The Pucking Girl Next Door (Power Play Off The Ice: Snowed in for the Hoildays)

10. Annabelle

Chapter 10

Annabelle

W aking up this morning, I felt really warm. I can feel every drop of sweat that is rolling down my back. Maybe I left the heat on too high last night. I need to get up and check to see what the thermostat is set to. Rolling over, I feel a hard lump next to me, causing my eyes to shoot open.

Then a rush of memories play out in my mind from yesterday the snowstorm, checking out my parents' house, finding Smith at their house, Frannie calling me last night and realizing that I'll be spending my first Christmas away from my family. Sadness tries to creep into my bones once again, but an enormous arm comes across my torso, distracting me.

Glancing over my shoulder, I see Smith lying next to me, snuggling into my pillow. What the hell is he doing sleeping next to me? I glance around the room and realize that we're in one of the guests rooms. Rolling away, I try to extract myself from him. Once I'm successful, I place both feet on the floor.

I don't even remember falling asleep, the last thing I remember is watching a movie. Stretching my arms above my head, I let out a small groan as my body tries to loosen up. Before I even stand up to use the restroom, I can already feel him looking at me I guess he's awake too.

Not ready to face anything, especially any feelings that were brought up last night, I keep my eyes cast down not looking at Smith. I just push off the bed and head toward the attached bathroom, closing and locking the door.

Plopping down on the toilet, I relieve myself, but I also drop my head into my hands as I sit there wallowing in my feelings. What the hell am I going to do about all of this? It's just too much. Maybe if I don't bring anything up he'll take a hint and give me space, because I need it to keep my head on straight.

Ever since I was a young girl, I wanted nothing more than for Smith to notice me, but he never did. The only time he seemed to notice anything about me is when he would join Steve in keeping other kids away from me. Even after we moved away, I would secretly imagine what it would be like for Smith to show up here and declare his feelings for me.

By the time I graduated from high school, I had already learned about the many dalliances that Smith had through my brother. I just knew deep down in my gut that he would never be mine. Smith just isn't that type of guy.

But last night when he said we were more than friends, the feminist and rational adult in me knew I needed to shut it all down. But the teenage girl in me shouted with glee.

A knock on the door reminds me I need to get up and stop worrying about Smith and me. Because there is not an us, we don't even know each other anymore. How does he even know he likes me? We haven't seen each other in years.

"Annabelle. Are you okay? " His deep masculine voice breaks through my thoughts and the door.

"I'm fine, be out in a minute," I shout while washing my hands, the whole time contemplating the situation, I seem to have found myself in. I mean, we grew up together and he is my brother's best friend, so we know each other on one level, but we also have so much to learn.

I rip open the door and come face to face with a shirtless Smith. My mouth waters as I take in his muscular pecs. Yesterday I saw he had a tattoo quickly but didn't get a good look at it. Today I can see it's some type of tribal image that wraps around his shoulder. When I come eye to eye with him, he is staring at me with his sexy smirk and I know he caught me checking him out.

Not wanting to deal with what he might say, I push past him before he can open his stupid, gorgeous mouth. But because he is him, he doesn't let me get away without saying something. "I'll make breakfast for us in a few minutes."

I don't even acknowledge what he said, I head straight toward my parents' room, not just to borrow clothes from my mom, but to put some space between us. I need to make sure I keep my head on straight.

I was so distracted by the appearance of Smith yesterday I didn't think about going back to my cottage and grabbing a load of clothes to bring back up here to the main house. That'll be the first thing I do after I grab clothes from my mom. She won't mind.

Thankfully, Smith gives me the space I need as I quickly change. Once I'm done, I head back downstairs, hoping that he hasn't made it to the kitchen. Ideally, I would love to escape and spend some time in my cottage, possibly reading or doing some yoga. But the snow is keeping me from that idea.

As soon as my foot hits the floor, I can tell that my original plan of keeping distance between Smith and I will not work out. I freeze when I look into the kitchen. Smith is already there, shirtless, in a pair of gray sweatpants, cooking breakfast from what I could tell. Stirring something on the stove, I notice him dancing at the same time while singing along to the song he's playing on his phone.

I can't stop myself and let out a giggle at the show, pulling his attention from whatever he's cooking to me.

"Are you spying on me?" he playfully asks.

"Me." I say as I dramatically throw my hand over my heart. "I would never."

Smith makes a beeline for me, abandoning the stove. My brows furrow, wondering what the hell he is up to, but I can tell by the way he's looking at me it's definitely something. "You're going to burn whatever you have cooking if you come over here," I try to say assertively, but it ends up coming out breathier than I meant, and it doesn't stop Smith one bit either.

When he reaches me, I watch his every move as he cradles my face in his hands, and his eyes soften right before he crashes his mouth to mine. A warning quickly flashes in the back of my mind, but I can't seem to stop the kiss. I gasp as I instantly melt into his soft lips. Smith uses that moment to slide his tongue into mine, and I can't do anything but accept it.

And it all feels right.

It feels like this is meant to be and he's really mine. Suddenly, a picture of my brother flashes in my mind and I think about the friendship between Steve and Smith. I would hate myself if I were the person who came between them. Knowing he can't ever belong to me, I place my hands on his chest, pushing him away.

"I can't." Tears burning my eyes, I turn away from him, grabbing my coat off one of the kitchen chairs. Saying nothing else, I just run.

Running away from him and every fucking feeling I'm having, back toward my refuge. My little cottage.