My mouth goes dry at the sight of him. He’s wearing nothing but a tight, all-black undershirt that’s stretched across his broad chest, his dark blond hair is an absolute mess jammed underneath a Mayhem ball cap, like he didn’t have time to shower after practice. His jeans—light-washed and well-worn—hang low on his hips, and his dirty brown boots look like they’ve seen better days.
For a guy with a multi-million-dollar contract as the starting goalie for the Mayhem, Seth sure as hell doesn’t dress like his net worth. Somehow that’s a turn-on.
He looks between me and Levi, his hazel eyes narrowing slightly as he takes in the scene of us together. The pizza box in his hand is balanced effortlessly, and before I can even say a word, he drops it onto the island between us.
“What are you doing here?”
Levi’s grin widens.“Catching up with your new nanny.”
Seth’s eyes flicker to me for half a second, but he doesn’t say anything. Instead, he brushes past me without so much as a hello. Okay. I guessthat’sthe mood we’re in tonight.
I watch him move into the kitchen, dropping his hockey bag to the floor with a heavy thud, the team logo flashing across the front as it lands. He heads straight for the fridge and pulls out the pitcher of ridiculously fancy infused water I noticed the very first time I stocked his kitchen.
He pours himself a glass, movements slow and controlled, but the tension in his shoulders gives him away. Something’s bothering him. And for some reason, I can’t shake the feeling that it has something to do with me.
Levi and I watch him in silence. I’m busy trying to figure out what I did wrong this time, while Levi looks like he’s seconds away from poking at Seth just to make him more irritated.
“Long day, little brother?” Levi drawls, leaning against the counter casually.
Seth doesn’t answer right away. He takes a sip of water before finally turning to face us. His jaw tightens as his eyes briefly meet mine again, something unreadable flickering there before he looks away.
“Something like that.”
I take it I wasn’t supposed to let Levi inside.
Chapter 13 - Brianna
Seth drains the rest of his water, and I can’t stop watching the movement of his throat as he swallows. The sharp bob of his Adam’s apple. The flex of his jaw. The way the muscles in his neck shift beneath sun-bronzed skin. It’s ridiculous that something so simple can make my stomach flip the way it does.
When he finishes, he drags the back of his hand across his mouth, the motion slow and almost weary, like the weight of the day is finally starting to catch up with him.
“Where’s Sawyer?” His voice is rough and when his hazel eyes finally meet mine, I can see just how exhausted he is.
“Showering.”
“Okay.”
His attention moves back to Levi.
“Did that suspension push you down here like a rat being flushed out?” Seth’s tone is laced with barely concealed irritation.
Levi snorts, completely unfazed by his brother. “Nah. I’m here to see Boone and Rosie and the new baby. I’m also here to see my niece.”
Seth presses the glass back to his lips, his jaw tight. The silence and tension stretch between them, thick enough to cut, and I get the feeling there’s a lot more to unpack between these two than I’m privy to.
“Okay, well…” I move towards the door cautiously. “I’m gonna head out then.”
Seth sets the glass down hard on the marble.'Okay,'Seth says, at the same moment Levi says, 'Stay.’Seth immediately scowls at his brother before looking at me.
“You ordered the pizza, and I need to pay you.”
Oh. Not stay because he wants me to. Stay because he needs to pay me for the week.
“I can get the money from you later this week,” I offer, trying to keep my voice light.
But Seth shakes his head, already stomping back to his bag. He yanks out a checkbook, scribbling something down with quick, angry strokes before ripping the check free and shoving it toward me. When I glance down, my eyes widen. It’s at least two hundred dollars more than the amount that we agreed on. Definitely more than the cost of the pizza.
“Seth,” I hesitate, shaking my head as I meet his gaze. “You don’t have to—”
