“A spot in a professional league. In Europe.”
“C’mon, Marty. That’s not funny.”
“Whose joking?”
“I don’t know if you forgot. I was forced to retire.”
“Per the NHL’s rules. Lord knows they’ve been coming downextra hard on concussion cases. Some may say harder than they need to. Didn’t one of your doctors say the results were inconclusive about whether you should return?”
“Yeah, in the beginning. And then my symptoms wouldn’t go away. The team doctor said it was best for me to call it.” I can barely get the words out of my mouth without flinching.
“So, different doctors gave you different opinions then? When was the last time you had any concussion symptoms?”
Marty takes my silence as a response.
“Listen. All I’m saying is, the team I’m thinking of will run some tests on you, and I have a strong feeling you’ll pass them. I’m no doctor, but it sounds like you’ve healed. Just asking you to think about it and keep me posted.”
“I can’t believe you’re actually asking me to make a comeback.” Except I could. Marty saw the world in one color — green. And I was positive he would get a large cut of whatever deal I signed abroad.IfI were to sign a deal abroad.
He holds his hands up in defeat. “I’m sure you’re a good coach Mason, but you’re still so young. Your legacy doesn’t need to end with the NHL. With you on a European team, maybe we could even see you in the Olympics in a few years. Think it over and give me a call. How many times do you get a second chance at your dream?”
His words linger in my head, and from across the room, Violet sends me a bright smile.How many times do you get a second chance at your dream?
forty
. . .
Violet
We makeit through the entire gala without needing to make any flash exits. The night was a smashing success, though I could tell that something was weighing down on Mason.
“What’s going on in your pretty head, Angel?” Mason burrows his face into the crook of my neck, his beard drawing out goosebumps on my skin, as we ride the elevator down to our room.
I lean into his embrace. “Just wondering how you’re doing. Tonight couldn’t have been easy for you.”
“Some moments were easier than others. The good outweighed the bad. I missed a lot of the guys on the team, it was nice catching up with them again.”
“I’m glad.”
“Me too. Although there was one aspect thatfelt like torture.” He trails his hand to my exposed thigh while nipping at my neck.
“It was seeing Kallum again, wasn’t it? I honestly have no idea how you managed to play alongside him for so many years—” I let out a small gasp as Mason slams the ‘STOP’ button on the elevator and pushes me against the wall.
“Violet.” His voice has sunk two octaves and hell if it doesn’t light my entire body on fire. “Where are your panties?”
The only word I can manage to get out is a soft “Oh” as his fingers dip under the slit of my dress and grab my hip, moving me so I’m pressed against him.
“My dress is really tight, and I didn’t want any underwear lines so I decided?—”
“So, you decided you didn’t need them. Without telling me?” he tsks.
I stick my chin out in defiance. “Last time I checked, I don’t need your permission when it comes to what I choose to wear…or not wear for that matter.”
“My permission? No. But a man does need to know that he’s spinning his wheels talking to a bunch of dudes when he could be taking advantage of this easy access. I wouldn’t have kept us there as long as I did.”
“Well, I guess we’ll just have to make up for lost time.”
“And how should we do that?” He lifts me up slightly, hooking one of my legs around his waist, causing my dress to fall open. A wicked glint flashes in his eyes before they trail down my body.
