2. Ford
I didn’t want to come tonight.
In fact, I almost didn’t. I almost blew the entire thing off.
Then I got a text from the team captain saying attendance was mandatory, even if only for an hour, and I knew I couldn’t say no. I’m the new guy, and pissing off my captain isn’t how I want to start my run with the Comets.
I won’t lie, I was surly about it at first. Sitting around drinking and waiting for midnight on the rooftop of this hotel isn’t my favorite way to spend an evening. I’d rather be in sweats, sipping a beer and reviewing the tapes from the game two nights ago, trying to figure out why the hell we lost when we were up four-nothing in the third period.
But now, with Tessa standing next to me, I’m suddenly very glad I made the last-minute decision to attend.
I was just about to call it a night when she walked through the door looking like a wet dream come to life. Her red hair is loosely curled, falling just below her shoulders, and her red glittery dress looks like it’s painted onto her body, hugging every curve she has just perfectly.
As gorgeous as it is on her, I want to strip it off. Badly. But those heels she’s wearing? They can stay. I’m dying to see what they feel like wrapped around me and digging into my back.
But…we’ll get there soon.
“Do you want to grab a table?”
Her eyes flick over to her friend, the one who is still completely wrapped up in Steele, then come back to mine. “Sure.”
I do my best not to place my hand on her lower back as I let her lead us to an unoccupied table, but I don’t bother trying to hide the fact that I’m very much enjoying how good her ass looks in her dress, and I let my eyes slide over her body.
“So,” she says when she stops. She sets her Cosmo down then rests her forearms on the table, her fingers going to the fruit-laden toothpick resting on top of her glass. She spins it around, toying with it. “I hear you’re new to hockey. How’s that going for you?”
I lift my brows. “You heard I’m new to hockey?”
“Yes?”
I can’t help but laugh at the uncertainty of her response.
“I’m not new to hockey, Tessa. I’ve been playing since I was five years old.”
“Five? That’s a hell of a commitment.”
“It is, but it doesn’t feel like work when you love what you do.”
“So, not new to hockey but new to the team?”
I nod. “Yes. I just got here about two weeks ago.”
While I loved playing in Toronto, I’m glad I got sent to Carolina. This team they’ve built has a damn good chance of winning the Cup this year, and I intend to help them.
“Your friend works for the team and is obviously a hockey fan. Does that mean you go to the games? Or watch them?”
“Nope,” she says, popping the Ploudly. “Sports are not my thing at all.”
“Uh-oh. It sounds like there’s a story there. Recent breakup?”
“Yes, but not with a jock.”
“But you have dated a jock before.”
She wiggles her lips back and forth like she’s not sure if she wants to dive into her dating history with some guy she’s just met.
“Yes, my high school sweetheart. He broke my heart when he cheated on me with, oh, just about every girl in school, and I didn’t find out about it until I followed him to college…where he did it all over again.”
“He sounds like a prick.”
“He was.”
“Was?”
“Is.” She lifts her shoulders. “I’m not sure. I haven’t spoken to him since I dropped out of college.”
“You left college because of him?”
“Yes. But only after I slept with his best friend then swore off jocks for the rest of my life.”
I roll my lips together, trying to hide my grin, feeling damn proud of this woman I barely know. “Good for you. Bad for me though.”
She lifts a perfectly shaped brow. “Bad for you?”
“Jock.” I wave a hand over myself. “Kind of ruins my chances, no?”
She eyes me with the most gorgeous hazel gaze I’ve ever seen, tipping her head to the side and sizing me up. Then, she slowly rakes her eyes over me.
I like it. I like having her stare at me like this. I like having her full attention. Maybe a little too much even.
I can’t help it. There’s just something about her that I like. I like her indifference about being here. I like that she’s not just some puck bunny chasing a new player of the week.
“I guess we’ll see how the night goes,” she finally says, and it sparks a whole new part of me.
“I guess we will.” I bring my scotch to my lips, taking a swig. “So, you’re not a hockey fan, you hate jocks, and you’re here against your will. Anything else I should know about you?”
“I’m allergic to nuts.”
“Noted.”
“And I’m a graphic designer. I make romance book covers.”
“You make romance book covers?”
She straightens her back, lifting her chin, almost like she’s prepping to defend herself. “Yes.”
“Do you like it?”
“I love it. It’s not as cool as being a pro athlete, but it’s fun.”
“Do you know Miller’s girl Scout then?”
“No. I haven’t met anyone on the team yet.”
“Yeah?” I push off the table and spin toward the crowd, cupping my hand around my mouth. “Yo, Miller!”
The gifted young player lifts his head in our direction at the sound of my voice, and I wave him over. He rises off the couch, and just as I expected, his girlfriend Scout follows closely behind him.
“Hey, Ford,” Miller says, bumping his fist against mine. “What’s up, man?”
“I wanted to introduce you to someone. This is Tessa. She designs romance book covers.”
Scout’s eyes widen, and she grins over at Tessa, who looks white as a ghost. “Do you really?”
Tessa nods. “Yes. I’m not sure if you’re a reader, but…”
“Reader? I mean, yeah, she’s a total book nerd—which is sexy as hell,” Miller says, sliding his arm around Scout’s waist. “But she’s also an author.”
“Oh my god, Miller. Stop it,” Scout hisses to her boyfriend.
“You are?” Tessa says, sounding extra excited. “Do you write romance?”
“I, um, I…” Scout brushes her hair behind her ear. “Yes. Have you heard of Hooking Up with the Hockey Player?”
“Heard of it? I loved that book. And the second one too.” Tessa’s mouth drops open like she’s just connected the dots. “That’s you, isn’t it?”
Scout nods. “That’s me.”
“Shut up! Those covers are incredible, by the way.”
“Thank you. I’m always in the market to add people to my team, so if you’re ever taking new clients, I’d love to?—”
“Yes!” Tessa interrupts her, then slaps her hand over her mouth. “Oh god, I’m sorry. That was so rude. But yes! Yes, I’m interested.”
Scout laughs. “Good. Send me a friend request, and we’ll get something set up.”
Tessa claps her hands together. “Ahhh! Thank you!”
“Miller! Scout!”
The guy in question sighs. “Sorry. We should…” He jerks his head toward where the voice came from. “Coffee before practice on Monday?”
“Sure,” I tell him. “I’ll text you.”
“It was great to meet you, Tessa.”
“You, too. And, uh, just between you and me, there’s no such thing as too much smut.”
Scout laughs. “I agree with you there.”
Tessa watches her leave with stars in her eyes, entirely captivated by the woman she just met.
“So, you don’t like jocks, but you do like reading about them?”
The beautiful redhead turns my way with a shrug. “It’s fiction. Fiction is different from reality. I don’t like the idea of being kidnapped by a mafia boss, but it’s totally hot in a romance novel.”
I chuckle. “Noted.”
“Do you read?” Tessa asks.
“I listen to a lot of audiobooks on plane rides. Not sure if that counts.”
“Audiobooks totally count as reading. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
“Well, that’s good to know. I’m at least halfway to my personal pan pizza, then.”
She laughs. “Oh man, I used to get at least four a year. I miss that incentive.”
“Have you always been a reader?”
“I was an only child. I had a lot of free time.” She shrugs. “What do you listen to?”
“Thrillers, mostly. Sometimes biographies.”
“I’ve tried to dip my toes into thrillers, even liked a few, but I always missed the kissing scenes and went straight back to romance.”
“Ah, so that’s what you’re in it for—the sex.”
There’s a spark in her eyes, and she shuffles around, shifting her eyes across the party, looking everywhere except at me.
“What’s wrong, Tessa? Not getting satisfied in other ways?”
Her movements halt, and her eyes reach mine. This time she’s not smiling or looking timid. No, this time, her eyes are narrowed.
“That’s none of your business.”
“So, that’s a no, then.”
She doesn’t answer, which is telling enough.
I hate that she’s not being satisfied, and I hate more that I feel like I need to fix that. I don’t have any business getting involved with someone. I have a season to win. I don’t have time to get swept up in…well, her.
But I’ll be damned if I don’t want to.
“Hey, Tessa?”
She sighs but drags her hazel gaze to mine, lifting her Cosmo to her lips.
“Yes?”
“Would you like to be somewhere else?”
She stops mid-drink, eyes wide. “Are you asking me to leave with you, Ford?”
“I am.”
She blinks twice, surprised by my blunt answer.
Then she stares.
And stares some more.
Just when I think I should backtrack or walk away, it’s Tessa’s turn to deliver a surprise of her own.
“Yes.”