What’s she up to? Gage decided it would be more fun to find out than stay where he was. He politely shucked Blair’s grip. “I’m going to grab myself some wine.”
“’Kay. Hurry back.” Her wolfish smile reminded him of Hunter. If he’d had the time, if he’d given a shit, he’d have introduced them—they’d make a perfect couple.
Gage strode to the veranda, glimpsing Lily rounding the corner out of sight. When he caught up to her, she was empty-handed, poised by an inconspicuous door that led outside.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “He was coming on a little strong. You looked like you could use an escape too.”
“She’s not my date,” he blurted.
“I didn’t think so.” She arched an eyebrow at the door. A small smile tipped her lips as she twisted the doorknob.
His heartbeat kicked up a notch. “Right behind you.”
As they walked out into the cool night air, it occurred to him he was no longer fatigued. Actually, he was buzzing. Prickly heat on crack.
“We made it!” She looked up at him, her big eyes reflecting twinkly lights strung between the trees, and she laughed. Her laugh had a tinkling quality to it, soft and high, sounding nothing like her throaty, body-rocking voice.
They strolled along a crushed-stone path amid the trees. He cleared his throat. “I’d like to apologize for Hunter’s, ah, behavior.”
“No need. I’m used to the Hunters of the world. Are you friends?”
“Strictly teammates.”
“Did you always want to be a hockey player?”
One corner of his mouth quirked. “No. I wanted to be a surfer.”
“A surfer!” she laughed. “From water to ice. And hockey won out.”
“It pays better.” Important when you have others depending on you.
“So you actually surf?”
“Did. My contract doesn’t allow it, so it’s been awhile.”
“Where are you from originally?” she asked. “I don’t hear an accent.”
They were walking in a loop and would soon be heading back the way they came. “Born and raised in California. My mother and grandmother taught English, which might have something to do with it.”
“That explains it—and the laid-back vibe.” The smile in her voice was evident. “But the way you speak reminds me of a professor.”
“Is that good or bad?”
“All good.”
“Ah. That’d make Grandma and Mom happy. Shall I quote you a little Shakespeare?” He paused when she giggled, holding back his own embarrassed laughter. Shakespeare was not his typical come-on—not that he had one.
“You quote Shakespeare?”
“Just the usual stuff. ‘First thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.’” Tossing dignity to the wind, he covered his heart with one hand and threw his other arm to the sky—which was when he noticed Hunter peering out the door they’d escaped through. Hunter didn’t seem to have noticed them—yet.
Gage kept his voice low. “I think we’re about to get busted.”
Lily grabbed his sleeve. “Not if I can help it.” She angled toward the back of the building, hanging a sharp right before coming to a stop at the foot of a dim staircase.
His grin broke free. It was the most fun he’d had all night. “Where does this go?”
“I’ll show you, Professor.” The poor light didn’t hide the mischief playing in her eyes.
He swept his hand and gave a bow in a grand gesture. “Lead on.”
Following her shapely calves up the stairs, he was surprised when she stepped through a door into the hallway leading to the guest rooms.
“Side entrance,” she declared.
His room was only several doors away, and he pointed at it. “My room’s right there.”
“And mine’s right here.” She lifted her chin, indicating the door beside them.
Despite his best efforts to keep it in check, heat pooled in his gut, radiating through him. “Ah” was all he could muster. An awkward few beats passed while he debated how to ask for her phone number. “Will you be here for breakfast in the morning?”
She nodded. “I hear the food’s fabulous.”
Tongue in knots, he searched for something, anything, to say. Sadly, he came up empty. “Well, I’ll just …” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. I’ll get her number tomorrow.
Her breath hitched. “I have a full bottle of wine in my room. Interested in sharing a glass?”
The invitation caught him off guard. Did he want to join her? So much. He really liked her. Which was the same reason he bobbed his head toward his own door, stammering, “Uh, it’s probably best … I should go.”
Her features pinched together. “Oh. I shouldn’t have presumed. Do you have someone?”
“No!”
Her eyes flew wide. Yeah, he’d been a little overzealous in his response.
“What I mean is, I’m not attached. To anyone. At all. Haven’t been, well, attached … in a long time. Ever! Hockey comes first. Well, that’s not true. Family first. Then the game.”
Amusement crept into her expression. “You’re not what I expected,” she said, bringing a halt to his geyser-like sputtering.
I’m not what I expected either. He usually had no problems maintaining his composure around women. Apparently, this one was special.
She canted her head and smiled. “You’re different.”
A breath fled from him as he corralled his inner middle-schooler. The blame for acting like a babbling idiot, he decided, lay squarely on the attraction electrifying the atmosphere between them. That had to be it.
Fortunately, he recovered and, with a wink, said, “My mom calls it ‘being special.’ But I suspect she was soft-pedaling the truth all those years.”
Another giggle escaped Lily—now she sounded nervous. “You sure you won’t come in for a few minutes?”
His stomach turned a few flips while his mind ran through various scenarios. Not one of them included him leaving. What could it hurt? They could enjoy a drink and talk about music—without Hunter or Blair butting in. Then he’d ask her out. Maybe dinner next week.
Besides, a glass of wine might settle his jangling nerves.
“I’d really like that,” he said.
“Good.” She punched a few buttons on the door’s numeric pad, and he could’ve sworn her hand trembled. The lock clicked, and
