She laughs so loudly an older couple a few feet away looks over. Dixie slaps a hand over her mouth to try to stifle the sound. When she regains composure she whispers, “That was the best one yet.”
“Thank you.” Getting a compliment from her is quickly turning my mood around. I take another sip of the Colada and smile, more at the fact that she ordered for me—with extra umbrellas—than at the drink itself. I’m a huge fan of fruity, slushy drinks. Piña Colada, Margarita, you name it, I love it. And ordering them in bars, with all their fruit and umbrella garnishes, gets attention from women, so I embrace my fruity drink fetish. She knows this. I told her when she caught me drinking a Margarita at Ryanne’s party last year after our elevator encounter, and it’s cute that she remembered.
“You shouldn’t though,” she says, bringing me back to reality. “Follow me home.”
“But you read the HR book, and you know, like I said, Storm players are not included in the nonfraternization clause.” I’m leaning as close to her as I can while still looking casual to anyone who glances over.
She looks up at me from under her lashes, and she looks so damn coy I want to pick her up, throw her on the bar and climb on top of her. I subtly reach down and readjust myself because my pants are getting tight.
“I read it and you’re right.” My victory smile is cut off as she shakes her head. “But tonight you’re here to be part of the team, so you’re off-limits. Technically.”
“Lucky for you I’m not a technical person,” I counter. “I’m about feeling and instinct. You should forget rules and technicalities and just let yourself have a little fun. With me.”
She focuses her pretty blue eyes on me, and I can see she’s considering it. “We agree though, if this happens, it’s one and done. We get naked, get each other out of our systems and move on. That’s the plan, okay?”
“You’re kind of obsessed with rules and plans, huh?” I watch her take a long sip of her drink and use the tip of her little pink tongue to swipe a dollop from her lips.
“Plans are good. Rules keep chaos at bay,” she replies.
“Chaos can be fun.” I grip my Piña Colada glass tighter so I don’t reach out and wipe away that little drip that landed on the corner of her lip. “I’m going to make you love losing control, sweet Dixie.”
Her eyes darken and her cheeks slowly fill with color. But she fights it like a champ, clearing her throat, throwing back the rest of her Piña Colada and taking a step away from me. “You should mingle, Elijah. That’s what you’re here for.”
“I didn’t come for the fans. I came for you.” I lower my voice and put my now empty glass down on the bar. “Let me come for you.”
“Holy shit…” She whispers it softly, and I see the words form more than I actually hear them. “Play by the rules, Elijah.”
“For now,” I relent and wink as I reluctantly walk away.
I make my way over to Jasper, who is standing by the auction items table taking a picture with an attractive blonde who has wrapped herself around him. I stay a safe distance back until they stop talking and she leaves, because I’m kind of maxed out on the casual banter and I’m still sporting half a hard-on, and the last thing I want is some fan wrapped around me.
Once she’s walked away, I join Jasper. He looks like a kid in a candy store. “I see you’re enjoying yourself.”
“This is insane,” he confesses excitedly. “The Thunder have a lot of hot fans. Man, I can’t wait till they call me up now. I could get used to this kind of attention very easily.”
I laugh. “The problem with fans is they’re off-limits.”
Jasper gives me a sly smirk. “There’s no such thing as off-limits in my world. Just have to be stealthy. Like a ninja.”
“You’re a fucking nut, you know that?” I shake my head, but honestly I love the guy. At least I think I do until he takes another sip of his drink and then points subtly across the bar to my girl.
“Who is the hot little blond package you were talking with at the bar?”
“She works for the team,” I reply, my voice stiff. “Sorry, my ninja buddy.”
The glint of mischief in Jasper’s eye gets even more glinty and mischievous. “What’s her name? What does she do?”
“Dixie Wynn. Publicist, player relations.” I sound like my dad suddenly. He always sounds like someone just scratched his Benz. “You touch her and you’ll likely be in the minors forever.”
The grin on his face falters for a second. “Why? You claiming her?”
“I can’t. She’s off-limits,” I mutter back and suddenly wish I had another drink. “Once I make it up, full-time, I’m not doing anything that will get me shipped back down. The rules are pretty clear. Even Braddock didn’t screw around with employees.”
Jasper seems to really consider that, furrowing his blond brow. And then he shrugs and takes a sip of his drink. “Well then, fans it is!”
He wanders off to a gaggle of twenty-something women who’ve been ogling us from the bar. I don’t join him. Instead I walk the other way in search of Levi. I find him with Jude and a defenseman they call Marchie. I come to a stop beside Levi just as someone from Thunder staff takes the stage and thanks everyone for coming.
“Good. It’s over and I can get home to Zoey.” Jude sighs in relief and I try not to look shocked that he’s excited to leave a party.
