Page 40 of One Good Puck (Denver Bashers #5)
Abby
W hen I walk into the open doorway of Gavin’s office, I go still at the sight in front of me.
There’s Gavin, Sophie, and Emma using Emma’s bedazzler toy, putting fake gemstones on what looks like a children-sized Bashers jersey.
Emma points to the cluster of gemstones on the jersey and smiles up at Gavin.
He winks at her and says, “Good job,” then holds up a hand for her to high-five. She smacks his palm and smiles wide.
My heart melts at the sight of them playing together.
“Can you help me bedazzle one of my suits after this?” Gavin asks.
She shakes her head, giggling. “That’s silly.”
“Oh, come on. I bet it would look nice.”
Emma giggles. That warm feeling in my chest expands. Seeing this gruff and serious hockey coach go all soft and sweet around my daughter does funny things to my heart.
Gavin glances up and sees me. The corners of his mouth curve up in a gentle smile. “Hey. ”
“Hi.”
“How was the spa?” he asks.
“Amazing. All my tension and muscle knots are gone. I feel like boneless chicken.”
Gavin chuckles.
“Mom, look!” Emma points to the jersey, and I walk over and look at it. “Gavin and Sophie are helping me bedazzle my new jersey.”
“Wow. That looks so good.” I see that it’s Ryker’s jersey and chuckle. “What does Ryker think about you bedazzling his jersey?”
“He doesn’t know yet,” Sophie says. “I can’t wait to see the look on his face when he sees it.”
She checks the time. “I should go. I have a meeting with the physios. It was fun to hang out with you, Emma.”
Emma beams at her, then steps over to hug her. “Thanks for helping me bedazzle my jersey.”
Sophie chuckles. “You’re welcome. I’ll help you bedazzle my dad’s suit next time.”
Emma giggles. I give Sophie a quick hug and thank her for helping watch Emma before she walks out of Gavin’s office.
“Sophie says I should wear my new jersey when we go to a Bashers game,” Emma says. “When can we go, Mom? I really wanna go.”
I brush away the wisps of blonde hair that have fallen in her face. “We’ll see, honey. I have to get tickets first.”
“I can get you tickets,” Gavin says.
He’s offered that to me before, but he’s already been so generous to us, letting us stay in his house for the past three months for free.
“That’s so nice of you to offer, but you don’t have to do that.”
“It’s a perk of this coaching job. I can get tickets for any game. It’s no problem at all,” Gavin says.
“You sure?”
That gentle smile appears once more. “Positive. Wanna go to our game on Friday night?” He looks at Emma.
She nods excitedly. I chuckle. “Sure. Thank you, Gavin. Emma, honey, we’re meeting grandma and grandpa for dinner at their house, so we’ll have to finish bedazzling your jersey later.”
She hops off the chair she’s standing on, then rounds the desk to hug Gavin’s leg. “Thanks for getting me my new jersey and helping me bedazzle it.”
He reaches his arm down to hug her, a warm smile on his face. “You’re welcome. I had fun hanging out with you today.”
“Me too.” She turns to me. “I have to pee.”
I chuckle. “Go ahead, honey.” She walks across Gavin’s office to the small attached bathroom and closes the door.
I dig cash out of my purse. “How much was her jersey?”
“You’re not paying me, Abby.”
I look at him. “Gavin, come on. You’ve done so much already. You treated me to the spa and watched her this morning and afternoon. You need to let me pay you back for her jersey at least.”
“No.” He pins me with a fiery gaze that makes me hot all over.
I swallow hard at his rough, low tone. It reminds me of how he talks to me in bed, so bossy and sexy.
I have to fight the urge to kiss him. We agreed no PDA in front of Emma. But if she wasn’t here, I’d climb him like a tree and have my way with him.
The sound of the toilet flushing and the sink running pulls me back to the moment. Emma opens the bathroom door and walks over to me.
I clear my throat. “You ready, honey?”
“Yup. Bye, Gavin!”
He smiles at her and says, “Bye,” before smiling at me.
I flash what I’m certain is a cheesy, giddy smile. The whole rest of the day, I think about him.