Noah backed away and looked up. “Yes?”
She looked around innocently. “Oh, sorry. Just checking out the scenery.” Riley pointed. “I like the elephant over there.”
“Oh, yeah. That’s Ellie. We’ll say hi when get there.” He got into position again. “Can I play now?”
“You sure can.”
This time, she stayed quiet until after his shot, which narrowly missed the hole.
“Wow, you’ve got a nice stroke. Then again, I already discovered that about you earlier.”
Noah never considered miniature golf sexy before, but Riley had just succeeded in making it so. Was it too soon to wonder if they could cut the game short and head back to her place? “Are you ready to show me what you’ve got? I can help you, you know, get the shot lined up and everything.”
Riley’s eyes twinkled. “I think you’re just looking for an excuse to touch me.”
“Me? Never.” Noah held his hands up. “I’ll be on my best behavior.” He’d have to settle for watching, but that was fine, because the sight of her butt in tight jeans as as she bent down to position her ball was quite nice indeed.
Her shot, however, left something to be desired, as she hit the ball so hard it almost left the barriers that marked the first hole.
Noah bit back laughter. “Watch out, slugger. We’re not on a real golf course, and we aren’t seeing who can hit it the hardest.”
***
Noah was far better at miniature golf, and had the advantage of being familiar with the course, but once she got into the flow of things, Riley thought she held her own. More importantly, she had a great time. She could see why Noah enjoyed playing so much, especially this particular course. The waterfall and palm trees provided a soothing and relaxing atmosphere, and Riley got a kick out of a giraffe named Puttunia.
If she held her own on the golf course, though, Noah certainly schooled her when they went to the arcade afterward for a game of air hockey. “I think I better stick to medicine,” she quipped after yet another goal soared past her, “and leave the hockey to you and Beck and the other guys.”
Noah shrugged and gave her a sheepish smile. “Sorry I’m not sorry.”
Riley laughed. “Don’t be. Maybe you’re getting your shot back.”
“Let’s hope so. We all know I need it,” Noah said. “Can I interest you in a rematch?”
“Are you kidding? You want to trounce me again?”
“No. I’m giving you a chance to prove the first game was just a fluke.”
“As if... Okay.” She nodded. “Since I’m a good sport, yes, I’ll take another ass-whooping so you can keep practicing your shot.” It only seemed fair, since he’d skipped the team’s optional practice that morning all because he was worried about her.
The rematch ended in similar fashion, proving that Riley’s talents were definitely not in air hockey. It was fine, though. What mattered was how much she enjoyed herself.
“It’s nice to hear you laughing again,” Noah said.
“It’s nice to be laughing again. Thank you, Noah. I needed a day like this.” And maybe he was exactly what Riley needed, too. It was beginning to feel that way.
“You’re welcome. I thought it’d be good to get away, have a little fun. I’m glad it worked.”
“It sure did.” As they walked back to the parking lot, Riley realized she didn’t want the day to end yet. Tomorrow, she’d have to face the hospital again, and Noah had practice in anticipation of a game Tuesday night. She wanted to pack as much into today as she could.
“If you’re hungry, we can go back to my house and I can fix something to eat,” she suggested.
“You cook, too?”
Riley shrugged. “I do okay,” she said. “I make a pretty mean taco salad at least.”
Noah put his hand to his chest. “Those are words that can steal my heart. You better be careful what you say, or I may just have to go and fall in love with you.”
“I’ll risk it,” Riley answered. The truth was, she was close to falling in love with him, too.
Chapter Thirteen
Over the next few weeks, they worked on balancing schedules, which didn’t turn out to be the long lost art Riley feared. She even made it to a couple of Generals home games. Things were definitely easier once she switched to the clinical rotation, and she enjoyed some normalcy to her schedule for a change. It wouldn’t last, though, as she would be back on the inpatient rotation again in six weeks. That would present challenges again, but Riley was confident she and Noah would figure things out. Besides, her residency wasn’t forever, only for another sixteen months. She realized now that many of her excuses about not having time for a relationship were just that—excuses. There was time if she was willing to make time, and for Noah, she was. It was that simple.
On this Thursday morning, she arrived for her shift at the clinic just as Noah called her. He was on the road, in Calgary, so it surprised her to hear from him in the morning.
“What’s up?” she asked. “I figured you’d be at practice.”
“We start in a few minutes. There’s something I want to talk to you about,” he said. “It’s kind of important.”
“Nothing’s wrong, I hope?”
“No. Everything’s right. At least I think so.” He certainly sounded cheerful enough, anyway. “You’re still planning on coming to the golf tournament on Saturday, right?”
“Are you kidding? I wouldn’t miss it.” All the details had been finalized, and Noah’s inaugural golf tournament, in conjunction with the San Antonio Generals Charity Foundation, benefitting the San Antonio Youth Center was scheduled for the coming weekend. It was a great cause, and Riley knew how much it meant to Noah. There was no way she wouldn’t be there.
“Wonderful,” he said. “Will you invite Lauren, too?”
“I can, but why? As far as I know, she’s not into golf,” Riley said. Then it hit her, and the smile played at her lips. “Are we setting her up on a blind date with a hot hockey player?”
“Why not? It worked out pretty good for you, didn’t it?”
“It sure did, but I got the best one,” she said.
Noah laughed. “I won’t argue with that, but there are some eligible bachelors on the team.”
“Okay, so who’s the lucky guy who gets to meet the pediatric nurse with the biggest heart of anyone I know?” Riley had been mostly joking when she asked Noah if one of his teammates might be a good match for Lauren, but she was glad he came through for her.
“His name is Trenton,” Noah said. “He usually plays on our fourth line. Doesn’t get a lot of minutes.” That would explain why Riley had never heard of him. “Not a big scorer, not flashy. Just a solid, hardworking guy who gives his all for the team when he gets a chance.”
Riley smiled. “Lauren doesn’t need a superstar. She needs a guy who’ll treat her right, and see her for the beautiful person she is.”
“I think Trent can,” Noah said. “I talked to him about it, and he wants to meet her. You just have to get her there on Saturday.”
“I can do that. She’ll probably be excited,” she said. “Hey, Noah?”
“Yes, gorgeous?”
“Thank you. Keep doing things like this, and I’m not going to have any choice but to fall in love you.”
Laughter sounded over the line. “That’s good to know, because I’m already there. I’ll see you soon.”
So am I, Riley thought as put her phone back in her pocket. She’d admitted it to herself. Now it was time to tell Noah, too. Saturday. She’d do it Saturday at the golf tournament.
With that settled, she got to work, and the morning passed quickly as she saw patients. The clinical rotation was less stressful, and she enjoyed the smiling, happy faces of kids who might be struggling with an illness or disability, but were at least well enough that they didn’t require inpatient care. She’d come to peace with Braylon’s passing. Yes, it sucked and it was tragic, but Riley had accepted there was nothing she or anyone else could ha
ve done to change the outcome. Even medicine had its limits. She hoped he was in a better place now, or at least one without pain, and she still said a prayer for his family every night.
When it was time for her break, Riley took the elevator to the fifth floor inpatient unit. As she rounded the corner from the elevator, she heard Lauren’s voice.
“Well, look who decided to bless us with her presence again. You couldn’t stay away, huh?”
Riley laughed. “You know it. I miss you. The only thing I don’t miss is my bed, because now I actually see it on a semi-regular basis.”
“I’m sure,” Lauren said. “It’s nice to see you again. What brings you up here?”
Riley hesitated. This was the tricky part. How could she best approach Lauren with the prospect of a blind date, knowing what she did of the nurse’s relationship history. “I wanted to see if you were free on Saturday?”
Lauren nodded. “Yes. I have the whole weekend off, and it’s not like I have a social life.”
“Good,” Riley said. “Well, not good that you don’t have a social life, but good that you’re free, and I might be able to help with the other part.”
“What do you mean?”
“Noah’s having his charity golf tournament on Saturday at the country club, and he asked me to invite you. One of his teammates wants to meet you.”
“What?” Lauren’s eyes grew wide, followed by a frown. “You set this up, didn’t you?”
Lauren didn’t sound happy, and Riley wondered if she’d made a mistake. “Maybe I did, but I thought you’d be happy. You complain about never going out, so I’m giving you the chance, and meet a nice guy. Blind dates aren't all bad,” she said. “Look at Noah and me.”
“Yeah, but that’s different,” Lauren said.
“How so?”
“Does he know that I’m fat?”
How was Riley supposed to answer that question? She hadn’t asked Noah what he told his teammate about Lauren, simply trusted his judgment. All she wanted was to do something for her friend and help her feel better about herself. Hopefully it wasn’t about to blow up in her face. “Let’s get one thing out of the way first. You’re not fat.” Riley preferred the terms plus-sized, curvy, or larger woman, but that didn’t change what Lauren saw when she looked in the mirror, nor did it stop the rampant body-shaming she faced every day. “If Trenton thinks you are, and he’s bothered by it, then he’s an asshole and Noah and I owe you a huge apology. I don’t think that’ll happen, though. I trust Noah. You should, too.”
“Noah’s a great guy. You got a good one there,” Lauren said.
“Yes, I did. Now it’s my turn to help you find a good one. So, will you come to the tournament?”
After a slight hesitation, Lauren nodded. “Yes. It’s time to stop being scared of rejection. I’ll take a chance that maybe this guy is different from most of the others.”
It wasn’t exactly an enthusiastic yes, but it was at least a yes. Riley had to hope that this Trenton guy was different from the guys that had broken Lauren’s heart and shattered her confidence.
***
Noah took the microphone, hoping the brief pause would give him a chance to figure out what to say. He wasn’t a natural in the spotlight, and didn’t like being in it. This was worth it, though. His own golf tournament. Okay, maybe not entirely his own, but it had his name on it, along with the Generals Foundation. And it was all to benefit his favorite cause.
He looked out at the mass of people. Turnout was huge. Maybe that had more to do with the weather—March was a beautiful time in Texas, before the dreaded summer heat kicked. It was a nice day for golf, that was for sure.
“Hello, everyone, and thanks for coming out. It’s great to see everyone here.” He paused, letting the applause surround him. Still stalling, still searching.
“You’ll have to forgive me. I’m not good at making speeches or talking to people,” he said. “There’s a reason why I’ll never be a captain, or even an alternate captain. I’d have to talk to the press after every game, then.”
Laughter rippled through the audience, giving Noah a little more confidence. “I’m so honored to be here, and have this tournament bear my name. I love the game of golf almost as much as I love hockey, and maybe if I’d been born in the United States, I would’ve been holding a golf club at the age of five rather than a hockey stick. I’m a little bit better at hockey, though, which is why I’m not on the PGA Tour, and instead hosting a charity hockey event. We have a few guys from the Spurs and the UTSA Roadrunners football team scheduled to play today, so you’ll get a chance to see whether they chose the right sport.” More laughter. This wasn’t so bad.
“In all seriousness, I’m blessed to be able to play a game I love, and earn a living doing it. It’s also given me the opportunity to give back to my community. That’s why I’m so excited about this tournament, and I hope it can become an annual tradition in San Antonio. This wouldn’t be happening, though, without two very important people.” Noah turned to the women standing to his right. “The Executive Director of the Generals Charity Foundation, Charlene Simmons, who is actually the brain child of this event, and Shannon Eaves, the head of the San Antonio Youth Center, which is the cause we’re supporting here today. So give it up for these two awesome women, and then let’s get ready to play some golf.”
Noah passed the microphone over to Char and stepped off the stage to where Riley stood waiting. Thank goodness she was here to support him, because without her, he wasn’t sure he would have gotten through that. He gave her a kiss on the cheek. “So how did I do?”
“You did great, especially for a guy who hates microphones.”
“Thanks.” Noah was able to let out a sigh of relief now that it was over. “It helped knowing you were here, and being able to look out at your face in the crowd.”
“I told you, I wouldn’t have missed this. I’m proud of you, Noah. And you really did give a great speech.” She squeezed his hand. “And there’s something else I think you did pretty good at. Take a look over there.”
She tilted her head in the direction of Lauren and Trenton, who were engrossed in conversation, and thankfully, smiling, too.
“So far, so good, then.” Fixing them on a date may have been Riley’s idea, but Noah liked Lauren. Trent was a solid guy, and he hoped they would hit it off.
“Exactly what I was thinking,” Riley said. “Wouldn’t it be great if hey’re able to find what we have?”
“It sure would.” Noah smiled. “You’re the best thing that ever happened to me. I love you, SuperDoc.”
He worried for a second, if it was too soon, but when Riley looked up at him, he didn’t see fear or uncertainty or doubt. He saw only love and happiness, and hope for the future.
“I love you, too, Puckman. Always.”
###
Keep reading for a special preview of Going all In, book eight in the Men of the Ice series, coming January 2017.
Going All In
Chapter One
Lauren Chase stared into her closet and wanted to let out a wail of a defeat. Why had she agreed to a blind date? And with a professional hockey player, no less? “I can’t do this,” she said. “It’s a terrible idea.”
“It’s not a terrible idea,” Riley Marks said. “And why do you say you can’t do it?”
“Because I have nothing to wear. All of my jeans make me look like a fat cow.” As a nurse, Lauren wore medical scrubs to work each day. They didn’t look good on her, but they didn’t look all that good on anyone else, either. Lauren loved that about her work wardrobe. It leveled the playing field. That was important. As a plus-sized woman, Lauren often felt that field was tilted against her.
“Then wear a dress,” Riley suggested. She was a second-year resident at the same hospital Lauren worked at, and this whole thing had been her idea. Her boyfriend, San Antonio Generals defenseman Noah Mann, was hosting a charity golf tournament to benefit the local youth center. Riley would be there to s
upport Noah, and she invited Lauren along to meet one of his teammates. Lauren didn’t know why she agreed, other than the fact that it’d been eight months since she’d been on a date, and was tired of being home alone every night.
It sounded like a good idea at the time, but now Lauren was less sure. “It’s too cold to wear a dress.” If it were summer, it would be a no-brainer. Having struggled with her weight her entire life, Lauren knew there were certain types of clothing she looked better in, and she wore dresses better than jeans. Except it was late February, and chilly, at least by Texas standards. She couldn’t wear a sun dress to a golf tournament.
Riley sighed. “Okay, fine. Point conceded.” She marched over to Lauren’s closet. “You have a pair of black leggings, right?”
“Of course. It’s a wardrobe staple.”
“I concur.” Riley rifled through the closet, and finally pulled out a tunic top in solid green. “Here. Put this on with leggings, and a pair of cute boots, and we’re good. Better than good. You’ll look great.”
Lauren was less convinced, but followed Riley’s advice. She studied the end result in the mirror. Great might be a stretch, but overall, she was pleased with how she looked. Lauren didn’t often say that. “Okay, this’ll work.”
Riley grinned. “Told ya. Tunics were a great fashion invention. They hide a multitude of sins.”
“How would you know that? You have no sins.”
Her friend laughed. “I have my share of sins and struggles, too. Everyone does.” She gave Lauren a gentle smile. “You’re nervous, aren’t you?”
“Of course. Wouldn’t you be, if you were me?”
“Yes. I was nervous when I met Noah, too. It’s natural, I think, with blind dates.”
“Maybe. It’s worse when you’re fat.”
“Stop it!” Riley said. Her tone was gentle, though. “You have to stop with that kind of talk, Lauren. It’s self-defeating.”
“I know,” Lauren said, “but I can’t help it. It’s how I feel. Defeated.” She sighed. “I’m trying to be more positive, but it’s hard. I’m scared, Riley. When you first suggested this, I was excited. I didn’t want to turn down a date. Now, I’m not so sure.” She knew nothing about this guy, other than his name was Trenton and he was one of Noah’s teammates. What had he been told about her? That part scared her the most. What if she didn’t live up to his expectations? How could she live up to them?
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