AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“So, you like spending time with me?” Luc reached his hand across the table to her.
As if on cue, she took his hand and her voice brightened up. “Of course I do, Luc. I really hate this damn code. I’ve just conceded to it all my life.”
She didn’t need to say anything more for him to understand. The truth was, this wouldn’t be so tough if it wasn’t for the damn code. “You and me both, Kass.”
“I can make up my own mind, and I don’t need to check with him first about who I’m going to his party with, but don’t tell him yet. I’m his sister, so he can be as mad as he wants, but he can’t do anything about it if we just walk in together. You have to work with him, and that’s a different story.”
“Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.” Luc squeezed her hand. “As long as I know what I’m fighting for.”
“Luc?” A familiar male voice came from behind them. “W’sup, man?”
“Sam, hey.” Luc took a heavy breath, knowing this could do him in.
Sam nodded to Luc as he approached their table, setting his coffee down by their intertwined hands. Kassie quickly pulled her hand away from his and off the table. There was no doubt Sam saw the interaction between Luc and Kassie, judging by the way his eyes went from the now empty spot where their hands had been, then to Luc, and finally landing on Kassie.
“Well if it isn’t Kassie O’Conner. Kaden’s little sister. Hi,” Sam said.
Kassie sighed heavily, forced a smile and squared off her shoulders. “Yep. That’s me, Kaden’s little sister. Sam. How are you doing?”
The intense moment they’d been having was now shot to hell. Way to piss her off, Sam.
Sam smiled his typical, friendly smile. He was a genuine guy, and Luc expected nothing less than perfect manners from him. “I’m good. It’s nice to see you again. Skee ball was fun the other night. I remember Kaden talking about you and your mom moving here. Right? How is your mom doing?”
Kaden and Kassie’s mom had had a cancer scare not too long ago. Kaden’s urging his mother to accept his support and take advantage of the medical care he could obtain for her in Pittsburgh, had helped to catapult the decision for them to move here from Canada.
Kassie’s smile relaxed. “Yeah, we’ll have to have another skee ball night soon. My mom is doing very well, thank you. Part time in Pittsburgh has turned in to almost full time. Canada seems to just be a place we vacation to now. Would you like to join us, Sam?”
Luc hadn’t known Kassie long, but he was amazed at everything she did. She went from angry about being addressed as Kaden’s little sister, to having a pleasant conversation, and even inviting Sam to join us. Luc didn’t mean to, but he was staring at the beauty who sat across from him, grateful that the O’Conner women had decided to move to Pittsburgh.
“Thanks for the invite, but I’m on my way home. Just doing some quick errands for the wife, and now I need to get home and give her a well-deserved break from the little one.”
“How far along is Trina, exactly?” Luc asked, finally tearing his eyes away from his breathtaking lunch date.
“She’s almost eight months along. Speaking of her, I’d better get back. She needs to make sure she takes time to rest, and getting her to do that is a full-time job! You know how she can be. Plus, I have ice cream in the car, don’t want it to melt.” Sam picked up his coffee. “Nice to see you, Kassie. And Luc, I’ll see you bright and early tomorrow morning at the rink.”
Luc watched Sam walk to his car, and even after he drove away, Luc didn’t bring his attention back to the table.
Kassie finally spoke up, saying the words they both were thinking. “Do we have to worry about him telling my brother?”
“Sam? No. He’s cool. But I’m sure he’s going to bust my balls in Boston. We usually room together.” Luc wasn’t concerned about Sam. They’d been through a lot together. But his friend also wasn’t shy about voicing his opinion.
“He’s better now, right?” Kassie asked.
Luc nodded. “As far as he’ll say, the headaches are gone. The team doc is pleased with his recovery. And Sam is happy to be back in the game. Concussions are the worst; they are unpredictable and scary as hell.”
“Yeah, they sure are. I know how scary it is to watch your loved one get hurt out there. You think at some point it’ll get easier, but it never does. Kaden took that puck to the helmet last season, and my mom and I were frantic, especially when they didn’t let him come back in the game. But, luckily, he was fine. It doesn’t always work out like that.”
Even after spending all this time with her, it was easy to forget that she was part of this world, too. Kassie understood things that other girls didn’t. As much as he thought she was holding back, she knew what she was getting into. She was worth fighting for.
Luc slid his hand across the table, with the hope she’d take it again.
“You’re sure he won’t—”
“I’m sure.” If anything, he’ll come to me about it. She was obviously as concerned as he was about Kaden’s reaction once her brother found out about them.
Luc got settled in the hotel room. The team went to dinner as soon as they got to Boston, and now they had the rest of the evening to do what they wanted. Most of the guys settled in to their rooms and called or Skyped their families. The younger, single guys took the time to explore the city and whatever else they could find.
JJ and Travis didn’t make the trip with the team. He could only imagine what trouble they were getting into with Quinn tonight.
