from me that night after we cleared the air.”
“I didn’t. But—”
“Huh-uh. We’re past the time for buts, aren’t we?”
After a moment, she nodded.
“I’m going through the order of events so when I get to my final point, you’re not gaping at me in shock that how I feel about you isn’t such a goddamned surprise after all.”
Gabi swallowed hard.
I gently pressed the soda can to her lip and this time she held it there, watching me with those ridiculously beautiful eyes. “In the first four months of our acquaintance I only saw angry, hurt, nervous and indignant Gabriella.” I took a chance and slowly moved my hand to her cheek to push a stray section of her hair behind her ear. “In the past few weeks, I’ve seen funny, sly, kind, sweet, tipsy and thoughtful Gabriella.”
“And?”
“And . . . I like you. After that night at Full Tilt I realized you were one hundred percent the type of woman I wanted to be more than frenemies with.”
She blinked at me and lowered the hand holding the Coke to her side. “But that was—”
“Before I saw you half-naked while I helped you find a killer interview outfit? Yes.” I canted my head so my mouth was right above her ear. “So you don’t get to blame my interest in you on lust either.”
“Nolan.”
I let my breath drift across her damp skin. “Know what really cemented my crush?”
“What?”
“The first random text you sent me. Christ. That might’ve been the corniest joke I’d ever heard, but I laughed my ass off for like five minutes. I’d had a shit day, I was still at work, feeling alone and pissy, and then your text pinged. For a brief shining moment, I knew someone in the world was thinking about me.”
“For real?” she whispered.
“Absolutely for real.” I let my lips brush the top of her ear. “I kept it casual and friendly. Biding my time until . . .”
“Until what?”
“Until I could make it clear to you that I intended to take friendly to a whole new level with us.” Feathering my mouth between her cheekbone and her ear, I murmured, “So tell me, Gabriella, when was I supposed to do that this week? When you came to me in a panic on Monday? When I texted you and asked if you had time for lunch on Tuesday and you turned me down? Or when I stopped by the rink last night and you sent me packing? Or tonight when I stormed into the men’s locker room because I worried you were really hurt?”
“You . . .” A shiver rolled through her. “Stop whispering in my ear, goddammit, it’s making it hard to think.”
She rolled her shoulder—to get closer or to get away from me? I froze. Waiting. When she stayed put, I had the answer I needed.
And looky there, she’d also given me better access to that tempting neck. “Jesus, you smell good.”
“It’s just lotion.”
“It’s just you,” I half growled. “Have I mentioned that you were fucking magnificent on the ice tonight?”
“No . . . Oh god, that feels . . .” She moaned as I planted soft kisses down the front of her throat.
“Mmm. I want to do this all night. But I won’t, because you have a big day tomorrow. And I won’t add to your stress of that by keeping on about this, but we both know it’s been building toward this.” I nuzzled the skin below her ear. “Am I wrong?”
“No.”
I eased back and said, “Look at me.”
Gabi gave me that slow sexy blink that would’ve had my mouth on hers instantly—if not for her busted lip.
And mine.
“Once you’re through your interview, call me.” I gently stroked her cheek. “I won’t wish you luck, because I have a feeling you won’t need it.”
After I stepped back, she said, “You’re leaving?”
“I might pop upstairs and bug my cousins before I go. Why?”
“I have something to say.” She winced when her teeth rubbed on the inside of her lip. “Thanks for tracking me down after the game. It was . . . romantic in a bizarre way.”
I smiled at her. “I might’ve freaked out a little.”
“A little?”
“Fine. A lot.”
“I was still in that adrenaline rush stage, so sorry I snapped at you.”
I shrugged. “Not the first time, probably won’t be the last.”
Gabi smirked.
“What?”
“We have a unique way of sharing our feelings, don’t we?”
“It works. When it doesn’t, we’ll adapt.” I forced myself to take another step back. “Good night, Gabriella.”
“Night, Nolan.”
* *