Page 63 of Power Play Pursuit

“Hey, I get it,” Hayley says. “After dating a hockey player for two years, you’re probably not too eager to date another one. Especially after seeing him injured. I’m equally paranoid about that part.”

“I am too,” Marissa adds, to my surprise. She’s usually the first person to throw her fists in the air when one of the guys bodychecks another player. “But they're professionals. They know what they’re doing, and we have to trust that.”

“Trust,” Hayley repeats. “That’s the most important thing in any relationship, but even more so when your boyfriend isaway half the year.” She takes a sip of her coffee, her face pensive. “I had a hard time with the fame and the fans at first, but I know Maxime, and I trust him.”

Marissa twirls the ends of her hair. “Yeah, they’re not all jerks like Lucas.”

“Plus, judging by the way James looks at you,” Hayley adds, “and how he’s been pursuing you from the moment you guys met, I think he's serious. Reliable too.”

“Absolutely.” Marissa nods.

Hayley leans her elbows on the counter, her eyes fixed on me. “Take it from someone who’s about to be married to another cocky, goofy hockey player. It's even more fun once you surrender.”

I open my mouth to reply, but before I can get my words out, a customer enters the store, rescuing me. Frankly, I’m not even sure what I was about to say. That they're wrong, and I'm not interested in James? That we're just friends? To be honest, I don’t even believe that anymore. Because friends don’t send your body temperature through the roof or make your heart pound every time they look at you.

James walks over to Warlington Lane to pick me up from work—I ignore Marissa’s obvious looks—and we stroll to the apartment showing together.

“Thanks for joining me,” I say. “I have a good feeling about this one.”

He shoots me a smile. “Of course. Finding a place isn’t easy. I want to make sure it’s perfect for you.”

I clear my throat, Marissa’s words from earlier echoing in my mind.

“Well, the walk was pleasant,” I say when we reach the address. “And short.”

“Right.” James looks around, his eyes lingering on the asphalt. “Lots of traffic, though. I bet it’s going to be noisy.”

I draw my eyebrows together, glancing at the near-empty street. Only a couple of cars have driven by so far. “I don’t—”

“Hi, Beth?” a woman’s voice greets me, and we both turn around. She flashes a winning smile. “I’m Kirsten, the real estate agent.”

Of course she has to be drop-dead gorgeous. She’s almost as tall as James, with long, sleek black hair that looks like something straight out of a shampoo commercial. Perfect figure and flawless skin that immediately makes me want to ask her about her routine.

“Hi, nice to meet you,” I say, extending my hand.

“Likewise.” She shakes my hand, then turns to James, the intensity in her eyes doubling.

“And this is James.”

“Oh.” She glances back at me. “I thought you said you were renting the place solo?”

“I am.” I nod. “He’s just a friend, here to help me to decide if it’s a good fit.”

He extends his hand, and she shakes it, her eyes crinkling slightly. “Why do I have the feeling we know each other?”

He smiles, still shaking her hand. “I don’t think we’ve met. But I'm—”

“Oh, the body spray commercial!” she gushes, adding her other hand on top of his. “Seriously—total fake advertising. My ex used it, and his abs didn't look anything like yours.”

They both chuckle, and a nervous laugh escapes me, prompting them to glance at me.

“I’m also a hockey player,” he says, finally dropping her hand. “James Adler. Nice to meet you.”

“Such a pleasure,” she replies in a sickeningly obvious way, although James doesn’t seem to notice. Instead, his eyes narrow at the shop that neighbors the apartment building.

“Is that a tattoo parlor right next door?”

“Oh, do you have any?” Kirsten asks, batting her eyelashes.

---