“It’s been over a year—” I start, but Kayla interrupts me.
“I’m sorry, did you call him Seany?” Kayla asks with patronizing amusement, ignoring Serena’s dig at me altogether. “Is that what you called him when you were together? He’s a grown man, and you called himSeany?” She looks at me like this is the funniest thing in the world, like the two of us are so close,so totally established that we already laugh about cheating exes who ruined our lives and other absurdities.
“It was a term of endearment,” Serena says, almost baring her teeth. “What do you call him? Mr. O’Shannan?”
“Only when he’s naughty,” Kayla says with a wink, and I can’t stop the laugh that makes my shoulders shake. Kayla’s eyes dart to mine, a half-smile turning her lips up that makes us look like we’re in cahoots.
Serena’s cheeks flush beneath her dark tan. “You know what, Sean? I came to check on you because I felt bad for you. I heard the Arsenal didn’t even sign you for a contract next year, so you abandoned the Blue Collars and kept them from winning the Calder Cup for nothing.”
Kayla gasps. “Mr. O’Shannan, you didn’t tell me you were the only player on the Blue Collars. Of course, maybe I just don’t know how sports work. You’d think owning a team would teach me something at some point.”
I put my elbows on the counter, leaning forward while I laugh. Kayla’s protective streak might be the most attractive thing about her yet.
But Serena may as well be shooting fireballs outta her eyes. “Does she know about your little vow, Seany, or did you already break it?” She chuckles and stands up, throwing a ten dollar bill at me before walking away. “Good luck staying single.”
And that’s when Kayla looks at me and whispers, “Just go with it.” Then she calls out. “Hey, Serena!”
The smaller woman turns around and plants a hand on her hip. “Yeah?”
“You’re right. Sean’s not single.”
Then Kayla grabs my face and plants her lips on mine.
And my brain stops.
Straight up flatlines.
Then it flickers back to life, short-circuiting like it has faulty wiring.
Because this isn’t some peck.
This is a real kiss, all frantic lips and hot breath. And although I should probably panic that this is happening at all, I can’t seem to care enough.
I plunge a hand into her waves, guiding her mouth, deepening the kiss.
And loving every minute of it.
She leans closer into me, her fingers stroking my beard like it’s her personal good luck charm. My pulse roars so loud in my head, everything else fades. I’m back in the crease. The noise of the bar, the music, Serena’s sharp, shocked chuckle—it all disappears.
It’s just me and Kayla and this kiss.
When she finally pulls back, her face is flushed, her lips are swollen, and her eyes …
Oof. They have a dazed look to them that makes me hungry for seconds.
I should say something funny. Something to break the ice. Something to convince her to keep going.
But Serena’s voice cuts over the gasps and noise of the bar.
“And here I thought the next girl you were gonna kiss would be your wife,” she says in triumph. “Told you you’d never keep that little promise.”
Kayla is still practically pressed against me over the bar. She grabs my shirt in her fist and gives me a sexy, secretive smile. “Eh, we thought being engaged was close enough. Didn’t we, Captain?” She gives me another (achingly) soft kiss before looking at Serena. “And that’s what you call a grown man, sweetheart.”
“That’s what you call a rebound, sweetheart,” Serena says with a poisonous smile. “It’s not like you two are gonna last. Let’sface it: you won’t be here much longer. But good luck. I’m sure things’ll work out just peachy for you long distance.”
“We’ll be just fine. But your congrats are noted,” Kayla calls after her.
The moment Serena’s gone, I expect the thrumming tension to leave my body, but looking at Kayla, it only ratchets up.
