Page 68 of Keeper
“Okay then, tell me: why do you want me? Why do you need to see me again?”
I answered her question with one of my own. “You know why I didn’t tell you why I’m an athlete right away?”
She shook her head. “No, why?”
“I had a funny feeling you wouldn’t care. At first, I couldn’t tell if you didn’t realize I had money—because you didn’t care about my watch, and you weren’t impressed by my car or my condo, either.”
“Iwaspretty impressed by Cujo, though,” she said, and the smile she’d been suppressing broke loose.
“Exactly. And he was impressed by you, too.”
We laughed.
“The point is, you’re different than other girls I’ve met.”I clenched the steering wheel, squeezing the fine leather in my grip. “There’s another reason I didn’t tell you, though.”
“What’s that?”
I struggledwith the words. I didn’t want to tell her about my slump for fear it’d break the spell, and all my athlete allure would go up in a puff of smoke. But if she was the kind of girl I was thinking and hoping she might be? She wouldn’t care.
“I’ve been on a cold streak the past couple months,” I admitted, bopping my fist against the steering wheel. “Can’t exactly brag about being a professional puck stopper if I’m, well,notstopping pucks.”
“Oh, Tanner.” She rubbed my shoulder, soothing my soul. “I wouldn’t have cared. And anyway, you basicallydidtell me about your slump when you told me that business was rough. Remember?”
I nodded. “That’s right.”
“So it’s not like you kept some big secret from me. And anyway, I could justsensethat you’re a driven guy, so I knew whatever rough patch you’re going through wouldn’t last long.” She gave a careless dip of her shoulder. I was kind of amazed at how cool and confident she could be about my play when she barely knew me.
“But I’ve got to tell you,” she added, “we watched your game last night at the bar. I don’t know a whole lot about hockey, but you didn’t look bad atall.”
“You watched?” I asked, excited. “Did you know it was me?”
“No. With that goalie mask on, I only got a glimpse at your eyes. And it was such a strange feeling—like when a word is on the tip of your tongue but you can’t think of it, you know? Because your eyes weresofamiliar looking, but I just couldn’t place who they reminded me of.”
“So whendidyou find out?”
“The second you pulled up in your car today. I heard the sound of your engine in the distance and something just clicked. Everything about our night made sense and before you even got out of your car, I knewit was going to be you.”
“I know the feeling.” I smiled and stared deeply into her beautiful eyes. “I thought I’d never see you again. I can’t even tell you how happy I was when I saw you. Everything suddenly clicked, just like you said.”
“Um.” She looked troubled. “Sorry, but that’s actuallynothow I felt when I saw you. At all.”
My heart, suddenly vulnerable, froze. “No?”
“No,” she said. “I wasmortified.”
“Why?” I murmured, fearing the worst, that she wanted nothing to do with me.
She gestured at herself. “Look at me—I’m dressed like a slob. I didn’t have any time to get ready this morning. You must think I’m so gross.”
I let out a breath of relief. “Not at all,” I said. “Honestly, you’re even prettier than I remembered.”
She laughed. “Now I know you’re lying. I’m not even wearing makeup.”
“I don’t know anything about makeup. All I know is you’re cute as hell.” I glanced at my own outfit—my t-shirt and joggers weren’t all that different from her t-shirt and leggings. “Besides, we’re practically dressed the same, aren’t we?”
“Yeah, but—” she paused as she ran her eyes up and down me, “—you’re a total snack.”
“So are you.” I grinned. “Anyway, the point is, that win last night was my first in two months. Crazy as it sounds, but I think my night with you helped me break out of my slump. And that’s why I really, really wanted to see you again.”
