“I know what you’re going to say, and you’re probably right, but I can’t process this right now. I… He…” I don’t finish the thought, and I’m halfway to the door when she whisper-hisses my name. I stop and look back.
“During your presentations, have you noticed how Emmitt always takes notes?”
“Yeah, but—”
“He never writes anything down. In any other meeting. Ever.”
My heart does that stupid fluttery thing again, and I realize with dawning horror that Whitney’s right. And also that I’m not just attracted to Emmitt Buckley. I’m falling for him. Hard. Fast. In direct violation of every rational thought I’ve ever had.
And I have absolutely no idea what to do about it—except that I need to figure it out before I see him again. Given the fact he’s presently on the ice in this very building, that could be approximately five minutes from now.
Fantastic.
Emmitt
Ihavenoideawhichis more likely to happen in the next five minutes. Either McKenna’s front door will open and she’ll emerge ready to go, or my phone will buzz with a cancellation text.
I sure as hell hope it’s the first option.
It’s 9:58 p.m., and I’m staring at her porch through my windshield. Eight hours ago, we were in her office, and she was insisting we keep our distance, determined to convince me nothing more could happen between us.
Now, I’m sitting here behind the wheel, waiting to see if she’ll actually follow through on what might have been the most impulsive decision of her life. After what was definitely the most convincing I’ve ever had to do in mine.
The jury’s still out, and until she actually climbs into this SUV, I won’t believe our date tonight is really happening.
At exactly 10:00, her front door opens. McKenna steps out, wearing dark jeans, low boots, and a cream-colored sweater thatmakes her look soft and touchable in a way that has my pulse spiking. She’s got a small crossbody bag on and an expression that conveys her hesitation, loud and clear.
I hop out to open her door, catching a hint of perfume as she approaches with a soft, “Hi.” The scent is light and warm and makes me want to lean in closer.
“You look beautiful.” In the dim light, I can’t see if she blushes as she slides into the front passenger seat, but I imagine that pink flush creeping up her neck the way it did in her office earlier.
“Thank you.”
I close the door and jog around front, climbing in as she buckles her seatbelt. “I have to admit, I wondered if you’d actually come out with me tonight.”
“I almost didn’t,” she breathes, her fingers fidgeting with her bag strap. “I went back and forth about a million times.”
“I’m glad you landed on yes.”
She’s quiet for a moment, and I practically hear her brain working. “Emmitt, you know there are valid reasons we shouldn’t be doing this. The team—”
“McKenna.” I reach over and cover her restless hands with one of mine. “Can you do me a favor?”
She turns to face me. “What?”
“Forget all of that. Just for tonight.” I squeeze her hand gently. “No team, no rules, no consequences. Just us.”
She looks down at our joined hands then back up at me. “Just us?”
“Just us.”
Some of the tension leaves her shoulders as she slowly nods. “Okay. Just us. But only tonight.”
We’ll see about that. Not that I have a fucking clue how I’ll make it happen. But I didn’t get to where I am today by sitting on the bench. I’m the captain of a top pro team in the WesternConference because I fought tooth and nail and worked my ass off. For years. And this woman deserves no less.
She settles back in her seat. “So are you going to tell me where we’re going now?”
“One period at a time, there, rookie.”
