Like him. Was that what she meant?
Not always about you, dummy.
Given her loss, her independent nature was completely understandable. Admirable, even. But she didn’t need to do it solo. She had teased him about his self-denial and about going easier on himself. Yet here was Kennedy pulling the lone-wolf act for which Reid was famous.
Words weren’t his strong point but he had other ways.
“I told you once I would hold you whenever you needed it. You don’t even have to ask.”
With shining eyes, she nodded and let him take charge of the cuddle.
“All those things I said I could do,” he said against her temple. “Coffee, hot tubs, smoothies, foot rubs?”
“And orgasms,” she whispered.
“And orgasms. Those things are just the beginning.” He whispered a few more skills on his resume, ones that were hers for the taking. “Mon corps pour vous garder au chaud. Mes bras pour vous garder en sécurité. Mon cœur pour te garder ancré.”
My body to keep you warm.
My arms to keep you safe.
My heart to keep you anchored.
That same heart thudded wildly, recognizing the importance of this moment. He was falling for a woman who had said she couldn’t stay, but maybe he could convince her. Maybe he could bone up on the resume needed to keep a woman like Kennedy in his life.
“What does that mean?”
“Just some nonsense.”
Bucky bounded into the bedroom and jumped on the bed.
“Bucky!” Kennedy said with a laugh that broke the tension. “You shouldn’t do that. You’re a terrible advertisement for my services.”
“He needs to go out.” Reid kissed Kennedy’s forehead. “I’ll take him and get the coffee started.
“Come on, boy, do your thing.”
Bucky sniffed a patch of tree bark and decided it wasn’t worthy of his efforts. So fickle.
Reid’s phone rang and he steeled himself for a call from Henri. Surprised, he saw it was Coach Calhoun. Shit. He hadn’t said much after Reid’s performance last night, but obviously he preferred to do his bawl-outs in private, which was better than the Henri way, Reid supposed.
He answered. “Coach.”
“Durand. So how are you this morning?”
“Disappointed.” He was, about the game, but he couldn’t claim disappointment about anything that had occurred in the aftermath. With Kennedy, hockey’s importance—his reason for being on this earth, he had thought—diminished, a conclusion that shocked him and would never pass his lips. “I’m sorry about last night.”
His body tensed, waiting for the harsh critique he deserved.
“So you didn’t play to your potential. That happens. Not everyone can be on at every minute.”
“But you put your faith in me and I let you down—”
“Reid, listen to me. I’m a hard-ass, but hell, no one is harder on you than you are on yourself. It was your first shot at center in prime time. Did you think it would click just like that? Foreman and Petrov have history and are in tune with each other. But you’re the linchpin on that line. You’ve got to get in sync with both of them. It’ll just take practice, which I know you’re not afraid of.”
No, he wasn’t. His heart should have felt heavy but it didn’t. It felt fucking hopeful.
He wanted a multi-year contract with a team. With this team. With a coach who saw his potential and not everything he did wrong.
“I don’t mind working hard.”
Coach chuckled. “That’s what I want to hear. Enjoy your day off and be ready to grind at practice tomorrow.”
“Will do. Thanks, Coach.”
He didn’t have time to enjoy this novel feeling of contentment because a text had come in from Kennedy while he was on the call.
So you’re not going to like this …
He read the rest and cursed loud enough to make Bucky finally pee and take a nice, healthy dump.
Reid was fine with the sound of his own dog barking. After all, Bucky’s voice was almost melodic and usually meant he was happy about his latest treat. Reid was less sure about other dogs especially in an enclosed space while people knocked back Mimosas, Bloody Marys, and eggs Benedict.
Foreman looked about as pleased as Reid to be spending his Sunday at Fido’s on Main, Riverbrook’s very own dog-friendly restaurant with a heated indoor patio. Apparently this was the latest thing. Man and canine, brunching together at last.
“They have this amazing bread pudding,” Mia said. “We could get one for the table or maybe a half-one for me. I could probably eat the whole thing.”
Foreman’s eyes softened. “Wouldn’t want to deny you your bread pudding rights, gorgeous girl. We’ll get a large one for the rest of us and you can have a bowl all for yourself.”
“Best. Boyfriend. Ever.”
Foreman grinned, then caught Reid’s eye and dropped the act. “You still pissed about last night, Durand?”
“Yeah,” Kennedy said, her wicked smile stretching wide, her eyes sparkling like shining quarters. “Are you?”
He pressed his thigh against hers, hoping to discourage her from being too mischievous. He certainly didn’t want his business known by all and sundry. Apparently Kennedy and Mia had set this brunch up a few days ago, but the way the two of them were grinning like Cheshire cats, he had to wonder if there were some shenanigans afoot.
Reid wasn’t one to waste an opportunity. As he was here breathing the same sugar-on-French-toast-scented air as Foreman, he may as well get the man’s opinion. “So last night didn’t go so well.”
Oh, that confused the hell out of the Masshole.
Foreman eyed him with suspicion, then after a beat said, “I feel like it was coming together in practice, so I guess it’s just performance anxiety.” He winced and turned to Mia. “What? Why did ya kick me?”
“Because you’re being mean to Reid. He needs positive encouragement.”
“I really don’t.”
Foreman waved a hand. “See? No one needs the soft soap here. We’re all adults and Durand played like a donkey.”
Reid snorted his appreciation for Foreman’s candid assessment. “Thanks, Foreskin.”
Cal muttered a curse under his breath.
Kennedy sent a baffled look Mia’s way. “I don’t understand sports people.”
“This is standard intra-team smack talking,” Mia said cheerfully. “You’ll figure it out.”
The server stopped by to take their orders, including from a special dog menu for Bucky and Gordie Howe, who were both lying on the floor, checking each other out.
“So how’s the roommate thing going, guys?” Mia asked, in one of those oh-so-innocent tones that no one bought for a second.
“I’ll let Kennedy answer that.” Reid ran a hand under the table over her thigh and squeezed because even though he was in favor of keeping his private life private, he couldn’t resist touching her.
She turned to him, that gorgeous smile already lighting up her face. “He’s a neat freak.”
“She’s never met a dish she couldn’t dirty.”