Page 30 of King

“Then it’s my treat next time,” she says but then immediately backpedals. “Not that there will be a next time. I mean, this was just a convenient grab of food while we talked scheduling.”

“There should totally be a next time,” I reply, leaning forward and crossing my arms on the table.

“To discuss hockey?” she asks tentatively, pushing for a conclusion that this is all business.

“Or a date,” I suggest, and when I get a blank stare in return, I add, “I’d like to get to know you better, Willa.”

Her eyes widen, turning a stormier gray, and then the stammering starts. “Um… wow, I mean… I’m flattered and all—”

“Unless this is a bad time for you because of your divorce? Too soon to date?”

She shakes her head, waves a hand. “No… it’s not that. I’m well over Scott and I’ve been dating. He’s nothing more than a thorn in my side that won’t go away but—”

“Unless you think I’m horribly unattractive?”

“Of course you’re attractive,” she says with an eye roll. “It’s just—”

“Unless you think you’re too good for me, you know… being a doctor and all.”

“That’s ridiculous,” she snaps. “You’re a professional athlete, revered by millions.”

“I don’t know about millions, but—”

“You’re twenty-five,” she blurts, her expression almost panicked. “You’re too young.”

“Too young to take you out to dinner, buy a meal, have a drink? I am of legal drinking age, you know. I am an adult. I own my own house, have a retirement account, teach little kids hockey. I’m a solid guy.”

I expect Willa to argue against all my points, because I could hear in the tone of her voice that the age gap is an issue. Instead, she stares at me a long moment before asking, “You’re not bothered by the fact I’m thirty-three?”

“No. Should I be?”

She purses her lips, holding back a laugh. Pointing with her index fingers, “I’ve got wrinkles right here at the corners of my eyes.”

I lean forward, squinting for a better look. “I think those are called laugh lines and I’ve got them too.”

“Mine are deeper than yours.” She huffs.

“You mean you laugh more than me?”

I’m rewarded with that musical giggle as she shakes her head, eyes shining. “You’re very confident for being so young and you flirt like a pro. How can the ladies say no to you?”

“You might find this hard to believe, but I don’t ask a lot of ladies out on dates.”

Willa blinks several times. “You’re kidding,” she says with disbelief. “You have looked in the mirror, right? Flirting would bag you any woman you wanted.”

“So my teammates often tell me.” I shrug and then ask, “Would it surprise you to know I’m not overly experienced?”

Jaw dropping, she hushes her tone to a whisper. “Like… you’ve never dated? Are you a virgin, looking for an older woman to show you the way?”

I bark out a laugh, shaking my head. “Jesus… no. I’m definitely not a virgin. I just mean, I haven’t dated a lot. I had a long-term relationship that started when I was fifteen and it ended two years ago. Since then, I’ve been focused on my career and well, I just don’t casually date.”

Willa seems to consider something. “And why me?”

I don’t have to ponder the answer to that question. “Because you agreed to coach peewee hockey and didn’t know anything about it. Because I thought it was very attractive how you tried and you know how to treat the kids. When you stood up to Theo’s father… well, that made an impression.”

“Oh,” she murmurs, another pretty blush from the compliment.

“And you’re smoking hot… laugh lines and all. Plus, double bonus points for being a doctor because that means you’re smart, which also means you’re going to reason out that there’s no valid excuse for not accepting my invitation.”

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