I packed a bag of things and went clothes shopping at a maternity store. It was a relief to buy some clothes that would actually fit me. Then I drank a hot chocolate at the bookstore and picked up the few Christmas presents I needed. By the time I got to Bennett’s at six, my mood was much improved.
“Hey,” he said when he opened the door. I threw myself into his arms.
“Hi,” I said, kissing him.
He pressed a foot to the door and closed it, then reached out to lock the dead bolt, all without breaking the kiss.
“You’re good,” I murmured against his lips.
“I’m ready to tell Liam, but not because he caught us in bed.”
“Will he be back tonight?”
“Nope, but the dead bolt’s just in case. I got in touch with Keri. We’ve got until tomorrow afternoon.”
“But will she tell him?”
He shrugged. “Doesn’t matter if she does. She doesn’t know it’s you who’s here.”
I stepped back to take off my coat. “It smells good in here.”
“I’m making manicotti.”
“Sounds delicious.”
Bennett approached me and put his hands on my belly. Our eyes locked, and the reverence I saw in his melted me and then quickly heated me from head to toe.
“I miss you so much when we’re not together.” He leaned his forehead against mine.
“Me too. So we’re telling Liam Friday night, right?”
He sighed softly. “He’s going to a holiday party with Keri, now. I hadn’t asked him yet, and then he told me about it.”
“Okay. Another night, then.”
“I’m going home for Christmas Day. I wish you could come with me.”
I ran a hand up his neck and into his thick hair. “Me too. But I can’t ditch my family on Christmas.”
“I know.”
A beeping timer sounded in his kitchen, and he broke our embrace to go turn it off. I followed him into the kitchen, sitting down at the table. An open magazine grabbed my attention.
The Twenty Hottest Men on Ice: #14, Bennett Morse
Whoa. There was a photo of Bennett in the locker room, sweaty and shirtless. He held on to a hockey stick and smiled the smile that had melted my panties the first time I saw him.
I scanned the Q&A next to the photo as he sprinkled mozzarella cheese over the pasta he’d made.
Q: What drew you to play hockey?
A: My dad was a youth coach. I learned to skate when I was four, and I never wanted to do anything else.
Q: Is there a special woman in your life?
A: Yes, there is.
Q: Details! Who is she and how’d she get lucky enough to steal your heart?