Page 31 of Daring the Hockey Player

I slip out of my shoes and remove my coat. I'd feel terrible if I so much as scuffed the wooden floors. The house looks pristine and immaculate, which is hard to imagine with his daughter running around.

Jasper takes his shoes off, too, leaving them by the door. He didn't bother with a coat, but he also didn't seem cold on the way over.

"Are they home?" I ask, glancing around. The house is quiet, and I'd expect a six-year-old to pounce the minute that we step inside. Not that she's a puppy, but she is quite enthusiastic and full of energy.

"They told us to meet them at seven," he says and glances at his watch. "We're right on time. We'll find them."

I don't know where anything is, and Jasper leads me down the hallway, where we can hear a little commotion. Kyler and Emerson are making out, oblivious that we just entered the house. And unlike where two people might be fooling around on the kitchen counter or shoved up against a wall, she's seated on his lap, and he's still on one knee.

When we're standing there for a solid minute, or at least it feels like that, Jasper clears his throat.

"Maybe we should come back," I suggest.

"Amber?" Emerson looks awestruck when she sees me and untangles from his embrace.

"It's good to see you again," Kyler says, shaking my hand. It's been a few days, and I almost reach out to hug him, but it feels a little too soon and informal.

Emerson's jaw is slack, and she glances from me to Jasper. "You're dating my sister?" I swear she could catch a few flies, and my stomach somersaults at her question.

What makes her think that?

Jasper is all smiles, and he glances at me before answering Emerson. "We're just friends. Your brother introduced us when he needed help picking out the ring at Tiffany's."

Emerson seems taken aback by the admission. I am, too, although I know we're not anything more than friends. And we technically met before Tiffany's, but I don't correct him.

"You're just friends?" Emerson repeats like she doesn't believe him. She's staring at me and then Jasper, waiting for confirmation.

Jasper nods. He looks far more relaxed than I feel. I smile, but I'm not sure my lips are even turning upward. This is awkward. Sharing a bed last night with him should not make me feel this unsettled. All we did was sleep!

"That's right, just friends," I affirm.

My sister turns around to face her fiancé, wrapped up in his embrace. "Why did you tell me Jasper was bringing his girlfriend?"

I choke on Emerson's words. "Girlfriend?" Thankfully, I'm not drinking anything, or I'd have spit it across the room.

"I wanted to surprise you with the proposal. And if I told you my brother and your sister were coming over, you'd be suspicious," Kyler says like it's the most usual thing in the world.

It would have been if I didn't drink myself silly last night and played a childish game of truth or dare with Jasper, which I don't regret. And that's the worst part because I shouldn't keep crushing on him.

Emerson seems to relax with his answer. "Well, you did a good job with the surprise." She turns around to face Jasper and me, and I try everything in my power to keep a reasonable distance between us, but if I shift slightly, he will brush against me.

Technically, I'd brush up against him. "Well, did you say yes?" I ask and glance at Emerson's hand. I need a distraction from the hot, single guy standing beside me. The one I've caught feelings for.

My sister shows me the ring on her finger. "I'm engaged!"

"Congratulations!" I squeal in delight and pull Emerson into my arms for a hug. I'm happy for her, especially now that the engagement is real, and she doesn't have to pretend to be in love with Kyler Greyson.

"I'm happy for you both," Jasper says, patting Kyler on the back. When I let go of my sister, he gives her a friendly hug. He glances around the room. "Something smells good."

"We just put a peach pie in the oven."

"You bake?" I ask, glancing at Kyler because I know my sister is terrible in the kitchen.

"The nanny does the cooking and baking around here," Emerson says. "She gave us a couple of peach pies during the summer, and we froze them."

"Sounds delicious." Jasper rubs his hands together.

"I have some dessert wine to celebrate," Emerson says, and she glances at me. "You can have a glass while you're here, but you'll have to stay a while. I don't want you tipsy trying to find your way to the subway."