this moment that the world pauses, the air stops blowing, all the people cease their chattering, and all movement stops. Like in the movies when people are suspended in time. Every one of my senses focuses on the two strong arms curled around me, the intoxicating scent that fills my nostrils, the strength of the chest that presses against me. And for three solid seconds, nothing matters except how freaking good it feels to have this man actually touching me. I’ve imagined it, but this … this makes my body hum, and I don’t want it to end.
Unfortunately, it does. The world comes into focus, the noise returns, people are once again animated. I’m still standing here in the circle of Kingston’s arms, and I can only think that I haven’t had sex in three freaking years.
Crap.
“Hey, babe. You didn’t answer my text.”
“Hey,” I reply to Kingston, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. It’s not like I can admit that I’ve never been this turned on by such limited physical contact before. “I didn’t know you were gonna be here.”
“You would’ve if you answered your text.”
Right. I saw Kingston’s text but hadn’t yet had time to answer. He mentioned something about a date, and since tonight isn’t a good night, I opted to hold off on responding. I make a mental note to do so in the future or risk having him show up unannounced.
Not that I mind, but again, I’m not a fan of surprises.
I manage to extricate myself from his bear hug, then turn to face him.
When I meet those dark brown eyes, I see a twinkle of mischief there.
The man really is obscenely attractive. Especially when he looks as casual as he does now, wearing a plain black T-shirt that stretches across his impressive upper body, hugging every glorious plane and angle.
Oh, and he smells so good.
Realizing Julie is still watching us, I smile at her. “I’m just gonna … go put my purse up.”
“Cool.” Julie is staring at Kingston like a cheerleader with a crush on the football captain.
“You got this?” I nod toward a couple standing at the front waiting to be seated.
“Yes, ma’am,” she says cheerfully as she spins around and practically skips over to the hostess stand. “Welcome to the Penalty Box. We’re so excited you’re here.”
Funny how Julie actually sounds as though she is genuinely thrilled that those two strangers have chosen this particular restaurant to frequent tonight. Maybe that’s part of her charm.
I chuckle, then remember that I have an uber-sexy hockey player at my back. I turn to find Kingston watching me closely, his dark eyes even darker, as though he’s thinking something devious and dirty. Knowing him, he is.
I swallow hard because it seems the Sahara Desert has relocated to my throat, then head through the dimly lit place toward my office in the back, waving to the bartender and two of the waitresses who are already serving drinks to the dinner crowd.
When I step into the hallway, the country music that is playing in the bar fades, and the only sounds are those of my labored breaths and the footsteps of the big man behind me.