Page 33 of Rebel Secrets (Devils Hockey #3)

Okay, he didn’t say anything too snarky.

Shaking my head, we walked out of the restaurant.

He headed for my truck while I headed for the bookstore.

It was only a couple of blocks away, and the night was beautiful.

Yeah, it was hot, but there was a breeze, and the sun had fallen behind the hills so it wasn’t oppressive.

Several shops remained open late on Thursdays, main street windows glittering from the inside lights and the remaining sunlight.

I stopped in front of the bookstore, looking inside.

There seemed to be a lot of people for a weekday night at six-thirty, but then I realized it was teen book-club night, which explained all the teenagers in the store.

Several groups of girls sat in clusters around the store, sipping from thermal cups. Eight boys, a few I recognized from camp, sat at a table, playing a game with cards.

Finally, I saw Erin on her knees in front of a little boy who couldn’t be more than five, who looked ready to cry.

She held his hands and looked into his eyes.

I didn’t recognize the kid. But I knew that look on Erin’s face.

She listened with her whole body to what he was saying, nodding as he said spoke.

She didn’t say anything until it was clear the little boy was finished, then she said something and, whatever it was, it had a calming effect.

And when she was done, and the boy hitched one last big breath, she smiled and so did he.

God damn, she took my breath away. I mean, literally, I felt like all the air got sucked out of my lungs. Of course, as she got to her feet, she glanced out the window and saw me, staring at her like her own personal stalker.

Neither of us moved, our gazes locked, until she looked down, her attention snagged by the little boy, who tugged on her hand, wanting her to follow him. With a quick smile for me, she turned away and followed the kid to the back of the store.

Since I couldn’t just stand there looking through the window without people staring at me funny, I opened the door and walked in.

The first thing that hit me was the noise.

Usually the bookstore was an oasis of calm, kind of like a library.

Tonight, the music was a little louder and definitely for the younger crowd.

The boys at the table talked over each other as they slapped cards on the table.

High-pitched teen girls chattered in about twenty different conversations.

It all seemed a little chaotic. And perfectly Erin.

Walking farther into the store, I caught sight of her near the back, the little boy she’d been talking to holding her hand while munching a cookie. I followed, knowing I should leave. She was working. And yet I couldn’t make myself go. I wondered if I was good, would I get a cookie?

Grinning, I turned around a bookshelf and ran into the object of my desire.

She “oofed,” and I grabbed for her shoulders to make sure she didn’t go down.

“Whoa, sorry.” I kept my hands on her shoulders for longer than necessary and only released her when she looked up at me with arched brows. “You okay?”

Her brows arched higher. “I’m fine. Not the first time I’ve run into you.”

As soon as the final word left her mouth, she flushed bright red. My grin widened, and her gaze dropped to my lips before sliding somewhere around my shoulder.

I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She didn’t look any different than she had when she’d dropped off lunch today. She wore pink overalls with a white t-shirt, her rose-gold hair braided in her normal style. And yet, something had changed. With me.

It seemed every day my feelings for her intensified, my desire for her smoldering in my gut. I clamped down hard on that. I wore track shorts, for chrissake, and there were teenagers with sharp eyes all over the damn place.

I had the unusual urge to tease her, but again… Kids.

“Looks like you have your hands full tonight.”

“Teen night is always busy. But I love having them here.”

Her smile did a number on my nerves. I swallowed hard.

“Noisier than normal.”

She laughed, the sound running up my spine like fingernails.

“You should be used to that. I’ve been to your hockey games.”

“True.”

“Miss Erin, did you read that new book we told you about yet? You said we could talk about it this week.”

The girl, who looked familiar, called to Erin from one of the nearby tables.

“I’ll be there in a few seconds, Amelia.”

The girl looked over at me, sharp eyes not missing a thing.

“Sorry, didn’t realize you’d be so busy. I should let you get back to the kids.”

“Did you need something, Rebel?”

Yeah, I just wasn’t sure I should. I felt like my life was on hold, that I had too many life decisions to make. And yet, she was the one thing I knew without any doubt that I wanted.

“I do.”

I let that hang there for a few seconds, watched her lips part and her eyes widen slightly, waiting for me. Until finally, she huffed.

“And are you going to tell me what that is?”

“No.”

Now, her lips curved, and her eyes shone with laughter. How was that even a thing?

“I actually think you’re teasing me, but I can’t be sure.”

“Happy to be a man of mystery.”

She laughed, and damn, if I didn’t want to pat myself on the back. Or pat her ass, which was probably a sexist thing to say, but she had a great ass, and I appreciated the hell out of it.

Fuck, I needed to get out of here before I embarrassed the hell out of myself and her.

“Hey, Coach, you wanna play?” One of the boys I recognized from camp called to me from the table.

“Hang on, guys, I’ll be over in a second.”

“Miss Erin,” another teenage girl walked over, “we’re ready to start book club when you are.”

Erin looked at me and shrugged.

“Sorry.”

I nodded. “You’re busy. I’ll let you get back to work.”

I could tell she wanted to say something else, but it was there and gone in a split second. Her smile dimmed a little as she looked back at me.

“I guess I’ll see you around then.”

Absolutely. I just needed to get my shit together and figure out what I was going to do with her.

“I’ll see you soon.”