Page 105 of Mr. Charming

Tweetie

After practice is done, I skate over to Tedi to find out exactly what Bud said to her. I saw her face, the way she paled and tried not to make eye contact with him. I’m sure it had something to do with Mason’s school visit. I’ve been tagged in a lot of photos from parents and the school itself about it.

When he finally walked away and she rose to go back to Fletcher, I took my opportunity to make sure Bud knew the school visit was my idea and thanked him for signing off on the T-shirts for the school.

“How are the pictures, Fletch?” I ask, giving him a fist-bump. “You’re welcome for having such a beautiful face that you don’t have to do much editing.”

Fletcher laughs and shakes his head. “Come on by when you’re done,” he says to Tedi, eyeing me.

“Walk with me?” I ask and skate along the boards until I get to the opening.

I deny myself the urge to touch her. To place my hand on the small of her back to help her on the ice or lean in to kiss her on the nape of her neck.

“What did he say?” I ask.

She sighs. “You can’t be my protector. Not here.”

The rest of the team is already in the locker room, so we have a little privacy to at least talk.

“It’s instinctual. I know you’re all badass and can take care of yourself, but I’m an alpha, babe, you know that.”

She rolls her eyes, but a smile still plays at her lips. One of my favorite expressions on her. “I think he suspects or knows about our past. He wasn’t happy about the visit to the school. But whatever, I can handle him.” She looks down the hallway. “But, Tweetie, I’m not ready to out us here. There are repercussions for me that I have to consider.”

I understand it would be far worse for her than me. Decisions will have to be made.

“Do we know the rules?” I ask, hoping she’s already looked them up.

She shakes her head. “No. I’m not sure how to call HR and be like, ‘Hey, if I fall in love with one of these hockey guys, what’s my chance of keeping my job?’”

“One, I’m not just one of these hockey guys, and two, if you fall in love?” I step an inch closer, my skates making me so much taller than her now.

“I would like to at least show them how successful I can make this program before I cause problems. Bud is sniffing around, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s asked some people?—”

“We’re getting ahead of ourselves. So far, we aren’t even a couple.”

“But we’ve already?—”

“No one knows that.” I look around to make sure we’re still alone. “Only you and I were there that night.”

I can’t wait for so many more nights just like that with her. I can’t wait until we share the same home, the same bedroom. When we’re back to being his and hers. But I also know how important her job is to her, and I’d never want to be the reason she loses that. Decisions will have to be made, but it’d be great if we could delay them until after this season, until after we’re official and have some time under our belt.

“I know I’m getting ahead of myself.” She leans her back against the wall, staring at the floor.

“I really want to hold you right now,” I whisper.

Her gaze lifts to meet mine, and I hate seeing the pain there. “I want you to hold me.”

She lowers her arms, and I take the opportunity to graze her fingers with mine. It would be easy to retreat if anyone came out. “Come home with me. Take a nap with me.”

“That’s not exactly going to keep me in the good graces of Bud Caldron. I need to work here. Make you look all alpha and leaderly.”

“Man, your job is easy.” I laugh, and a door opens down the hall.

Both of us glance to see who might be coming, but no one does.

“Hey, um…”

Her eyes narrow when she hears the hesitance in my voice.

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