Page 49 of Hockey Heart

Jimmy gave a wide smile in return and, to my relief, led me away.

“You’re sure getting some attention in that outfit, my dear,” he whispered to me, a warm glow lighting up inside my chest at the recognition.

As we walked through the crowd, I noticed the beautiful woman we’d seen at the auction. She was talking to Solly Ricek with a stern look on her face. I wondered how his date with the cardigan had gone on that same evening I’d spent with Hayden.

The walk through to the main hall took some time. Jimmy had to stop every few steps to shake hands, bearhug, fist-bump, and backslap all kinds of people, none of whompaid me any attention to me beyond a quick glance. It suited me, though. I wasn’t sure I could hold a conversation with some of these types. It was all names and faces, that’s all they seemed to be interested in.

Finally, we made it through the reception and into the main hall. Smart-suited men and glamorous women - all adorned in the finest clothes, jewelry, and accessories - milled around large circular tables beneath a grand array of chandeliers. Each table was dressed in a perfectly white tablecloth, marked in a flourish with flowers of violet, white, and rusted red, gleaming glasses, and champagne buckets. In one warmly lit corner, a soft jazz band added a glamorous touch to the surroundings.

We were guided to our table and my heart froze. There was Hayden and,Goddamnit, he looked stunning in his tailored dark suit, fresh white shirt, and impeccable bowtie.

Lounging back in his chair, he was talking and laughing over his shoulder to a group at another table and didn’t see us approach. Those pale blue eyes I had encountered only yesterday did see us, though, and Cara seemed to glower with disgust as we came closer. As she looked me up and down in my picture-perfect dress, her look only became darker and more sinister.

“Cara, good to see you,” Jimmy said, and I sensed the hint of falseness around his words as Cara stood, holding her Dolce clutch, and air-kissed both his cheeks. She stared cold-heartedly and directly at me, and my heart jumped again, this time with uneasy fear.

“Oh.The teacher,” she said, flatly and unimpressed. “I didn’t realize it wasthatkind of charity function.”

Jimmy looked at me uncomfortably before Hayden turned back to the table, grinning. When he saw me, his eyes widened. He didn’t speak, but he just gawped at me,taking in the glamorous woman stood before him. He knew me, but he didn’t knowthisme.

“Sarah?” He finally managed, as I blushed in delight at his reaction, pleased at how I’d caught his attention.Yeah, I know Hayden, I look fucking great, don’t I?

“Oh. Hi, Hayden,” I said with a soft smile.

His eyes swung to Jimmy with a crinkle on his forehead, asking the question his lips didn’t need to.

“Hope you don’t mind that I brought a date, Hay?” Jimmy said, a mischievous gleam sparkling in his eyes.

Hayden bounced to his feet and came to pull my chair out for me.This was already an improvement on last time.I could smell the cologne on his collar, like a forest on a sparkling spring morning, all bark, musk, lush moss, and dew.

Cara folded her arms as she watched us, rolled her eyes, and then let out a disapprovinghumphas I sat down. Hayden’s warm hand rested on my shoulder for a beat, sending small butterflies fluttering in my tummy at his touch.

He removed his hand and went to sit back down next to Cara. But he couldn’t take his eyes off me. We seemed to share a shy smile at every glance. There was an undeniable feeling being shared between us without words, and it was building feverishly with every second in each other’s presence.

As the tables around us gradually filled, a nervous-looking young man in a suit that seemed a size too large for him came over and spoke to Hayden.

“Mister Raynor, the Mayor will present your MVP award first, so don’t go anywhere, okay?”

“He a hockey fan?” Hayden asked him, to which the young man shrugged.

“If it gets him votes, then he is.”

Then the man scuttled off to find the next person on his hit-list.

Hayden’s eyes turned back to meet mine, and I blushed at the raw intention in them, before turning to Jimmy.

“Jimmy, I’m going to the bathroom, okay?”

“Sure, don’t be long, though. It’s about showtime here.”

As I slipped away from the table, I vaguely noticed Cara get up and follow behind me.

In the restroom, I’d just started to check my make-up when Cara came in, set her drink down, and started preening next to me in the mirror. An unsettling feeling rose inside me at her presence.

“So, you snuck your way in, huh?” She said, with a hint of poison in her words as she ran lipstick over her luscious lips. “A kid’s teacher rubbing shoulders with all ofus.”

I had no stomach for a fight, so I gathered up my things and replied with a curt, “I guess so.”

I turned on my heels, and that was when Cara picked up her glass.

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