Chapter 10
Ledger
She answers the door, her blonde hair in long, loose waves. She’s changed into sweats and I do a double take. I’ve never seen her in anything like that. She’s also got a bare face—not a stitch of makeup.
“Ledger?” Her expression reads surprise. She tousles the hair on the top of her head, then presses the hem of her burgundy sweatshirt further over her hips.
I’m back under the mistletoe, where our kiss, however brief, completely blew me away. The way her lips felt on mine…
I have to shunt out a breath to wake myself up.
“Sorry to bother you. Can we talk for a second?” I glance down both sides of the hall.
A prickle of alarm shows on her face.
“Everything is fine. I just need to tell you something.”
She glances over her shoulder and for a split second, I wonder if she has someone else in here. That would be…so not good.
I’m starting to like her. I don’t want her with anyone else.
“Yes,” she says quietly before widening the door so I can slip in.
I step through the doorway and into her small room, which looks even smaller because stuff is strewn everywhere.
“I probably should have just texted you to meet up somewhere, but I didn’t know where we could have privacy.
” I hand her the brown paper sack I’ve been carrying.
“I brought you a sugar cookie from The Mynt Society.”
“Is that the high-end restaurant at the resort?” She smiles and takes the bag from me.
“Thanks. I haven’t had a cookie in months, probably.
” Pulling the small foil box out of the bag, she looks at it like it’s a special Christmas gift.
She giggles and meets my gaze and then pulls on the red and green ribbon.
I’ve never seen someone so beautiful. I play for the NFL, so there are a lot of beautiful, high-profile women around. But Kaisa, especially this bare faced version? Stunning. Like glowing porcelain on a sunny windowsill.
“Thanks for this, Farm Boy.” She breaks it and hands one half to me. “Here, I can’t eat the whole thing this late at night.”
I grin. “I’m not going to say no to half a cookie.” I take it and eat it, probably too fast because when I’m done, she’s barely even started in on hers.
“I have some bad news.”
She stiffens and swallows her bite of cookie. “What?”
I reach up and brush a dab of white frosting with red and green sprinkles off her upper lip.
And…now I’m thinking of that kiss again.
Except, she’s not going to like what I’m about to tell her. “I’m really sorry about this, but Coach wants me to fly back first thing in the morning.”
Her mouth drops open and surprise simmers in her eyes. She tosses the uneaten cookie back in the box and sets it on the desk beside her. “What?”
“I know the timing is terrible.”
“We perform in three days, Ledger.”
“I know.”
“How long does he need you in Texas?”
“A couple of days. But I’ll be back in time.”
“Why?”
I sigh. “You know the whole rude comment thing? Well, the charity I dissed has been talking to the team’s PR team and Coach, and they want me back for some interviews and a morning show.
They still don’t want me to come to the actual event.
But they want me to appear on Good Morning, San Antonio in two days… for restitution.”
Her brows knit together. “That doesn’t sound very fun.”
“Actually, I’m kind of looking forward to it.”
She gives me a dubious look.
“It’ll be good to apologize and clear the air,” I say. “I’m glad they’re having me come on. And Coach wants me to join the team’s practices while I’m there.” The panic on her face registers in my brain. “But it’s terrible timing with what we have going on here,” I add.
She throws her arms in the air. “We have to work on the blocking and fine tune everything. We’ve never even attempted the lift. What are we going to do?”
“I don’t know,” I offer. “I’m so sorry.”
She sighs. “I’m just concerned about the dance being ready on time.” Her voice is barely above a whisper. Her face softens. “I know it’s not your fault. You have to go. What time are you leaving?”
“My chartered plane leaves at six a.m.”
“We were going to be meeting at that time, so let’s move it up an hour or two.”
“It leaves at six, which means I have to be at the airport before five. If you want me to, I can try to practice on my own while I’m there?” Not that I would want to, but I would if she thought it would help.
She blinks, and the faint traces of a smile appear on her beautiful mouth. “No. You shouldn’t try to practice,” she says softly.
“I can’t practice?” I snort.
“I need to be by your side at all times.”
I wish she meant that in the way I want her to. Still, I can’t help digging. “You like being around me, huh?”
Her eyes dart over me. “You know what I mean. It’s counterproductive to rehearse alone.” She pinches the bridge of her nose and takes in a slow breath. “I’m…I’m starting to feel panicked.” Her tongue moistens her lips. “Anxious.” She puts both hands over her heart.
“Hey, shhh.” I lightly place one of my hands over hers. “It’s all going to work out. It’ll be alright. We’ll get this done.”
Her face grows pale. “When are you coming back?”
“Late afternoon on Friday.”
She sinks onto the bed. “This is going to give me a migraine.” She rubs her temples with her fingertips. “We’ll just have to rehearse as much as possible when you get back.” Her voice is soft.
She starts speaking to herself in Finnish. I can’t understand anything except the set of her jaw and the way she jams her fists into her eyes.
“I’m really sorry,” I say.
She sighs and stands from the bed, her mouth twisting to one side.
“Look, I need to say something.” I can’t overthink this. I’ve got to just come out and say it. “I admit we haven’t gotten along. I’m used to intense people in my football life. That comes with the territory. But I wasn’t used to someone like you.”
“You weren’t used to not being fawned over by a woman,” she scoffs.
“No, it’s not that.” But then I think about it.
Most women I meet do give a certain air.
I don’t get pushback from many women, except for the team trainers and sometimes my mom.
My mom won’t take crap from anyone. But most women?
They usually pay attention. “Okay so maybe some women do fawn over me. I know men shower you with attention.”
A muscle in her face jumps. “Sometimes.”
I can bet she gets a lot of attention for her looks, and probably most of it is unwanted. A strange welling of frustration at the indignity hits me.
“Anyway, what about tonight?” I say. “We could rehearse for a couple of hours. That’s better than nothing, right?”
I’m glad to get the chance to make things right for the team. But I feel for Kaisa. Plus, I need to save face and not look like a complete imbecile for the Peppermynt Twist Showdown.
“Yes, that’s better than nothing. This can’t be helped,” she waves me away. “We’ll make it work. I’ll just call the front desk and see if there’s a space we can use.”
She lifts the receiver on the nightstand, and I take a moment to look around the room.
It’s a mess. Like, really a mess. There are costume pieces strewn all over one bed and the one she was sitting on is unmade.
The surfaces of the furniture are covered with beauty products and papers.
Her closet door is open and inside are several large suitcases and piles of folded clothes on the shelves.
There are a lot of fancy, glittery wardrobe pieces—no idea what they are exactly—hanging on a rod with wheels.
“Oh no.” Kaisa says on the phone. “Is there anywhere we can use? Is that one carpeted, though?” A long pause and then, “I see. Okay, thanks anyway.”
“What’s wrong?”
“All of the hard floors are being buffed and they’re not going to be available to anyone until early tomorrow morning.”
“What about the hallway?”
“Trust me, you don’t want to learn the lift in a public place.”
“How about we just work on things here?”
“My hotel room?” Her expression is dry.
“Yeah. I mean, it’s got a hard floor. No carpet.”
She folds her arms. “I bet your suite is much bigger.”
I cringe. “A little bit, maybe.”
My room is huge. It’s the penthouse, with a kitchen and two separate bedrooms and a patio and balcony…
The look on her face tells me she knows it’s more than just a little bit bigger than hers.
She growls and throws her hands in the air again. “Men! Of course the man gets the biggest suite.”
My mouth drops open. “I didn’t ask for it.”
“I know.” She taps her mouth with her index finger. “Will you…will you take me back to your room?” Mischief covers her face before she smiles. “Only to rehearse, Farm Boy.”
Am I going to be able to control my feelings with her in my arms again tonight?