Shutdown Player New

by dlady

  Her throat was dry, and she sipped from a glass of ice water. She’d never done anything like this before. What if Jared and his date noticed her? What was her story? She couldn’t tell them the truth; that’d make them nervous. She concocted the best explanation she could come up with and ran through it several times. She’d claim she was people-watching for a psych class assignment and hoped they didn’t want details about the professor and the school.

  Surveying the crowd in the bar, she looked for Jared or a single woman who looked like someone Jared would date. She saw neither. Every woman in the bar was seated with others. In fact, she was the only woman on her own.

  Jared was five minutes late. So was his date.

  Seven fifteen.

  Seven twenty.

  Jared rushed into the bar, hotter than hot and adorably sheepish. He paused in the doorway and glanced around, looking for his date. He was dressed in a worn brown leather jacket, faded jeans, and a white button-down shirt. He looked oh so delicious.

  His gaze passed over her as if he didn’t see her, then he did a double take. His brow furrowed in puzzlement. Tentatively, he walked toward her table. She managed a nervous smile, completely befuddled by his presence. The explanation she’d been rehearsing the last several minutes fled her brain.

  “Hey, what brings you here?” he said as he stopped at her table.

  Steph kept her eyes cast downward and sipped her water. “Just, uh, hanging out.”

  “I see.” His voice was thick with suspicion and disbelief. “I was supposed to have a date tonight arranged by the sisters. I’m late, got caught up in traffic, and didn’t have her number to call her. I don’t suppose you know if she got tired of waiting and left?”

  “I’ve been here since seven and haven’t seen one single woman at any of the tables.” She wondered if this particular match had a habit of blowing off dates. Maybe that was why the sisters had sent her, but it didn’t make sense. Why would they setup Jared with an untrustworthy woman? There had to be another explanation.

  “I’m glad I didn’t miss her, even though it appears she stood me up.” He did another perusal of the bar. “Do you mind if I sit with you? There aren’t any other empty tables right now.”

  “No, I don’t mind at all.” In fact, the big problem was that she actually liked it and him. She couldn’t. She’d signed an agreement. She didn’t want a man in her life. But she was attracted to him—hell, what woman wouldn’t be? He was so handsome that every female head had turned when he’d walked in.

  “Let me try to call Agnes to see if they’ve heard anything.”

  “Thanks.”

  Agnes didn’t pick up. Steph shrugged. “Sorry.”

  “That’s okay. I’m sure there’s an explanation. Have you been here before?”

  Steph shook her head. “It’s unique.”

  Jared chuckled, and his smile lit up those green eyes and did something to her insides. “It’s a Seattle institution. Funky and laidback. It’s been here longer than anyone remembers. Lots of the guys come here after games and stuff because it’s so close to the arena. The staff is used to seeing us, and no one bothers us much.”

  “My kind of place.”

  “Mine too. I’m not much for stuffy, showy places.” He beamed at her, and she beamed back.

  “What is that?” She pointed at a thing mounted near the ceiling. It looked like a cross between a rabbit and an elk, not that she knew her wild animals all that well. The thing was brown and gray with long rabbit ears and a bunny nose, but elk-sized antlers.

  “That’s Alan.”

  “Alan?”

  “Yeah. Alan. Decades ago, one of the regulars was a taxidermist, and he gave Alan to the owner, who was the great-great-grandmother of the current owner, as a gift and to pay a beer tab he’d been running.”

  “It’s so ugly it’s—”

  “Cute?”

  “I wouldn’t go that far.”

  Jared laughed, and Steph joined in. She couldn’t help it. He had a contagious laugh, and it felt good to laugh. She didn’t do it enough.

  Her eyes went to Alan again. She did a double take. “Did that thing just wink at me?”

  “He’s been known to do that.”

  “Wink? Has he winked at you?”

  “I can’t say for certain, but don’t call him a thing. He doesn’t like that.”

  “He doesn’t?” Steph studied Jared, and he broke into a full-blown grin, showing incredibly white teeth. She cocked her head and raised a brow. “Will he come after me?”

  “There have been rumors.”

  She looked up at the creature. “I’m sorry, Alan. I think you’re attractive and sweet.” When she turned her attention back to Jared, he was staring at her like a connoisseur of fine wines trying to pick out his next bottle. Or so her romantic imagination wanted to think. Her practical side rolled its eyes.

  He shrugged and held out his hands, palms up, in a gesture of forgiveness. “Sorry. You caught me. You’re very pretty, Stephanie.”

  “Steph,” she corrected him. Only her parents had called her Stephanie. She looked down at the napkin she was twisting in her lap. She wasn’t comfortable being told she was pretty. His stare brought back bad memories she’d just as soon forget. Only he wasn’t leering like all those men had been. She’d thought she’d seen hunger, but there’d also been reverence, as if he respected her as a person and a woman. She didn’t quite know how to take that.

  The waitress stopped in front of them, granting Steph a reprieve. The wiry woman appeared as old as the faded wood floors. She sized Steph up with an appraisal born of decades serving drinks to a wide variety of people. Then she turned to Jared and grinned.

  “Hot Rod. It’s nice to see you out on a date.”

  Jared made no effort to correct her and took one of the ancient menus in a yellowed plastic cover from her hand. “Good to see you too, Doris.”

  Doris glanced at Steph one more time before giving Jared her full attention. “That bitch was in here last night with a new guy, third one in a month. Glad you finally came to your senses and dumped her.”

  “Another athlete?”

  “Yeah, but not the big money-makers. The last two were minor league baseball players. The poor bastards. What’ll you have to drink?”

  “I’ll have a Moose Drool.”

  “Why did I bother to ask?”

  “Just being polite, I figure.”

  She threw back her head and laughed as if he’d said the funniest thing she’d ever heard. “And you?” She turned to Steph and tapped her pencil on her pad.

  “I don’t really drink,” Steph said, feeling as if she should order a wine or something.

  “I’ll bring you Pepsi.”

  Before Steph could respond, Doris hustled off, stopping at another table to give the patrons—obviously regulars—shit about the lousy tip they’d left last time they’d been in.

  Steph gawked at her in amazement.

  Jared touched her arm, bringing her back to him. Instead of removing his fingers, he left them resting on her wrist. “You don’t drink?”

  “Not really. Maybe a glass of wine here and there.”

  He didn’t look disappointed. Instead, he seemed impressed. He sat back as if he were settling in for a long, comfortable evening. “Tell me about yourself.”

  Steph stiffened. The last thing she wanted to do was get into any kind of conversation about her past. “There’s not much to tell.”

  He narrowed his eyes, not buying her story for a second. “Any siblings?”

  Steph took a deep breath. And so it started. The moment she’d been dreading for a long while. Answering questions about her past.

  She’d gotten relatively good at sidestepping and deflecting. She’d do it again, because telling him the truth was not an option.

  * * * *

  Jared had a bad habit of being late. He hated that about himself, but for some reason he hadn’t found a way to correct that particular vice, any more th
an he had his messiness. He was never late to a hockey game, though he had held up a team plane or two. His mother said being on time wasn’t important to him, and he was easily distracted by anything and everything else. He guessed there had to be some truth to her assessment. After all, she knew him better than anyone.

  He’d gotten a late start this evening, then he’d been stuck in traffic. By the time he’d arrived at The Place, he half expected his date to be gone. What woman waited for a man who was over twenty minutes late for a first date? Not many of the women he was acquainted with. He wasn’t the least bit surprised when she hadn’t been there. He was surprised to see Steph.

  He had to admit that he was a little pleased and relieved to see her. He’d been nervous about meeting his match. He’d never liked blind dates, and using a matchmaker subjected him to multiple blind dates, but he was committed to finding the right woman and living the domestic life several of his teammates enjoyed.

  Most guys who’d experienced what he had would’ve sworn off committed relationships for a good long time. Jared liked having a girlfriend and everything that went with being part of a couple, assuming his better half was truly a better half.

  He’d find out on Monday what happened to his date and move on from there. The sisters had been certain they could find him a soul mate. He had to trust them.

  For now, he’d enjoy Steph’s company. He liked her. She was pretty and sweet. Besides, he was starving, and he couldn’t cook worth a damn.

  Realizing he’d been daydreaming, he sought to get the conversation back on track. “So, your sibs. How many?”

  She was staring at the counter as if she didn’t hear him. His heart went out to her. She was obviously shy.

  “It’s not a trick question,” he said softly.

  She glanced up, met his gaze briefly, and looked away. “Four.”

  “You have four siblings?”

  She nodded. “Three brothers. One sister. I’m the baby.”

  “Where’d you grow up?”

  “Eastern Washington.”

  “So, you’re a Washington girl?”

  “Yes.”

  She wasn’t making this easy. Her answers were evasive and minimal. He had no idea why, but he was committed to bringing her out of her shell.

  “Your parents? What did they do?”

  “Dad was a pastor at a community church; Mom helped out and took care of us. Sometimes she cleaned house for my aunt’s housekeeping service.”

  “Sounds like a nice childhood.”

  “It was fine. What about your family?” She shrugged and twisted her napkin again. He was glad it wasn’t his neck. Not that she seemed angry, just nervous, but the damn thing was pretty much shredded.

  “I have two older sisters who are a freaking pain in my ass, but I love them dearly, and a younger brother is in the AHL. My mom is a nurse. My dad was an NHL player. He died when I was fourteen. Got into an accident on his way to catch a plane to his new team.” Even now, Jared choked up talking about his dad. He looked away and swallowed hard, trying to compose himself.

  “I’m sorry.” Steph reached out and wrapped her fingers around his wrist, actually partway around his wrist. She had delicate little hands. Her touch was light and gentle. He lifted his head and saw the compassion in her eyes.

  “It’s okay. It was a long time ago. Sometimes it feels like yesterday.”

  She nodded and, as if suddenly realizing she was touching him, pulled her hand away and tucked it in her lap. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

  He wanted to tell her he liked her touching him, but kept his mouth shut for fear of scaring her off. He offered her a friendly smile instead.

  “Tell me about hockey. When did you start? How did you come up through the ranks? How did you end up a defenseman?” She asked the questions in a rush, as if she had to get them out before she forgot what she was going to say.

  “Lots of questions.”

  “I have more. What are the team’s chances in the playoffs this year?”

  “Touché.” He grinned at her. She’d turned the tables on him, and that was okay. He’d probably pushed a little too much; her family was obviously a sensitive subject.

  “We’ll make the playoffs because we’re good,” he said, trying and failing to sound humble. They were good, and they were going to prove it to the world.

  “I hope so. Can I get tickets?” Her beautiful face broke into a smile. She lifted her gaze and looked into his eyes. He stared back, unable to pull away, a little shocked he remembered to breathe or that his heart remembered to beat. The effect was like being slammed into by a truck, but instead of being in pain, he soared like an eagle, as if the moment of impact when his eyes met hers set him free.

  Oh, God.

  He’d gotten lost in those deep blue eyes, and the surge of emotions caught him off guard. He was the one who looked away this time. He rubbed his eyes in a fake display of tiredness.

  What the fuck just happened?

  “Are you okay?”

  The voice of an angel penetrated his thoughts. How many times had she said that?

  “Uh, yeah. Sorry. I’m just tired. Long road trip.”

  “I’m sorry. Maybe you should go home and get some rest.”

  “I’m hungrier than Rush at a taco bar.” Everyone on the team knew Rush’s addiction to tacos, but she didn’t, of course. “He loves tacos.”

  “I see. You didn’t answer my question about tickets.”

  “Uh, tickets? Yeah, sure, I can manage that.”

  “Thank you.” She rewarded him with a shy smile, and he smiled back.

  They spent the next half-hour talking about their shared obsession with Hallmark movies and which ones were their favorites. He talked hockey, and she seemed genuinely interested. She talked about working for the eccentric sisters and dealing with Otto and had him laughing loudly more than once.

  By the time Doris placed two plates loaded with burgers and fries in front of them, shy Steph was gone, and they were chattering away like old friends. Jared bent his head to figure out how to best stuff the thick burger in his mouth. He lifted his gaze from his burger, chewing slowly. She was watching him, and her cheeks glowed an adorable crimson when she realized she’d been caught.

  Jared put down the burger and wiped his hands and then his face. The damn things were messy as hell, and he probably smelled like burger juice or whatever the fuck you called it. And onions.

  Steph took a sip of her water. “This burger is incredible.”

  “Steph,” he said, “as good as the burgers are, the company is better.”

  She rewarded his words with another blush. God, he loved that. “Yes, it is.”

  “I’m kinda glad my date didn’t show up. I’ve enjoyed hanging with you.”

  “Me too. I’m sure there’s a good reason why she didn’t make it.”

  Jared didn’t really care. He couldn’t imagine a first date going as well as this one was with Steph. Only this wasn’t a date. Steph was a friend. Yeah, she was a friend. He felt as if he’d known her forever. She was one of those rare friends he could tell anything—except his financial situation. No one knew about that other than his attorney and his agent. Not even his family. Especially his family.

  “Agnes and Iona will come through for you,” she said. “I don’t think they give up easily.”

  “I don’t either.”

  “But I’d strongly suggest you be on time next time.”

  Jared cringed and gave her an apologetic smile. “You got me there. I’m not good at timeliness. I’m spontaneous, impulsive, and, up until months ago, a risk taker.”

  “You’re not a risk taker anymore?” She seemed genuinely interested.

  “The biggest risk I’ve ever taken ended in disaster. I won’t lie and say I’m healed. I’m not, but I’m not going to put my life on hold until I’m one hundred percent recovered. I’m not sure I ever will be. Some wounds turn to scars and remind a person that the painful moments in our lives
can turn to lessons learned.”

  “We all have scars,” she said thoughtfully, as if she too had her share of scars.

  “Scars make us interesting, three-dimensional people.”

  “I suppose. As long as the scabs don’t get ripped off.”

  He frowned for a moment, not really comprehending what she was getting at. He decided to let it go for now. “You won’t tell the sisters I was late, will you?”

  “I should.”

  “Probably, but you won’t. Right?” He gave her his best sweet-little-boy smile and puffed out his lower lip to make her laugh again. He loved the sound of her laugh and got the impression she didn’t laugh much.

  Her cell phone buzzed, and she glanced at it. Jared was struck by how that was the first time she’d received a call or text. Most women he knew were constantly texting or taking phone calls. He liked how she wasn’t as tied to her electronics as most people. She bit her lower lip and sighed.

  “Something wrong?” he asked.

  “My ride home cancelled.”

  “I’ll give you a ride.”

  “I couldn’t ask you. I’m sure it’s out of your way.”

  “I don’t mind. Not at all. Unless you live in Portland or something like that.”

  She laughed. “No, not that far. I live in the Blacks’ garage apartment.”

  “As in Cooper Black?”

  “One and the same.”

  “It’s not too far from my place.”

  “I should be going. It’s getting late.”

  He checked the time on his watch, surprised to find they’d been talking for two and a half hours. “Let me pay the bill.”

  “I can take care of my own.”

  “I’m sure you can, but let me do this. You can pay next time.”

  “Next time?”

  “Yeah, next time.”

  “I don’t think— I don’t date,” she said. “I signed an agreement with Forever Matched. I can’t date clients. Not that you were asking me out or anything. I don’t want you to think I’m being presumptuous. That was stupid. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean you would do that. I just wanted to clear the air, let you know that I’m not. I’m not—” The words came out in a rush. Her face was bright crimson. She’d snatched another napkin from the napkin holder and was twisting the shit out of it. He’d better get her out of here soon before more napkins died a violent death.