Page 44 of In the Offensive Zone with My Fake Bride

“Good. Glad we have that clarified.”

“Sleep well, Lily.” My gentle tone seems to disarm her for a moment, which was my intention.

She nods and then retreats to her room, closing me out yet again. I stare at her door for a long while, waiting—hoping—willing—it to open. That she’ll walk back out because she forgot something, giving me another chance to engage her in conversation because I’m not looking forward to sleeping alone.

While the minutes and hours pass and sleep evades me, I hatch a plan. I may have tried to lose Lily at the airport, but now I’m determined to get past those walls of hers and see what really makes her tick.

“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Lily tries to grab my suitcase, but I beat her to the punch. I toss hers into the trunk as well, just to prove to her I’m fine.

“I can play without pain, so I’m cleared.” I won’t mention to Lily that I still feel some tenderness in my ribs. She’d worry more, which I’m finding quite adorable. And I’m convinced her concerns fall beyond her being my bodyguard. Over the last two weeks, she’s constantly reminded me of my ‘compromised condition,’ making me more vulnerable.

Honestly, my ribs aren’t the vulnerable spot I’m concerned about.

As much as I’d love to start something with Lily, I can’t seem to find a way of making something work between us. Not unless she moved to the States, but I don’t see that happening. If the tables were turned, I wouldn’t want to give up playing hockey. And I’d never ask her to sacrifice hercareer for me. Sarabella’s a small town, so I’m fairly certain there’s minimal demand for a bodyguard.

That brought me to the idea of a long-distance relationship, but even that didn’t make sense. Not when we’d have an entire ocean separating us. Sure, it might work in the beginning, but with my schedule, there’s little room for transatlantic flights. We’re allowed time off when necessary, but more than that would mean letting my team down, and that I can’t do.

She shields the sun with her hand, throwing a shadow over her face. “But what if you get hit again?”

I can feel her eyes on me these days without seeing them. It’s as if every cell in my body is in tune to her now, which makes the dealing with my growing feelings for her an even bigger challenge than I anticipated.

“I’ll be fine.” I hop into the driver’s seat, but she blocks the door before I can shut it.

Her gaze drills into me like an opponent on the ice. “What are you doing?”

I rest my hands on the steering wheel. “Isn’t that obvious?”

One side of her mouth ticks up before she suppresses it. “That’s my job.”

“Then consider this a break.”

“I’m the bodyguard, Payton. Remember?”

“It’s just to the arena. Hop in.” I nod my head toward the passenger seat, unrelenting in my stare.

“That won’t mean squat if we get into a situation.”

“What kind of situation?”

She tosses her hands out to her sides. “I don’t know, and that’s the whole point.”

I shut the door before she can grab it again, and I can honestly say I don’t think I’ve seen Lily turn that shade of red before. When she reaches for the handle, I lock the doors and start the engine.

Her eyes are rounder than the globe light perched above the walkway to my apartment. “Youwouldn’t dare.”

I can’t hear her, but I can read those full lips of hers well enough. I’m almost afraid to see how she’ll react when we get to the arena and she finds out I may have tampered a bit with her plan to indiscreetly follow our team bus to Savannah. We’re playing the Ghost Pirates tomorrow and the Gladiators in Atlanta two days later. When I found out she’d never seen the amazing architecture in Savannah, I hatched a plan of my own. Just because we can’t be together—although I’m still trying to find a solution—it doesn’t mean I can’t do special things for her.

After shifting into reverse, I back up a foot, then rev the engine and grin, which seems to aggravate her even more. And judging by the way her hands are fisted at her sides as she marches around the vehicle to the passenger side, she’s as fired up as my car engine at the moment. The excitement pulsing through me reminds me of that first skate onto the ice during a game, filled with anticipation over what the next few hours could hold.

I unlock the doors.

She slides in and slams hers.

“Take it easy there. My car has done nothing to you.” I shouldn’t enjoy this as much as I am, but getting under her skin is fast becoming my favorite pastime.

“No, but its owner is a pain in the butt.” She jams her seatbelt into place.

I chuckle and pull out as her phone pings. “Del?”

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