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“And now I understand why Victor suddenly resents away games. How about this—as soon as I get back, I’ll text you and we can compare schedules, figure out when we can go on our first official date.”

“No hockey expo,” she stressed.

Dean crossed his finger over his heart. “No expos. I’ll pick you up, open the car door like a gentleman, and take you somewhere that doesn’t involve either of us cooking or cleaning.”

“Sounds like bliss.”

“And afterward…” He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, and she laughed.

Vivian leaned toward him, giving him a quick kiss. “I like the sound of afterward.”

He glanced toward the alarm clock on the nightstand and groaned. “I really hate being a responsible adult.”

“Me too.”

“I’ll text you when I’m on the road,” he said. “I’ve kinda gotten used to talking to you. It’s nice.”

She smiled, touched by his admission. “It is nice. I’d love to hear from you.”

One of the things she’d missed most after Phil died had been their simple, maybe even boring conversations every evening as they chatted about their days.

She climbed out of bed before Dean could tempt her to say to hell with adulting and crawl back under the covers with him. That was the more attractive option. As she grabbed some clean clothes from her closet, she walked into the bathroom, the glass dish catching her eye.

She glanced through the open door into the bedroom. Dean had his back to her, pulling his jeans over his very firm, very fine ass. He was completely unaware of the corner she’d turned while he slept.

Her wedding ring hadn’t left her finger since Phil slid it on, right after vowing “’til death do us part.’”

For five years, she’d believed wearing it honored Phil. Now she realized he’d never needed proof. The ring hadn’t been keeping him close. It had been keeping her still.

Vivian rested two fingers against the dish for just a moment before turning away. She didn’t pick it back up. Instead, she washed her face, put on makeup, and got dressed.

Dean appeared in the doorway, leaning against the frame. “You ready?”

Vivian smiled. “Yeah.”

Unbeknownst to him, she wasn’t only talking about leaving for work.

Chapter Seven

Dean had never expected going on a date with a woman to feel like conducting a covert military operation. Yet there he stood in the empty hospital parking garage, leaning against his car while pretending to scroll through his phone, rather than simply walking inside and picking her up from her office.

Every few seconds, he glanced toward the elevator, waiting for Vivian to appear.

She’d texted a couple minutes earlier.

Running late. Mrs. Patterson decided I couldn’t leave until I’d seen pictures of every single one of her grandkids.

He responded immediately.

Take your time.

Vivian’s next text had him laughing out loud.

FYI, she has ten grandkids.

Dean understood the need for secrecy. This was just one date, after all. Though he was already hoping for another.

Regardless, Vivian was smart to want to take things slowly—one date at a time.