Chapter 17 #2
Her blue eyes sparkled in the candlelight as she lifted her glass again.
I couldn’t look away from her mouth, the way it curved into a smile, the subtle smudge of lipstick she kept unknowingly renewing with each sip.
Somewhere nearby, a phone camera clicked, but I didn’t turn. I was too caught up in her.
“…although, I have to admit, I never thought I’d end up designing a sex dungeon,” Lila said, lifting her fingers to make air quotes, her voice laced with amusement.
I laughed, thinking about my crazy bedroom. “Hey, you did a fantastic job. Very atmospheric.”
She waved me off, her cheeks turning a faint shade of pink. “That was all Gideon’s vision. I was just following his lead.”
Grinning, I shook my head. “Well, you definitely understood the assignment.”
After the plates were cleared, she turned toward me, her expression shifting. “Enough about me. I’ve been rambling all night. Tell me more about yourself.”
I shrugged, trying to find the words. “Honestly, hockey’s been my life for as long as I can remember. Growing up in rural Canada, it was a given.”
Over dessert, I dove into stories of my childhood—endless hours on the frozen pond behind our house, honing my skills, dreaming of making it to the big leagues. Lila listened with that warm, attentive expression, nodding and smiling at all the right moments.
“And now here you are, one of the top defensemen in the league,” she said, admiration in her voice. “That’s quite an accomplishment. Your parents must be so proud.”
“They are,” I admitted, a pang of homesickness tightening in my chest. “My father always believed in me. My parents were incredibly supportive—up before dawn, schlepping me to practice, buying the best gear they could find. They knew it was my dream to go pro.”
“Are your parents still in Canada?”
I pictured the sprawling house where I grew up. “Yeah. They’re back in rural Ontario. I’ve got a younger brother and sister too.” I grimaced a little. “Who never miss a chance to give me hell about those Apex Gear ads.”
Her eyebrows shot up, amusement lighting her face. “Those ads are something.”
I rubbed the back of my neck sheepishly. “Yeah, they’re something. My mom still pretends she doesn’t know anything about them.”
Lila laughed, warm and unfiltered. It was the kind that made you laugh with her, whether you wanted to or not, and I found myself grinning back.
She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. “And speaking of hockey, I should probably warn you…”
“Uh oh.”
She twirled a lock of hair around her finger. “Gideon got tickets and is insisting I go with him to some of the Fusion games.”
The idea of her in the stands sent an odd little flutter through my ribs. “Yeah? That’s… great. I mean, if you want to come, of course.”
Lila’s cheeks colored slightly. “I’d love to. Although I don’t know a thing about hockey.”
“Gideon will get you up to speed.” We gazed at each other for a charged moment before I cleared my throat. “Speaking of Gideon, I still owe him some payback for that stunt he pulled with my condo. I’m thinking I might need an accomplice in my revenge scheme. You in?”
Her grin was downright wicked. “Oh, honey, you have no idea what you’ve just unleashed.”
“Help me nail him. Nothing illegal. Just… inventive.”
Lila smirked deviously. “Ever heard of glitter bombs?”
We traded increasingly ridiculous ideas while the waiter brought the check. By the time I paid, I realized that I didn’t want the night to end. I wanted more time with her, more conversation, more laughs, more of whatever this unexpected connection was becoming.
“The night’s still young,” I said, hopeful. “Do you want to grab a drink somewhere else?”
She didn’t hesitate. “I’d love to.”
My hand lingered on the small of her back as we made our way to the exit. We stepped outside, and then all hell broke loose.
Camera flashes blinded me as a pack of paparazzi appeared from nowhere. Flashbulbs popped relentlessly, and a dozen voices shouted questions at once. I felt a twinge of irritation, but kept it in check.
“Mason! Over here! How does it feel to be traded to the Miami Fusion?” one of them barked, thrusting a microphone toward my face.
“Who’s the blonde? Is she your girlfriend?”
I clenched my jaw and slid a protective arm around Lila, guiding her through the chaos. She ducked her head, trying to hide behind her hair. I could feel her trembling against me.
“Hey man, love the billboards! When’s the next underwear shoot?”
“No comment,” I growled, shouldering past an overly aggressive photographer.
I didn’t look at the lenses or answer a single question. I just kept her moving, knowing that engaging them would only make things worse.
“And who’s this beautiful lady with you, Mason? What’s her name?”
Lila stiffened beside me. She was clearly out of her element. I quickened my pace, shielding her as best I could. The flashes were blinding, but I’d been trained for this crap: keep silent and move. It felt like an eternity before we reached the car.
I yanked open the passenger door and ushered Lila inside, then jogged around to the driver’s side. The paparazzi continued shouting behind us as I peeled away from the curb.
“You okay?” I asked softly, glancing over. She was staring out the window, arms wrapped tightly around herself.
Lila turned toward me, her lower lip trembling. “Is that… normal? Are they always like that?”
My stomach clenched. I hated that she’d been caught in that mess, hated the fear I’d seen in her eyes. “Lila, I’m sorry. I should’ve warned you that might happen.”
“It’s fine,” she said, her voice quivering slightly. “I just wasn’t expecting it.”
Reaching over, I took her hand, my thumb rubbing slow circles on her palm. “I’m not used to them being this aggressive. Back in Canada, there were other guys on my team who got most of the attention. I don’t usually attract a lot of paparazzi.”
“But now?” she pressed, a hint of worry breaking through her composed tone.
“With preseason starting and the trade, plus those billboards—” I gestured toward one of my own gigantic faces plastered on an ad we passed. “The Miami press has taken an interest. But it’ll die down once things settle. They always move on to the next story.”
“Yeah, sure.” She nodded, but I could see the tension in her shoulders.
I focused on the road, though my mind was still spinning. Would this be too much for her? Would she decide I wasn’t worth the hassle, the intrusion?
My hands flexed on the steering wheel as I searched for the right words. “If it bothers you, we can keep things low-key. No need for public appearances or outings if it’s too much.”
“You would do that?”
If staying out of the spotlight made her more comfortable, I was all for it.
“Absolutely. Starting right now. Those drinks I promised you? We’ll have them at my place.”