Page 14 of Power Plays & Proposals

Lia confirmed it and the woman said, "Are you going to kiss him?"

Lia hushed the older woman, and I nearly choked on a laugh. It sounded like she put her hand over the mic so I couldn’t hear her answer, just a muffled conversation and I couldn’t tell what was being said. Curiosity burned, but I decided it was for the best if I didn’t think about kissing the attractive redhead. I couldn’t remember the last time I had kissed someone. Erin had seen to it that any woman I looked at more than once quickly dropped out of my life. It was easier if all I focused on was Penelope and hockey. I didn't have the time or energy to date anyway.

Lia came back on the line, "I'll see you soon. I'll be waiting outside so you don't have to come up."

"I don't mind."

"Trust me, my neighbor is a huge hockey fan. You'll be here all night answering questions for her if I don't."

I smiled at that. "Is that who you were talking to."

She confirmed it and added. "She's been telling me all about the season. She finds it abominable that I don't know anything about hockey."

My smile grew bigger at that. "She sounds like my kind of person."

"I can give you her number. Although in full disclosure I'm not sure if she'd date you or try to set you up with her granddaughter."

The woman in question answered in the background. "I'm keeping him for myself if you don't snatch him up deary."

I laughed, and it felt good to laugh after everything that had happened earlier. "I'll pick you up soon."

Lia sighed, "I'll text you the address."

We said goodbye, and I got changed into my navy suit for the game. It was my night for the post-game interview tonight. The press would inevitably ask me about my injury and how it felt to be back on the ice. I had that speech memorized so it wouldn't take too long. I turned to Penelope.

"You good sitting in the suite tonight Pea?" I asked her.

She got that teasing glint in her eye. "What's the penalty ref?"

I smiled at her, "I don't have rinkside tickets for this game. So it's the suite or I see if Angelica can babysit."

She shuddered at the mention of the babysitter the agency found me after the last nanny quit. The woman might resemble a witch out of a fairytale with warts and a hump, but she made sure Penelope got her work done and was in bed on time. Penelope just didn't like the traditional stew the older woman had made for dinner. I couldn’t blame her as the condo had smelled like tomatoes and vinegar for a good week after I’d tossed the pot.

"Angelica smells like feet. I pick the box. Can I bring my pencils and sketchbook?"

"Sure thing. Now get ready, unless you don't want Charlie’s."

She hopped up from the couch faster than a cat avoiding a sprinkler and ran for her room. Ten minutes later she had a blue Glacier Bay jersey on, jeans, and her white sneakers. Her hair was back in its usual ponytail. I held out my hand for her and we were off to get Lia. The best part of Glacier Bay is that it doesn’t take more than twenty minutes to drive from one end of the city to the other on the highway. Taking the backroads it took me fifteen to get to Lia’s place.

While Glacier Bay doesn't have a bad side of town per say, Lia was definitely not living in the best part. Her building was on a street of older buildings that were showing their age. Cracks in the sidewalk, graffiti on one of the walls, and unshoveled sidewalks. Lia waited on the curb next to a red brick building, in a puffy white coat and canary yellow scarf. She looked like a cross between a snowman and a marshmallow that had been set on fire. Her red hair spilled over her shoulders in fancy waves. Her hands were tucked into her pockets, and she was fidgeting as I pulled up to the curb.

Chapter 7

The truck with faded green paint that pulled up to the curb in front of me was not what I expected, but it somehow fit Nate better than the sleek red Mustang I'd envisioned. Nate hopped out and walked around the truck to where I was standing. The navy suit made his eyes pop, and his hair looked like he ran his fingers through it a few times in exasperation. There was a lock that fell just above his right eye and I wanted to reach up to smooth it away. I clenched my fist inside my pocket to stop myself. I looked away from him and stared at the giant slush puddle that stood between me and the passenger door. The drain clearly wasn't working in this section of the street.

I looked back at him a bit sheepishly, "I hate to break it to you, but I don't think I can hop far enough to clear the slush and land in your truck."

I'd opted for a skirt and fleece-lined tights for dinner as I wasn't sure if Charlie's was a fancy place or not. Based on how Nate was dressed, I was glad I hadn't worn blue jeans.

"Why don't you get in on my side instead? The truck has a bench seat so it'll be easier than trying to find an unslushy spot."

We walked around his truck and he held the door open for me to get in. His truck was higher up than I expected, and the pencil skirt wouldn't let me lift my leg high enough. I turned to Nate unsure what to do.

"May I?" He asked.

I nodded, and he put his warm hands on my hips as he lifted me up to sit on the seat. I tucked my feet in, and turned to slide across the seat. Except Penelope sat there instead.

"Hi!" she chirped from the passenger seat. Leaving me to sit between her and her dad.

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