Page 114 of Over the Moon

I couldn’t speak; my feelings for him were overwhelming.

Powerful.

All-consuming.

He raised each of my feet, slipping my panties back on and adjusting my skirt, before pushing to his feet. I reached over my desk and found our notebook. I quickly wrote out the only words that mattered.

I love you, Clark Chadwick.

“I love you, too, baby. And that’s all that really matters,” he whispered against my ear.

I just hoped like hell that he was right.

twenty-seven

. . .

Clark

“I’msure you’re feeling the pressure after this past season,” Everly said. She was the team psychologist, but she only worked part-time now, as she lived back in Honey Mountain with her husband, Hawk Madden, who happened to be one of the best players to ever live. He was a sportscaster now, so he didn’t work directly with the Lions anymore, as he’d been offered a big, fat contract to be a commentator on all the games. But he visited the team a few times last year, pumping us up and talking to each of us individually before the final game.Once a Lion, always a Lion.Everly always came out during training camp and preseason, and then she’d been here during the playoffs, as well. They hired another psychologist to come aboard full-time, but everyone wanted to work with Everly because she understood the game better than most, due to her husband being such a prominent part of the hockey world.

“So far, it’s been all right. I’ve put in the work the last three months, and I intend to continue to do so the rest of the season,” I said, my elbows resting on my knees as I clasped my hands together.

“And that injury healed up well from what I’ve heard?” she asked, as she sat in the chair across from me, her notebook resting on her lap.

“Yep. I did a lot of physical therapy, and Eloise tailored my training around that. I feel stronger than ever. Physically, at least.”

She studied me for a moment before nodding. “How is it going with your teammates? Is everyone getting along?”

“Yeah, I’m lucky to have guys who feel more like brothers than teammates.” I shrugged.

“That’s how it should be. That’s what makes a team strong. And you’re probably very adaptable, coming from such a large family,” she chuckled. We bonded over that last year because Everly was one of five, just as I was.

“Yes. My siblings have trained me well to get along with others,” I smirked. “My oldest brother missed the memo on that.”

She tipped her back with a laugh. “I get that.”

“Can I ask you something?” I said, trying to find a way to ask her a question about something that could be perceived as too personal.

“Of course,” she smiled. “I’m an open book.”

“When you first came to work for the Lions, were you already dating Hawk?” I asked, letting out a long breath. “And if that is none of my business, you can just say that.”

“I’m guessing you’re asking that for a reason?” she said, the corners of her lips turning up.

“Maybe.” I scrubbed a hand down my face. “It’s complicated.”

Her gaze softened. “First off, anything you say in this room is confidential.”

“What if it’s something that breaks my contract? Or someone else’s contract? Wouldn’t you be knowingly keeping somethingfrom the team? I don’t want to put you in a bad position.” I blew out a breath. I needed to talk to someone who understood this situation. My family wanted to understand, but they also thought it was ridiculous that we were two consenting adults, and we couldn’t just be open about our relationship. They didn’t understand the dynamics.

Everly Madden would understand the situation probably better than anyone.

“I mean, if you murder someone and you confess to me, you’d be putting me in a bad position,” she chuckled. “A personal relationship is very different. But we can discuss this without getting specific, if that makes you feel better.”

“All right. I appreciate it.”

“Okay, so Hawk and I had a past. We grew up together. The Wayburns weren’t aware of that when they hired me to work with their star player. I thought I could handle it, but it turns out, all those feelings were still there, though I fought it so hard.” She smiled. “I had a lot more concerns than Hawk did, I can tell you that. As a woman in this field, especially a position that is replaceable, it was terrifying to risk everything I’d worked for. There was no guarantee that our relationship would make it once we returned to the real world here, back in the city. And with Hawk being as famous as he was, I just didn’t know how it would all play out.”

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