Chapter 17
Halle
My surprise over Dane’s eager question is only surpassed by my shock at the appearance of Anna at our table. I feel trapped in a situation that could blow up unnecessarily and turn into a huge tornado of rumor.
Exactly what I’d hoped to avoid.
“Hey, Halle,” Anna says in greeting, barely able to contain the surprised grin on her face. Her eyes gleam with curiosity as her gaze flicks between me and Dane. Extending a hand to Dane, she wraps the most artistically done nails I’ve ever seen around his knuckles when he offers his in return.
I’m momentarily dazzled with the daydream of what it would be like to have an hour to myself to spend at a nail salon. Or anywhere I can have a bit of quiet time for myself.
I brush the thought away and watch the two of them.
“Nice to officially meet you, Ax. I’m Anna Morris. I’m an analyst with Halle down in the Cave.”
The Cave, I learned last week, is the name the Ops team calls our area of the office because it’s a whole floor below the ice.
It’s where all the loot—aka the team data—is stored, which is a goldmine of information the team uses to get a leg up on their opponents.
And since the Vikings were notorious for looting and pillaging for riches, the Cave was a natural nickname.
Dane stands up as best he can in the cramped booth and returns the greeting with a bright smile, clearly not knocked off-balance like I am. Of course, he’s not the one who will be answering all the questions from coworkers when I return to the office.
“Oh, right. Yeah, I’ve seen your last name before on our reporting notes. Good to meet you.”
A trickle of nervous sweat beads in the middle of my back. How am I going to explain this to Anna? Will she go back and start rumors about me and Dane? She doesn’t seem like someone who would do that, but one never knows.
Anna adjusts the strap of her purse and looks over her shoulder.
“I was just about to get back when I noticed you both back here. So…” She blinks and cocks her head. “Dane’s the old friend you mentioned, eh?”
Anxiety floods my veins and my heart gallops faster than you can say Sidney Crosby.
Being seen out like this could easily be misconstrued like Dane and I are together.
I snap my gaze to Dane, my eyes sending a silent plea to stay quiet about how we know each other as he returns to his spot next to me.
Without even an ounce of hesitation, Dane launches into an animated story of how we met.
“Halle and I know each other from Calgary. We’re just catching up, aren’t we, Hal?” He turns that oh-so-charming smile on me, the divot-dimple doubling in size. Then he throws his arms around me in a huge bear hug and tips me back and forth in an outrageous display of fondness.
I can’t help myself. When he lets me go, I kick him under the table and he laughs out loud.
Anna eyes him quizzically, as if trying to decide whether to believe him.
“Aww, I bet it’s been fun to catch up. I bet a lot has changed since then.”
I smile innocently. “You have no idea.”
Dane laughs loudly and Anna smiles at us both, still trying to put two and two together by the look in her eyes, just as Misty appears behind Anna with our order.
“That’s our food.” I motion with my chin to the tray of food being placed on the table. “I’ll see you back in the Cave in twenty, Anna.”
She turns away for a second, looking back at the door where her friend waits to leave. “Sounds good. I’ll see you in a bit. And nice to meet you, Ax.” She wiggles goodbye with her fingers. “Have a great lunch, you two.”
Her words come out in a conspiratorial coo. Not knowing Anna very well, I don’t know how to interpret it. But so far, she’s been very friendly and helpful, so I hope she doesn’t read anything into witnessing Dane and me together.
Without sparing her another look, Dane immediately digs into the food placed in front of him, gobbling down the club sandwich and poutine fries he ordered. I gape at him devouring his lunch.
“How do you do that without choking to death?” I shake my head in amusement, amazed at how he can wolf down food without chewing a single bite.
He shrugs. “It’s a learned skill, Cherry.”
And then he winks.
“Some things never change,” I muse, over both his eating habits and that damn wink.
My stomach flutters wildly, and I stab a piece of my crab salad and shove it into my mouth. Regardless of the reason we’re here together, there’s no getting by how ridiculously attractive and charismatic Dane is.
This entire scene reminds me of the morning we first had breakfast together in Calgary and how easily he won me over. All through high school, I’d been staunchly opposed to dating anyone who played sports, especially hockey.
My God, hockey players can be an arrogant lot.
What with my brothers and their friends, I’ve been around enough of them to pick up the types of conversations they have.
It’s not unusual for them to talk about their sexual prowess and exploits, but there was no way I ever wanted the intimacies of my sex life or body discussed by a team of horny dudes.
It was the night of Carmen’s holiday party when I made the bold decision to lose my virginity with Dane. While I was desperate to lose my V-card before college, I wouldn’t have slept with Dane if I hadn’t known in my heart that he was a good guy and would protect my secrets.
He had dispelled the myth of the cocky, self-centered, hockey boy.
Which made my decision to break it off before college even more difficult. But I did it out of self-preservation. I wanted my heart to survive intact.
The irony is that by the time my heart started to mend and the dreams I had about Dane had waned, the little blue plus sign made its appearance on a pregnancy stick.
I’m only halfway through my salad when Dane wipes his mouth with his napkin and starts back where we left off before our lunch was served.
“Can I ask you a question?” His voice is solemn, and his gray eyes have softened. I’ve always loved the way his eyes could change in their coloring, exactly the way Lenni’s do.
I nod, placing my fork down on my plate. “Of course.”
He rubs a hand over the scruff of his cheek and expels a breath. “Why did you decide to keep the baby?”
My forehead furrows with confusion.
“You mean, why didn’t I end the pregnancy or give her up for adoption?”
Dane shoves his hands in his hair and places his elbow on the table.
“I don’t want it to sound judgmental or like I’m suggesting you should have.
That’s not what I mean…” He lifts his head again and stares at me with sincerity in his eyes.
“I just remember how excited you were about playing volleyball in college and getting your degree. A baby must have complicated that.”
I snort. “Ya think?”
He makes a face. “Yeah. I can’t imagine what it must’ve been like for you. If I’d been in your shoes and had to give up hockey? Fuck.”
Pursing my lips together, I avoid his eyes while considering my response carefully. I look off into the bustling restaurant, recalling when I worked as a hostess while pregnant.
“My life would be a lot different, that’s for sure.
But not better. I guess the universe took matters into her own hands and removed that decision from me because by the time I found out, I was too far along.
” I turn and lock my eyes with his. “And honestly? Lenni is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I love being her mom.”
The life she’s brought me flashes before my eyes. The moment I first saw her small form appear on the ultrasound, her tiny bean-like body curled up like a shrimp.
The day I felt the first kick in my belly. Holding her in the delivery room after a twelve-hour labor. Watching her take her first steps as she toddled from me to my dad on our living room floor.
Hearing the sound of her giggles as she ran down the hallway at full speed. The sweet tone in her voice when she says, “Mama.”
My heart tripled in size the day she came into my life.
“I wouldn’t change it for the world,” I say with finality. “It’s true what they say. Sometimes the hardest parts of your life are what prepare you for the greatest.”
Dane smiles and leans toward me. “Let me be part of it, Hal. Please.”
God, how do I say no to such a heartfelt request?
“Let me think about it. Just give me some time, okay?”
He looks dejected but then his mouth curves up into a smile that melts my insides. After he pays the check, he places a hand at the small of my back as we head outside into the gray and misty afternoon.
When was the last time a man touched me like that?
I expect him to walk with me across the street toward the arena, but he stops at the corner and turns to me instead.
The next thing I know, I’m enveloped in his warm embrace. I want to bury my nose in his chest and never come up for air. He smells like man and pine tree and something spicy yet sweet. Like brown sugar and bourbon. It’s an intoxicating combination, and I can’t help but return the hug.
With his mouth close to my ear, he whispers so softly that the words are nearly drowned out by the traffic and street noise.
“I’ll be here for you and Lenni when you’re ready.” He kisses the top of my head and the world tilts underneath my feet. “I promise you.”