Page 70 of Date with a Devil
“Good, because that’s what I wanted to show you.”
He drove around back. An automatic gate opened as the athlete’s car approached, and soon they were navigating the VIP parking levels. He parked the car and killed the engine. When he started to climb out of the Maserati, she dug her fingers into his muscled forearm to stop him.
“Wait. Dane. I’m afraid someone will see us together. This place is crawling with media. Do you really think it’s a good idea for us to be spotted together right now?”
“No media today, since it’s not a game day. Besides, no one’s going to recognize you with the hat.” He reached into his center console compartment and pulled out a pair of Ray-Bans. “Or the shades.”
“What if security stops us and asks for ID?” she asked as she put his sunglasses on. It was strangely comforting to wear something of his.
“They won’t.”
“But if they do?”
“Look, everyone who works here knows who I am. No one’s gonna hassle us. If they do, I’ll tell ’em you’re my girlfriend and I’m just showing you around.”
As much as she hated to admit it, those words put a flutter in her stomach.Secretly, she hoped someonedidtry to stop them, just so she’d have to role-play as a professional hockey player’s girlfriend.
God, sometimes I’m really pathetic,she thought as she unbuckled her seat belt.
Dane led her to the player’s entrance. A security guard with a shaved head guarded the door. The man was absolutely giant, round and puffy and built like a bulldog, and wore a miserable grimace.
But the second he saw the hockey player, his face lit up. “Big D!”
“Darren, my man, what’s happening?”
“Not much, Big D.” Darren’s scowl returned. “Hate to hear your name in the news, man.”
“Yeah, oh well. That’s the biz. What can ya do?” Dane gave a shrug. “Anyway, I’m just showin’ my girlfriend around the ol’ office one last time.”
“Girlfriend?” Darren asked, surprised.
“Yup,” Dane answered.
Then—whack!—the athlete suddenly clapped his massive hand against her rear. Behind the privacy of her sunglasses, Austen’s eyes turned into little slits.
Of course. Of course that’s how he’d role-play.
Darren didn’t need to ask any more questions. He chuckled and pressed a button. “Go on ahead, you two.”
The security doors slid open, and they walked right through.
“Was thatreallynecessary?” she whispered, playfully jabbing an elbow into his ribs.
“Hey, without that spank, he never would’ve let you pass!” he said with a troublemaker’s grin.
“Somehow, I doubt that,” she said, trying to fight the smile that tugged at the corners of her mouth. It was her shameful little secret that she’d liked his spank just as much as she hated it.
But she liked it even more when Dane placed his large hand on the small of her back and led her through the twists and turns of the arena corridor.Unlikehis opportunistic butt spanking—this gesture felt real, sweet, genuine. She liked the warmth of his strong hand, gently pushing or pulling her as he guided her through a part of the arena that only VIPs got to see.
He was right—it wasn’t exactly a covert operation to sneak her in. The few arena staff who were present were busily absorbed in their tasks. After making their way through several hallways, they arrived at a set of locked double doors, emblazoned with the Dallas Devils logo.
Dane swiped a card to unlock the doors.
“Come on in,” he said.
Chapter 28
Dane
