One Baby Daddy (Dating by Numbers #3)(21)

A drawn-out grin plays on his lips. With our connected hands, he pulls me closer until I’m practically sitting on his lap. Talking quietly, his forehead pressed against mine, he says, “Don’t let me fool you, I’m the exception. All other hockey players are massive dicks. You got lucky with me.”

Chuckling, I say, “Seems like you’re trying to distract me from finding myself another piece of man muscle on skates.”

His nose gently passes over mine as he talks low. So deep, so seductive. “Is it working?”

Oh God . . . is it working.

Pressed up against Hayden’s chest, his arm wrapped around me, his fingers playing with my hair, I toy with the buttons on his shirt as we look into the dark abyss in front of us. I have no clue what time it is, but I can feel my eyes starting to get heavy, and yet, I haven’t made a move to leave.

I’m too comfortable.

I’m too warm under this fleece blanket with Hayden.

I want to get to know him even more.

I want more time with him.

“What was Racer like growing up?” I ask, holding back the yawn that wants to escape.

“Racer?” Hayden chuckles. “Can you guess what he was like?”

“Hmm . . . a total tool?”

“Pretty much, but it was oddly okay in our group of friends. We knew he was the jokester, the one who pulled pranks, but he was also very sensitive, so we didn’t return a lot of his jabs. We let him have his fun.”

“He is sensitive, isn’t he?”

“Very, and now that he’s older, he’s very sensitive to people around him, compassionate and understanding when he needs to be. He can read a situation well and knows when he needs to stop joking around and be the incredible friend he is.”

“Mmm,” I hum in agreement. “That’s very true. He was there for me when everything with Logan went down.”

“He was?”

I nod against Hayden’s chest, his arm growing tighter around me. “Racer is not a fan of Logan, but then again, he doesn’t know him like I do, or like Emma does. He’s a good guy, and he’s been there for both of us from the very beginning.”

Hayden grows quiet, and I’m sure Logan isn’t one of his favorite topics, especially after the way he reacted when I told him what happened between us.

Not wanting there to be unnecessary beef between Hayden and Logan, I add, “He really is a good guy. I think you guys would actually get along.”

“Doubt it,” Hayden mutters under his breath.

Lifting off his chest, my hand against his pecs propping me up, I look Hayden in the eyes. Instead of the usual jovial expression he wears, his brow is creased, his jaw hard and set in stone, and his eyes are cast forward.

“You really don’t like him, do you?”

“I don’t. He treated you like shit during a moment that needed more sensitivity. Doesn’t seem like a guy I would get along with.”

“It was an awkward moment. I’m sure he handled it the best he knew how to.”

Hayden shakes his head and lowers me to his chest. “There are about ten other ways I can think of off the top of my head on how he could of handled that situation. He didn’t have to be a dick to you and that’s what he was. The dude isn’t cool in my book, not sure he’ll ever be.”

Taking a small breath, I say, “He’s still my friend.”

Heavily sighing, Hayden presses a kiss against my head but doesn’t say anything. Instead, he rocks us back and forth, letting the night we’ve shared speak for itself. And it’s in this moment I appreciate why he and Racer are close. Why he and Racer share their dislike of Logan. They’re loyal. One hundred percent loyal toward those they consider theirs. Even in the small amount of time I’ve known Hayden, I can see if you are considered a friend, that invitation never goes away. And that’s possibly more dangerous to my heart than all other amazing attributes thrown together. That’s what I learned from my family. Loyalty and love go hand in hand.

Chapter Seven

HAYDEN

I keep my mouth shut because there is no use talking to Adalyn about Logan. She knows what he did, she knows deep down the kind of coward he is; I don’t have to point that out. I would rather spend the rest of the evening with this woman snuggled into my side, the scent of her sweet shampoo slowly eating me alive, and her small hand playing with the buttons of my shirt.

No need to dwell on someone who has nothing to do with us.

Yes . . . us.

There is no doubt in my mind we are becoming an us, at least I’m hoping we are becoming an us, because with every touch and conversation we share, I’m becoming more and more addicted to this woman.

It isn’t only her beauty that has captured me—those golden eyes and luscious lips. It’s the way she smiles so innocently when her eyes light up with sin, or the way she beautifully cares for others but easily keeps me on my toes with her wit.

Racer was right to try to protect Adalyn from me because right now, I feel like a wolf, stalking his prey.

Back and forth, back and forth we rock, our breath mixing together, falling in rhythm. Adalyn’s fingers start to slow, her body pressing heavier into mine.

“Hey,” I whisper to see if she’s awake.

No response.

“Adalyn.” I press a kiss against her forehead.