by Grey , S. R.
Even though we were in the basement of the restaurant, there was no hint of cold or dampness. The small space was actually warm and cozy, alit by dozens of candles.
“Here’s where you’ll be dining,” the hostess announced, gesturing to a small wooden table in the center of the room.
“Excellent,” I said. “Thank you.”
As soon as she left, Maisie exclaimed, “Noel, this is so romantic.”
She spun around in a circle, her sequin dress sparkling in the glow of the candles.
Laughing, I replied, “I’m glad you like it.”
“Like it? Are you kidding? I love it.”
I was pleased with Maisie’s reaction. It was exactly the response I’d been hoping for.
Once we were seated at our table, we smiled at one another. A waiter then appeared with a bottle of wine. And since glasses were already on the table, he filled each one quite generously.
“Should we toast to anything?” Maisie asked once we were once again alone.
I raised my glass. “Yes. How about we toast to promising starts?”
“Mmm…” Her eyes sparkled in the candlelight. “I like that one.”
Our glasses touched, echoing a little clink. And together, we said, “To promising starts.”
A few minutes later, as we were sipping our wine, the waiter returned with menus.
We made our selections soon afterward—salad, salmon, and steamed potatoes.
He told us we’d made excellent choices, and then slipped away, leaving us alone once more.
I asked Maisie to tell me more about her life, but she aptly turned the questioning back to me.
“Oh, I’m boring,” she pshawed. “I want to hear more about you and hockey.”
Since I was always up for talking about the sport I loved, I said, “Okay. What do you want to know?”
“Well, you’re a defenseman, right?”
Cocking a brow, I replied, “Hmm, sounds like someone’s been googling me.”
She blushed, which was so damn adorable.
“Okay, okay. I may have looked you up once or twice.”
“A woman who does her research,” I replied. “I like it.”
She laughed. “Okay. Well, based on that research, I thought of a question.”
“Shoot.”
“How do you like playing your position? I read that you’re fairly offensive minded. Do you sometimes wish you were a forward?”
Wow, she really had done her research.
Thoroughly impressed, I explained that, though I liked to score, I enjoyed my job as a defenseman far too much to want it any other way.
“Besides,” I went on, “it’s good defense that ultimately wins the game.”
Maisie pondered that, and then said, “That makes sense.”
I nodded. “For me, that’s really the bottom line. When I do my job well, it gives our team a chance to score goals and win.”
“You like winning, Noel. Don’t you?” Maisie asked.
“Yes, I do.”
When she didn’t say anything more, I asked, “Don’t you?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess you could say I haven’t had much luck in the winning department.”
I was confused. I wanted to ask for more elaboration, but the salads arrived just then.
Figures.
As we ate our leafy greens, the conversation turned light, and continued so with the arrival of our entrees.
Maisie, after taking her first bite of salmon, announced, “Mmmm, this is so good, Noel.”
I tasted mine and had to agree, “It is.”
As dinner progressed, I grew more and more excited. I was really looking forward to the next part of our date. I couldn’t wait to see Maisie’s reaction.
I couldn’t believe I’d managed to secure the rooftop of our hotel, where the view of Stockholm was phenomenal. It was such an ideal summer night for sitting outside too. I knew we’d have a great time.
Maisie thought she liked Old Town?
Ha, I couldn’t wait for her to find herself twelve stories above it, seated in a big wooden Adirondack chair, the whole city at her feet.
I may not have been able to give Maisie the world, but I could give her Stockholm.
Candlelight and Tears
Noel was sweeping me off my feet, treating me better than any man had ever treated me.
I wasn’t used to guys like him. Back in my little Podunk town, there wasn’t a great selection of men, and the few I had dated had all been pretty much jerks.
Oh, but I could get used to this.
I enjoyed the romantic candlelit dinner, but now that we were back at our hotel, seated up on the rooftop, I was in awe.
We were high above Stockholm, in side-by-side long wooden lounge chairs, sipping wine as darkness fell.
The lights of the surrounding buildings flickered to life, and I sighed contentedly.
I finally felt at peace for the first time since I’d arrived in the city. And it was all because of Noel.
He looked over at me, his blue eyes pale in the low light.
His gaze was curious as he asked, “Are you having a nice evening, Maisie?”
“Yes, it’s amazing,” I replied truthfully. “And I’m thoroughly impressed you were able to not only rent out the restaurant cellar, but this entire rooftop as well.”
He shrugged. “Oh, it was nothing.”
“Oh, but it is indeed something,” I volleyed back.
This man had done all this for me, and it was only our first date.
Wow.
If Noel put this much effort and care into one night, I could only imagine what he might do for a woman he truly cared for.
I didn’t want to think about that, though. We’d never be more because I hadn’t been truthful. A real relationship could never be built on falsehoods.
Did it even matter?
I reminded myself that this was nothing more than a means to an end. Even if I wanted to continue something with Noel once we returned to the States, a guy like him would never want a girl like me. I lived in a freaking trailer, for fuck’s sake.
Meanwhile, he rented out rooftops and private rooms in restaurants like it was nothing.
Our worlds were just far too different.
But for now, I could be what he wanted.
I had to be, right?
Reaching over, I took his hand in mine.
“You may think all this is nothing, Noel,” I reiterated, “but trust me, it’s definitely something.”
Adjusting so that my hand was in his, he squeezed lightly and replied, “I just wanted this night to be special for you…and for us.”
“Well, it is.” I let go of his hand so I could move our chairs a little closer. “It most definitely is.”
“So…” He smiled over at me. “Tell me more about you, Maisie from Arizona. You’re not getting off so easily this time. You deflected well at the restaurant, but now I want to know everything.”
Yikes.
He was right. I’d successfully veered us away from having this conversation at the restaurant. But there was no avoiding the subject now.
Here goes nothing.
Trying to sound light and breezy, like a carefree girl should, I said, “That’s one tall order, Noel from Nevada. Where should I start?”
“How about telling me where you’re from in Arizona?”
I saw no sense in lying since where I lived was so tiny and insignificant it hardly made a blip on the map.
Taking a breath, I exhaled slowly and replied, “I live in a tiny town called Two Palms.”
“Huh.” Noel appeared thoughtful. “I’ve never heard of it.”
“I’m not surprised. Not many people have.”
“What kind of work do you do there, Maisie? Do you have a job?”
I wasn’t about to tell him I worked part-time at a local convenience store, as it would ruin the image I was carefully crafting.
So instead, I said, “I’m in school.
”
I had taken two classes at the local community college recently, so it wasn’t a total lie. Truth was I wanted so badly to get a degree and escape my crappy little town.
It was going to take forever, though, at the rate I was going.
Noel looked at me, assessing. “You do look pretty young. What are you? Twenty-one, twenty-two?”
“I’m twenty-one,” I confirmed. “Why? How old are you?”
“Twenty-five,” he replied.
Mock scandalized, I covered my mouth.
“Are you telling me I’m out with an older man? Say it isn’t so!”
Noel laughed. And then he asked, “What’s your major at school?”
Ugh, we were back to that.
“Business,” I said.
“Hmm,” he murmured.
I really wanted to move away from the subject before he pried too deeply. So I said in a rush, “How did you get into hockey, Noel from Nevada? You must’ve been pretty good right from the start to end up playing professionally.”
“I was okay, I guess,” he oh-so-humbly replied. “I was recruited right out of juniors, so I guess I was okay.”
Being recruited out of juniors meant nothing to me, so I moved onto the next subject.
“I don’t have any siblings,” I began, to get my response out of the way immediately. “Do you have any brothers or sisters, though?”
“I do.” He smiled happily, so I assumed they got along well. “I have a twin sister.”
I was taken aback, but in a good way. Twins were cool.
“Wow, that’s awesome,” I said. “What’s her name?”
“Noelle.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. Her name sounded so much like his.
“Sorry,” I said, stifling another giggle.
Noel shrugged. “Ah, it’s all right. We get that a lot. What can I say? We were born in December, and our parents really love the holidays.”
“They do?”
“Hell yeah they do. You should see how my folks do up our house every year, the one we grew up in back in Chicago. During the holidays, it’s the talk of the neighborhood.”
I thought about how my mom hadn’t even bothered to put up a tree last year. And how we’d heated up burritos I brought home from the convenience store on Christmas day for our holiday dinner.
Noel, conversely, led the perfect life.
Not only was he a successful hockey player, but I could tell from the way he talked about his family that they meant a lot to him, especially his twin sister.
He’d probably run far, far away from me if he knew I had the kind of mom who dragged her daughter to a foreign country, only to abandon her there for a guy.
Taking a deep breath, I blinked back traitorous tears welling in my eyes.
Shit, not now!
Noel, nice guy that he so clearly was, noticed immediately.
“Hey, hey…” He got up and sat down on the end of my chair. “What’s wrong? Did I say something to upset you?”
“No, no. I’m fine.”
He took my hand. “Maisie, seriously, you’re not fine. You’re crying. So something’s not right.” He took a breath, and added, “You can talk to me if you want.”
I wanted so badly to believe him.
I wanted to come clean.
But I couldn’t.
Sniffling, I said, “Suffice it to say, my life growing up was much different than yours.”
Noel seemed to realize I didn’t want to say much more on the subject, and he didn’t press for details.
He simply said, “I’m sorry, Maisie.”
Despite his kindness, I felt embarrassed and vulnerable. This was not how the night was supposed to go. I was way off-track.
Scoffing, I bit out, “I’m a rotten date, aren’t I?”
Noel moved his hand from mine, placing his warm palm tenderly to my cheek.
“No, you’re not a rotten date,” he said. “Not at all. I’m the one who upset you, so if anyone’s ruining the night, it’s me.”
This guy.
“You’re too sweet, Noel from Nevada.”
He went on to say something more, but I was done talking. I had to do something, make some kind of a dramatic move, before I became too emotional and freaking blew my cover.
So I sat up, pressed my lips to his, and started kissing the crap out of Noel from Nevada.
Not Like Anyone Else
Whoa, Maisie.
Before I knew what was happening, she leaned forward and started kissing me. And these were not tender pecks. As soon as our lips met, it became a desperate, hot, mind-blowing make-out session.
We were on the same chair, so I pulled her into my lap.
Maisie straddled me, her dress riding up.
Clearly, she was no longer upset.
This woman sure was keeping me on my toes.
I liked it, though.
And I was right there with her, my lips parting hers, our tongues touching.
Fuck.
She was honeysuckles, warmth, and the promise of wild sex.
I wanted more, so I stopped kissing her long enough to ask, “Should we go down to my room?”
She looked torn, but said, “Uh, okay.”
I was about to pick her up and carry her inside, where I planned to have her in so many fucking ways. But I started having second thoughts.
I mean, I liked Maisie. And I didn’t want her doing something she didn’t really want to do.
So I gave her an out by softly saying, “We don’t have to go inside. I’m pretty happy just kissing you right here.”
She smiled at me sweetly. “I am too, actually.”
I touched my lips to hers. “So we’ll stay out here, maybe make out a little more?”
She smiled against my mouth. “Yes, Noel from Nevada, I think I’d like that.”
“Good. Then it’s decided.”
I went back to kissing her, though much more softly, like I was cherishing her with my mouth, which I definitely was.
My dick wasn’t too happy with the turn of events, and he took the time to remind me that Maisie had been the one to basically attack me.
She wants it bad, man, he taunted. She’s just playing coy. No one is around. Let’s just fuck her right here in the chair.
I knew better than to listen to that bastard. He pretty much had a one-track mind.
One of these days, though, I did want to hike up Maisie’s hot little dress and bury myself in her sure-to-be sweet pussy.
But it wouldn’t be tonight, as I wanted her to be 100% onboard.
We kissed a while longer, until we had to cool things down. Otherwise, we would end up back in my room.
Settling back in the chair, I encircled Maisie in my arms.
She twisted around, peering up at me, her indigo eyes dark and sad.
“What’s up?” I asked, brow rising.
“It’s just…” She seemed to be fighting to find the right words. “You’re a nice guy, Noel. Aren’t you?”
I wasn’t sure why that would be such a bad thing, but she didn’t look particularly happy about it for some reason.
“I try to be,” I replied. “Why? Would you rather I wasn’t?”
She seemed to snap out of whatever sad funk she was in, and exclaimed, “Oh, no. I didn’t mean it like that. Not at all. It’s just that I haven’t met many guys like you.”
“Is that a good thing, or a bad thing?” I queried, just to double-check.
Laying her head down on my chest, she murmured, “It’s definitely a good thing. Trust me on that one.”
I kissed the top of her head, and started rubbing her back. “You’re pretty nice yourself, Maisie from Arizona.”
“Ha,” she snorted. “I don’t know about that.”
“Well, you’re certainly unique. Can we at least go with that?”
Tracing a little heart over my pec, she said, “Okay. But just like you asked me, is that a good or a bad thing?”
“It’s good, Maisie
. Unique is good. Very, very good.”
It was too. Maisie was not only beautiful, she was quirky, spontaneous, and fun.
And she was a bit of a mystery.
One I couldn’t wait to figure out.
A Letdown and an Invitation
Despite my meltdown, I truly had enjoyed my date with Noel.
He’d really gone all out to show me a good time, and it had paid off. I’d had a super evening.
The kissing on the rooftop alone was gah.
Yeah, that was definitely the best, as Noel Sandlund was an extraordinary kisser.
When I went back to my room that night, all the emotion and sexual energy caught up to me. I was so freaking hot and bothered that I could barely stand it.
So, shedding my dress, I drew a hot bath. And then I proceeded to get off three times under the warm running water from the faucet.
Stockholm had surprisingly great water pressure.
Who knew?
I slept really well that night, no surprise there.
In the morning, however, I awoke with a start, remembering that what I was building with Noel wasn’t real.
He was simply a means to an end.
Too bad my heart was protesting like crazy. I genuinely liked the guy. And a part of me, a big part, wished I could explore the possibilities. I mean, damn, Noel and I got along so beautifully. And we were extremely attracted to one another. I would have hopped into bed with him in a heartbeat last night, but since I was playing the long game, I knew it was prudent to take things slowly.
Still, it was all becoming too much. This wasn’t me. I didn’t cheat and lie to get what I wanted. Maybe my mother did, but I was different.
Suddenly, I was furious—at her, at me, at life.
“Fuck!” I ground out, hitting the pillow with my fist.
I hated that my mom had put me in this position. Speaking of Parent of the Year, I decided I should to try and get a hold of her. Maybe she’d spoken to Gary and had finally procured me that plane ticket home.
If that were the case, I could quit playing games with Noel. I could start to date him for real, no agendas.
But would he really want a girl like you?
Haven’t we been over this?
I sighed, hating the voices of doubt that were chiming in my mind.