To prove her point, Aspen turned and began walking briskly down the deserted sidewalk.
Connor wasn’t to be deterred and quickly gobbled up the distance and kept pace with her silently by her side.
They walked a couple of city blocks, both looking straight ahead, Connor’s hands in the pockets of his jeans, Aspen’s own arms hugging her chest.
“BB, fans approach my teammates and me a lot, especially with how close we came to winning the Cup last year,” Connor said, breaking the silence.
“Approach is one thing, Connor, that woman was practically motorboating you in her boobs,” Aspen spat out.“And what the hell is this cup thing?”
Connor’s eyebrows pulled together and he turned to face Aspen.“The Cup is what we play for, what any hockey player has played for since they could piss without help.”
“Crude.”
Connor ignored her.“As for the fans, the majority are cool people who are passionate about their hometown team and the players.Only a handful are a little over the top.I try not to be rude so I gently dissuade their advances.”
“I’m just sorry I cramped your style, I’m sure you would have had a real good time with them had I not been at the table.It’s a good thing tonight wasn’t a date.”
Aspen couldn’t believe how irrational and jealous she sounded, but watching that display unfold in front of her at the food truck sparked her own fiery temper.
Connor moved in front of her causing Aspen to immediately halt as she bumped into his granite chest.He gently braced his hands on her upper arms to steady her.
“I don’t sleep with bunnies, BB,” his own anger seemed to spike.“And no, we’re not dating, but it doesn’t mean I don’t want to get to know you.I don’t want to label it, but I want to spend time with you.Listen, I had a shit day, and I probably should have rescheduled tonight’s dinner.”
“Honestly?I don’t have time, Connor.I don’t have time for any of this,” Aspen brushed by him.She wished she could miracle herself at her apartment building so this blasted night could be over and she’d be able to let loose the stupid tears she was holding back.“And you could have fooled me tonight.For someone who supposedly wants to spend time with me, you sure gabbed more with the bunny rabbits, or whatever it was you called them, than me.”
“Tonight was just...a bad night for me, BB.”
“Well, it’s a good thing that it’s over, since I’m at my place.”
Connor looked up, confusion crossing his face.“But we’re at your bakery.”
“Yeah, I have an apartment in the building where my bakery is.Convenient, huh?”Aspen spat out as she dug the key from her clutch to allow her access to her building.“Good night, Connor.”
He splayed his hand across the door as Aspen inserted her key.“BB, in a thousand years, tonight didn’t play out like I thought it would.Let’s give this another go.”
Aspen was captivated by his icy blue eyes flecked with navy that bore into her, imploring her compliance.She turned away to gather her own rapid thoughts, especially the thoughts that were begging her to say yes to his request.
She had a feeling that Connor gave up a lot, asking her for another opportunity.He just didn’t seem like the type of man to plead for a second chance.Or even a first.He seemed to take what he wanted, and in some archaic, caveman-type way, that thrilled her.
Aspen was just as conflicted.
“Connor, I just don’t know.”
After a few beats, he drew his hand to her cheek and gently guided her face upward until they were once again staring at one another.
His touch caused liquid fire to race through her system, and Aspen felt like she was on the cusp of giving him the world if he asked.
“One chance,” he whispered and gently bent his head to move to her lips that opened of their own volition in a pant of want at the kiss she knew was coming.
Still cupping her cheek, Connor slowly moved toward her lips.Aspen could feel the whoosh of her rapid-fire heart rate blast through her ears in anticipation of the kiss.This would add another layer of strange to this already weird night.
Except Connor didn’t stop at her waiting and expectant lips.He didn’t even brush against them as he moved past her lips to the apple of her cheek where he laid the lightest of kisses.He gently stroked the other side of her face as he pulled back.
“One more chance,” he whispered.“I’ll see you at the bakery.”
With the faintest hint of a smile that was more predatory than anything, Connor reached for Aspen’s hand that was still holding her key inserted in the lock.He placed his hand over hers and aptly disengaged the tumblers of the lock and opened the door.He pulled the key from the opening and placed it in Aspen’s palm, kissing her on the forehead at the same time.
With that, he turned and headed his way down the sidewalk away from the bakery and a stunned Aspen.
