Chapter 3 – Into the Rin
Pivot Pla y
October
Amelia
While I’m sipping my mocktail, I watch my friends have fun on the crowded dance floor. They’re both stunning and captivating, and it isn’t long before partners come to join them.
Shelly’s a tall blonde with a lithe body who knows how to dance. Right now, she's swaying in sync with two tall men. On the other hand, Nita is a petite, curvy girl with fiery-red locks, draped over a silver fox who's definitely a looker.
You go, girl !
A few gentlemen have asked me to dance, but I'm content to sit back and enjoy the music.
I take another sip and feel a tap on my shoulder.
When I look up, I find Mr. Arm Porn grinning down at me.
I return his enthusiastic smile with one of my own.
His face is free of lipstick now, and I can make out the faint teasing of scruff along his jawline in the dim light. My mouth goes dry all over again.
Mmmmm, lickable .
I shake my head to clear it, and he smirks, conceited but in a way that somehow works for him. Adorable.
He's now wearing a black T-shirt emblazoned with the club's name.
“Nice shirt,” I comment.
“Uh, yeah…” he replies, “The owner gave me one of his promotional T-shirts since mine got ruined. We're friends.”
“Of course you are,” I drawl, rolling my eyes. The club's owner, James Raddison, is a well-known hockey player and team captain for the Steel Port Ice Hawks. And just like Jaxson, he's allergic to monogamy.
Steel Port is a town about 80 miles east of Thunder Bay, near the shores of Lake Superior.
The rivalry with Thunder Bay runs deep, touching everything from high school sports to the NHL.
With the lake at its heart and surrounded by natural beauty, the town thrives on watersports from boating and fishing to all the outdoor adventures locals and visitors can get into.
“Did we get off on the wrong foot? You seem angry with me,” the beautiful man interrupts my thoughts.
“I'll be honest with you, pretty boy,” I say with a touch of snark, “My tolerance for charmers is at zero.”
He sits, uninvited, on the bench next to me. “I knew it!” he exclaims, a playful grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “You think just because those women were hanging all over me, I'm a womanizer. They were attacking me,” he adds, emphasizing the last part.
“Well, aren't you, pretty boy?” I fire off at him. “How many platonic female friends do you have? Or maybe friends with benefits? Got a steady girlfriend, huh?” I raise my brows sarcastically.
“I have lots of friends who are girls,” he defends himself. “I may not have a steady girlfriend, but I don't do friends with benefits, either.”
I scoff, rolling my eyes again for good measure.
“I'll prove it!” he declares. “We can go in there right now, and you can ask anyone who knows me. They'll tell you I'm not a man-hoe. ”
“Puh-lease!” I scoff. “All you men stick together. If you told them to say you were a practicing monk, they'd do their darndest to convince me.”
“Who's hurt you, love?” He looks at me sadly, making it impossible for me to hold his gaze. Tears well up in my eyes, and I quickly turn away.
“Hey, hey,” he continues softly. “Don't do that. I can't stand to see a beautiful girl cry.” He reaches out, cupping my face between his huge hands, wiping at the tears with his thumbs. “You're a really pretty crier, though.” He grins.
I can't help it, I snort-laugh, covering my mouth in embarrassment. He just grins bigger.
“Let's start fresh.” He extends his hand. “My friends call me Bash.”
I take it in mine. It's a bit rough, yet warm. “Amelia,” I reply softly.
“Amelia,” he says, rolling it across his tongue like a caress, and I blush. He holds my hand a moment too long, but before it becomes awkward, he lets go.
I pull back and play with the bottom of my glass.
“Now my reputation is at stake,” he asserts. “I demand that you let me prove I'm not what you think I am. ”
“How do you propose we do that?” I ask coquettishly, my voice teasing but wary.
“I want to date you.”
I open my mouth to protest, but he stops me, placing his fingers gently on my lips. His touch melts me, and I fall silent. I shut my mouth firmly, trying my best not to bite him.
“Just hear me out and then you can tell me all the reasons why you can't,” he teases.
I don't respond with words, his fingers still pressing against my mouth. But something in my expression must show my acquiescence. He notices, and without pushing, continues.
“That's my girl,” he breathes. “All I want is three dates that I plan and arrange. We'll spend time together between each one, having fun—no sex involved. I'll prove to you that I'm honorable.”
“I…”
“No sex, no friends with benefits, and not even a serious relationship. Just two friends enjoying time together.”
I exhale deeply, only now realizing I'd been holding my breath when dizziness washes over me.
“Before I agree, I need to lay all my cards on the table,” I admit .
He leans back on the bench, hands laced behind his head, intently focused on me. He nods slightly, giving me the go-ahead to continue.
I take a deep breath and start telling him my ugly story, careful to leave out our names and anything that could identify us. I share enough to be honest, but not so much that I cross any lines.
When I finally stop, I've laid myself bare, feeling emotionally wrung out, but lighter somehow.
Bash knows everything now, well, almost. I haven't told him that my husband is Jaxson Kingston, a pro hockey player.
I don't mind him knowing I'm a professional skater, but saying Jaxson's name feels like a betrayal.
“Well,” he murmurs, voice so low I can barely hear him over the music, “that's messed up, love. But I know one thing, your husband's an idiot.”
I smile faintly. "Thanks, I think so, too.”
He shifts closer, and there's something serious in his eyes. "And just so we're clear, I've never dated a married woman. Not once. It's not my thing."
I nod. "Just friends."
"Exactly. Friends," he says with a slight grin.
“I'd still like to see you,” he continues. “Normally, I don't go near married women, but I'll make an exception for you. We'll keep it platonic. I want to show you I'm not like other men, especially your husband.”
I meet his blue eyes, wondering why I thought they were icy. Instead, they're warm and kind, and I realize there's no reason to lump all men together.
Not everyone cheats, I hope. I want to believe that's true because I'm having fun for the first time in a long time.
"Alright," I say, a little smile tugging at my lips. "Let's… make some rules for our 'relationship.'" I make air quotes with my fingers.
He chuckles. "I like the finger quotes.
"Rule one," I say, "we share what we want to share. Neither one of us gets into the other's personal business unless invited."
"Agreed." He nods. "And we keep whatever we want to keep to ourselves. This is about us, not anyone else."
"Right. Rule two," I add, "no looking each other up online. No Googling. We get to know each other from scratch, without backstory, games, or preconceived ideas. Uh… unless you're a serial killer or a drug lord."
"I'm good. Clean as a whistle. Scout's honor." He holds up two fingers and grins. "My contract… my job ha s a morality policy. If that doesn't convince you, we can always make a blood pact."
"Okaaay. I've always wanted to be tied to someone via a minor injury, Boy Scout," I snark. "Should we get matching tattoos and braid each other's hair while we're at it?"
"Don't forget the secret handshake." He smirks.
"But… full disclosure, I'm a professional ice skater, and I plan to compete in the Olympics next February."
"Not surprising," Bash says. "A lot of people around here have careers on the ice. And, full disclosure, my job involves ice, too. But that's as much as I'm willing to say."
"Fair enough," I agree.
"So are you a famous pro skater?" he asks, teasing.
"You'll find out soon enough." I laugh softly. "If I invite you to watch my competitions."
He raises his eyebrows. "Now, I'm tempted to sneak a peek online."
"You can't break the rules already," I squeak. "Promise, no peeking."
He shrugs, playful. "I won't. I promise. But you have to promise not to look either."
"I do. "
He reaches out, brushing my hand lightly. "Agreed. Our rules, our pace, our time. Just us."