Page 84 of Hard to Get

“Of course I will. What kind of dog mom do you think I am?”

He smirks. “Okay, I knew you would be. Maybe around six?”

I smile back. “Six sounds good.”

22

JAYDEN

I’ve been at the park for about fifteen minutes before Stella and Betty arrive. They fly into the green space as if they just held up the 7-Eleven and the cops are after them.

Betty lets out a few yips at seeing Frank and jumps around so much, Stella can’t unfasten her leash. Finally, she gets it off and Betty barrels across the space toward Frank. They do their usual excited greeting.

Stella walks toward me, her steps more measured now as she coils the leash in her hands.

I smirk at her. “Running late?”

“Just a little.” She rolls her eyes. “I got stuck on a call at work.”

“Ah. Come sit down. You look… stressed.” I take her hand and lead her to the bench. Our bench.

“I’m okay. I could use a big glass of wine.”

“We could go get one after this.”

She tucks her hair behind one ear. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. It’s kind of cold for sitting outside though, so we might have to take our dogs home.”

“Hmm. We wouldn’t want them to be cold.”

“Or me. I hate cold.”

“You play hockey!”

I grin. “Okay, I don’t hate it. Although I work up quite a sweat while I’m playing.”

She wrinkles her nose. “I know.”

I lift an eyebrow. “How do you know that?”

“Not you specifically,” she backtracks. “Hockey players in general. I used to nearly vomit in the car with my brother after a game.”

“Didn’t he shower?”

“Of course he did. I mean, I’m not sure. It’s possible he didn’t. Teenage boys are gross.”

I laugh.

“But the equipment smelled bad enough!”

“I guess I’m used to it. But I know what you mean So. I had an idea.”

She wiggles her fingers in encouragement. Fuck, she’s cute.

“Next weekend, we have most of Friday and all day Saturday off. I was thinking maybe we could drive up to Whistler for the night on Friday.” I stroke hair off her shoulder. “We could have dinner there. Hike. Go to the spa. There’s this night walk in the forest that sounds cool.”

“Ohhhh.” Her gaze hangs on mine. “That sounds so nice.”