Page 39 of Puck to the Heart
And then with a little smirk in the mirror like he knew I watched, the bastard unbuttoned his cuffs androlled them up.
I wouldn’t look, wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing he’d gotten to me. Butdamn. The tattooed petals’ stark black lines and the deep tan of his skin contrasted perfectly against the crisp white shirt, all clean, sharp lines. And—stop staring, Olivia.
“I left tickets for you, if you’d like to go to the game, Mr. Barnes.” So reserved and respectful with my father, unlike his insolence with me. It should’ve rankled, but seeing the side of him he saved for me was more endearing than annoying.
“Darren, please. Anything to get out of the damn beige room I’m stuck in. What do you think, Livy?”
“Sure, hockey. Why not?” We couldn’t have another explosive meeting if my father was around, and maybe I’d have time to sort my thoughts from my feelings, to figure out what I wanted.
I already knew, though.
Ash. I wanted Ash.
It shouldn’t have been a difficult decision, but I had such a hard time relinquishing the last piece I held back.
Intimacy, whether physical or emotional, always led to carving up bits and pieces of myself, pulling them out to be more palatable, less abrupt or softer. I didn’t know how to be all of myself with someone. Guarding something, keepingsomepiece of myself hidden was the only way to survive. Still, I was on the edge of saying “fuck it all” and letting him see the broken shards and rough edges. All of me.
Being around him only made it harder. He’d flown me across the countrytwice, for fuck’s sake.
And the game didn’t help. My dad was a casual sports fan at best, and I was grateful, but the lack of distraction had me focused more on the crowd than the half-assed conversation about plays.
So many people around us wore Ash’s number, but watching them cheer until they turned against him, or the team, had me checking my attitude at their fickleness and the way they hurled insults and nasty comments.
And it wasn’t fair. Ash deserved better from me, from people who claimed to love his team. He deserved honesty, to know what it was I wanted.
But Istilldidn’t knowhow. On one hand, he was kind and thoughtful andgorgeous, but what future could we have? Any previous relationship I thought had staying potential blew up in my face.
But what if he’s THE ONEmy stupid, romance novel trash brain supplied helpfully.
What if he’snot?
But what if hewas?
The Knights won,and the attitude in the hotel bar was contagious as Coach bought a round of drinks and handed them out to the team. “Just one. The weekend’s not over yet,” he said gruffly.
Dante winked when he handed one to Olivia, which I didnotlike, and then he followed us to a small grouping of seats in a partially secluded corner away from the large open seating area. After a brief moment of hesitation, Olivia sank slowly onto a love seat just large enough for the two of us, and Dante sat in a chair diagonal to us.
“So, Liv.” Dante’s perfect teeth glinted blindingly white as he grinned. “What do you do?” I kept my grumbling to a minimum; I wanted her to myself. But I loved hearing her talk, so I kept my mouth shut. For the time being.
Taking a sip of beer to help swallow her retort before answering, she said with a glance in my direction, “Science.” As she launched into an explanation with a whole lot of technical sounding words, I watched Dante’s eyes glaze over.
“Right. This time, explain that like you’re talking to someone who’s taken a few hits to the helmet. Because I have.” Dante grinned and raised his drink, encouraging her.
She laughed at the response, talking about her job researching and developing industrial lubricants, much to Dante’s delight. They both giggled about the penetrometer until my patience ran out. “Leave,” I told him.
His grin grew impossibly wider. “Have fun, kids. Try not to get in too much trouble.” Dante sauntered off to find a new group of teammates gathered at a nearby table.
Olivia scoffed. “I never get in trouble,” she said to Dante’s back.
The smirk I gave her conveyed exactly how much I expected that statement, and she rolled her eyes. “Of course not.”
The blue in her eyes shifted darker as she traced the rim of her glass with her finger. “I’d get in trouble with you.” The sparkle of the hotel chandelier reflected in her eyes as she sipped from her drink. From the way she drained it, I wondered if she meant to say those words. But maybe she did. Something about her seemed different tonight; she glowed, and it wasn’t only from the golden chandelier dripping with crystals casting its light on us.
“Don’t threaten me with a good time, Barnes.”
“Hmm.” Olivia leaned forward, her shoulder pushing against mine. “Don’t youwantto have a good time?”
What.What. My heart slammed against my ribs, becauseyes,I fucking did, but I needed to play it cool and not show her how desperately I wanted her. “Always.” It came out much less sexy than I intended, more plea than anything else.
