Page 30 of Dario

The hotel baris busy when we arrive, but when the staff see the team entering, they direct us to a reserved area outside with a large fire pit. The two rookies don't need a babysitter, they look right at home among the team. I smile as they get carded. I still do, and it's nice to see others having to pull out their IDs.

It's kind of a free for all now that we're here. The girls I saw at the bar have joined our group. My eyes search for Gemma, but I don't expect her for a while.

Lake sits down next to me and hands me a bottle of beer. "Nothing like it after a brutal game."

"We did a good job of holding on to that one- point lead. I thought for sure they'd at least equalize."

"No, they made stupid mistakes trying to take it away from us."

I grin and notice Lake's eyes darken as he looks over my shoulder. Before I have time to look, I feel someone sitting next to me. My heart drops as I turn and recognize Naomi from the night I screwed up with Gemma.

She sees me recognize her and smiles. "I've been worried about you since I saw the explosion on the news. It scared me."

"Oh."

Lake the idiot laughs.

"Will you introduce us to your friend?" She waves her friends over. The seven of them.

"Hell!" I mumble, apologizing to Lake as I beg him for help. He's no help though, as his wife Juniper has found him and taken up residence on his lap.

I'm so screwed if Gemma walks in on this. Especially with Naomi sitting next to me.

The look on Naomi's face when she notices Juniper is not good. She jumps up. "Hey, bitch! We were here first!" She lunges at Juniper, but I'm up and grab her around the waist. Naomi struggles against my grip, her eyes blazing with anger. I try to calm her, knowing things could escalate quickly.

Lake gets up and hands his wife to Nikoli. He gets in Naomi’s face. "Who do you think you are talking to my pregnant wife like that?" Juniper looks frightened and clings to Nikoli for protection as Lake steps between them.

I turn and throw Naomi away as I wave security over. I say, "You and your friends are not welcome here. Get out!" I move to Juniper, who is wrapped around Lake. I lean over and plant a kiss on the top of her head. "Congratulations." I meet Lake's gaze. "To both of you!" I squeeze his shoulder, and then I see her.

She is the most beautiful girl here. My face splits into a grin that fades when she doesn't return it. Dodge doesn't look happy either. I sigh. I'm not in the mood for this shit. It's been a long couple of days and all I want is my girl. I don't want to have to explain shit every time someone jumps on me.

Holding Gemma's gaze, I move toward her. "I'm going up to the room. You ready to call it a night?"

She glances across the room. "Not yet."

Irritated, I walk away without a backward glance. I call for the elevator and step inside. It's quiet as it rises, and I hang my head. Gemma is safe with Dodge, even though I wish she was with me.

I enter the room and decide to take another shower, hoping it will cool me down. Maybe Gemma will be back with me by then. We can talk. If not, I'll go after her.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

GEMMA

I letmyself into the room and hear the shower running. It's a relief to have a few minutes to compose myself. I don't know what came over me downstairs. I know that Dario has no interest in Naomi. I'd been watching him from the moment I'd seen her. I felt a twinge of insecurity, but then it disappeared. I trust him. I also saw his reaction to the puck bunny. She wasn't welcome.

When I saw Dario's face, I knew it was an excuse for me to push him away. The memories of our time together had flooded my mind. I knew in that moment that I had to find a way to protect him, even if it meant sacrificing my own happiness. The thought of him getting hurt, or worse, because of me, terrifies me. So, I let him think I was upset. I was. But not with him. It had taken me all of ten minutes to go after him. I couldn't do it. I loved him. I was in love with Dario Nelson.

I sit in one of the chairs overlooking the city, which is beautiful with all the lights in the dark night. I look at the diary in my hands and open it to a clear page.

I write the date at the top of the page.

I screwed up tonight. Instead of going to the man I love and wrapping my arms around him to kiss away his pain, I let him think that I was angry with him. That I didn't trust him. I was angry, but not with Dario.

I wanted to go over to Naomi and give her a piece of my mind. I knew Dario, and he didn't want her. He wanted me. I saw the disappointment on his face when he thought I didn't trust him. My heart had cried out for him. The bomb last night scared me to death. I thought I had to push him away to keep him safe. I would do anything to protect him.

In the end, I couldn't. So, Dodge accompanied me to the room. I needed Dario to breathe. We'd only been together a few days, but we'd been attracted to each other for almost two months.

I don't know what I'll do if he doesn't feel the same way. If he doesn't accept my explanation and my apology.

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