Page 53 of The Girlfriend Zone

“Exactly,” I say. “You never know, right?” Then impulsively, I let down my guard and add, “I considered going back to school after my injury. I thought my career was over.”

She gives me a sympathetic smile. “I get that, but I’m glad it’s not. You have a lot of hockey left in you.”

“I hope so,” I say, then return to her comment. “You’re the same? Planner?”

“Definitely. I don’t like uncertainty, I guess, so I try to plan for it. I want to be ready for anything. Be able to make it on my own.” Her tone is unusually vulnerable. It’s clear her independence matters deeply to her.

Her manner shifts though. “Which leads me to why I asked to meet. I took a job with the Sea Dogs. A temporary one,” she adds quickly, then takes a drink.

I blink, processing the news. “You did?”

She nods, her eyes searching mine carefully. “I’m filling in for Mako while he’s on paternity leave.” She pauses to gauge my reaction, her mouth pulled into a tight line. “I’m telling you in person because I didn’t want you to think I took the job just to be near you.”

The thought hadn’t even crossed my mind, but now it’s hard to ignore. “Why would I think that?”

“You’re used to people…hanging on to you, right?” She waits for me to answer, and I give a reluctant nod. “I saw that woman taking a picture with you before I came in.”

“It happens, true. But I’m not used toyouhanging on to me.”

Her smile echoes my regret, even though she says, “I’m just trying to be cautious. Since people do that with you, but also in general. They try to get close to people for all kinds of reasons.”

I raise an eyebrow, half-smiling, then say dryly, “This meeting is doing wonders for my ego.”

She rolls her eyes. “I don’t mean it like that. I just didn’t want you to think I was…stalking you.”

A laugh escapes me, and I lean in, meeting her gaze. “It’s funny that you think I’d be bothered by that.”

She dips her face briefly, and when she raises it, she says, “Good to know that stalking is approved by you.”

I wave vaguely in the direction of the Marina. “Feel free to wander past my home at night. You remember where I live, right?”

She laughs. “Sort of.”

My jaw drops. “You didn’t write down my address?”

“No,” she says, laughing harder.

“That’s going to make stalking me tougher, Leighton.” I know better than to flirt with her like this. But I know better than to fight on the ice, and sometimes I do that anyway too.

She studies me, a playful glint in those gorgeous blue eyes. “You’re making this hard. We’re supposed to have a deal.”

A gulp of espresso emboldens me. Or maybe that’sher. “I’m not breaking it, am I?” I challenge her, teasing her. If this is all I get, I want to make it good.

“Technically, I suppose not,” she admits.

“So, you’re free to stalk me as long as there are people around? I’ll send you my address just to be safe.”

Another laugh tips her head back, exposing her throat. That throat. Her neck. The softness of her skin. Memory crashes into me, and I wish I could kiss her again.

“I appreciate the invitation. But I probably shouldn’t,” she says, a little wistfully before she shifts to a more serious tone. “Anyway, I didn’t want you to be surprised when you run into me tomorrow at the rink. And I took the assignment because it’s a great opportunity professionally.”

“Absolutely. I should have said congratulations. It does sound good for you. I’m proud of you.”

“Thank you.” She sips her drink while I finish mine. Her gaze is still thoughtful, and it’s clear she’s not done yet. “What I really wanted to say, though, is we won’t be able to completely avoid each other.” She glances around, checking for prying ears and eyes, then lowers her voice. “My dad gave methe warning.”

My chest tightens. I can guess what that is. “The ‘don’t get involved with a hockey player’ one?”

She winces but nods. “Yes. It was a little…weird.”

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