Page 21 of Snowed In With the PUCK

“I wish we’d talked about expectations a little more. Are we still supposed to act like a couple inside?” she replies, and I’m surprised to see a flicker of nervousness in her eyes.

I offer her my arm, not having any answers. “One day at a time, remember?” I grin at her, trying to give her peace of mind.

She doesn’t look convinced.

Once inside the hotel’s ballroom, we meander over to the open bar, stopping to say hi to players on the team that I know pretty well by now. I keep my hands to myself with Jessica, hopingit makes her feel comfortable. I notice she isn’t as close to me behind closed doors as she was outside.

The evening is full of strolling waiters for the first hour, and then when dinner is served, the league commissioner, who is in town visiting, gets up to make a speech. Jessica and I unsurprisingly find ourselves in assigned seats seated next to none other than our “fake relationship” enforcer Allison and what feels like our chaperone, Kip, at a long, elegantly decorated table. The atmosphere around us is alive with laughter and conversation, but it quickly shifts as Kip leans in.

“So, how are you two settling into your new relationship?” he asks, his voice buoyant.

“I guess we’ll see what the media picked up on tonight,” I say evasively, not wanting to spend the entire dinner portion of the evening on this topic.

Jessica shifts next to me as Allison watches us closely. I feel like a pawn and it feels absolutely terrible.

Allison chimes in, her eyes gleaming like a hawk. “No, we can’t leave anything to chance. You two need to play up your romance. I’ve been working on an advanced strategy.” She glances at Kip and it becomes clear to me that for her, our success might mean some sort of promotion. She has a lot to lose if we mess up. “I think daily check-ins would be a great idea, actually, just until you two get through the first couple of weeks. It’ll help with the media narrative.”

Jessica’s discomfort is obvious, but she doesn’t protest. She’s not one to keep her thoughts to herself, so I wonder why she’s letting Allison plan our lives for us like this. I can see the corners of her smile tightening.

“Allison,” I smile smoothly. “I appreciate your dedication to your job, but it’s a holiday party tonight. Let’s discuss this on Monday, okay?”

She opens her mouth to argue but Kip claps me on the back saying, “Good point, young man. Let’s enjoy tonight and get back to work topics on Monday.” Then he’s on his feet and off schmoozing with a few other men in suits.

Allison looks peeved off. I wonder briefly if she will actually let this conversation go for now. She nods at me. “Enjoy your evening.” Her smile definitely does not meet her eyes.

“Actually, we will do just that,” I say, looking at Jessica. “How about we take a break from all this sitting and dance?”

Before Jessica can protest, I rise, offering her my hand. She hesitates for a moment, then stands and takes it. We weave through the people, making our way to the dance floor. The feel of her small hand in mine awakens something protective and strong in me.

Once we’re in the middle of the elegant chaos, I pull her close, our bodies fitting together naturally. I can see a slight blush on her cheeks and the swell of her breasts rises and falls as we dance, her breathing shallow, excited. I feel the same. Thenearness of her is making my manhood want to wake up. Her presence never fails to arouse me.

The music swells around us, a slow, romantic tune that seems to drown out everything else.

“You’re doing great, you know. Don’t let Allison boss you around,” I whisper, savoring the way she relaxes against me.

She looks guilty for a moment and then just shrugs. What is she hiding, I wonder?

“And you’re a pretty good dancer, Sunshine.”

She laughs softly at that, her cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink now. “This is just swaying in public, Eric. It’s not a dance-off.”

“True, but it feels right.” I can feel the weight of our earlier conversation lingering, unspoken but ever-present. Without thinking, I lean in and kiss her cheek, and then her neck. I breathe her in and feel so attracted to her it almost hurts.

As we sway, I’m acutely aware of the warmth radiating from her body, her hands on my shoulders. I’m drawn to her beauty and to the strong person she is. When she looks at me with those soft eyes, I can’t help it. I want to kiss her. Just as I lean in, our lips almost brushing, the moment is shattered by a chorus of teasing shouts from my hockey teammates.

“Come on, kiss her already!” one of them calls, the group walking from the open bar, drinks in hand, egging us on. I know these guys, so I know they mean well, and it’s just a little teasing. But I hope Jessica can take it the same way I do.

I pull back, chuckling, a little embarrassed. Jessica laughs too, her eyes bright with mischief. “Great. Just what I need—my professional reputation on the line.” The joke is not lost on me.

“Don’t worry, I’ll protect you from all the leering and peering eyes,” I say, but there’s an undertone of seriousness to my words. I can tell she got my broader meaning.

“Maybe we should sneak away somewhere and… continue what we started just now,” I suggest.

She runs her hands down my arms in response, her eyes telling me “yes.”

We make our covert escape, slipping away from the noise and lights of the party. I lead her to the rooftop bar that I’ve heard is insanely popular in the summer. Now, in the cold approaching winter, its enclosed glass walls offer shelter from the cold and a stunning view of the Denver skyline, glittering against the night sky.

The atmosphere is intimate, with just the two of us hiding out in a greenhouse of sorts. The twinkling lights cast a soft glow around us through the glass walls.

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