“Please, call me Bexley.”
“B-Bexley.”
I can see her fighting the smirk on her face. As if I wasn’t already nervous about tonight—no matter what I told the guys—now I’m worried because the team’s GM is here. At the most out-of-place bar I could’ve picked.
What are the odds?
“Hi.”
I blow out a breath, finally answering her question. “I’m here for a date. Hi, hello, hey.” I wave awkwardly at her.
Fuck. Me.
I want to reach out and smack myself. If this is how the night is going to go, I should leave now. Sure, I was nervous before, but now someone I know, well, know of, is here and I feel like I’m on display. Almost like she’s going to watch this entire date go down and report back to everyone how it goes.
“Oh, okay. Well, have fun.”
“You too.”
She gives me another smile before walking past me toward the bar. I track her with my eyes. There’s something about her. The way she walks.
Bexley Hart is confident. Every single person is turning their head to watch her. She commands the room. Bexley was handedthe reins to the team two seasons ago, right after I got drafted. Ever since then, I’ve been intrigued by her. The power she wields is matched by very few, and no other woman runs a team in this league.
The easy presence about her draws me in. It’s something I wish I had. The only reason people take notice of me is my stature. That and I’m the starting goalie for the Black Diamonds.
She takes a spot at the bar, under one of the old Edison bulbs hanging down, and the bartender is there right away, pouring her drink.
If only I were that confident.
I wish her confidence would rub off on me right about now. I could use a healthy dose of it before my date shows up. Not whatever it is that I’m currently feeling.
Nerves? Excitement? Fear?
“Hi.” A pretty redhead stands over me at the table. “Are you Nick?”
“Umm, Nick. Yes,” is my response.Off to a great start there, Nicky, I chastise myself.
She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “Hi. I’m Caroline.”
“Nice to meet you.”
My good manners kick in and I stand, pulling out the chair for her.
“Piper has told me a lot about you.”
“She has?”
From what little Piper has told me, they were friends at school together. They see each other every now and then, but that’s all I really know about her.
Dropping into the seat, Caroline flags down the passing waiter and orders a glass of wine.
“Instead of me telling you what I know about you, why don’t you tell me about yourself?”
I gulp down another sip of bourbon, feeling my palms begin to sweat. It feels like a question someone would ask at a job interview.
“Well, I uh, play hockey.”
“I know you do. Tell me about it.”
