“A lot of guys are focused on when they’re getting the call-up to the pros, and that’s fair,” Jordan goes on, bringing my attention back to the task at hand. I force myself to concentrate and stop getting distracted by how pretty he is. (But that jaw. It’s a killer. It has to be mentioned.) “We need guys who can be there for us in the here and now. There’s a kid coming up out of University of Denver that’s a great option. He’s steady, isn’t getting good looks by the pros because he’s not making big plays all the time, so perfect to sign onto our roster. Plus he has ties to the area now, so he might be willing to work with us. I mean, he’ll be snapped up fast once we’ve got him developed…”
He goes on, dipping back into terminology and strategies Ican’t follow. I bite back a smile and nod along. It was brilliant asking him to be my consultant. He’s so smart, and he’s obviously been doing his homework since I hired him.
“What?” he asks, suddenly stopping.
“Hmm?” I have no idea what the last thing he said was. Did he ask me a question? Want my input?
“You’re staring.” One side of his lips starts drawing up, like he knows exactly what’s happening.
“Because I’m impressed,” I say quickly.
“By my hockey strategies…” His voice is full of insinuation. He has a full-blown grin now. Can this man read minds?
“Yes,” I insist, my tone defensive. “You’re very smart.”
“Iamvery smart.” He nonchalantly raises his arm to drape across the couch, flexing as he does so.
My face is so hot. And the huge biceps aren’t helping anything. I try not to let my gaze stray to them … too much, but he catches me and his smile is very satisfied and smirky.
I point a finger at him. “This feels like flirting.”
He laughs. “No, no, no. We were talking about my incrediblehockey knowledge. No flirting here, unless that’s code for something?” he says innocently.
I narrow my eyes at him. I’m also holding back laughter at his ridiculousness. Stop liking him so much, Libby!
“Would you care to talk about my thoughts oncoaching?” He wiggles his eyebrows.
I can’t hold back laughter anymore. “You are hopeless.” I throw up my hands. I should be pushing back, lecturing him, doing something about this underhanded way he’s skirting the rule I made. But I don’t have the heart.
There’s a part of me that wants him to break every rule I set for this marriage.
CHAPTER 12
LIBBY
The next day, I meet Baylee for lunch before we have dinner with her and Jordan’s parents. I don’t want the first time we see each other to be an act for both of us, being careful about what we say. I’d like for my relationship with at least one member of Jordan’s family to be genuine, if it can be. So I invite her to the bistro where Jordan and I met for lunch.
I’m already sipping on a Diet Coke when she gets there, halfway through it thanks to my nerves. Jordan didn’t share a lot about his conversation with Baylee right after the wedding, but enough for me to know she doesn’t think this was a good idea and he’s been avoiding her for several days.
I stand when she walks through the front door. I’m seated in a corner, away from other diners, since heat is really picking up about me and Jordan even though we haven’t announced anything yet, but I sat in the chair that faced the front of the restaurant so I could see when she came in. I recognize her from the fundraiser where I met Jordan, although I never spoke to her that night. I wave when she turns my direction. She smiles and starts toward me.
“We should probably hug,” I say in a low voice when she holds out her hand.
“True,” she agrees, leaning in and wrapping her arms around me. She holds me longer than I expect, and it sends warmth churning through me. It shouldn’t surprise me that she’s as thoughtful as her brother.
She settles in the chair across from me at the small table when we pull away and tucks her small purse next to her at the table.
“Jordan says you drink Diet Pepsi,” I say, gesturing to the soda. “I won’t hold it against you.” I fake a teasing grimace. Jordan joked about it when he told me everything he thought I should know about his sister before lunch today.
She rolls her eyes and gives me a wink. “Coke people are so judgmental.”
“Honey.” I lean forward. “It’s the Dr. Pepper people that are the worst. I got a Pepsi once at a restaurant because they didn’t have Coke, and my sister acted like I’d betrayed my entire family.”
Baylee lets out a burst of laughter, and my insides ease. “You can’t be talking about Janelle.”
My turn to giggle. “Oh, Ellie would feel so vindicated to hear you say that. Everyone thinks Janelle is the sweet one.”
Baylee’s mouth drops. “ItwasJanelle?”
