“Right?” Naomi patted my shoulder. “This could just be a fun little fling. It’s not like he’s here to stay. He’s just on vacation.”
“But before any of that can happen, wereallyneed to find you an outfit that doesn’t look like it belongs on a 1950’s housewife,” Rae announced.
We got back to work, and thirty minutes later we’d collectively decided on something I felt stood firmly in the middle between casual and dressy. The fleece-lined leggings had a pattern up the sides that made them a tad fancier than the throw-around leggings I wore at home. I matched them with a pale pink sweater that draped off one shoulder and had a built-in camisole with lace straps. Instead of flats, I went with a pair of ankle boots that sported a chunky three-inch heel.
The pieces of jewelry Blythe and Sunny had picked out were delicate but understated, nothing overly flashy or chunky, and to finish it all off, I wore my hair down, having let it air dry into its natural waviness.
My girls all assured me that I looked perfect, and that tonight was going to be fun, and I tried my hardest to hold on to their excitement and not let my nerves run amok as they shuffled out of my apartment with less than five minutes to spare.
“What do you think, Yoda?” I asked my little buddy as he sat in the middle of my bed. “Do you think this works?”
He let out a series of short meows and mewls that sounded like he was trying his best to form words until the buzz of the intercom interrupted him. “Well, guess it’s too late to do anything about it now, huh? Wish me luck.” I leaned down to press a kiss to his head and gave him a little scratch beneath his chin that set off his purrs.
Then, with no other reason to delay, I pulled in a fortifying breath and headed for the door to buzz Tanner up.
Chapter Seven
Tanner
“Dude, you look like you’re two seconds from hurling.” Luke’s voice carried through the speaker of my Range Rover as I drove through the winding streets of downtown Hope Valley. I was heading to pick Holly up for our date and I would have been lying if I said I wasn’t feeling all kinds of nervous. Hell, I didn’t even get nervous before games anymore, but that ray of sunshine, at least a foot shorter than me, had my stomach tangled in knots.
“Shut up, dick. I’m not gonna hurl.” I didn’t think.
My friend’s grating laugh beat against my eardrums and set my teeth on edge. “I can’t believe you asked a woman out. I thought you said you were taking a break after... what was her name?”
“Sandra, and I did. But there’s something about this woman,” I admitted. “I don’t know what it is, but you should have seen me when I was in her store yesterday. I was following her around like a lost puppy.”
“Damn, brother. That woman must have had game.”
I couldn’t help but smile as I recalled our interaction. “Actually, no. She was nervous and awkward. It was like she kept trying to melt into the wallpaper.”
“Did she know who you are?”
“Yeah, but she didn’t seem to care. I had to keep the conversation going just to keep her from walking away.”
“Uh, buddy... are you sure this woman’s interested?”
“Fuck off.” I let out a chuckle. From the outside I could understand why it might seem like she wasn’t interested, but I knew in my gut that wasn’t the case.
“I’m just messing with you, man,” Luke said, and I could hear the smile in his voice. “I’m happy you’re getting out there again. Can’t let a few bad experiences ruin everything.”
I wouldn’t consider what I’d dealt with in the past afew bad experiences. The number of opportunists was astounding. But I also knew it was what I was signing up for when I decided I wanted to be a hockey player. I was in the public eye, and my salary was plastered all over the internet. Gold diggers and users came with the territory. That was something I’d had to learn the hard way.
“Yeah, you’re right. And this girl... I don’t know how to explain it, man. There’s just something about her.”
“Sounds like you’re really enjoying your time off. Glad for that, Tan. You needed a reset.”
He was right. I needed this break. Some time away. I would have preferred it wouldn’t have taken getting injured, but I could finally see the silver lining of the situation. The only thing putting a damper on this time away was the fact that I still didn’t have a fucking clue what my future held. I was still dragging my feet on making the biggest decision of my life, much to my agent’s dismay. But that was a problem for another time. “Anyway, I’m almost at her place, so I’ll talk to you later.”
“All right, brother. Don’t forget to suit up. You know the rules, no glove, no love.”
“Christ, you’re an asshole,” I said on a chuckle. “How you landed a ten like Lorna is beyond me.”
“Brainwashing. But in all seriousness, enjoy yourself, man. You’ve earned it.”
“Will do. Give Lorna and the kids my love. Talk soon.”
I hit the button on my steering wheel, disconnecting the call as I pulled up to One More Chapter. The sensation in my stomach reminded me of the way I felt every time I rode a roller coaster. Closing my eyes, I went through the series of breathing exercises I did every time I stood in front of my net. In a matter of seconds, I felt the familiar calm wash over me, and with a smile and a determined set to my chin, I killed the engine and climbed out of my car. It was time for another hit of sunshine.
