settling lightly against hers. She didn’t break the contact but examined the pleasure the innocent touch gave her and the way her heart began to hurry the blood around her veins. His touch felt deliberate. A signal. A tentative approach.
‘Yours and Mattias’s relationship is different to mine and Rob’s. I often didn’t see him for weeks, even when we live in the same country, but we always find time for messages or calls, even if it’s just to exchange friendly insults. Maybe we’re lucky that we like each other as well as love each other.’ When they met they hugged. They were siblings. She couldn’t imagine any other way.
‘It’s different,’ he agreed with a sigh. ‘That “bonkers brother” and “stupid sister” stuff is filled with love.’ Nico laughed, his blue eyes darker than usual in the low light. ‘You look out for each other, too. He used to warn his friends off you when we were teenagers.’
Hannah snorted. ‘No self-respecting sixteen-year-old would pursue someone of twelve, anyway. And you guys were sophisticated and glamorous. Your names appeared in the Evening Telegraph in the ice hockey reports. I was overawed by your fame.’ Although she made her voice mocking, truth lay beneath her words.
His eyes crinkled to slits. Then he sobered. ‘We used to have a rule about going out with teammates’ sisters and exes so you’d be out of bounds on that score too.’ His gaze remained firmly fixed on her. ‘Rob reminded me of that at his wedding … after he’d seen us dancing so close together.’
Her breathing hitched at the memory of his body moving against hers, his hands on her bare back above her jumpsuit, his lips hovering as if offering a kiss. But then … ‘After? Ah.’ That explained why Nico had abruptly cooled on her and danced with Amanda Louise. She finished her wine, irritation prickling beneath her skin. She’d still been with Albin then but she’d known the end was near and without Rob warning Nico off she could have left things on a more promising note.
Men were weird. They had their codes about not sleeping with a mate’s sister but saw nothing wrong in slow-dancing with a woman, gazing at her hungrily … then ignoring her.
‘I’m tired. I think I’ll go up,’ she said abruptly, not feeling quite so kindly disposed towards Rob now. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’
‘OK,’ he answered, sounding surprised at the suddenness of her exit. ‘Goodnight, Hannah.’
She awoke on Saturday feeling sheepish at last night’s prickliness. Nico had been discussing sibling relationships and she’d somehow made it about her. So Rob had made some blokey remark about a teammates rule? Nico and Rob were adults, now, and not teammates. Nico could have told Rob what to do with his warning. He’d probably simply fancied tall, sexy, beautiful, smug, spoiled Amanda Louise more than Hannah. That was his prerogative.
Once dressed, she ran downstairs, hearing Josie’s high piping and Maria’s insistent cooing long before she caught Nico’s reassuring rumble. He looked up when she appeared and smiled. ‘Best breakfast. Porridge and milk? Or pastries and juice?’
‘Pastries and juice,’ she answered promptly.
‘Yay!’ shouted Josie.
Nico shook his head. ‘You people have no idea.’ But he put out pastries and poured juice.
Hannah fathomed out Lars’s coffee machine and made herself white and Nico black then picked up Maria, who could barely see over the table, and sat down with her on her lap. Maria slapped the table top and chortled as she tried to snag the biggest pastry for herself.
Nico sat down, plated the smallest pastry for the toddler and passed it across. ‘My plan’s to light my candles this morning while Dad sees the consultant. I’m hoping to visit him this afternoon.’
Hannah pushed her coffee aside so Maria couldn’t touch the steaming mug. ‘Light your candles?’
He wiped butter from Josie’s plate so it couldn’t transfer itself to her sleeve. ‘At the cemetery, for my grandparents and an assortment of relatives. Do you want to come? Josie always does so I’ll take Maria too.’
Josie backed him up, pastry flakes sticking to her cheeks. ‘It’s snowing again! Come with us, Hannah. It’ll be awesome.’ Her ponytail jiggled as if in emphasis.
Hannah smiled at her excited face. ‘Then I will.’
They finished breakfast while, beyond the window, the snow swirled like white bees swarming and banking in the wind. Josie was shouty with the thrill of it and Maria shouty because if her big sister shouted then shouting was obviously in.