Chapter 22

Chapter Twenty-Two

Ivy

The knock on the door today isn’t unexpected.

In fact, it’s planned.

Winter’s sleepover is done.

Knox is here to pick her up.

Is Knox going to be my new dad?

“Ugh,” I mutter, rubbing the ache in my temples. It’s become constant, even though the call this morning went well. “Just enough .” This isn’t complicated. Knox and I are… sex . Friendly acquaintances doing each other a favor at best, friends with benefits at worst.

Nothing more.

So, why did excitement ripple through me at that knock?

Why did I have to clutch the counter so I didn’t hurry to answer it, to pull the door open and leap into his arms?

Why, even now, am I fighting the urge to just give in and see where this all goes?

Slip. Slip. Slide .

“I know better,” I whisper, pushing up off the stool and bracing myself for the presence of him.

Just give him the dog and send him on his way.

Then Evie and I will get back to our lives.

And she’ll forget about him, just like she forgot about that dad from karate…Tom, I think.

Exhaling, I move into the hall then reach for the door handle just as the knock starts again. I pull it open and— fuck —but bracing for him didn’t do a damned thing.

My knees wobble and my pussy clenches and?—

“Hey, lioness.”

Oh, sweet baby Jesus.

He bends down, as though to kiss me and I jump back, hating that his brows pull together and a mix of confusion and hurt enters those piercing blue eyes of his.

“Snowball’s decided she wants to be an escape artist,” I say lamely, taking another step back.

Not a lie, but I still feel guilty.

“Ah.” His lips twitch as he steps inside, quickly closes the door.

“Thanks,” I murmur, turning for the kitchen. “I’m sure you’re tired from the travel.” I nod at the bag on the table I keep in the hall. “I packed up Winter’s stuff for you. We just need to interrupt the fluffballs’ mid-morning nap, which, of course, came after their morning nap.” I flick my gaze over my shoulder, see that he’s stopped and is staring at the packed bag like it contains a bomb…

“They’re in Evie’s room,” I add quietly, trying to ignore the sick feeling in my stomach.

He looks up. “Right.”

I start down the hall again, but I only make it a single step before he’s in front of me, determination woven into his expression.

Shit. Shit .

“Lioness,” he murmurs. “Is this because I didn’t call while I was gone?” He touches my cheek. “I’m sorry. I know I should have checked in.”

A bolt of guilt shoots through me, but I shake my head fiercely. “No,” I say. “I was busy. I-I—” My throat is tight, so I clear it. “Evie has school and karate and dance, and I was busy with my clients and then I found out—” I fill him in on the connection to the superintendent and my call this morning.

“That’s great news, baby.”

I nod jerkily. “So, yeah, it was a busy couple of days. I’m not mad that you didn’t call. You replied to the pictures of Winter I texted, and Evie and I watched the game so we knew you were doing well.”

“You watched the game?”

That sick feeling in my stomach grows.

Because he looks…happy and proud and?—

Is Knox going to be my new dad?

The pain almost buckles my knees.

Dammit. This is why I don’t do these things. This is why I keep my distance. Feelings get involved and things invariably go wrong and?—

“Did you see my goal?” His eyes are hopeful and his question…

It doesn’t help the pain riddling my insides.

Tear the Band-aid.

But I can’t seem to manage to as I whisper, “Yes.” A beat. “And Evie did too.” Despite myself, I feel my mouth curving. “She says it was the bestest goal she’s ever seen.”

He touches the backs of his knuckles to my cheek. God, I love it when he does that, love it even more when he steps closer, filling my nose with his scent, prickling my nerves, sending arousal blooming in my belly, and he smiles. “Prime compliments from a true hockey fan.”

I laugh lightly. “Don’t get too cocky. She also said it would be so much better if the puck was covered in sparkles.”

His laughter fills the halls and it’s fucking intoxicating.

Part of me just wants to stand here in bask in it or maybe fist pump and declare that I did that . That I made him laugh .

The rest knows…

I’ve already allowed myself to slip too far.

“Let’s grab Winter,” I say, stepping away from his touch. “I have a busy afternoon before I have to get Evie.”

That amusement, the beautiful golden cloud of his humor—it’s tempting to continue to bask in it. But I know the score, know where I’ll end up, and?—

No more.

Slowly, his hand drops to his side. “Did something happen while I was gone?”

“No,” I say, brushing by him. “Why?”

A long blip of quiet before he speaks again. “No reason.”

Oddly disappointed that he’s letting it go—and chastising myself because I know I have absolutely no right to be—I move into Evie’s room.

The furry pair look up at me, Winter’s tail wagging and Snowball’s eyes filled with annoyance. Something that disappears a moment later as Knox comes in behind me, Winter’s tail shifting to hyperdrive.

“Hey, baby,” he murmurs, bending down and scooping her up. She goes crazy licking his chin, trying to all but crawl into his skin. Even Snowball gets into the action, jumping onto her hind legs and resting her front paws against his leg.

And then she’s also in Knox’s arms, cradled by his gentle touch, his soft words.

And I’m on the outside.

My stomach twists, and I hate that I feel like I’ve just lost something important. I know this is the right move. Keep it cordial. Keep it simple.

No one gets hurt.

Right .

I slip from the room, pick up the bag and Winter’s crate from the kitchen, and slip out the front door. Knox’s car is unlocked, thankfully, so I tuck the items in the trunk and then turn for the house again to find him standing on the porch.

“What the fuck, lioness?” he asks quietly as he shuts the door behind him.

Winter’s still in his arms, looking as contented as ever. Snowball likely got tired of scratches and returned to her sunny spot.

Am I jealous of the pooch? Yup.

Am I going to do anything about it? Nope .

“I’ll let you get back to your day—” I begin.

“I say again,” he growls, his eyes clashing with mine. “What the fuck is going on? I left here with a hot kiss and a hard-on, and I came back to…” He waves a hand.

“To what?”

“You icing me out.”

I want to deny it. But I don’t. For one, I can’t. I am icing him out. For another, I have to ice him out.

Because if I don’t?—

Slip. Slip. Slide.

“Look,” I begin. “We had a nice time?—”

His brows shoot up and I hate the emotions that crawl across his expression—bewilderment and frustration and…

Hurt.

Better him than me.

Except, those words feel wrong—so damned wrong.

“Okay, so we had a great time,” I blurt. “But neither of us are looking for a relationship, remember? This was a fun interlude and I’m happy to help out with Winter when you need, but that’s all?—”

I watch as his face locks down.

And I fucking hate it.

But I don’t do anything to change it.

“I’ve got a pet sitter lined up,” he says quietly.

I blink. “What?”

“I have a pet sitter lined up already,” he semi-repeats as he brushes by me and tugs open his car door. I follow, watching as he settles Winter into some sort of car seat contraption for a dog that even comes with a seat belt he clips to her harness. He backs out, slams the door. “So don’t worry about it. Winter’s covered.”

“Oh. Well, I?—”

He tugs open the driver’s side door, seeming to pluck the thoughts from my mind. “If Evie wants to see Winter, tell her I’ll bring her to the rink some time.”

“I—”

He swings the metal panel shut before I get the chance to finish the sentence.

And then he’s turning on the engine, backing down the driveway.

And then …

He’s gone.

Which is exactly what I wanted.

Right?