Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

SLOAN

I ’d been kissed, but up until I planted one on Jacob, I didn’t know I’d never been kissed the way you read about in romance novels or see up on the screen. Or streaming, maybe. Even without mistletoe, my toes curled, I moaned into his mouth, and nearly swooned. He tasted like cinnamon and I wanted more.

And God, the way he had to bend down made me feel like my abundance in the trunk and five-foot-seven frame was no longer the monster in the room.

“WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK, SLOAN? Are you kissing JACOB FUCKING HALE ? In my bar?”

I pulled back as Ethan, my big brother, and his bellowed voice cut through the sensual haze I wanted to move into and stay forever.

“What?” I asked as my gaze darted between my lumbersnack and my big brother.

“You hate hockey and he plays for the Revenge, Sloan! For fuck’s sake!”

Wait, what? Then Jon’s words and the look on Ethan’s face sank in. Shit. Jacob was a freaking hockey player? He looked down at me, eyes still sparkling with mirth.

Not one to give many details of my dating life (past and most recent relationship the perfect example of why) I turned to my brother and shot Jon a death glare. “Yes, and the two of you can go puck yourselves.”

Jacob stifled a laugh as I dragged him away before our cover was really blown.

When we reached the hallway where the restrooms were located, I halted, glancing up and down it then nudging open the door I knew was the small closet where Annie kept the things she didn’t want Ethan to bother with. Filled shelves lined a small wall, mementos and a few fixtures she was slowly replacing behind his back that complimented her quirky style.

“So, you hate hockey?” He asked.

“Oh, God,” I moaned. I threw my hands up and covered my face. “I never should have done that! And why didn’t you say anything? You said you had to work Friday!”

He leaned against the door, as if he was making sure no one could interrupt us. “I do. I have a game that night and an early afternoon skate. Flight leaves at 6 AM, and I have practice five hours after that. And why do you hate hockey?”

I paced back and forth. “Because everyone in my family loves it, and they yell and act obnoxious when all I wanted was to watch princesses and read books in peace. Oh, God! This is even worse, because Ethan is going to tell them Jon and I aren’t together and I lost my job, because I’m sure he can’t keep his narcissistic mouth shut and…” My head spun and I bent over, trying to not hyperventilate.

“Hey.” A warm hand started rubbing my back through the thick puffer jacket I wore. “Breathe. In. Out. In. Out.” Jacob’s voice continued for a few more beats until I could breathe normally again. When I straightened I came face to face with his beautiful bearded face and those damn lips.

“Why do you have to look like that? And why did I lie?”

“Let’s get you out of your jacket so you don’t pass out, Sloan.”

I let him take my coat off like I was a small child and couldn’t do it myself. As soon as it was off, I immediately felt a little better.

“I’ll come over for a little bit. What time is dinner?”

My head whipped up. “What?”

He took my hand in his again, and I stared at it, trying to figure out why he was asking me what time dinner started. “Don’t you have plans? Or…wait, didn’t you say something about takeout?”

He shrugged. “I usually don’t get home, plus my parents are divorced so there’s the having to choose. So I order in. Or I have to play the next day.”

I cocked my head to one side. “Why is this year different?”

Jacob raked a hand through his red hair, leaving it finger tousled and sexy.

Focus, Sloan.

“This year is…complicated. I have plans, but I don’t have to be there all day.” His eyes were filled with concern.

“How is anyone this nice and hot and why did you have to play hockey?”

Oh. God. Did I say that out loud???

His eyes danced with mischief. “Yep, you did.”

I stood and snatched my jacket from the empty shelf he set it on and threw it over my arm. My tiny purse was still on the floor where I hadn’t realized I had dropped it during my freak out. “I appreciate it, but you don’t have to, I will just find a way to hide under the table until the football games and hockey starts up. Maybe they’ll be too distracted and I can sneak leftovers or something-”

“Sloan.”

The way he said my name made me look up. Big. Mistake. “Yes?”

“I’ll come to dinner, stay for a little bit to distract your family, and then leave. Tell them we just started dating recently. No big deal. I love turkey, remember?”

“There’ll be plenty,” I said, breathless, because no one had ever stepped up for me like this. “Are you sure? Because you don’t have-”

“I’m sure. Plus, I kind of want to win over a few Montreal fans. Even if Cole plays there now. It’ll be fun to text him about. Gives me an excuse to reach out.”

I wrinkled my brow. “Cole?”

He smirked. “Ask your brother. So, what time’s dinner?”