Chapter Ten
Honor
Honey.
Ever since Bodhi called me that, it left a lasting impression coiled deep in my chest that I haven’t been able to erase. As if that wasn’t annoying enough, he has to go and do this.
I snort, because she’s not far off. The note that was left in the middle of the basket didn’t say much. It was short and sweet and did something to my heart that I haven’t felt in years.
Did some research. Hope this helps.
P.S. Gemma picked out the dog stuff
—B
If I thought being called ‘honey’ by this man did something to my chest, it didn’t compare to him doing research on my condition and then shopping for things he thought could help.
Have I tried most of these supplements? Yes. Will I try them again just because he bought them for me? Probably. And Puck loves playing when he’s not working, so I know he’ll love the toys that Bodhi’s daughter chose.
“For the record,” Karina tells me with a sly smile. “It isn’t against the rules to date one of the players. It also isn’t recommended, but it hasn’t stopped people in the past from trying.”
I feign innocence at her amused tone to examine the lamb-shaped stuffed dog toy that I have no doubt Puck will curl up in bed with tonight. “I don’t know what you mean.”
A thoughtful hum rises from her. “Then just tuck that nugget away for when the time comes,” she muses, setting the bottle down and chuckling at the basket.
When she walks to her office that’s attached to mine, I call out, “Do the players go after the staff often?”
I’d hate to fall into a trap that would leave me heartbroken all over again.
Athletes are notorious for infidelity and scandal, and my father’s team is no different.
Every so often I’d see a headline featuring one of his boys that usually involved one of them being traded, getting caught with drugs, being arrested for DWI, or having an affair.
It made me want to stay far away from them, even after meeting Bodhi the first time.
But he isn’t like that, is he? I would have had a gut reaction that told me to run far, far away if he were playing me.
At least, I’d like to think I would. In my limited experience with men, he seems different.
Attentive. Playful. Serious when he needs to be. Kind.
He hasn’t pushed me for more details about my life or pressed on matters that I have divulged to him.
He’s given me privacy, even after I ugly cried in front of him about my medical prognosis, and he looked up my condition.
No. He spent his time and money shopping for me on things he hoped would help.
Did Max ever buy me anything that he thought would help?
Bodhi is a golden retriever; unconditionally loyal when he owes me nothing.
“That look is exactly why I thought you should know there’s no policy,” Karina says pointedly, jabbing her pen at me.
“Very few people here have had that kind of relationship with a player. In the decade and a half that I’ve worked for the team, I can think of two.
And neither of them were Bodhi. That boy has kept his distance, especially over the last few years.
I’ve seen more of him now than I have since being hired. ”
My cheeks flush.
She won’t let me play dumb. “No other player has brought you baked goods, medicine, or left you their number. So don’t even try to pretend like there’s not something going on with Hoffman. He’s not doing this out of a favor for your father either.”
“There’s—”
“Nope” she stops me, holding up her hand. “I said I don’t want to hear it. It’s best if you don’t lie to me. Denial is a river in Egypt, the kids say.”
I gape as she winks at me and closes the door that connects our offices.
Usually, supervisors don’t give you the greenlight to date employees. And despite not having any intention of moving forward with that invitation, it’s in the back of my head. Exactly where I don’t want it.
Because Bodhi bought me vitamins.
And a heating pad.
And dog toys.
And watched me blow my nose after I basically told him my uterus hated me. Could I be any more embarrassing?
Sighing, I pull my chair back and grab my cell from my back pocket. Bodhi’s name stares at me as I hover my thumbs over the keyboard to type out a message, but I decide not to chicken out like I have since finding his gift this morning.
“I’ll be back,” I call out to Karina.
Puck stands up to follow me carrying one of the toys that Gemma picked out. I smile down at him and see his tail wagging in response as his stuffed fire hydrant hangs out of his mouth.
“Do you like that, buddy?” I ask.
He looks like he’s smiling as he trots along side me, which is all the confirmation I need.
It takes a few minutes of walking toward the rink to hear lingering voices. One of them is definitely Bodhi, and I don’t know how to feel about the goosebumps that pimple my arms when I hear his booming laughter.
“You can thank him then,” I tell Puck, ignoring the buzz under my skin as we stop at the corridor entrance.
Bodhi is with a few of the guys on the rink. I recognize Sebastian Henderson, the team’s defenseman, and Cash Grayson, one of the left wings.
As soon as Bodhi sees me, he holds up one of his hands to the others and skates toward the door of the rink to step out.
Puck and I meet him down by the benches, and he smiles when he sees what my dog is carrying. “I see he got into his toys.”
“As soon as he saw the hydrant his eyes lit up,” I admit, fussing over him. “Gemma picked well. Tell her he appreciates it.”
“Of course.”
I rub my arm. Does he seem taller than before?
It must be the skates that makes him feel so much more domineering.
“It was very sweet what you did,” I add, peeking up at him through my lashes and seeing him already watching me.
It takes everything in me not to blush under his gaze but it’s hard when those eyes are so…
intense. “You must have spent a lot of money on all of that stuff. I know from personal experience how much supplements can be.”
He rolls his eyes. “I’m not exactly hurting for money, Honor.”
“I know that, but it doesn’t mean you have to spend it on me. I’m trying to tell you I appreciate it. That’s all.”
“You don’t need to thank me, honey. It’s the last I can do.”
There’s that damn name.
The goosebumps on my arms spread, and I have to look down when I feel the heat settle into my cheekbones and back of my neck. “You like to call me that, huh?” I question.
There’s a smile in his voice when he says, “You haven’t told me not to.”
It makes me look up at him in challenge. “I didn’t say I liked it,” I counter.
He takes a step closer until the tips of his skates brush my black Converse. “You haven’t told me you didn’t.”
I swallow at his closeness. Clearing my throat, I wet my lips and look up at him. Why is my heart beating so fast? If he gets any closer he’ll be able to hear it.
“So?” he asks quietly.
“W-What?”
He chuckles. “Do you like it or not?”
That’s a loaded question. Because there’s a lot I’m liking right now. Way too much. I blame hormones for the way my eyes scan over him as if I can see every square inch of muscle that exists under his uniform. He’s covered from head to toe, but he may as well be naked in front of me.
And…
God. Am I really checking him out while he watches?
When I force my eyes to go back to his face, there’s no cockiness in his eyes like I expect there to be. He’s simply watching me with interest, one eyebrow quirked.
That’s when I realize he’s waiting for an answer. “Maybe you should stick with Honor,” I force out.
His cheeks twitch. “And why is that?”
For once, I don’t bother lying. “Because it seems safer that way.”
Bodhi’s eyes flash, and a softness takes over his playful expression. To my surprise, he takes a lengthy step back.
To give me space, I realize.
To make me feel…safe.
This version of him reminds me of the one I met at the bar.
He’d been drunk, of course, but he was sweet.
He’d listen to me talk and ask me questions to prove he was paying attention.
He’d watch me in a way that I’d never been looked at before.
How could one night with a stranger change so much of my perspective?
I won’t let it bother me that he doesn’t remember it as clearly as I do. I hold fondly onto the memory, and that’s enough.
“You’re a good guy, Bodhi,” I say, shaking my head in slight disbelief.
“That’s usually what women say to men before they friend zone them,” he teases with an easy-going smile.
I narrow my gaze at him. “That would imply we’re friends.”
“Aren’t we?”
“I—” I stop myself. Because I don’t know. Are we? Do we have a label? Labels make things tricky. But they also make things less confusing.
His chuckle is light. “You’re cute when you’re confused. You get a little line between your eyebrows.” He points at the spot that’s wrinkled, making me ease my expression.
“Cute is something men call puppies and kids,” I tell him, arching one of my brows.
“And women,” he argues.
I stare at him for a second before crossing my arms over my chest. “Women are beautiful. Hot. Sexy.”
He lifts his shoulders. “Sure. But in the past, that’s what I would call the kind of women I only wanted to fuck; the ones I’d see physical things in and nothing more. I know that makes me as ass, but I’m not perfect. Never have been. Some women mean more than an easy lay.”
I won’t lie, there’s red hot jealousy that stirs in the deepest pit of my stomach over him thinking anybody else is hot. Which is ridiculous, so I force myself to brush it off. “At least you’re honest,” I murmur, glancing down at the ground.