Page 18 of Playing the Neutral Zone

“Who was the guy?”

I frowned as I met his eyes, and then I turned away from him.

“He was a blind date,” I answered.

When I turned around, I could see him running things over in his mind.I knew he’d known about Duncan and me.Hell, it had been all over the papers when we’d gotten engaged.After all, Duncan had been a high-powered lawyer in New York, working at one of the biggest law firms that represented the owners of the New York Predators

“I see.Where is Duncan?Didn’t things work out?”

He didn’t know?How was that possible?Sure, he’d already transferred to Vancouver by the time it happened, but I was certain that one of his friends on the old team would have mentioned it.If not, Scottie would have said something, plus it had been all over the papers.

“I doubt he’d be okay with you being on some stupid blind date.”

“Things didn’t work out,” I answered, not giving up any more information than that.He hadn’t been a part of my life for so long, I didn’t feel the need to answer him with the truth of what had really happened.

“I’m sorry to hear that, Scarlett.”

“Are you?”I questioned.

“Am I what?”

“Sorry?”

“Yes, Scarlett, I’m sorry.Things may not have worked between us, but that doesn’t mean I would wish you a world of pain, either,” he said, shoving his hands back into his pockets.“I’m not some asshole, you know.”

“I’m sorry.You didn’t deserve that.”

He studied me.“No, I didn’t.”

He turned away from me and walked over to the patio door, glancing outside to see where I’d left my breakfast and coffee.Then he turned back to me.“So, did the date go well?”

Was he seriously asking me how it went last night?

“He’s not my type,” I muttered, moving to the couch and sitting down.

“I see.Well, maybe you should get yourself settled in the city before you jump into the dating scene,” he said, leaning up against one of my armchairs.

“Is that so?”

“Yeah.One can’t be too careful, new city and all.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Perhaps it might be better if you didn’t date anyone at all,” he added.

I frowned.“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Exactly what I said.Put your focus elsewhere.”

“On what?”

Levi shrugged.“I don’t know, a new hobby, crossing ten more items off of that bucket list you used to carry around, or me?”

A flood of shock washed over me as I looked at him.Where the hell was this coming from?I stood up and began pacing back and forth.Was he really suggesting what I thought he was suggesting?That we see one another again?He couldn’t be, I thought.I glanced over to see him standing there, his arms crossed in front of his chest.

“Levi, that is not a good idea,” I said, my voice shaking.

“What isn’t?The bucket list?”He asked, smirking in my direction.

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