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“I know she does.” I hope the admission solidifies with Travis that I’m his mom’s friend, too, and I’m sensitive to her grief as well. “Your dad was a great man, so there’s lots to miss. I know I sure do.”
I urge Travis into the back of my truck and turn the chat to something lighter to ease out of the heavy subject matter we left behind in the rink parking lot. We talk about video games, which is easy since I play them too.
When we reach his house, I’m lucky to get a spot right in front. I leave the truck running but get out to escort Travis up to the door. Before we even reach the front stairs, Danica steps over the threshold. It’s freezing and she doesn’t have a coat on. I refrain from pointing that out because that’s coming from a place of possessive concern and I don’t want Travis getting a hint of that from me.
Still, Danica’s eyes come to me after she drapes an arm over Travis’s shoulders. We share an exchange, silent but expressive, and I think we’re both saying the same thing.
It’s good to see you. You look amazing. I can’t stop thinking about last night. When can I see you again?
Danica clears her throat and looks down at Travis. “Have a good time? Learn lots?”
“Yeah,” Travis exclaims. “It was so much fun and Camden taught me this sweet little move.”
He doesn’t mention our talk about Coach Kantor, but honestly, not sure the distinction among coaches is all that important to him. At least I’ve set the foundation for him to understand that.
I reach my fist out and he bumps it. “I’m glad you had fun. We’ll do it again sometime, okay?”
“That would be great.”
I beam a smile at him, slide a slightly less brilliant one at Danica with a nod and turn to head down the steps.
“Would you like to stay for dinner?” Danica asks. I turn back toward her, trying to dampen the elation that wells within me. “The least I can do is feed you since you helped Travis.”
“I don’t want to be an imposition,” I say hesitantly, afraid to look at Travis. It’s one thing to take him to the rink, but another to sit at his dining table at his mom’s invitation.
“I’ve made plenty, so no imposition,” Danica assures me. “Only has about another half hour until it’s ready.”
“Awesome,” Travis says and he does a fist pump. “Camden can play video games with me.”
Danica smirks and turns her son toward the door. “Camden can relax with a beer and talk to me while you take a quick shower and start your homework.”
“Awww,” Travis grumbles as he steps into the house. “That’s no fair.”
I throw a thumb over my shoulder. “Going to shut off my truck.”
Danica doesn’t follow her son inside but waits on the porch for me. When I bound back up, I glance at the stairs behind her framed by the door. “Is he up there?”
She tilts her head. “Um… yeah.”
“Good. Been dying to do this.” My hands go to Dani’s face and I pull her in for a swift but deep kiss. Her hands grip my belt and she pulls us closer together. Her tongue touches mine and my body reacts.
Swiftly.
With a yearning groan, I pull away from her and she steps back, smiling devilishly. “Come on inside. You can keep me company while I cook.”
“I’ll help,” I say as we enter the house.
She glances over her shoulder and winks as we walk to the kitchen. “We can probably sneak in another kiss or two before Travis comes back down.”
Fuck yes. That sounds better than anything she might be making for dinner. And while I know that’s all I’ll have tonight—because if it weren’t complicated enough that I’m dating my dead teammate’s wife, I also have to navigate the fact she has a child—I’m strangely satisfied with just that.
CHAPTER 17
Danica
Aiming the remoteat the smart board, I depress the button and a new slide appears on the PowerPoint I’m presenting to Brienne. Our kickoff gala for the new foundation named in her brother’s honor is the day after tomorrow and it’s fallen squarely on my shoulders to plan the entire event. I’ve been working on it for over a month and I’m presenting it to Brienne for one last eyeball to make sure she doesn’t see anything that needs changing.
I’ve provided her with the ballroom layout for this invitation-only event along with a proposed agenda of festivities that will encourage future sponsorships, recurring donations and volunteers.
