28. Harbor
HARBOR
A fter the success of the Hockey with Heart clinic, Prince demands I take the next day off.
It’s been so long since I’ve had a vacation day, I’m not even sure what to do. I’m lounging by the hotel pool under a big yellow-and-white striped umbrella and trying to relax, when my cell buzzes, vibrating my chaise.
Thank god.
Something—anything—to get my mind off Weston and our situationship.
Piper: I’m in the lobby of your hotel
Wha-what?!? My sister’s here, in Driftwood Cove?
Harbor: Shut up!
Piper: No, for real
I swivel my head toward the tapping noise behind me. My sister’s grinning at me through the large glass lobby window.
Jumping up from the chair, I hurriedly tie on my sarong and race inside to greet her.
“Piper! What are you doing here?” Throwing my arms around her, happiness bubbles inside me. I hadn’t realized how much I missed my sister until now.
“Geesh, Harbs, you’re crushing me…” She squirms in my tight grip, giggling. “I told you I’d come see you. My assignment got pushed up a few weeks, so here I am.”
“Amazing! I can’t believe you’re really here. You brought your swimsuit, right? Let’s take your stuff up and then head back to the pool.”
We haul her suitcase upstairs, and she changes while I yap her ear off.
“Can you believe he said that, Pipes? He literally said the word mine .”
Piper pops her head out of the bathroom. “Really? But did he growl it, like the heroes always do in romance books?”
I throw my head back, laughing. “Now that you mention it, yes. Yes he did. It was most definitely a growl.”
“You lucky bitch.” Piper scrunches her nose up. “You found yourself a real-life book boyfriend. Weston sounds amazing.”
I collapse back on the white fluffy duvet and close my eyes, flashing back to the other night. Weston’s hands all over my naked body, his warm lips on mine.
Making me feel something I’ve never felt before.
Something dangerously close to love.
“He is, Pipes. So amazing. He’s strong and dedicated, determined. An amazing listener who always knows just the right thing to say. Also freakishly tall and gorgeous.” A full-body shiver rips through me, remembering how his touch made me come undone.
“Oh my god.”
My eyes fly open. Piper’s standing over me, her green eyes narrowed. “You’re in love with him.”
“What? No,” I protest, scrambling to sit up. I don’t like the way my sister’s lording over me right now.
And I really don’t like the way she’s calling me out. Like she’s my damn therapist.
“You are!” She points at my chest, a deep, red flush creeping over my skin like a snaking vine, giving me away.
“I am not. We’re not even official.” I smooth my hand over my ponytail.
“Sure, right,” Piper tuts, pulling on her sandals. “So if he asked to put a ring on it tomorrow you’d say no?”
I bite down on my lip, my heart pounding double-time.
How does my sister always know things?
“I didn’t say that…” My voice trails off, my mind skipping to the wedding. The white satin dress, tiki torches on the beach, Weston in a tux.
Of course I’d say yes.
A shot of panic bursts through me.
I’d say yes.
So what about this job, my career? His career?
Instead of making the predicament clearer, my sister’s muddled me up even more. I don’t know what to do about anything.
Piper sinks down next to me on the bed and wraps her arm around me. With a shuddery sigh, I lay my head on her shoulder and huff out a breath.
“I’m sorry I said those things to you before. About your job and pressure and expectations. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“I know, Harbor.” She rubs my arm and I feel a touch lighter. “It’s okay. And you don’t have to always choose work, you know.”
My stomach clenches and knots, her words hitting me hard in the chest.
“I know,” I whisper the lie, so softly I know there’s no chance Piper believes me.
Her fingers tickle my skin and I focus on the tiny circles, going round and round.
Just like me and Weston.
Skating around each other, stuck in this weird, twisted dance. Getting close, then pushing away. Again and again.
Deep-down, I know it’s only partly because of the job.
Another part of me is absolutely terrified of getting my heart broken.
Because that’s what happens to women who fall for pro hockey stars.
Even ones as perfect as Weston.
Happily Ever Afters don’t exist in real life. Not really.
It’s a story old as time.
One my father’s been reminding me about since before I could read.
Don’t get involved with the players, Harbor. Nothing good will come from that. Stick to the sidelines. It’s safer there.
But what if my dad’s wrong? What if this thing between me and Weston is real?
Sometimes you have to take a risk, Harbor.
Take the risk.
My father’s voice is replaced by Weston’s in my head and the heaviness in my chest eases, oxygen filling up my lungs .
Maybe we can make this work.
“Go for it, Harbor. Choose love this time.” Piper gives my arm a reassuring squeeze, her words ringing like a mantra in my head.
Choose love.
For once in my life, I’m going to follow my heart.
Weston Steele’s worth the risk.
Piper and I are having drinks at the lobby bar when my phone rings. I glance down and Weston’s name flashes on the screen.
“Answer it.” Piper nudges my elbow, raising her eyebrows.
“No. I’ll call him back.”
“Answer it! Or I will…” She grabs for my cell on the teak bar, so I preemptively click Accept.
“Hello?” I’m breathless, having just beat my sister out for the phone.
“Hey, Hurricane. You thinking about me?” There’s a playful smirk in his voice, and I can’t help but smile.
“Maybe…” I play coy, pretending that Piper and I haven’t been talking about him since she got to Driftwood Cove.
“Hopefully all good things.”
“Absolutely.”
“Great. That’s what I wanted to hear. What are you doing this weekend?”
My stomach flip-flops with nerves and excitement. Because of course I want to see Weston and introduce him to my sister.
“Not exactly sure. My sister’s in town unexpectedly. She wants to meet you.” The words tumble out of my mouth before I can stop them and Piper’s lips curve up in a huge, wicked smile. She takes a sip of her dirty martini and leans in closer to the cell, hoping to overhear more of our convo.
“That works out then. Bennett’s throwing a little team house party, and I want you to come.”
Breath hitches in my throat. Those aren’t the weekend plans I hoped he’d suggest.
“I don’t know, Weston…we’re trying to keep a low profile. Do you really think that’s the best idea?” I run my finger along the rim of my glass, the smooth surface cool and wet on my skin.
“Probably not. But it’ll be more obvious if you don’t show.”
He has a point. Bennett and Callum will definitely know something’s up, if they don’t already. From there, it’s only a matter of time until the entire team finds us out.
“C’mon, Hurricane. What do you say? My house, Saturday night? I promise not to take your clothes off.”
Damn.
“Oh, in that case, I’m definitely not showing up,” I tease, clenching my thighs at the mere mention of potential nudity with Weston.
“Or I can. Whatever makes you happy, baby.”
I try not to visibly swoon at his words. Not when Piper’s watching my face like an FBI interrogator ready to pounce.
“Fine. We’ll be there. But I’m serious about keeping things chill. Remember rules one and two?”
“Like I could forget.” His tone’s serious, a sharper edge to his voice.
At least he remembers all that’s at stake .
“I’ll act like we’re at the rink. We’re colleagues in public. No one will be the wiser.” He tries to reassure me, but vodka churns in my stomach.
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
“We’ll be there. And Weston?”
“Yeah?”
“Remind your brother to keep this get-together quiet. The team doesn’t need every puck girl in town crashing the party.”
“Got it. I’ll pass that along. Can’t wait to meet your sister. And see you again, Hurricane. Bye.”
He disconnects and I stare at the cell in my hand, the L-word hovering on my lips.
“Say it,” Piper leans in and whispers with a smirk. “Just say it.”
But I don’t. Not yet.
Because I know once I do, everything changes.