Page 74 of A Scoring Chance

“You wound me, Beauty. I’m a man of my word. I promised that sweet girl some apples, and I will deliver them to her. I’m sure she’ll understand why it’s taken me so long to get them to her.”

“I’m sure she will,” she whispers.

I could drop this right now. Never mention it again, but I can’t stop thinking about the fear I saw on her face. I never want Beauty to be afraid of anything, most of all me.

I pull up to the front of the rink and put the truck in park. Ramona doesn’t move to get out or even turn to look at me.

“Beauty.” I say her name reverently, hoping to get her attention, but she doesn’t move a muscle.

Instead of trying to coax her into looking at me as I usually do, I climb out and head over to the passenger side. I need her to hear what I'm about to say, to look into my eyes and see that I mean every word.

Pulling the door open, I grab both her hands in mine. Her eyes flick up to mine, the fear I noticed earlier shining right back at me. I also see something else I can’t place, but it quickly disappears. “Beauty, look at me.” Her eyes snap back to mine for a moment before she looks away again. I’ll take what I can get at this point. “You couldn’t scare me away if you tried, Ramona.”

Her eyes snap to mine as a single tear tails down her cheek. I lean forward and kiss it away. “You have all the control here. You’ll have to send me away because I’m never leaving you.”

She throws her arms around my shoulders, burying her nose in the crook of my neck. “You are too good to me, Cooper. I don’t deserve you.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Beauty. You deserve so much more than I can ever give you. You deserve the world.”

We remain locked in each other’s arms until my phone vibrates in my pocket. I refuse to let her go, keeping one arm tight around her waist while the other grabs my phone. I pull it up to my face to unlock it, noticing a new text from Beau.

Second-Best Hendrix

It’s done. You owe me huge for this, brother. I have calluses on my fingers from trying to get everything perfect for you.

Thanks, Beau. I really appreciate it.

Second-Best Hendrix

You’re welcome. Ollie texted and said he’s getting started right now, as well. He should have everything ready for you when you arrive.

I don’t respond this time and pocket the phone before pulling away from Beauty. “Are you ready for our date?”

“Of course, I am, but why are we back here?”

“You’ll see.”

I step back and allow Ramona to slide out. The minute her feet hit the ground, I grab her hand and kick the door shut before pulling her toward the front door.

I’d originally planned to give her a tour of the Timberwolves’ arena before having a candlelight dinner in the team box and hopefully convincing her to stay with me at my apartment instead of heading home, but this is just as great of an idea.

I pull open the door and stop just inside. “Do you mind if I cover your eyes?”

“Yes.”

I give her my best puppy-dog eyes before she caves.

“Fine. But don’t you dare let me fall.”

“Never,” I say with conviction before pulling the piece of cloth I tucked into my pocket for this moment. “Are you sure this is okay?”

“Yes.” She gives my hand a small squeeze before shutting her eyes. “I love how you always double-check, wanting to be sure I’m okay.”

I wrap the cloth around her eyes, tying it loosely. “I never want to do anything to hurt you, Ramona. Ever.”

I thread my arm through hers and make my way slowly through the darkened rink. I promised her I wouldn’t let anything hurt her, and I meant it. There are electric candles casting a soft glow around the arena. Beau scattered them around the rink on benches and strung patio string lights across the ice, creating a romantic glow. I pull Beauty to a stop directly in the center of the rink before removing her blindfold.

“Cooper.” She gasps.

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