Chapter 14 Raven
RAVEN
“What happened next?” Sadie asks with an eager edge. She’s sitting on her bed in the apartment back home that we share. I’ve got my phone propped up on the bathroom counter while I do my make-up.
“Well, when I got out of the bath, he’d ordered room-service.”
“What’d he get?” Of course, Sadie would ask that. When she’s not riding horses, she’s cooking.
“Barbecue chicken nachos with all the toppings.”
“Did he know how much you love them?”
“No. I think it was a lucky guess. Or maybe they’re just his favorite too, because he definitely ate his fair share once I said I’d had enough.
” I’ll give the man credit, he didn’t take a single bite until I had loaded up my plate twice.
If Coach saw me indulge like that, I’d get assigned extra cardio for sure. Good thing she won’t ever know.
“Okay, what else did you do with the sexy security guard?” Sadie is nearly vibrating with anticipation. Something tells me she’s going to be disappointed in my recap of the experience.
“We watched a movie, I took a nap while he read on his phone, and then we came back to the village.”
“You didn’t even spend the night?!”
“Um… Coach would have been worried.” And pissed.
“Who the fuck cares!” She throws her hands up in frustration.
“I do,” I whisper. We’ve had this fight before.
Sadie rarely listens to her trainers even though her new one is supposed to be the best of the best. She’s got fire in her and hates to back down from a fight.
I’d rather avoid confrontation altogether.
We balance each other out, but it means she doesn’t understand that it isn’t just that I don’t want to push back, I can’t.
It’s like my brain and body just say, nope, not worth it and freeze.
“You could have just texted her and let her know you were okay.”
“I did.” Coach laid into me over text so hard I was shaking.
I could tell Foster was pissed about it, but then he saw how much her reprimand was affecting me. He sighed, said we should go, and immediately helped gather up my things.
“Please tell me you at least kissed the man,” Sadie says. “My love life’s in shambles, and I need to live vicariously through yours.”
I shake my head, thinking about the way Foster’s fingers lingered on my neck when he helped me into my coat.
Sadie gives me a disappointed wag of her finger. “Girl, you’re at the Olympics! This might just be a once in a lifetime opportunity for you.”
“Thanks for that. I really don’t need the reminder that omegas might not be able to compete again if this little experiment doesn’t go well.”
“Sorry.” She grimaces when she realizes what she just implied.
“My point is you need to have at least a little fun while you’re there.
” She bounces on the bed as she repositions herself.
“During the last Summer Olympics, I went to this party where everyone wore white, and people signed and drew on each other’s clothes.
I got the whole USA rugby team to sign my pants and went home with two of them.
” She gets a dreamy look on her face. “It’s one of my favorite memories. ”
“I’m not you, Sadie.” I pause with my highlighter brush mid-air to give her a knowing look. “Besides, I need to focus. A lot is riding on this.”
Tomorrow, I’ll compete in the Women’s Single Skate Short Program, my first competition and my opportunity to prove to the world that I belong here—that omegas belong here.
“You could be riding a lot on someone else.” Sadie mutters, but before I can call her out she raises her voice and continues. “I get it. I do. Just promise me once your competitions are over, you’ll let loose a little. You deserve it.”
I stare at the powder compact in my hand, unsure what to say. Luckily my best friend does not suffer from the same affliction. “You’re still going to Cortina afterwards, right? Promise you’ll go do something memorable and impulsive—something just for you. That’s all I ask. For me, okay?”
“Fine. I’ll do something fun.” It probably won’t be an Olympic party, but maybe Foster and I can sneak off again and go to a movie or something. That would be nice.
“You ready?” Foster’s deep voice follows a knock on the door. Speak of the devil.
“Is that him?” Sadie whisper-hisses. “Introduce me.”
I sigh and open the door. “I’m ready. Just talking to my friend, Sadie.”
Foster glances at the phone still propped up on the counter.
“Hi, Foster!” Sadie yells. “Raven, move the camera. I want to see him.”
I pick up my phone and direct the screen at Foster. “Sadie, this is Foster. Foster, Sadie.”
“Oh, man, you’re even hotter than she said.”
“Sadie!”
“What? He’s gotta know it’s true.” Sadie smirks at me. I know what she’s doing. And honestly? I sort of wouldn’t care if it worked. God knows I’d never make the first move.
Foster’s tan face turns pink with a blush—an actual blush. The big alpha with pink cheeks is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. And I love that it only seems to happen around me.
“Thank you,” he mumbles.
My heart squeezes even tighter. This isn’t helping. The man is my bodyguard. I shouldn’t be swooning over him. Our relationship is supposed to be professional.
“Please kiss my best friend for me,” Sadie says before adding, “Byyyeeee.”
She hangs up, and her last request hangs in the air between us. His eyes drop to my lips. I hold my breath.
He clears his throat and steps back. “She’s lively.”
“Um… yeah.” I slide my phone into the pocket of my Team USA sweatshirt.
“Ana texted that she wants us to meet her at the rink.” A wry smile twists his lips. “Then she proceeded to blow up my phone with lists of reasons why we need to hurry.”
“Sounds about right.” I slide past him into the hall, heading toward the door, but he stops me by grabbing my hand. When I turn back around, he immediately lets go.
“Raven…” He looks more uncomfortable and uncertain than I’ve ever seen him. Our eyes meet, and he straightens his shoulders. “It’s not that I don’t want to kiss you. You’re a beautiful woman. And smart. And funny. Any man would be lucky to have your attention. But you're my client. And…”
“Don’t.” I hold up a hand. “It was just a misunderstanding. Sadie thinks I should kiss everyone. I don’t think of you like that.”
It’s a lie, and maybe he knows it, but it doesn’t matter.
I’ve gotten good at protecting myself over the years.
Men, especially alphas, haven’t proven themselves trustworthy in the past. A few days of enjoying this man’s company doesn’t mean I’m ready to open myself up to him—even if I’ve been daydreaming about him more than I’d like to admit.
His shoulders droop and his eyes close as he lets out a breath. I’m not sure how to take it. Is he relieved? I’m the one who rejected him, so why does it sting that he doesn’t think of me as more than a client? When his eyes open, it sure doesn’t look like relief swirling in those dark pools.
“Okay. Good.” He shoves his hands in his pockets. “Glad we cleared that up.”
He doesn’t look glad, and I feel sick to my stomach. I’m not sure why I care so much, but I don’t like lying to Foster. I force myself to look away, hurry down the hall, grab my purse, and quickly rush out the door, not looking back to see if he’s following me. I know he is.