“We’re doing a pancake breakfast this morning. A fundraiser for the Y. We donate things for a silent auction, cook breakfast, then wander around while people are eating and take pictures, sign autographs. The money goes to summer and after-school programs so parents who work don’t have to leave their kids home alone. This is our fifth annual.”
Her head slowly turned toward him, a furrow dipping her brow. “On a weekday?”
“That’s so we can get corporate donors. A lot of Rough Riders fans work in the city and stay late to see games, but they live in the surrounding Metro area. And we discovered that more people showed and we raised more money when we did it on a weekday, because no one wants to commute back into the city on Saturday or Sunday.”
She turned her gaze on Beckett. “So, you’re telling me that you’re going to be cooking and networking at this breakfast? And I’m going to be doing…what, exactly?”
He winced.
She sighed. “Well, this is certainly public. As for the getting-to-know-each-other part…” She shrugged.
He rubbed a hand down his face. “It seemed like a good idea when I first thought of it.”
She lifted a brow. “Is that how you got so damned good at hockey? Going with your first idea?”
He grinned, jumping at the chance to change the subject. “You think I’m good?”
“That’s what people say.”
He deflated. “I’m obviously not as good at other things.”
“I don’t know about
that.” She released a breath, leaned against the door, and stared at him. “You are so sweetly flawed.”
Donovan, Savage, and Kristoff came out of the building and spotted his car. Beckett’s breath leaked out on a groan.
Eden followed his gaze. “This must be the we.”
“If you want me to take you back, now would be the time to ask.”
As the guys approached, Beckett hit the locks, and when Donovan reached Eden’s door with a big smile, he found himself locked out.
“Hey, you said to make her feel welcome.” His smile fell, and he stabbed a finger at the lock and glared at Beckett. “That’s not welcoming.”
Eden started laughing. “He’s really adorable.” She looked at Beckett with a spark in her eye. “Does he have a girlfriend?”
Beckett lifted his hands and waved them in an X. “Wait, wait, wait—”
“For Tori.”
“Oh. Well then, no. But he’s been through a bad divorce recently, so…”
“Oh…” Her expression sobered. “Will you be able to get me home by two? I have class at three, and it takes me an hour to get there.”
Beckett had to pick up Lily at school at three. And he’d already threatened death to anyone who slipped and mentioned her name in the event that Eden showed today. “Absolutely.”
She heaved a sigh. “All right, then. Let’s get cookin’.”
Eden pulled the handle, popping the lock, and Donovan was there to open the door and offer a hand to help her out, as if she were arriving by fucking magic pumpkin coach or something.
Maybe he spent too much time in little-girl land. Puffles, magic pumpkin coaches…
“Dude,” Savage called, then gave him double thumbs-up. Eden was already walking toward the Y between Donovan and Kristoff, talking and laughing. “Comin’?”
Beckett stood from the car and rounded the back to pull out the silent-auction donations as Eden disappeared inside. Somehow, that didn’t surprise him. What really surprised him was how damn happy he was with her response.
14