Game Changer by Kelly Jamieson Page 0,51

freshly scented. But soon after darkness falls, the mosquitoes arrive.

“Jesus!” I slap at my arm. “I’m being attacked.”

“Uh oh. Let’s go in, then.”

“Aren’t they biting you?”

“No. They never bother me.”

“Well, that’s totally not fair.”

Inside, the windows are open to air out the cottage, but the screens keep the bugs out. I settle onto the couch.

“There’s enough wood here for a fire,” Jax says. “I’ll get one going.”

“That would be nice.”

“I’ll see if there’s bug spray around. There are usually a few cans of Deep Woods Off here.”

He opens the damper and sets to building a fire, looking impressively competent.

Jesus. I’m getting turned on watching him start a fire.

“Were you a Boy Scout?” I ask.

He laughs. “Nope. Never had time for that. Hockey took all my time.”

“Mmmm. I guess. But you know how to chop wood and start a fire and water ski.”

“That’s just from spending summers here. Grandpa made me chop wood, and I learned to start a fire from him.”

“And you learned to play hockey from your other grandpa.”

He flashes me a smile as he strikes a match. “Yeah.”

Soon the fire is blazing. With the darkness beyond the windows, it’s so cozy and charming I could just melt into a puddle of bliss. “I want to stay here forever,” I announce.

“Yeah?” He takes a seat on the couch too, at the other end. “Even with mosquitoes?”

“Bastards. I’ll douse myself in DEET. It’ll be fine.”

We exchange a smile, full of contentment, tranquility and…okay, a little tingle between my thighs. And when Jax’s eyes darken and his mouth softens as he looks at me, I think he feels something too.

I think about what Brielle said—what would be wrong if something happened? Jax and I are both single. Neither of us is looking for any kind of relationship.

But I know this isn’t the right guy to be my “rebound.” He’s Steve’s teammate. That’s a huge complication. It wouldn’t be fair to put Jax in that position. Except…nobody knows we’re here. Other than my girls. And they won’t tell anyone.

Heat starts low inside me and spreads through me until I feel like I’m glowing like the fire.

No. We can’t do that.

15

Jax

We spend the next few days touring around the park. We wander out onto the pier to gaze at the water, walk the town and explore the shops, which delights Molly, and swim in the lake, which does not delight Molly.

“Holy shit, this water is cold!” she squeals on our first venture in.

“Yeah.” I grin. “It takes a hardy soul to swim in Clear Lake.”

“I’m hardy.”

I raise an eyebrow. Luckily it’s a hot day, so we’ll warm up fast when we come out. She’s only in up to her knees. “I’ll help you…” I start toward her purposefully.

“Okay, fine.” She plunges in.

I laugh and follow her. Oh yeah, the cold water takes my breath away. “You get used to it,” I tell her when we both surface, reminding myself too.

“If you say so.” She sets out swimming in an attempt to stay warm, I think. “Are all Canadian lakes this cold?”

“No. This one is cold because it’s so deep. It’s also very rocky, which is why it’s so clear.”

Of course I have to dive deep and grab her foot to try to drag her down. I already know she’s a good swimmer. She fights me, laughing, and I end up with her in my arms, both of us wet and slippery and staring at each other. Suddenly the water doesn’t feel cold anymore.

We separate at the same time, forcing laughs, and head back to the beach to lay on our towels and warm up in the sun.

July 1 is Canada Day, so there are all kinds of activities going on to celebrate. We listen to music at the bandstand, dancing in the crowd, bare feet on the grass, then sit on a blanket near the beach to watch the fireworks set off on the end of the pier explode into color and light over the dark lake. I find Molly’s enthralled face almost more entertaining than the pyrotechnics, and she leans her shoulder into mine at one particularly breathtaking display. I slide my arm around her, holding her there. I know I shouldn’t. But she doesn’t move away.

Every nerve ending in my body is on alert with her next to me, her hand on my knee, her smile glowing as bright as the fireworks. I want to lower her to the grass and kiss the breath out of her beneath the sparkling sky.

And