Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 79328 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79328 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
But now, as silence stretched and Kurt’s eyebrows climbed higher, I realized I should have been clearer. We needed to be on the same page.
Then Raina reached for my hand.
Her fingers slid between mine, and she lifted her chin as she held her brother’s gaze. “Yeah. We are getting along exceptionally well.”
“Does that mean…” Kurt trailed off, gesturing between us with obvious implication.
“Are you asking if we’re together?” Raina’s voice was steady, but I felt the slight nervous tremor in her grip around my hand.
“Are you?” Kurt volleyed right back.
She glanced at me then, her eyes searching mine, giving me the opportunity to confirm or deny. To decide whether this was the moment we went public, starting with her brother.
I didn’t hesitate. “Yes,” I said, squeezing her hand. “We are.”
Kurt’s attention shifted fully to me, a hard glint entering his eyes. “Raina isn’t like the other women you’ve been with.”
Her breath hitched softly and I ran my thumb across her knuckles as I held Kurt’s stare. “No, she’s not,” I agreed. “She’s extraordinary. She’s the most genuine person I’ve ever met, and she challenges me in ways no one else does. I care for her, and I’m not taking this lightly, Kurt.”
Something flickered across his face—surprise, maybe, at my frankness.
“I don’t know if this is a good idea.” His voice was cautious but not unkind. “You’re her boss, Simon. The power dynamic alone—”
“Don’t talk about me like I’m not standing right here,” Raina cut in. “And don’t worry so much about me. I know exactly what I’m doing.” Her eyes found mine, and her next words felt like they were meant for me alone. “I’m happy.”
I leaned in and pressed a kiss to her lips before I could stop myself. Chaste, brief, but undeniable. I didn’t care if it made Kurt uncomfortable. I needed her to know that her words meant something to me.
Kurt made a sound of disgust. “Okay, okay. I get it. No need to make out in front of me.”
Raina laughed, and just like that, the tension broke. We all turned our attention to filling plates with food, the awkwardness dissolving into something more comfortable.
A few minutes later, while Raina was distracted comparing wing flavors with Wren, who had wandered in from the kitchen, Kurt appeared at my side.
“Look,” he said quietly, his voice pitched for my ears only. “I know you well enough to understand this is real. You’re not the type to toy with a woman’s feelings.”
“No,” I agreed. “I’m not.”
“But she’s my sister, Simon.” His jaw tightened. “Don’t fuck this up. You hurt her, and you and I are going to have a serious problem, no matter how good of friends we are. Understood?”
I met his eyes steadily, recognizing the warning for what it was. Not a threat, but a promise. I respected it. I’d do the same for my sister Shannon in a heartbeat.
“Understood,” I said. “But I don’t plan on hurting her. I plan on doing whatever it takes to make this work.”
Kurt studied me for a long moment, then nodded once. “Good. That’s what I needed to hear.”
He clapped me on the shoulder, and some of the tension eased from his stance. “Now come on. The Lynx are already down by one and I need to yell at the TV.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Simon
Eventually, everyone had food and drinks, and we settled into the living room to watch the game. My couch was packed, I’d claimed the loveseat, and I’d dragged in chairs from the dining room so everyone had a place to sit. The twins had claimed the floor with a nest of pillows, and Morgan had curled up in the recliner while Liam perched on the armrest beside her.
I pulled Raina down next to me on the loveseat, draping an arm around her shoulders. Wren, settling into a nearby chair, shot her best friend a knowing smirk as she handed over a glass of wine. I caught the blush that colored Raina’s cheeks, but she didn’t pull away. She leaned into me instead.
The game quickly captured everyone’s attention. Since it was the Lynx’s first playoff game, the stakes felt higher than a regular-season match. Every play carried weight. Every shot on goal made the room collectively hold its breath. It wasn’t just about skill anymore. It was about the burning need to win. If the Lynx took this game, they’d be starting the playoffs strong, one step closer to the Stanley Cup.
During breaks between periods, conversation flowed easily around the room. Raina seemed to hit it off with everyone—chatting with Noah, asking Morgan about her work, listening with genuine interest as Shannon complained about her latest dating disaster.
But it was the twins who truly captured her attention. Dylan, the quieter of the two, mentioned that she was training for a ballet recital, and Raina’s face lit up.