The Penalty Box (Vancouver Wolves Hockey #3)(42)

On non-game nights, we cooked dinner together, and once we sat at the kitchen table and played cards. It was unlike any relationship I had ever had before. We joked around and kept our conversations light. It felt like we were both trying hard to keep up the camaraderie we had developed so far. Each night that passed made the threat of that night seem almost like a distant, bad dream.

Mica didn’t touch me again. He respected my decision, and he kept his distance from me, but that didn’t stop him from constantly tracking me with his eyes. I often would look up and find him watching me or studying my body. The man wasn’t remotely self-conscious about displaying his attraction to me, even in the face of outright rejection.

I attended two more hockey games and had a good time, mostly because I sat with Zoey. I was quickly finding out that she made everything fun.

And then the time came when the Wolves were going on the road for eight long days, and I was dreading it with my entire heart. Partly because the best part of my day was my time spent with Mica, even if it was just cooking and eating together. And partly because I was shit scared about being alone in that house. Especially at night.

Mica had insisted I use his car while he was gone, so I was driving him to the stadium to drop him off at the team bus. I pathetically ground through all the gears of his Porsche, each time worriedly glancing at him to see how much it bothered him, but he didn’t seem to notice. Something distracted him.

I pulled into the parking lot along with the other wives who were dropping their husbands off. We got out, and I watched as he pulled his bags out of his car.

“Wait here,” he said. I stood beside the car and watched as he brought his bags to the bus before walking back to me.

He stood close and looked down at me, wearing a serious look on his face.

“You going to be okay?”

No! I don’t want to be in your house alone. “I’ll be fine.”

“You going to text me?”

I shrugged, which made him smile.

“Call me if you need anything, okay?”

“I will.”

He shoved his hands in his pockets. “People are watching.”

My heart started its slow thud as I pretended to look around. “I don’t see anyone.”

He smiled and stepped closer. “Oh, they’re watching.”

His hand moved behind my head and his mouth came down on mine. How had I forgotten how perfect his mouth was? It felt like sin and salvation. He expertly nibbled at my mouth until I sighed. Only then did he slant his mouth over mine and intensify the kiss. I clutched the front of his jacket, moaning when he deepened the kiss, making the entire world spin. I felt his hands come around my ass and yank me up against his hard body. I felt the bulge of his erection dig into my stomach, and I reveled in the fact that I did that to him. My hands moved up to his thick neck, loving the feeling of his warm skin beneath my fingertips.

He lifted his mouth off mine, making me want to cry out in frustration.

“You’re trouble.”

I lifted my face to his again, and he rewarded me with another mind-spinning kiss before he stepped back. “I have to go.”

I leaned limply against the car, watching as he greeted someone and then laughed at something they said. He turned, lifted his hand to wave at me, and then he disappeared onto the bus.





*



The house felt empty and cold. I made a sandwich for dinner and then decided I’d go for a quick walk. I turned on every light in the house, made sure all the doors were locked and then set the alarm. I walked to the dog park and said hi to a few of the dog owners. One of them let me play ball with her dog. I heard a soft chuffing and then Sandy was eagerly pressing her nose against my leg.

“Where did you come from?” I bent down to pet her.

“Hey.” Andrew smiled at me. “The mysterious woman reappears.”

“Hey.” I bent down and brushed Sandy’s face before standing up. “How are you?”

“Good.” Sandy sat down and looked at him expectantly.

“I think she wants her ball.”

“I think you’re right.”

He pulled a ball out of his pocket and offered it to me. I played catch with Sandy while Andrew stood beside me, watching.

“So, you’re engaged to Mica Petrov.”

I winced. “Actually, we’re married now.”

He didn’t respond for a moment and then said, “Well, now you have to get me his autograph.”

I burst out laughing. “I can sort something out.”

He was good about it. He didn’t pepper me with questions and instead made light chitchat. When the dogs were tired, we walked back down the street towards our houses.

When we approached the house, I turned to him. “Thanks.”

His eyes looked over my shoulder and he frowned. “Why is your front door open?”

“What?” I spun around. The house looked dark and ominous. Not a single light was on in the house. Worse, the front door was wide open.

“Maybe it’s Mica? Maybe he left it open.”

I swallowed hard. “He’s on a flight to Boston.”

Andrew stared at the house, his voice serious. “We should call the police.”

I remember how the police had violated Mica’s home the last time. “Would you just walk through the house with me?”