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“A what?” One dark brow rose up his forehead. “What’s that?”
“Nancy-pants is a . . . a . . .” She tried to think of a word, other than the one the guys on the team used.
“Pussy?”
That was the word, all right.
“Your dad thinks this guy is a pussy?”
She probably wouldn’t go that far.
A deep furrow creased his forehead, and he moved across the room to a hook with his white T-shirt on it. “Because of his hair?”
“There are probably other reasons.” She was slightly relieved when he pulled the shirt over his head. “Maybe he’s not worth his big salary? Or isn’t a team player and gives the veterans on the team attitude. Dad says he’s a showboat and rides his stick across the ice.”
“Maybe your dad doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”
That sounded oddly belligerent. “Are you a Chinooks fan?” But nothing she hadn’t encountered before. Hockey fans could be fiercely loyal to their favorite players.
“The jury is still out on that.” A deep scowl creased his forehead as he moved to the bench and reached for his sports drink.
“Are you mad at me?”
“You?” He shook his head and tossed a BioSteel at her. “Your father’s wrong, though.”
She caught it with one hand and moved toward him. “My dad’s a good judge of character. The guy probably has other issues.”
“Probably.” His gaze swept across her face, and the corners of his mouth turned up into a slight smile. “Probably has issues, and one of those snowballs you were talking about is giving him a big problem.”
“What problem?” His fingers touched her face, and she fought the urge to turn her cheek into his hand.
“This.” He lowered his mouth to hers and said against her lips, “You.”
Lexie had the feeling they weren’t talking about a hockey player anymore. She slid her hands up his T-shirt and rose to the balls of her feet. Through the material, his skin felt hot beneath her palms, and his heart boomed in his chest. “I’m not your problem.” She touched the tip of her tongue to his top lip, and his breath whooshed from his lungs.
He chuckled and slid his hand to the back of her head, tangling his fingers in her hair before he said, “You’re chaos.” He tilted her face up, and her mouth parted even further. Then he softly sucked her bottom lip, and she felt it, too. The kiss a stark contradiction to the hot rush flowing across her chest, spreading fire and creating chaos. Lexie took a step back before she gave in to it. One of the last things she needed was added mayhem in her life. Not even if that mayhem had solid muscles and sexy green eyes.
Sean pulled the Subaru to a stop at the Harbor Inn and walked Lexie to her room. They moved through pools of light as a chilly ocean breeze caught her hair and brushed it across her cheek.
“I guess I’ll see you in the morning,” she said, and for some reason felt a bit panicky. Which of course was silly. She’d known him for only two days. “Bright and early.” She stopped in front of room seven and looked up into his face. She didn’t know Sean. She probably would never see him again after tomorrow. “I’m looking forward to going home, but not to the Gettin’ Hitched madness.”
The light above the door shone down on them; his lashes cast a faint shadow as he returned her gaze. “You’re tough. You survived my mother.” The tips of his fingers brushed her neck as he pulled the ends of
Jimmy’s collar under her throat. “I think she may have even liked you.”
“What about you?”
“Do I like you?” One side of his mouth lifted, and the same breeze that tossed her hair about her head brought his scent to her nose, and she breathed him in. Funny that she’d known him for such a short time but she recognized the smell of his skin. Funnier still, it calmed her when she didn’t know she was nervous.
“You’re a pain in the ass.” His silent laughter and obvious amusement creased the corners of his green eyes.
She leaned back against the door. He calmed her. Everything about him felt safe, stable in a world that had become so uncertain. “Well, you won’t see me after tomorrow.” He didn’t correct her and she looked away, into the dark parking lot. “I won’t be a big pain in your ass anymore.” He placed his fingers on her cheek and turned her face to him.
“I didn’t say you were a big pain in the ass.” His fingers touched the side of her jaw and raised her face to his. “I guess you’re okay.”
“I’m glad you think I’m okay.” She meant it to come out a little sarcastic; instead she sounded a little breathy.
“For a runaway bride.”
