Page 94 of One Night Only
Me: You’re welcome. Thank you for winning.
D: You’re my good luck charm.
CHAPTER 37
DALLAS
I’ve always loved a night out after a win. There’s nothing better than celebrating with the guys, especially a win we had to work for right up until the final siren. But tonight is different. Dressed in my favorite custom Gucci game day suit and my very best Stetson, tonight I’m not just tagging along with the guys to some place I don’t really want to go to, just so they can meet their wives or girlfriends. Tonight, I’m not looking to score with some random chick who pretends to know anything about who I am or what the hell hockey is. Tonight, I’m going with the guys to meet their wives and girlfriends, and for the first time, there’s a girl there waiting for me. And I could not be fucking happier.
Hello, the name is Whipped—Mr. Pussy Whipped.
I follow the guys off the elevator and out to the swanky rooftop bar that, thankfully, is dotted with heaters and open fires because it’s fucking freezing in New York City right now. The place is packed full of people, drinks are flowing, and a low thrum of bass plays throughout, all set to a pretty awesome backdrop of the Midtown Manhattan skyscrapers lit up around us, the Empire State Building illuminated right there like a centerpiece.
A hostess leads us to the far corner, where there’s a bunch of women occupying a booth and a few high-top tables cornered off with a velvet rope. The moment I spot Emily, sitting at the far table with Fran, Hannah, and Alex Henry’s wife, Cass, I stand back and watch her a moment. Fuck, she looks sexy. A jean shirt she’s wearing as a goddamn dress that makes my dick twitch to life, and sheer black tights with a pair of bad-ass biker looking boots. She’s oblivious to me, throwing her head back and laughing at something Cass says, her smile taking my breath away, and I feel my heart hitch in my chest because the sight of her there, talking and laughing with my teammates’ girls, is doing something to me. Something I wasn’t prepared for. This moment right now is what I didn’t know I’ve been missing the last few years, but it’s here, and it’s everything.
As if she can sense my eyes on her, Emily’s gaze flits to the side, immediately finding mine, and when she flashes me that shy smile, it feels as if everything around us fades into the night, and it’s suddenly just the two of us.
Robbie and I approach the table, and Fran practically pounces on my teammate, groping him, kissing him, almost dry-humping the guy right in front of me and anyone else who cares to see. I chuckle, hiding my smirk behind my hand, meeting Emily’s gaze again, and I can tell by the slight glaze in her eyes that she’s a little tipsy, and it’s taking all I have to keep my cool when all I really want to do is walk straight up to her, cup her cheeks and kiss the hell out of her. I know I can’t do that. Not here. Not tonight. Not until we’re official. But man, the need is strong.
“Hey, Dallas!” Fran says, as if she’s just noticed I’m standing right here. Glancing back over her shoulder at Emily, she looks at me again with a wink. “You can takemyseat…”
“Don’t mind if I do.” I grin, slapping Robbie on his shoulder as I walk around him and to the only available stool right next to my girl.
“Evening, ladies,” I say with a tip of my hat, taking a seat.
Emily sits a up a little straighter, smiling at me.
“Hey, Dallas!” Cassidy grins. “Great game tonight. Another shutout.” She holds up her wineglass in cheers.
“Thanks, Cass.” I nod, reaching under the table and placing my hand on Emily’s thigh as I do. Emily’s gaze darts to me, and I see her skin prick, her chest hitch.
“Dallas,” she chides lowly, looking around to make sure no one is watching.
“It’s all good, baby,” I whisper lowly.
Her shoulders relax some, and she uncrosses her legs. I scoot a little closer to her, resting my chin on my fist as my other hand explores beneath the cover of the tabletop. Tights aren’t ideal, but I can still feel her sexy thighs, feel the heat of her pussy as she parts her legs just a touch more.
“Hey, man, got you a beer!”
I start, turning to see Logan right fucking there, leaning on the table next to me like that’s where he’s staying for the foreseeable future. I glance sideways at Emily, rolling my eyes as I reluctantly remove my hand from where it belongs.
“Thank you,” I say, probably more than a little sarcastically but honestly, come on. Isn’t there a pretty little puck bunny floating around he can move in on?
Logan’s gaze flits from me to Emily, curiosity evident in his eyes, and that’s when I realize he hasn’t met her yet.
“Logan, this is Emily.”
“Hey.” He juts his chin, reaching around me to shake her hand.
“Emily… works with Andy Hoffman,” I say, when what I really want to say is she’s the woman I’m in love with, but I know I can’t. I glance at Emily and smile. “This is Logan.”
Emily shakes his hand. “Good game tonight.”
“Thanks.” He grins.
We sit there in silence, and I spot Happy across the rooftop, dirty dancing with a scantily clad blonde. I will Logan to get the hint and to go over to join his partner in crime, but of course, hedoesn’t, pulling up a stool and sitting down, sipping his beer in a contemplative silence. It seems if I want time alone with my girl, I’m going to have to work for it, so I slap Logan’s arm as I stand.
“Let’s go do the rounds,” I say, picking up my beer and flashing Emily a look I hope she understands asI’ll be back as soon as I’ve gotten rid of him. Thankfully, she offers me a quick nod, a knowing smile playing on her lips.
