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I pull my hands away momentarily at the mention of Ryan’s name, but soon find myself reaching for his again. “I wasn’t enough for your brother.”
He scoffs. “Ryan wasn’t enough for you,” he corrects me with a gentle scolding. “Just give us a chance, Mia. That’s all I’m asking. Can we just see where things go?”
His fingertips trace my jawline and make me tremble. I long for his touch, eager to have it again, to chase the same thrill we had before.
But reality knocks on the door, and I say, in a fleeting voice, “Why should I trust you?”
Ethan touches the tip of his nose to mine. He’s sweaty, exuding a sexy manly musk.
“Like I told you before, we’ve both been through something similar. I haven’t been serious with anyone since Amanda, and I feel a strong pull to you that is hard to ignore. Plus, I’d never let a woman like you get away,” he smiles, insinuating.
With one last shaky breath, I succumb to his advances and let him kiss me so tenderly all my nerves blaze to life as he touches me.
My thoughts spiral upwards, and for a second, all there’s left is this man, his touch, and his scent. Even the noise of the hockey practice still going on is muffled by the sound of my own heart thumping in my ears.
When he breaks away from me, I remain still, my lips slightly parted and my eyes closed. When I finally open my eyes, he’s smiling, evidently pleased with what he’s done.
With an attempt at boldness tinged with a hint of shyness, he suggests, “Can we give this a try and see where it goes?”
“And where would that be?” I raise an eyebrow.
“Who knows?” Ethan shrugs. “There is no pressure. What if we just take it a day at a time and see?”
And suddenly, my heart warms up to the possibility. It’s scary and new. This would be just my second adult romantic relationship.
“Okay,” I nod, conceding defeat. Before Ethan can say anything, I continue, “But if it gets serious enough and we decide to tell Ryan, I’ll do it.”
“Okay,” Ethan smiles, wraps an arm around my waist, and pulls me closer to kiss me again.
“Hey!” The coach’s voice echoes through the room, and we both turn to look at him. “He’s supposed to be being punished.”
I go into a giggle fit, give Ethan one last peck, and say, “Meet you at the terrace restaurant at six.” He nods and grins, making my stomach do somersaults.
For a moment, I feel like I’m a teenager getting ready to sneak out of the house.
Then I remind myself I’m no teenager. I’m twenty-six and I have control over my life and can make my own decisions, even if it means crossing into off-limits territory with my ex’s brother.
There’s an undeniable connection between us that I refuse to fight anymore.
I can do this and be mature about it.
I just hope Ethan and Ryan can be adults about it too.
Chapter Fourteen
ETHAN
“The Timberwolves ate it!” I bellow at the top of my lungs from the shower, making the guys in the locker room holler back in a cacophony of victorious voices.
Needless to say, I’ve been in a great mood since Mia and I decided to start seeing each other.
“We’re having the best season ever, right?” Ruslav asks. The scouts unearthed him from a minor league in northern Alaska.
A bar of soap slips through my hands and flies over the top of the shower stalls. “Ow,” I hear Ruslav mutter in the stall next to me and I snort, imagining it hitting him in the head.
“It’s your first season with us, idiot!” Smith informs him. “Your first season with the NHL at all.”
“Hey, don’t be like that!” I shout, shutting off the water. “I bet there’s TV in his home village.”
