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Looking surprised to see me, his brows shoot up, his face softening as he rises to his feet. Time stops as he walks in my direction, pushing his hands through his short, dark brown hair.
He towers over me and I’m forced to tilt my head back when he stops on the other side of the counter.
“Hey.” I examine his nose, relieved that it looks better. “You look great.”
A slow grin quirks his mouth.
Holy freaking hell, he’s gorgeous when he smiles. “I mean, your…” Clearing my throat to pull myself together, I continue, “Your nose. It looks great. Better.” There’s only a little yellow bruising on the innermost corners of his eyes left.
“Not broken.”
I throw my hand to my chest. “I’m so relieved. I really did think I had broken it, and I haven’t seen you around to check in with you.” Edmonton is a big place. What a dumb thing to say.
“Have you been looking for me?” Stance widening, his chest broadens.
I feel the urge to tell him how much I wanted to see him again, but I don’t. Instead, I reply, “Yeah, to see if I needed to pay your medical bills.”
“Not necessary.”
“Cool.” I sound like a dork and not a grown woman who can manage her household bills and hold down two jobs.
He points to the hot mug of coffee on top of the counter. “That’s mine.”
I jump into action. “Oh, you’re Ash?” I move it closer to him. “Here.”
“Thank you, Lily.”
I push my lips into my mouth containing the scream that’s threatening to leave my lungs. He remembered my name; I want to shout out loud and tell everyone that he remembers who I am.
I tilt my head to the side, watching him stride slowly back to his table. The way his jeans struggle to contain his thick thighs and muscular body is almost hypnotizing. Wow, that is a nice ass.
I’m jealous of that denim.
“Nice, huh?” Kourtney whispers in my ear, breaking my obvious staring fest.
I drop my head and begin fiddling with the tip jar and random items on top of the counter, tidying nothing and everything. “If you say so,” I hesitate to answer.
“So, he knows your name?”
“Mmm, hmm.” I continue to pretend to be busy. “I met him the other day, but I didn’t know his name until he collected his coffee.” I spin around to face her.
“You don’t know who that is, Lily?” Eyes wide, her shocked face tells me that I should.
Who is he? Tell me now, Kourtney.
Bemused, she rolls her eyes. “He’s like the hottest guy on ice. He plays center for the Eagles.”
Huh. He plays hockey, not football, like I assumed.
Kourtney keeps reeling off everything she knows about him. “Twenty-two years old, hockey player. Doesn’t date. Well, according to the rumors. Drafted to the NHL when he was eighteen. Nickname is The Bear, for obvious reasons, and he’s always wanted to play for his hometown here in Edmonton.” She raises a finger in the air as if she remembered something else. “And is a man of few words, and he’s only ever been in here twice before.”
I’m so shocked. “Wow, you really know a lot about this guy.”
“I know everything about the entire team. I’m a big fan and in case you haven’t noticed, my coffeehouse is directly across the street from the arena they play their games in. Please tell me you recognized Ed Crosby when you served him the other night?”
I shake my head. “I didn’t,” I mutter.
She rolls her eyes. “I give up. He’s a hockey legend. The season starts soon and we’ll be flooded with fans and players. It’s good to know who is who and make them feel special. And that guy.” Jolting her head in his direction. “He is not just any guy, Lily. He’s Ash Johansson. He’s an NHL superstar. One of the greatest of all time.”
