Chapter Six
Nick stood under the neon Public Market Center sign of Pike Place Market, his hands stuffed into his coat pockets. His breath fogged in the cold, moist air. He still had his cashmere coat, which was a little worse for wear, but the sun was shining today, so it was okay.
This was the first day since he’d arrived in the city that it wasn’t raining or drizzling or overcast. Although it was a little on the chilly side, the sun felt nice.
He shifted his weight, his feet feeling restless. His muscles were sore, but in that good, worked-over-hard way. He hadn’t trained like this since before his injury, and even though he was only working with Alex three days a week, he was definitely feeling it.
As requested, he’d also gotten a pass to the indoor pool she’d recommended, and he swam for a couple hours every morning.
And sometimes in the evenings. He was normally an early riser, and now, without playing and spending late nights at the rink or on or a plane, it was compounded. Most days he woke before six.
With not much else to do in the city—he wasn’t much of a joiner on his best day—the pool made for a nice distraction. At least it was a change of pace from the inside of his hotel room.
It didn’t do much for taking his mind off Alex, though.
Nothing seemed to. She was completely professional when they were working together, and so was he, but that didn’t stop his stupid brain from coming up with all kinds of fantasies.
His cock, the ring leader of the whole operation, had behaved so far, but there was no guarantee it would remain on its best behavior.
Maybe it’d been too long since he’d gotten laid. That had to be it. Shit, he couldn’t even remember the last time he’d been with someone. Had it really been that long? No wonder his brain—and his cock—were working overtime.
The Market and surrounding streets were busy, some people rushing, some people sauntering. Singles, couples, families, all chattering and laughing.
He glanced at his watch. Five to ten. As usual, he was early.
And it had nothing to do with the giddy excitement bumping around deep in his gut at the idea of seeing Alex outside of the clinic.
She’d used the word date, and the stupid grin that had broken out on his face had been ridiculous.
He’d been glad they’d been talking on the phone and not in person. So embarrassing.
There was a Starbucks partway down the block, so he headed in that direction.
It seemed fitting that he should have Starbucks here in Seattle, since this was where the chain had initially started.
The line was long, but he had time, so he moved to the end.
The sign said this location was actually the very first Starbucks location ever. Cool.
The line moved quickly, especially for how busy the place was, which was nice. Armed with a massive Americano, he headed back out into the street. He glanced at his watch again. Quarter after ten.
“Hey.”
He looked up. His stupid heart thumped against his ribs like it was throwing an elbow in the corner.
Alex walked toward him, her hands in the pockets of her coat. Her hair was down, something he hadn’t seen before. At the clinic, she always kept it pulled back in a tight bun or ponytail, out of the way and practical.
Today it flowed down and around her shoulders like a golden waterfall. His fingers twitched, wanting to sink into the silky strands. She was smiling, her eyes damn near sparkling. The whole picture took his breath away.
She stopped next to him. He realized he’d been staring like an idiot. And, he hadn’t said anything, either. Jesus, was he drooling? He felt like maybe he was drooling. Way to play it cool, moron.
“Hey,” he said, and his cheeks prickled.
Was he blushing again? Get a fucking grip already.
He stuffed his free hand into his pocket, trying to think of something, anything to say.
Why couldn’t he think of anything that didn’t sound stupid?
“Umm, it’s too bad Em couldn’t make it.” There, that was a safe topic, right?
The apples of her cheeks turned pink. She reached up and fiddled with the collar of her coat.
The bright blue color made her eyes more blue than grey, like the cloudless sky above them.
“Yeah, she got caught doing something that… well, let’s just say something she shouldn’t have been doing, and has been grounded again.
” She glanced away, rocking back on her heels.
“I hope it’s okay that it’s just you and me? ”
Holy shit. Part of him wanted to dig deeper into the Em stuff, because it sounded like something interesting might have gone down. But his brain was still stuck on the word date, which kept flashing through his mind, in big, bold fucking letters. The idea both thrilled and terrified him.
She was looking at him, her head cocked, her lower lip caught firmly between her teeth. So fucking sexy.
Shit, he hadn’t answered her. She was going to think he wasn’t okay, even though they’d made the plans on the phone last night.
“Of course, it’s okay.” His voice came out all croaky and hoarse. What the fuck was with that? He cleared his throat and took a sip of his drink. The bitterness burst on his tongue, the hot liquid just this side of scalding on his throat.
“Great.” She nodded, rocking back on her heels again. The awkwardness between them was so thick, he was lucky he could even see her through it.
He took another sip of coffee, basically for something to do, and the hope that it might jump start his tongue. It sort of worked. He tilted the coffee cup in her direction. “Sorry, I would have grabbed you something, but I don’t know what you like.”
She waved her hand. “Thanks, but I don’t drink coffee. Don’t like the bitterness. Which I realize is seriously sacrilegious for someone who lives in Seattle.” One side of her mouth quirked up. Man, did he want to kiss her.
Not a helpful thought. Better to stick to more neutral topics. “How did you end up in Seattle?”
She turned and started walking toward the market. He followed along beside her. “Em’s dad was transferred here for his job when Em was about eighteen months old. And it became home.”
He understood that. No matter that he’d spent the majority of his life in Nebraska, New England was his home. “Things didn’t work out? With Em’s dad, I mean?”
As soon as the words popped out of his stupid mouth, he wanted to kick his own ass to the east coast and back. Of course, things hadn’t worked out, or they’d still be together. Besides, he hated when people brought up his ex and his divorce. Nothing made him freeze faster.
She shrugged, like it was no big deal, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes that told him it was far from okay. “We were young and, let’s face it, got married for the wrong reason.”
Her words sent a ripple of shock through him. He hadn’t expected her to be so blunt. People usually beat around the bush and all that bullshit, more often than not making themselves out to be the victim. Her openness was nice. “Unless my math is wrong, you were what, seventeen when Em was born?”
“Look at you, using that high school education and everything.” The teasing in her voice made his chest feel weird.
All light and fizzy. She nudged him with her shoulder, and even through they’re clothes, it felt like she’d zapped him with a live wire.
What would it feel like, skin to skin? His cock twitched, liking the idea way too much for a public place. Down, boy.
“Did you get married right out of high school?”
She shook her head and stuffed her hands back in her pockets. They were wandering through the market, surrounded by all kinds of sights and sounds and smells, but his attention was focused solely on her.
“I didn’t even get that far. I got pregnant at sixteen, and my parents pretty much disowned me as soon as I told them.” She kept her gaze straight ahead, not looking at him. Her voice, already whiskey tinged, took on a slightly huskier quality.
The urge to wrap his arms around her, hold her tight, protect her, and maybe slay a few demons in the process, wound through him.
He didn’t know what to do with the feeling.
Offering comfort really wasn’t his thing.
So, he tossed his coffee cup in a trash can, jammed his hands into his pockets and continued moving forward.
It was one of the rules he lived by. Just keep moving.
“That must have been hard. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry it happened to you. ”
“Thanks.” She glanced at him. The sadness in her eyes damn near gutted him like the fish here at the market. While he’d never been disowned, he knew what it was like to grow up in a dysfunctional household. And the kinds of scars that shit left behind.
“But,” she said, giving him one of her light-up-the-world smiles, “I got Em out of the deal, so it was worth it.”
The love on her face, the adoration in her voice, made his chest ache. He wasn’t sure why. And he also wasn’t about to fucking dissect his feelings right now, either. “I’m disappointed she couldn’t join us today.”
“So is she.” She slipped her arm though his. A zip of electricity crackled along his nerve endings. “But, as I told her, that’s what happens when you break the rules. Because, you know, I’m so tough and everything.”
“Yeah, I can tell you’re a real hard ass.” He almost managed to keep his voice even. Almost.
She laughed. The light, throaty sound bounced through him like a puck on bad ice. Man, he loved her laugh. He felt his lips tilt up in a no-longer-quite-so-rusty smile. He couldn’t remember the last time just spending time with someone made him feel so… hell, he didn’t even have a word for it.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m starving. Let’s go stand in a ridiculously long line for brunch.” She tugged on his arm, leading him across the narrow space between the vendor stalls.
Little did she know, at this moment, he’d follow her just about anywhere. “That sounds like an excellent plan.”