Now I was hungry for the entire feast.
Christine’s features were spectacular, her lips not only kissable but so naturally rosy red that all I’d been able to think about was what they tasted like.
With all her stunning features, the one that gutted me the most was her eyes. They were gateways to an old soul, one who’d lived and suffered too many terrible things. They held a silence to them that felt like an ocean wrapped in velvet night. I wanted to ask her about them, but feared she’d either laugh or run away from me.
As if I could blame her.
I’d certainly come on stronger than I usually did. What in the hell had prompted me to act like some barbarian claiming her,insisting she wanted my cock? I had no clue what had come over me. None.
While cursing myself under my breath, I managed to find the real Danny in a room for employees. As soon as I walked in, he turned toward me, shaking his head. He’d obviously witnessed the entire charade.
“Some nice… footwork with the Zamboni,” he offered.
“That won’t get you fired. Will it?”
“A little too late now. Nah, it won’t unless you tell on me. You aren’t planning on doing that. Are you?”
“Ah, fuck, no.” As he opened a locker, I realized just how nice the team had it on the other side of the ice. These metal boxes had certainly seen better days.
“You do know women don’t like to be lied to. Right? I mean I don’t think I need to tell you about how to run your love life. I’m sure you’ve got plenty of women hanging all over you.”
Danny’s honest opinion was entirely different than the ones I was used to hearing. He was a Zamboni guy, a dude who’d been nice to me since the day I’d walked into the arena, making a point of shaking my hand. He had no reason to. I was no one special to him, but he’d gone out of his way to acknowledge my presence.
He’d even asked for my autograph.
“I didn’t mean to lie to her, but she flat out told me she can’t stand hockey players.”
“Oh, yeah? How’s that?”
“She called them arrogant assholes or something even worse.”
“Well, they are. You’re the exception, of course.” He grinned as he threw open his locker door. “I guess you’ll be needing skates. Huh?”
“I’ll grab mine.”
“From what I could tell, the lady is pretty savvy. I’ll think she’ll be able to figure out you’re lying to her if you suddenly show up with professional skates that look surprisingly like all those used by the other hockey team members.”
“Well, shit. You’re right. Do they rent skates in this place?”
“Every once in a while, but I won’t stand by and watch you breaking into the main supply room. That will get us both fired. Here.” He tossed a pair of skates into my arms. “We’re about the same size and even if they don’t fit well, that will go along with your… fib you told her.” His grin was practically evil.
His sarcasm was duly noted. The reason I’d lied to her was because I liked her. She was not only beautiful but intelligent, witty enough to see through my bullshit. Women were rarely if ever completely themselves around me and her assessment of some of the puck bunnies was spot on.
That had pushed me into hungering to learn more about her. Which meant telling a little white lie.
That wasn’t so bad. It wasn’t like I’d lied about my… profession or anything. Well, hell.
“Can I offer you another piece of advice, Mr. Beast?” Danny continued.
“Why not.” I wasn’t firing on all cylinders in any area of my life.
“Women have a bullshit meter like no one else. She’ll figure you out in fifteen minutes, especially with you pretending not to know how to skate. Haven’t you been on a pair of skates for a few years?”
“Since I was two.”
“There you go. You can take the man away from hockey, but hockey will never leave a man’s blood once it’s nestled inside. Just food for thought.” He backed away with his arms up as if surrendering, then promising not to offer any other advice.
Which in truth I obviously needed.
