Page 17 of Heartfelt Goals

Yeah, she wasn’t a supermodel, and sure, sitting at a computer for hours a day probably made her butt spread like warm cookie dough – but really? Was the idea of intimacy between them so abhorrent to him that he’d shut her down immediately?

“Fine,” she hedged as another thought hit her. “No cheating. If you want a separate room from me because you’ve got a girlfriend – you’ll have to get rid of her. I won’t live with someone who cheats on me.”

“I’m not dating anyone… and I agree. That goes both ways. You can’t see anyone, and I won’t either.”

“It’s just me then?” she swallowed, feeling those silent tears stinging the back of her eyes in humiliation.

"Laurel, if we are going into a marriage as friends – I’d like for it to remain that way. I don’t think inviting something personal,like sex, between us would be smart for either party. I mean, we’ve known each other for years. I saw you in a cucumber facemask at my sister’s slumber party. I’ve seen you wax your eyebrows and laughed when neither of you two could pull it off. We’re too familiar… and there’s no intrigue, no spice, no excitement there.”

“Oh gosh,” she whimpered, feeling each word as a stab directly into her soul – and felt him touch her elbow. She couldn’t even look at him right now because it hurt so badly to have this brutal of a rejection from the one person she’d always wanted and knew she could never have… and now she was gettingpartof him – just notallof him.

“I’ll take care of you,” he whispered gently beside her. “You’ll never worry about Kendall, money, or anything at all. I swear it.”

“I’ll just be alone.”

“We both will be,” he corrected. “We’ll be friends and later on we can revisit this or divorce amicably… and even then, we’ll still be friends.”

“Can I think about this?”

“Unfortunately – no,” he said, his voice full of regret. “I’ll admit I’ve been putting this off, and I must give my answer tomorrow. I’d prefer we simply get married in the morning and start the proceedings with the move.”

“I see.”

“It’s up to you – I would never pressure you or push you into doing something you don’t want.”

No, you would just make sure I was trapped in a loveless marriage with the one man that I’ve always wanted to look at me differently, she thought bitterly and hesitated as it hit her. If she said no, he was just going to find someone else to fill the spot she coveted so much – and then she would never have her chance.Maybe in a few years from now, things might be different… or worse,she realized.

“What time?” she asked hoarsely and chanced a glance at his relieved expression.

“Nine,” he hedged and met her eyes. “I promise you’ll never regret this.”

I already do,she thought silently and nodded.

5

LAFRENIÉRE

Dustin couldn’t even bringhimself to tell his sister about Laurel. When he left Laurel’s condo, he stood in the hallway for a few moments waiting on the elevator, and he felt such abject relief fading from his shoulders. He was going to do this – leave the Coyotes – and take a job with a lot less stress on his body, more media coverage, and tackle the challenges of having a wife… and a stepchild. Astepchildthat was his soon-to-be wife’syounger sister– and would be hissister-in-law… and chuckled, shaking his head.

“I’ll be,” he smiled getting out his phone. “I guess my family tree won’t branch far, will it?”

Dialing Malcolm’s number – the man answered it on the first ring.

“Well?”

“I’m getting married in the morning,” Dustin began and then let out a little laugh. “Can you send me some information on the area and what you found? And I’ll need documents rushed, find out when they are going to announce the team, and…”

“Yes, yes. I’ll handle what I can and send it to you to look at it. Let me get the contract signed tonight, and then I’ll flood your email box tomorrow with information.”

“Sounds good.”

“You did the right thing,” Malcolm said openly, but at that moment, for a brief flash, he saw Laurel’s devastated expression.

“I hope so,” he said quietly. “I’m not sure how the coach is going to take it, but…”

“They’ll cut you,” Malcolm volunteered. “I’ve seen it repeatedly. They’ll cut you the moment they find out, so if I were you? I’d start packing andparlaaay-vousingsomeel-francaise,my boy.”

“You know that’s not French,” he chuckled. “And I know some from working with Batiste and Thierry over the years. I think I’ll be able to manage.”

---