* * *
“Hey, it’s me,” I said. “I tried calling you earlier, but there was no answer. I hope you’re settling in. Maybe you’re out, or something, or maybe your reception is bad. Just… call me when you get this.”
Hanging up, I shoved my cell phone into my pocket and stared out at the lake. The dusky pink sunset reflecting off the water was beautiful this time of year.
It was one of the things I’d missed most while living in Boston.
My heart squeezed.
“God, I miss you,” I murmured to the breeze.
“Miss who?”
A deep voice startled me, and I glanced up to find Aiden Dumfries staring down at me.
“Uh, no one.”
“Your brother, right? Dalton Benson? One of the best right-wingers the NCAA had ever seen. Can I?” He motioned to the sand beside me, and before I could answer, he dropped down.
“Sure, make yourself comfortable,” I murmured.
“Don’t mind if I do.” He smirked.
Aiden Dumfries smirked at me, and I sat there gawking at him. Because he was so at odds with the guy I’d met earlier, I felt like I’d landed in the middle of theTwilight Zone.
“Where’s Carson?”
He lifted a shoulder in a small shrug as he stared out at the lake. “His old man called and needed a hand with something. Left me at the house, so I wandered down here.”
“Carson talked to you… about Dalton?”
“Hell no. Carson barely talks to any of us about Dalton. But we all know the story. We all know it’s why he didn’t go pro.”
“Oh.” My chest constricted.
At the time, Carson had said he didn’t go into the draft because of an injury, but I’d always known it was because Dalton was gone.
“So, are the two of you like… a thing?”
“What?” My eyes almost bugged out. “God no, Carson is like a brother to me. Why would you say that?”
“Picked up on some vibes earlier between the two of you.”
“We’re close.” At least we used to be. “But it isn’t like that.”
“Cool,” he said, sliding his cool gaze to mine. The air crackled around us, a strange sensation curling in my stomach. His hand reached for me, toying with the ends of my hair.
“What are—”
Aiden leaned in and kissed me, his body coming down on mine, forcing my back into the sand. I was so shocked, so freaking confused, that I lost myself in the kiss for a second. In how his mouth felt, how his hot breath mingled with mine as he flicked his tongue along the seam of my lips. A small gasp left me, and he took that as permission to plunge his tongue into my mouth.
Reality crashed over me, and I slammed my palms into his chest, shoving with all of my might. “What the hell are you doing?” I cried.
“The fuck?” His eyes narrowed, a wall slamming between us.
“You kissed me.”
“And you pushed me away.”