Page 112 of Secrets on Ice

“Also, just be careful with Connor. I know he’s my brother and I love him, but I love you too. I don’t want you to get hurt again.”

Aw. I love her.

“You know he dates a lot, and I guess I don’t want you to be another notch on his belt. I know he wouldn’t do that to you, but …”

I reach out and squeeze her hand. “I promise, it’s done. I was falling into past patterns, and I need to break from doing that.”

“Thank goodness, I don’t know if I could handle walking in on my brother naked again.” She shivers.

“Yeah, sorry about that.”

“I don’t want details like ever, but, you know … it would be utterly embarrassing if he was all talk and no game. Don’t want that shame brought to the family.”

I burst out laughing. “It was amazing.”

Cassidy tries not to hurl. “Okay. Good. I’m glad that you’re happy. That’s all that matters. Now, can we talk about me?” she says, changing the subject.

“Um, yes. What the hell?”

“I know, I know. But he’s a hot, younger man that basically wants to screw my brains out twenty-four-seven, no strings attached,” she explains. “I have never in my life been treated the way he is treating me.” I can hear the happiness in her voice.

“I’m happy for you.”

“Honestly, he is the greatest distraction, but it’s only until the end of summer, we both agreed. We both know what this is, it’s physical,” she explains.

I know what she means. “You’re not worried about catching feelings?” I ask her.

She looks at me as if I am crazy. “Oh hell no. I am in my single era, ready to mingle. I am not ready to settle down. I have too much life to live. We have a new business venture that we need to get off the ground, and it’s going to take up most of our time. I’m happy having fun with him.”

“But you’ve only been seeing Nelly?” I ask her.

She stills. “This is true.” She taps her finger on her lips. “But it’s only sex. My plan is to have all the fun with him now, then come the start of the season, when he is solely focused on hockey, I go and live my best life.”

“Sounds like you have it all figured out.” I laugh.

“Foolproof plan. Men have been doing it for years, so why can’t we?”

She has a point.

“Can I say something, though, and don’t be weird.”

“Okay.”

“You don’t have feelings for my brother, do you?” she asks.

“What? No.”

Her brows pull together. “I mean, I wouldn’t be mad if you two started dating, but not now.”

I shake my head. “You have nothing to worry about.”

“It’s just … you always ran to him when you were younger, and now, you’re doing it again, so there’s always been something there on both sides.” She muses.

I’m not sure what to say to that.

“Actually, the more I think about it, the more I hate Kevin.” Huh? “Because maybe if you hadn’t gotten back together with him, you would be my sister-in-law.”

“If Connor and I had gotten together when we were teens, I doubt we would be together now. He’s a hockey star, he would have eventually cheated with a puck bunny.”