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Love and Lederhosen

Page 17

by Katie Ashley

Traitor. “Yes, he is.”

“Whatever you say, boss lady,” Casey replied with a grin.

Gavin touched my arm, which once again sent a jolt through me. “Listen, I don’t want us to cause you any trouble.”

“You’re not,” I argued.

Gavin shot e a sheepish look as he ran his hand through his hair. “It kinda feels like we are.”

With a reassuring smile, I said, “I think you’re forgetting who the owner is around here.” Before he could protest, I said, “Go on with Casey, and I’ll bring you guys some drinks. What would you like?”

“Owen will take milk if you have it.”

“We do.”

“And I’d like to try your best lager.”

“Don’t you want to see a menu?”

Gavin grinned, which caused a dimple on his left cheek to pop. “Surprise me.”

“I can do that.”

As soon as Gavin and Owen disappeared with Casey, I turned on Rory. “Have you lost your mind?”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “No. But I think you have.”

“Because I’m letting Ozzy on the terrace?”

“Because you’re going against our no-tourist pact.”

Shit. Of course Rory would’ve picked up on me being gaga for Gavin. I knew my sisters as well as they did themselves and vice versa.

Pinching the bridge of my nose with my fingers, I sighed. “It’s not like that with him.”

“Oh really? And why is it not?”

“Because he’s not a typical tourist.” At Rory’s exasperated look, I replied, “He’s a father. And he likes dogs.”

“He’s worse than a tourist. He’s a single, professional hockey player.”

“How does that make him worse?”

She rolled her eyes. “I know you don’t know anything about hockey, but players are gods. Hot players, like Gavin, are rewarded with puck bunnies, which are basically hockey groupies.”

“Look, I’m just following Annie’s suggestion that having a harmless sexual fling might get me out of the dumps.”

Rory shot me a horrified look. “Since when is it ever a good idea to listen to Annie?”

“While that might be true, in this case I agree with her.”

“There is no way in hell you’re going to have an alleged fling with that man.”

“I’ve had two or three flings since my divorce,” I countered.

Giving me a knowing look, Rory said, “And I’ll bet you a hundred bucks you didn’t look at one of them the way you’re already looking at Gavin.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but then closed it shut. Dammit. Why did she have to know me so well? “You’re right. Even though it makes no sense because we just met, I want more than a fling from him.”