One
CLAIRE
No matter how old a woman is, there comes a time in her life when she’ll wish her mother were there. And boy, I could really use my mom right now.
“How did I get myself in this mess?” I whisper, squeezing my eyes shut as hard as I can in an attempt to block out the chaos that is my life.
I have no doubt my mom is up in heaven right now, shaking her head in a mixture of sympathy, love, and disgust, at my current predicament.
I can almost hear her voice as she chastises me from above.
‘What did you expect? This is what happens when you have alcohol, Claire!’
But my latest act of alcohol-fueled rebellion may be my most outlandish yet.
Not only did I purchase a date with a man at a celebrity auction, but I also somehow agreed to a bet on which one of us would give in to sex first. What the hell was I thinking?
Stop laughing at me, Mom.
God, I miss you.
I know you’d be able to tell me what to do. How to find the silver lining. Ways to get out of this before I get hurt … and I don’t mean in the good ways. I’m way more concerned about my heart here.
Frankly, if there’s one thing I can almost guarantee, it’s that Maddox Lawson will make me hurt so good.
As a native Coloradan, I’ve always kept up with the sports scene.
It helps that my brother is a huge sports fan and played hockey growing up.
So, when Maddox Lawson joined the NFL Colorado Coyotes in his rookie season, I knew who he was.
But it never occurred to me that I’d one day meet the man, much less buy a date with him for ten thousand bucks.
Yep, I spent ten grand on the man because he pissed me off.
I should have thought about how small the world really is and that I could end up interacting with him solely through connections.
In a weird ‘Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon’ kind of way, I’m oddly surprised we hadn’t met up until this point.
Arianna Santo Dixon, my bestie, has an older brother, Luca, who played hockey with my brother.
Luca went on to play for the NHL team here with a guy named Jax Mitchell.
Jax is best friends with Jamie Wahlberg, the Colorado Coyotes quarterback, and Maddox is his starting wide receiver.
Adding another connection, I’ve recently become close with Jamie’s girlfriend, Audrey. Meeting Maddox was bound to happen.
But buying a date with him? Even I couldn’t have predicted that.
Should I have recognized this might happen? Maybe. There isn’t a soul in the world who knows I’ve harbored a secret crush on the man since I saw him a decade ago, taking the field for the first time.
I’d gone with my brother and dad to the home opener for the Coyotes.
Mom had died the previous winter, and while I had absolutely no interest in the actual football game, I was thrilled to be spending time with my family.
My parents had season tickets to the Coyotes games, and my brother had season tickets to the Wolves games.
The three of us attending the first Coyotes game after her passing was an emotional experience.
Still, I felt like I had to be there. I had to sit in her seat, like it was the closest I could be to sitting with her for real.
I miss you so much, Mom.
Then the starting lineup was introduced.
My brother couldn’t stop yammering on about this new rookie and what a difference he’d make for the team.
How exciting it was for a rookie to start the first game in such a pivotal role.
I had no idea what Maddox’s position even was, let alone the job he had.
What the hell does a wide receiver even do anyway?
I forgot anyone else ever existed the moment he stepped on the field.
Even with his helmet on, his green eyes seemed to glow, palpable energy wafting off of him as he bounded from the tunnel over to the sideline.
I couldn’t take my eyes off him. He was, without a doubt, the most beautiful man I’d ever laid eyes on.
For the majority of the game, I’d watched Maddox.
I couldn’t tell you the score, what happened, or even the other team’s jersey colors.
I was solely focused on Maddox. My parents had splurged on these seats years ago, only about fifteen rows up from the field, in a section one over from the fifty-yard line, so it gave me a great view of him.
And at one point, I swear he turned and stared right at me.
I forgot to breathe.
I couldn’t smile or talk.
It’s possible my heart completely stopped.
He didn’t smile, wave, wink, or acknowledge me in any way.
But I swear he saw me.
And when I came back the following week, he did it again.
Was this our meet-cute? The adorable story we’d tell our grandchildren about how we met, how we knew we’d seen the one we’d spend forever with?
I thought for sure he’d send someone up into the stands for my number.
Ask me to wait after the game. Hell, maybe even jump into the stands to profess his undying love to me.
Obviously, I’d read a little too many romance books at that age of my life, because I was blissfully ignorant of how real men operate.
When he didn’t bound into the stands to pull me into his arms, and the remainder of the season didn’t bother to look at me again, I realized I’d created it all in my head.
It didn’t help that stories of Maddox soon circulated on the gossip sites. New women every night, and sometimes two at the same time. I saw pictures of him with supermodels, debutantes, celebrities, and heiresses. Rarely the same woman twice, and certainly never someone as plain-Jane as me.
So, I stopped attending every game with my dad.
I’d go occasionally, just to be supportive, and then spend the entire game directing my attention anywhere but the sidelines.
I became ridiculously focused on the cheerleaders, and probably could have done some of their dances with them because I’d memorized them by the end of the second year.
I briefly thought about auditioning for the cheer team, then remembered I’ve basically always had two left feet, so any cheering would have to be done from the safety and security of my assigned seat.
I was glad I never told anyone I had a thing for Maddox.
Arianna would understand. She’d been crushing on her oldest brother’s best friend, Stone, for as long as I’d known her, and was now married to him with four children.
Natalie was a wildcard. She might sympathize, knowing we can’t always predict who we’ll fall for, or she could be incredibly sarcastic and scrappy about it.
She’d be the one who would undoubtedly come up with a variety of ways to make fun of me for it.
Like a candygram with a song including his name, or adding me to his fan club registry.
Natalie is one of the most creative people I know.
She has the oddest connections everywhere, and if someone hurts one of her people, she stops at nothing until they are destroyed.
I love having her on my team … but she also scares the crap out of me.
And now here I am.
Staring at my packet of information given to me after I’d successfully bid on Maddox Lawson at the Playful Paws bachelor charity auction.
“Claire?” I hear Audrey ask quietly from the other side of the bathroom stall door. Have I mentioned I’m hiding out in the women’s restroom at the event? Yeah, I’m a disaster. “Are you in here?”
Sniffling, I wipe my nose before answering. “I’m here.”
“Do you want to talk?” she asks uncertainly.
“Honestly? I don’t know.” I only know one thing for sure right now: I wish I had a time machine, so I could go back in time and stay home tonight.
“So Maddox was the guy who propositioned you earlier?” she asks.
I groan. God. That also happened.
I came tonight to support Audrey. Her relationship with Jamie got off to a rocky start, and she was struggling this week.
I have a realtor friend who was also being auctioned off tonight, so I thought I’d come and support him.
I’m always looking for charitable donations to make, and figured I could support two friends at the same time.
Then Maddox happened.
I was innocently sipping a glass of champagne, walking along a wall where pictures were hung showcasing adoptable animals throughout the Front Range.
I’d been thinking about adopting a cat. The thought of a dog was overwhelming to me.
Too much energy, expectations, and overall needs for my taste. A cat I could handle.
“That is an ugly ass cat,” someone replied behind me, and as I’d just been thinking the exact same thing about the feline, I snorted. “Ahh, she has a sense of humor. Does she have a name?”
Brow furrowed, I’d peered closer to the image. “It says her name is Hermione.”
The man chuckled. “I meant yours, beautiful. I’m Maddox.”
The voice. The name. The same feeling I’d had when he looked at me at his first game.
Electricity coursed down my spine as I slowly turned, looking up at the breathtakingly gorgeous man wrapped completely in black.
While everyone else looked dapper in tuxedos and three-piece suits, Maddox looked like sex and sin.
Matching black pants, suit jacket, button-up shirt, and shoes.
No tie, with two buttons undone at the neck.
His hair was tousled and wet like he’d just walked out of the shower.
“Claire,” I’d whispered, my heart beating erratically as he took my hand in his. Good God, was this really happening? Ten years later?
“What brings you to this fine event?” he had asked, his voice pouring over me like honey. Those green eyes dropped to watch my lips, interest evident in his gaze, as he didn’t let go of my hand.
“A charity?” I blurted out, confused at his question. Why the hell else would I be there?
“Are you a friend of the foundation?” he’d asked.
“No?” I’d replied. “A friend helped plan it, and another friend is participating in the auction. Plus, I like being able to donate. Tax deductions and all.”
“Oh?” Maddox replied as he smoothly slid closer to me, and I had a knee-jerk reaction, stepping back against the wall.
Then he’d done that romance book thing, where he put his hand on the wall, above my head, and I almost melted on the spot.
“You’re all about the tax deductions? That’s oddly hot, not gonna lie. ”
A small part of my body squealed silently, but my brain was still analyzing everything. “It’s hot that I want a tax deduction?”
He’d smiled then, leaning in even closer. “Pretty sure I’d find everything about you hot. Especially a specific part I’d love to become better acquainted with.”
Oh my God. Did he really just — was Maddox Lawson attempting to proposition me? The part that was only a moment ago squealing immediately turned horrified.
I guess I’d built Maddox up in my mind so much that I never thought something like this would happen.
Not only did the thought never cross my mind that he might show any interest in me, but I certainly never could have guessed it would happen at a charity function benefiting animal rescues and humane societies across the Denver metro area.
Furthermore, the fact that he acted like that when one of his closest friends ran the event?
Every bit of the crush I’d had for a decade shriveled up into a minuscule spec of dust. What kind of person does that? What kind of friend? I was appalled.
“Are you seriously propositioning me at your friend’s event?” I’d blurted out. Maddox apparently couldn’t detect the disgust in my voice, because he’d shrugged half-heartedly, dragging a single finger down the length of my arm.
“I mean, I guess that’s one way to put it.
You can get your tax deduction and have an orgasm or four.
Win-win for everyone, don’t you think?” he’d said, his eyes dropping to study the gap between my breasts.
Instinctively, I’d raised my arms, covering my chest, then watched as he chuckled.
“Don’t think you need to be that coy, beautiful. I’m a sure thing.”
“Gross,” I’d replied. “While I’m sure you think that was a tempting offer, it wasn’t.
What, you expect me to go bang out a quickie in a locked bathroom stall?
Or a janitor’s closet? I’m here to support my friends, Maddox.
I strongly encourage you to get your head out of your pants and do the same damn thing. ”
His eyes had widened at the sheer vitriol spewing from my tone. “Damn. Could have just said no, Carrie.”
I’d narrowed my eyes, placing my hands on his chest, and shoved him as hard as I could. He, of course, barely moved, since he’s a few inches over six feet tall, at least two hundred pounds of pure muscle, and I’m basically a foot shorter than him. “My name is not Carrie.”
He chuckled then, rolling his eyes. “It doesn’t matter. I’d have forgotten it before I pulled up my pants anyway.”
The nerve of this man! “Would this be one minute after you dropped your pants, or am I being too generous? I’d guess it’s probably closer to thirty seconds. I’m sure you’d get yours before you even realized I never got mine.”
Maddox cocked his head to the side, a wicked gleam in his eyes. “What part of the multiple orgasms did you misunderstand, Sunshine? Trust me. You’d have come first - and often - before I ever got mine. And thirty seconds? You wound me. More like thirty minutes.”
“Oh, please,” I’d retorted. “You’re so full of shit. No one wants that. If it takes you thirty minutes to come, go see a doctor. Something is definitely wrong with you.”
Head held high, I walked away from him, furious I’d gotten pulled into his orbit for even a moment.
I’d been crushing on him for ten years. An entire decade where he was the standard, based on nothing but a couple of looks and a smile at a football game.
I’d never been more humiliated than to know that I’d built him up in my mind for no reason.