Page 14 of Skating the Blue Line
I give her a nod. “I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t. You were absolutely amazing tonight, Chloe. And that’s coming from someone that has never seen you dance before.”
I don’t know how it’s possible but her grin grows even more, causing her eyes to shine just like they did on stage.
“It felt amazing. Even afterwards, it was as if I was on a cloud and I never wanted to get off.” She is absolutely beaming as she speaks the words.
“I’m guessing by the look on your face that that feeling is new.” I say, giving her a smile of my own.
“There have been both good and great performances, of course, but none of them have felt like tonight. Tonight felt as if everything was on a different level.”
I nod in agreement. “That is definitely a feeling I am familiar with.”
“I bet you’ve had quite a few of those moments in your career, huh?” She asks, completely ignoring her food and giving me all her attention.
I like having her attention on me a whole lot more than I should.
There is no doubt in my mind that I will be heading home tonight with a set of blue balls that I won’t be able to get rid of for a while.
I move my thought process from my aching balls and answer her question.
“A few times.”
“And do you wish that you were in that state of mind every single time?” she asks, but I’m not concentrating on her words.
Her hand is still on my forearm, her thumb moving along my skin. Either she’s not aware that she is doing it, or she is and she doesn’t care.
I don’t care either.
I clear my throat, definitely not thinking of her hand on another body part.
“All the time. Sometimes I even beat myself over it because I have a team depending on my performance. But that type of thing isn’t something that you can force. Not every performance, or every game, is going to be like the last and that’s okay.”
Her thumb stops the back and forth motions against my forearm and when she pulls her hand back and is no longer touching me, I miss it. It takes a lot of control to not reach across the table, grab her hand and place it back where it was.
“I didn’t think that my night would turn into an inspirational insight with a hockey player while eating pizza.” Chloe states through a chuckle.
“Hockey players know how to do more than just move a puck along the ice, you know. We make great counselors.”
Another sweet laugh fills the air. “I’ll keep that in mind whenever I go to a game.”
“Let me know when, and I will get you tickets.” I offer.
“Just like that?” She gives me a smirk.
“Just like that. Best seats in the house too. We can’t have the best ballerina in Chicago sitting up in the nose bleeds. It’s right behind the glass or nothing.”
“That sounds like fun. I’ve never been to an actual hockey game,” she says and I can’t contain the fake gasp that leaves my mouth.
“Damn, and here I thought that you were the biggest Liam Crawford fan in the world and have gone to every single one of my games.” I say, clutching my chest for effect.
“Sorry, but I only know who you are from the thousands of billboards around the city that have your face plastered on them.”
I figured.
“I don’t know what hurts more. The fact that you have never been to a hockey game or that seeing my handsome face everywhere isn’t enough to convince you to buy tickets and go to one.” I grin at her as she rolls her eyes.
“I never said that you were handsome.”
“No, but I know you thought it.”
