Saved (Minnesota Caribou #5) - Colleen Charles Page 0,76

after. Despite Kane’s flaws, I kind of like the kid. He’s not ever trying to be someone he’s not. He just needs to mature and he’s in the perfect place to do just that with Adam and Dylan looking after him.

I nod. “I do think she likes you. And after you let her look at your smashed up nose, I’m pretty sure you like her.”

“Her touch is so soft and gentle.” He blushes and turns even redder under his bandages, if that’s even possible. “Um… but I’m not sure I’m ready to date again. What if she breaks my heart? It’s still not completely put back together since the last time.”

Blaine takes a swig of his beer before he answers. “Gwen’s not capable of breaking your heart. I’m worried about you breaking hers. If you’re going to start something with her, make sure you’re capable of finishing it.”

“Understood.” Dylan’s usual somber look is even more morose when coupled with his injury. “But I don’t think I can stay away. Something is pulling me toward her.”

“Yeah, your moldy dick.”

His eyes flash fire. “Don’t say things like that in front of Cora!”

I laugh, but deep down, I admire his old-fashioned values and behavior. He’s one hell of a guy and if my heart wasn’t otherwise engaged… nah, he’s perfect for Gwen. She’ll pull him out of his shell and teach him to trust and have fun again, and he’ll keep her reined in while protecting and cherishing her and they’ll meet in that perfect middle where love blooms. I can feel it in my bones. And when you think of it that way, doesn’t that make Dylan a healer too?

I wave him off. “It’s okay. I’ve been like one of the guys for years. You don’t have to treat me differently just because Blaine and I are a couple now.”

He gives his head a violent shake. “Nope. We do. And Blaine better demand it of all of us. You’re his person and he’s yours. That commands the respect it deserves.”

Blaine rubs my lower back. “I have to agree with the old man on this one. You’re not one of the guys, not that you ever were.”

Dylan snorts a laugh and then winces. “Shit, in the end, you agree with me on just about everything. You just like to argue to piss me off.”

Blaine gives Dylan a fist bump. “That’s what teammates are for. Kane can’t be the only one irritating you. That’s too much winning for him.”

Once Gwen returns, Dylan turns his focus to her, and I snuggle into Blaine’s shoulder. “You were awesome tonight. Congrats on three hundred games. Ever since you were little, you had a dream and you made it happen. I’m really proud of you, babe.”

His forehead creases, but his eyes shine with love for me, and I drink it in. “I couldn’t have done it without your support. I know you never really knew how much it meant to me, but it did. Everything’s come full circle. Damn, I don’t think life gets much better than this.”

My hand drifts down his back to give his sculpted ass a little squeeze. “Oh, it can get better. Wait until you see what I have on underneath this outfit later..”

Epilogue

Cora

I adjust my pencil skirt and silk blouse with the high ruffled collar and hold the bright pink gift bag with glittery tissue paper in my trembling hands. After a deep breath, I harness my inner Sue-Ann. She even helped me pick out my bra, red this time. With renewed self-assurance, I knock on Blaine’s door and assume a pouty pose.

The moment the door swings wide, his eyes widen. I adjust my black glasses and blow him a kiss. “Hello there, handsome.”

“Can I help you, miss?” His heated gaze sweeps my body and everywhere it touches, I tingle. “Um… you look a lot like my girlfriend, but you can’t be her. She never wears pencil skirts with pumps. But she always wears them in my mind.”

I tug on my glasses again, committed to the part I’m playing. “No, not your girlfriend it would seem. I’m Lucky Diamond, Head Librarian at the Duluth Public Library.” I pull an official-looking library check-out card from my handbag that I snagged from my school. “It says here that you failed to return your copy of Fifty Shades of Grey. Did you know that keeping library books past the due date is the same as stealing? I heard that somewhere once.” I tap the card with