“Is that the supply closet you told me about?” Trent asked, pointing. “The one that’s the subject of your wildest fantasy?”
Lauren glanced in that direction. “Yes, um... that’s it,” she said. “I mean, I could never actually do anything in there, or I might lose my job,” she said. “I wouldn’t risk my job.” No fantasy was worth that, no matter how enticing.
“Of course not,” Trent said. “I would never expect you to, nor would I ever put you in a position where your job might be in jeopardy.” He grinned. “We’ll have to concentrate on the kitchen instead.”
“The kitchen... right.” Lauren felt the heat rise to her cheeks. The kitchen would, indeed, be a very good thing to concentrate on.
“I want that... just so you know. I spent some time last night thinking of the ways I can help you fulfill that fantasy.” Trent glanced around. “Got me pretty hot and bothered, too.”
Join the club. The heat left Lauren’s cheeks, and travelled lower... much lower. Oh, God, she wanted him. Not enough to admit it, right here and right now, but she wanted him. And badly. “I love working with kids,” she said, anxious to change the subject. “Some of our young patients have been through a lot, and we try to find ways to cheer them up. A little while ago, one of them was a hockey fan, and Riley asked Noah to come by and visit him.” Lauren smiled. It was those kind of memories she cherished. “He was so excited.”
“That’s great,” Trent said. “Noah’s got a way with kids, and he’s always up for any of the community activities the team does that involve kids.” He jammed his hands in his pockets. “That’s something I need to do better at.”
“You should,” Lauren agreed. “I think the kids would love you.”
“You don’t think they’d rather meet somebody who’s more of a star?”
Lauren shook her head. “No. You’re absolutely enough of a star. You’ve got to stop selling yourself short,” she said, fully recognizing that it was advice she needed to follow herself.
“I’m working on it,” Trent said. “Getting game fifty-nine tonight will help.”
“So you are playing tonight? That’s great.” Now that Lauren understood the full implications of the game sixty milestone, she was even more excited for him.
“Yep, sure am. Any chance you’ll be off work in time to come watch the game in person?”
Lauren shook her head. “Unfortunately, no. I’ll be watching on TV as soon as I get off, though. Kendall invited Riley and me over to watch it at her house, so you can bet I’ll be cheering you on.” It would probably mean too much food, but Lauren didn’t care. She planned to enjoy the night, especially since she didn’t have to work tomorrow. “Get that goal for me this time, okay?”
“I’ll sure try.” Trent grinned. “And if I do, I’m giving you the puck as a keepsake.”
Chapter Eight
Trent wore his lucky tie to the arena. He didn’t know how lucky it actually was, but the team was undefeated in games he’d played in when wore the tie for his arrival at the arena, and that was good enough for him. Hockey players were superstitious. Some guys taped their sticks a certain way. Others spit in their gloves. Noah had his ritual of playing a round of miniature golf on game days. Trent didn’t do any of those things, but he had his blue and red pin dot tie.
On his way to the locker room, he passed Coach Moreau’s office. Trent nodded and waved and was about to go on his way, when the head coach summoned him in. “Come here for a sec, Majest.”
“Sure,” he said, stepping inside the office and closing the door.
“Are you excited about getting in the lineup again?” The coach asked.
What kind of question was that? Did Coach think there were guys who didn’t want to play? “Always,” Trent answered. “I mean, I’m a team guy first. I want the team to do well and win, whether I contribute in the game or not, but I’d much rather play than sit in the press box.”
Coach Moreau nodded. “And so would the other guys who’ve been scratched recently. We’ve been blessed to not have a lot of injuries this season, which is great, but it makes my lineup decisions harder. I’m forced to sit some guys, even if they’re good soldiers who give their all in each and every practice. Like you do.” His eyes met Trent’s. “I like to reward that and give players their fair shot at proving they belong here. This is your shot. I just set the lineup with the guys I have, though. I don’t control the roster. As you know, we’ve got a heck of a group of prospects out in El Paso who are waiting for their shot, too.”
Trent nodded solemnly. He was all too aware of that fact. With only a few weeks left in the regular season, it was all the more important to him that he hit that sixty game milestone, which would all but ensure he’d be with the NHL club for the rest of this season and the start of the next one. It was even more urgent, considering one of the organization’s best young prospects, Maks Klein, was currently tearing up the AHL and clawing at the door for his first NHL call-up. Good for Maks, but Trent didn’t intend to let him take his job.
“I get it,” he said. “I’m fighting for my spot here, and I need to deliver if I want to keep it.” Heck, Coach might as well have come right out and said that the GM was ready to send him down if he couldn’t produce. At least they were giving him the chance. That was all he could ask for.
“Yes, you do get it. It’s not personal, it’s a numbers game.” Coach gave him a smile that Trent took as one of encouragement. “Go get out there and make everyone’s job a lot harder, okay?”
Trent choked out a single laugh. “Oh, I plan to.” He’d have Lauren watching and cheering him on, even if it was only from her friend’s living room and not a seat in the stands, and he’d just been told his roster spot was on the line. Both would serve as plenty of motivation. He entered the locker room and saw that his two linemates for the game, Austin Wilke and Thomas Rodriguez, were already there.
“You guys ready to go?” he asked.
“Heck, yeah,” Thomas said. He would be centering the line, with Trent and Austin on the wings. “Who wants the puck?”
“I do,” Trent said. “You feed it to me, and I’m putting it in the net.”
“Confidence,” Thomas said. “I like that. Let’s get the win tonight.”
***
Lauren hurried to Kendall’s house as soon as her shift ended. The game was still locked in a scoreless tie when she arrived, midway through the first period. Good. She hadn’t missed much.
“Hopefully things will pick up a little bit now,” Kendall said. “It’s been kind of a slow start.”
“Who’re we playing?” Lauren asked, taking a seat on Kendall’s couch and tugging her shoes off. After being on her feet for twelve hours, it was time to get comfortable.
“Arizona,” Riley said. “Then they go out to Arizona tomorrow to pay the ‘Yotes again. It’s a home-and-home.”
“I should probably know that,” Lauren said. It didn’t take Riley long at all to become a die-hard hockey fan, and now she seemed to have the schedule memorized.
The doctor laughed. “You’re fine. You’re still new to this.”
“She’s right,” Kendall said. “You get a few more weeks before you’re expected to know the schedule and who the leading scorers are.”
“Oh, great.” It was hard to tell if she was kidding. There was a tray of fresh vegetables and ranch dip on the table, and Lauren reached for a carrot stick. A healthy option. Good.
“Pizza’s in the oven,” Riley said. “Should be ready in a few minutes.”
So much for healthy. “I’m not going to be quizzed on the team stats or anything am I?”
“No.” Kendall shook her head, laughing. “I was teasing. You’ll be surprised, though, how much of a fan you’ll become, and in a short time, when you’re dating a Generals player.” Lauren didn’t doubt it, because she observed it happened in Riley.
“How’d things go yesterday, by the way?” Riley asked. “You had Trent over to yout place for dinner, right?”<
br />
“Yes,” Lauren said. “We had a nice time. He likes my cooking.” She munched the end off another carrot. “He wants to make love.”
“Ooh, now we’re getting to the good stuff,” Kendall squealed. “Except, shit, where are my manners? I didn’t offer you wine.” She jumped up. “Hold that thought. I’ll be right back.”
Lauren didn’t protest, instead focusing on the action on the screen. The game went into a time out as Kendall returned with a bottle of wine and an extra glass. She poured Lauren a glass before topping off her own and Riley’s.
“All right, now we’re set,” Kendall said. “Details, please.”
“There aren’t any. I said he wants to make love. Not that we did.”
“And what are you waiting for?” Kendall asked.
“Oh, I don’t know. Losing another forty pounds, or at least enough so I’ll feel like I can take my clothes off without sending him running.”
“Okay, stop that talk right now,” Riley scolded. “First of all, you’re beautiful exactly the way you are. And second of all, Trent obviously feels that way, since you just told us he did. So get over the self-doubt, buy some sexy lingerie, and, well, I’m pretty sure you can figure out where to go from there...”
“Yeah.” Lauren laughed. “Sexy lingerie? You’re kidding, right?”
Riley shook her head. “No. Dead serious. It’ll help you feel more confident, beautiful, desirable. All things you should be feeling,” she said. “If I didn’t have to work tomorrow, I’d take you shopping myself. I’ll call Tori, though. I know she’s off tomorrow, too, and I bet I can talk her into it.”
“Oh my gosh, stop it.” Lauren gave an exaggerated eye roll. “I’m not going lingerie shop—” She stopped mid sentence as she heard the goal horn, turning to the TV. “See, great, we missed a goal.” They all stared at the replay at the screen. “And was that Trent?” She could make out a one on the jersey, but not the first number. Was it Trent’s twenty-one? Another angle confirmed that it was, and she pumped her fist in the air. “Yes! That puck is now mine.”
“Wait, what?” Kendall asked.
“Oh, Trent promised to give me the puck if he scored a goal,” Lauren said with a shrug.
“He did?” Riley’s eyes grew wide. “Okay, that settles it. This is real. This is serious. And you are so going shopping tomorrow.”
***
It wasn’t Trent’s first NHL goal, but it held up as the eventual game winner as San Antonio shut out the Arizona Coyotes 2-0. Becker earned first star honors for the shut out, but Trent was named the game’s second star—an honor he would gladly take.
He accepted congratulations from all the guys in the room, and posed for pictures with the game-winning puck. Being only his fifth career goal, Trent wouldn’t mind keeping it, but a promise was a promise. This one would go to Lauren. Hopefully, there would be more in the future.
A couple of the guys were going for a late dinner to celebrate the win, but with their flight to Phoenix for the second half of the home-and-home series scheduled for eight in the morning, most everyone decided to head home. That was Trent’s plan, but he did call Lauren before he left the arena.
“I’ve got a souvenir from tonight for you,” he said when she answered.
“Sweet. It’ll be my first hockey puck,” she said with a chuckle. “Nice goal.”
“Thanks. I told Thomas before the game started that I wanted the puck, and I intended to put it in the net.” It may have taken almost the entire first period, but the combination eventually connected.
“I’m so happy for you,” Lauren said.
“I just hope it’s enough to keep my roster spot.” Coach Moreau’s words still resonated. “Coach kind of put me on notice before the game that I needed to deliver, or there’d be someone else to take my spot.”
“Wow. Isn’t that kind of harsh?”
“It’s professional sports. Of course it’s harsh,” Trent said. “I knew that going in.” He got to his car and unlocked it, tossing his bag in the backseat. “What are you up to? Are you at home?” Trent planned to go home himself, but if he got a better offer, he could be persuaded to change those plans, early flight be damned.
“Yeah. Riley and Kendall both have to work, so our little party wrapped up as soon as the game ended. I’m home, snuggled in bed, with a book, enjoying the fact that I do not have to work tomorrow.”
“Sounds nice,” Trent said. It didn’t sound like he’d be getting that better offer, though. “Would it be completely inappropriate to ask you what you’re wearing?” He asked, only half-serious. If he couldn’t see her, maybe she could at least fuel his dreams for the night.
“You can, but you probably won’t like the answer.” Lauren chuckled. “Fluffy pajamas with cats on them.”
No, not what he expected, or hoped for. Trent bit back laughter. “I’m sure they are incredibly sexy on you.”
“Oh, you know it, baby. A fat chick in cat pajamas. Try to contain your excitement.”
Now Trent laughed. He loved her sense of humor. “I’ll try, but it won’t be easy,” he said. “Night, Laur. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Good night, Trent. Sweet dreams.”
I hope so, Trent thought, as he drove out of the parking lot.
Chapter Nine
Tori was all too happy to be recruited for the shopping adenture, leaving Lauren with little choice. She couldn’t wear cat pajamas when she invited Trent to spend the night. No, that wouldn’t do, so she’d suck it up, go shopping, and maybe even find something she wouldn’t be mortified to wear. That was the bar she set. Sexy? Doubtful. Not mortifying? That was a more realistic goal.
When they arrived at the mall, Tori made a beeline in the direction of a popular lingerie store.
Lauren grabbed her arm to hold her back. “Um, not happening,” she said. “At least not there.”
“Why?” Tori asked. “They’re having a sale.”
“Which is nice, for skinny girls. They don’t carry my size.” Lauren knew, because she’d gone in there once, after her thirty pound milestone, just to see what they had, and left depressed and embarrassed. No, even after losing what she considered to be a significant amount of weight, she was still too fat for them. Was it any wonder she didn’t want to do this?
“What? That’s discriminatory,” Tori exclaimed.
“Fine. You can go tell them that,” Lauren muttered. “Later. Let’s just go find the fat girl store and get this over with.”
Tori sighed. “You need to stop talking like that.”
“I’m trying. I really am,” Lauren said. “But I still hate shopping for clothes. Especially for undergarments that I’m expected to wear for a man, in the hope I can get him turned on.”
“Oh, I think you already know you can get him turned on,” Tori countered. “Don’t think about it that way. Look at it as doing this for yourself. For you to feel sexy and confident.”
Lauren barely contained her eye roll. “If you say so.” She found the plus-sized clothing store on the mall directory and they headed that way.
“Thanks for inviting me along,” Tori said as they walked. “I love shopping for lingerie. Too bad I won’t have the opportunity to wear any for a while. No boyfriend, knocked up... I have to live vicariously through you.”
It was funny to hear Tori say that, since it was only a couple of months ago when Lauren herself was left living vicariously through Riley as her relationship with Noah blossomed. She gave the nursing assistant a curious glance. “Does that mean you’ve decided to keep the baby?” The circusntances of the pregnancy were difficult at best, and she knew Tori struggled with her decision.
“Not sure. Maybe,” Tori said. “I still have a little time to change my mind.” They arrived at the store. “Let’s get you squared away first, then we’ll go get some lunch and talk, okay?”
“Sure.” Lauren appreciated the help, since she was out of her element here. “I don’t even know where to start.”
“W
ell, first, are there any budget limits? I ask, because my eyes are always bigger than my bank account.”
Lauren considered the question. “I can’t buy out the store, but I did just get paid, and it’s not as if I do this very often, so I can afford to splurge a little.”
Tori nodded. “Okay, good. And anything you’re absolutely uncomfortable wearing?” she asked. “Crotchless panties, for example.”
“What?” Lauren blanched. “No, no.”
“All righty, no crotchless panties. We’re setting parameters here. This is good,” Tori said. “What’s your favorite color?”
“Green,” Lauren said. “Like dark green, emerald.”
“Excellent,” Tori said, as a salesclerk approached them.
“Can I help you find anything?”
“Yes.” Tori spoke up. “My friend here has a hot date, and she needs something sexy and fun to knock his socks off. Preferably something in dark green.”
“Perfect.” The salesclerk smiled. “I think we can do that.”
Hot date? Knock his socks off? What have I gotten myself into? Lauren wondered.
An hour later, she joined Tori in the food court, and needed an extra chair for all of her shopping bags. There were no crotchless panties—no way—but she had new panties, bras, a camisol, and a baby doll.
“Now, wasn’t that fun?” Tori asked.
“I suppose.” The truth was, Lauren had enjoyed it. She didn’t spend money on herself very often, and not with the goal of dressing to be undressed. “It was kind of, I don’t know...” She searched for the right word. “Liberating. And I do feel more confident.”
“You should. You’re going to look amazing, and Trent’s not going to know what hit him,” Tori predicted with a naughty smile. “Which should result in a big payoff for you. Or several payoffs, if you get my drift.”
Going all In (Men of the Ice Book 8) Page 6