Troublemaker - Lisa B. Kamps Page 0,42

I do. I took a class today."

"Yeah? Sounds like fun."

I tilted my head to the side and thought about it for a few seconds. "Actually, it kind of was."

"And now I get to reap the benefits."

"Just don't go expecting too much."

"Don't underestimate yourself, especially if it tastes as good as it smells." He slid onto one of the two stools at the small island counter then reached up and undid his tie and the top two buttons of his dress shirt. Seeing him in a suit still surprised me, even though he wore one every morning when he left for practice. I'd asked him about it after the third day and he had explained it was the dress code, which kind of surprised me. I would have never thought that such a violent game like hockey would have a dress code but apparently it did.

I reached for the chicken stock and added it to the pot, then followed that with the chicken before covering it and turning down the heat to simmer. I leaned one hip against the counter and let myself silently enjoy the sight of Dylan relaxing for a few seconds.

"How was practice?"

"Good, for the most part. Maybe a little exhausting. Coach really pushed us hard today."

"Any reason why?"

One corner of Dylan's mouth quirked in something that wasn't quite a grin. "You mean other than the fact that we suck?"

"You don't suck." The words had come out automatically, without any thought at all—and without any knowledge of what I was talking about. I knew absolutely nothing about hockey. For all I knew, maybe they really did suck.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence but yeah, we suck." Dylan laughed then took a long swallow of the water before putting the bottle down. "Coach changed up the lines today. He moved me up to the first line."

"Is that a good thing?"

"Yeah. As long as I don't screw up."

"You won't." I turned back to the stove and put the rice on to boil. "Dinner will be ready in a few minutes if you wanted to change."

He slid off the stool then made his way up the steps to the main living area as I started to clean up the rest of the mess I'd made, which really didn't take that long. I heard the television click on, followed by Dylan's soft sigh as he stretched out on the sofa.

A small smile played around the edges of my mouth as I set the table. It was almost like we were living together, settled in a comfortable routine of domestic bliss.

I froze at the thought then quickly slammed the mental brakes. We were not living together and we most certainly were not settled in any kind of routine, domestic or otherwise. Thinking like that could get me into serious trouble and make me start wanting things I couldn't have.

If it wasn't too late for that already.

No. No, it wasn't. Dylan and I weren't living together. We weren't a couple. We were just having fun, that was it. Nothing more, nothing less. It would end soon enough, as soon as I left.

And I would leave. I had to. I didn't belong here, no matter how comfortable I'd become.

So why hadn't I left already? Why was I still here?

I pushed those questions—and the answers I didn't want to admit to—from my mind and focused on something more immediate: dinner. I fixed two bowls of salad—a larger portion for Dylan and a smaller one for me—and placed one at each table setting. Then I drained the rice and spooned some onto two plates before topping each with the Chicken Fricassee.

"It's ready."

There was no answering response from Dylan so I glanced over my shoulder, ready to tell him again that dinner was ready. He was stretched out on the sofa, one arm above his head, the other crossed over his chest. A lock of shaggy hair fell over his forehead into his eyes—his closed eyes.

I watched him sleep for a few minutes, my heart melting just a little bit in my chest. Maybe it was too late for me already. Maybe I'd already started the plunge over the edge of reason. Maybe I already wanted things I couldn't have.

Yeah, maybe.

No, make that probably.

Or should I say definitely?

I pushed whatever thoughts were trying to form in my mind away and cleaned up the dinner I had just put out. I left out a small portion for myself then put the rest in containers and placed them in the