“A dweeb?”

“Yeah, in denial and too stupid to see what you want and go after it. Life is like hockey. If you want the big payout, you have to work for it.” Steele shrugged. This was the most I’d ever heard him say.

“Like you do?” The guy seldom dated or hooked up. He was a loner who rarely let anyone see even a glimpse of what was going on in his head. He was a great roommate. Quiet, no drama, and anal about housekeeping—one of us had to be.

Instead of being offended, he cracked a rare grin. “Yeah, like me.”

I grinned back at him. “Sometimes life isn’t as cut and dried as hockey. I mean, in hockey, there are definite rungs in the ladder, the top two being making the NHL and winning the Cup. In life, it’s not so obvious.”

“Why don’t you just tell her you’re crazy about her and figure out if you can start a life together. Then the remaining Puck Brothers can decide on a punishment.”

“I’m not crazy about her, so don’t start coming up with shit. There’s no reason to rush into anything.”

“But you’re rushing.” His smugness was starting to piss me off.

“I am not. She’s recovering from the death of her husband. That takes time, and I don’t want to be the rebound relationship. That shit never lasts. I wouldn’t be averse to sex. I had some of the best sex of my life when I was with her.”

“Did you ever stop to think it was so good because there was more to it than sex?” Steele shot me an unreadable look, stood, and left the room. I heard his bedroom door click shut a few seconds later.

I stared out the huge windows at the night sky and pondered what he’d said. Sometimes Steele was wise beyond his years.

Chapter Nineteen

Up to the Task

~~Caroline~~

The next three weeks sped by. Easton was a constant presence in our condo when he wasn’t on a road trip. Somehow, we’d managed to keep our clothes on thanks to one long road trip and two kids who constantly demanded his attention. Regardless, he sent sizzling looks my way often, and I lobbed them right back, and we did manage to steal a few hot kisses in the hallway between condos.

Moving here just before the holidays hadn’t been one of my smarter plans. I was running on empty. Not only had I spent the last few weeks unpacking and putting away everything, but I’d spent the better part of the day decorating for Christmas. Tomorrow was Christmas Eve, and I was ill-prepared for the holiday. I hadn’t made my usual lists, but Hailey had done me proud. She had a list a mile long. Heath only wanted one thing, the very thing his father had promised him but would never be able to give him. I’d found the next best thing, and I prayed he’d see it as an acceptable replacement.