Page 20 of The Goalie

I smile and clap as I stare at him on stage, shaking that lady’s hand. He’s so hot. I start to mentally undress him, taking off his suit jacket, unraveling his tie, undoing each button slowly on that crisp white shirt. I picture him on the beach in a bathing suit, his sun-kissed skin glistening from the ocean water.

I’ve never wanted to go on a trip so badly in all of my life. A month with Nolan in paradise… That would be a dream come true.

“Congratulations,” I say as he returns. He immediately takes my hand again and it makes me blush. “Have fun on your trip.”

He looks at me with a grin. “Our trip.”

I don’t say anything. I just smile. It’s fun to play along, but it’s only been a couple of hours. The month-long stay is in August, four months from now. He might not even remember my name by then. I’m fully aware that this all might just be an unrealistic fantasy I’m concocting in my head and he might bring some other lucky girl instead. But still… For tonight, it’s real. I’m going to indulge in the fantasy a little bit while I can.

After the auction finishes, we each grab a drink at the bar and head over to a quiet spot near the stern of the yacht.

“Oh no,” I say when I see the lit-up buildings getting larger. “Are we heading back to the pier?”

Nolan pulls up his sleeve to look at his Rolex. “It’s almost midnight.”

“Already?”

I feel the swell of happiness that’s been swirling inside me all night starting to fade. Sadness takes its place.

Nolan and I erase the distance between us. He puts his big muscular arms around me and holds me like he’s never going to let me go. I sink into his chest and inhale his masculine cologne.

“The night doesn’t have to end now,” he says in his deep rich voice. “I can drive you home. I can take you anywhere.”

“I came with my father…”

“Right,” he says with a heavy sigh.

I swallow hard as I look up at him. “Am I going to see you again?”

He cups my cheeks with his big hands and gazes into my eyes with a loving look. “Of course. I don’t know how I’d live without you.”

We kiss again and the tingling that starts in my lips travels all the way down to my curled toes. I’m blushing when we finally pull away. God, I love kissing this man. I can’t get enough of it.

Knowing we’re about to part has dampened the mood a bit. We just hold each other and watch the gorgeous view as the yacht slowly returns to the pier. The stars are shining above our heads and there’s a cool breeze from being on the water.

Nolan sees me shiver, takes off his jacket, and puts it on my shoulders. I smile as I inhale his sexy rugged scent.

The moment I’m dreading arrives when the yacht comes to a stop. I hear the crew securing the boat to the pier and then the ramp gets lowered.

People slowly start exiting, but some linger, not willing to give up the free drinks and luxurious accommodations until they’re directly told by security to leave.

“I guess we should head out,” I say, reluctant to leave this spot. I know that Nolan is going to be starting the playoffs in a few days and if my past experience with my father holds true, he’s going to be very busy and very preoccupied. I might not even cross his mind.

“When can I see you again?” Nolan asks as he holds my wrist tightly.

“Dad says you guys are heading to New York for the first round of playoffs. When are you leaving?”

“Shit,” he says as he runs a hand through his hair. “I wasn’t even thinking about that. I leave tomorrow.”

I drop my eyes to the floor and bite my bottom lip. This is such bad timing.

“As soon as I get back,” he says, tilting my chin up until I’m looking into his eyes again. “I’ll take you out. Anywhere you want.”

“I just want to be with you,” I say as I step on my toes, going right for that sexy mouth.

A familiar sound hits my ears just as I’m about to kiss him—my father loudly clearing his throat.

I whip my head around and force out a smile when I see my father staring at us with steely eyes.

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