“What’s your favorite?”
“Lilies.” I scanned the area around us, and she laughed. “There aren’t any here.”
“Oh, well, it’s good to know.”
She laughed as we continued down the path. She pointed out plants she knew the names of while I just watched her. She was so different out of the arena. It was like a weight had been lifted off her. I wanted to see her like this more often.
We wandered until I spotted the lake. I lead us that direction and found the surprise.
There was a gazebo with candles and a single person waiting. Impressive, Olli.
We walked hand-in-hand down the path to the gazebo and the man smiled at us.
“Hello, Mr. Murray and Ms. Schultz. It’s my pleasure to have you here tonight. Please take your seats.”
Chloe’s smile grew when I took out her seat waiting for her. “What have you done, Reese?”
I just smiled and nodded to the man. “What’s your name?”
“You can call me James. Tonight, we have a three-course meal. Please relax, get comfortable, and I will bring the salad course out.”
I nodded and leaned back as he placed two plates in front of each of us. It looked good and Chloe seemed pleased, and that was all that mattered.
“You surprised me, Reese.”
“Oh yeah?” If only she knew I was walking into this date blind too.
“I wasn’t expecting something so thoughtful.”
I felt guilty I hadn’t thought of it. “I did have some help.” I had to admit it.
She smiled. “I figured.” She looked out over the water with a look of content.
The sun was setting, casting a warm glow and highlighting her face. She looked like a dream. I wanted to touch her. Graze her cheek. Kiss her lips.
I flexed my hands to distract myself. I couldn’t ruin this.
“This is the first date I’ve been on in…” I had to stop and think. “Maybe two years.” Why had I just admitted that?
She turned to face me. “I think it’s been about that long for me too.”
“What?” I hadn’t meant to say that aloud, but I couldn’t believe a woman as beautiful and sweet as her couldn’t go that long without a guy trying to catch her.
She nodded. “I don’t date much.”
“Not even outside of the team?”
“No. I don’t really meet guys that aren’t affiliated with the Fury.”
That made sense. Her life was the team. “Is it bad that I’m happy about that?”
She laughed. “If I wasn’t okay with my nonexistent dating life I might be offended.”
“I’m glad you took a chance on me.”
“Me too.” She smiled and looked away.
We went through the next two courses with an ease I’d never experienced with a date before. I thought it would be awkward with James around, but he was discreet and gave us our privacy.
When we were done, James stepped forward. “Now, if you’ll follow me.”
He let us to a garden area already set up with hot cocoa and chocolate covered strawberries. Waiting for us there was a blanket laid out on the ground.
“It’s a beautiful night. The sky is clear. You should be able to see quite a few stars.”
With a slight bow, he turned and left us alone.
Chloe looked around with a brilliant smile. “This is amazing, Reese. How did you put this all together?”
I would tell her the truth later. Right now, I just wanted to bask in the moment.
We laid down and took turns naming the few stars and constellations we know.
“Let’s see if we can spot a shooting star.”
She scooted closer to me and rested her head on my shoulder. “That could take a while.”
Her vanilla scent was overwhelming. I counted to ten to distract myself from her heat. There was nothing about this moment I would change. “I’m okay with that.”
“Me too.”
We stayed like that for an hour until I heard her yawn.
I sat up and looked down at her with a smile. “Let’s get you home.”
She nodded, and I helped her up before stealing her hand and walking back to the car.
When we got to her door, she stopped and looked up to me. “This night was perfect, Reese. I couldn’t have imagined a better one.”
I smiled down at her, looking from her eyes to her lips and back to her eyes.
Was this the moment?
I dipped my head, and when she didn’t pull away, I pressed my lips against her hers. She pressed against me and let out a small sigh.
I definitely owed Olly, big time.
Chapter Seventeen
Chloe
I was in so much trouble.
I didn’t regret the date, but one night made my life a whole lot harder. I was going to have to lie to Erik, the team, even Kristen.
I didn’t know who I was most worried about. They each posed their own threats. Erik would try to lock me in my room forever. The team would call me a hypocrite. Kristen would tease me until I quit. Probably long after that too. She wouldn’t let something like this go.
I could only hope that once they all got over the shock they’d be happy for me.
I finally found someone I liked, trusted, and could see a future with.
I changed out of my dress and into my comfiest pajamas. I laid on my bed and stared at the ceiling. What was I going to do?
I couldn’t keep this from people for long, but there was more on the line than my inability to keep a secret.
It could throw Erik’s game.
I could lose my job.
I shot up. I could lose my job.
There wasn’t some written rule forbidding team employees from dating players. That I knew of. But a member of the front office dating a player was as definitely frowned upon.
Oh crap.
I had not thought this through.
This was bigger than me. Bigger than my rules. Bigger than Reese and his.
He wouldn’t get in trouble. He was a star on the team. It would be my throat on the chopping block.
This wasn’t anything I could fix now. For the first time in my career I was dreading Monday.
* * *
I sat at my desk pretending to work but really staring at my blank screen. What was I going to do?
I could ask Kristen if she knew of anyone that had dated a player. She had been here longer than me and was always in the know about office gossip. But that would mean telling her. I couldn’t just causally ask something like that. I could tell her it was for an article.
She’d laugh.
There was no one else in the office I trusted. It would raise a red flag, and as much as I loathed the idea of giving her something to tease me about, I trusted her. She wouldn’t tell anyone.
I sent her an IM and asked her to come in.
I think I can. I think I can.
Less than a minute later she walked in.
“Hey.” She sat down and made herself comfortable.
“Hi, could you shut the door?”
She paused and looked at me. Like she was looking into my soul. It was rare for me to have private conversations, but this was confidential.
She leaned back and pushed the door closed. “What’s going on? Are you firing me?”
“Oh no! Never!” Guilt filled my belly for even making her think that for a second. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make it seem so ominous.”
“Sure. What’s going on?” She was as on edge now as I was.
“Have you ever heard of someone up here dating a player?” I blurted it out before I could chicken out.
She held up a finger. “Wait, what?”
She heard me. I knew she did. She just wanted me to say it again. I narrowed my eyes and waited.
“What’s this about?”
“An article.”
She laughed out loud. “No, it’s not.”
“Just answer the question.” My blood pressure was r
eaching unnatural highs.
She leaned back and folded her hands on her lap. “Yes.”
“What happened?”
“What do you think happened? The guy had one bad game and management blamed her. Guess who got fired.”
Crap. This was exactly what I feared.
“Really?”
She smirked. “No. I just wanted to prove we weren’t talking about an article.”
“You’re evil.”
“And you’re a rebel. What happened to swearing off players?”
I shrugged.
She leaned forward with a Cheshire cat smile. “Reese Murray happened?”
I nodded.
“I knew it. So, give me the dirt.”
“Not until you tell me the truth. Has anyone dated a player?”
“Not that I can think of, but you’re fine. You’re a part of the team. Plus, think of what Erik would do if they fired you.”
“He’d probably stage a walk out.” The idea made me sick. I wouldn’t allow the team to get involved.
“They won’t fire you as long as your boy performs.”
“Erik though.”
She shuddered. “What did he say?”
I didn’t answer, and her jaw dropped. “I know before Erik? This is the best day of my life!” She clapped. “Oh. Can I be there when you tell him?”
I narrowed my eyes. “It’s not funny.”
“You might want a witness there. Just in case.”
“It’s not like he’ll hurt me.”
She frowned. “I think you overestimate his self-control, Chloe. You’re his sister. His twin. He’s been protecting you since you were little.”
I wanted to correct her. Tell her about the fight I had with him. He wasn’t the super brother everyone thought he was. We’d grown up separately. We’d only been inseparable since college. Since our parents…
“I’m sure he’ll be cool about it.”
I raised an eyebrow and she laughed.
“Okay. He’s going to lose his mind.”
“That’s why I can’t tell him. Not when the season is about to start. I don’t want this on his mind.”
“Sure, and there might not even be anything to tell.”
“What does that mean.”
She smiled at me like you would a child. “Chloe, you haven’t dated very much, so you still have high expectations. Guys tend to have short attention spans, especially players.”
Was she saying Reese would get over me? Soon?
“It’s nothing personal, and maybe Reese is different.” She cringed, just enough for me to notice. “You may not have to even tell Erik because this whole thing could be over soon.”
Well, maybe she was right. Maybe Reese would move on in a few days. That was the reputation of most of the guys. They dated around, never staying with one girl for long. Plus, Reese was new here. Why would he want to tie himself down to me?
“You’re right.” I tried to smile, but knew I was failing. “I won’t worry about telling him yet.”
She leaned forward and grabbed my hand. “Chloe, I wasn’t trying to be cruel. I swear, I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
I squeezed her hand. “I know. I appreciate it.”
She pulled away and stood. “Let me know if I can help at all.”
I nodded as she left, shutting the door behind her.
Our date had felt real. Our chemistry was real. Was this just a fling for him?
My heart begged me to go down to the ice and find him. Ask him for his side. But that was the first step. I would distract him during practice. Then it would be during a game. He’d start making mistakes and he’d blame me. Then the team would blame me.
Wait. How had I gone from a single date to destroying the team’s season?
Kristen was right. I was getting ahead of myself.
I just needed to take things one day at a time. Friday had been perfect. I hadn’t heard from him since, but that wasn’t strange. Erik had been gone all weekend too. Practices had picked up in preparation for the first game. He was busy.
Too busy to text me?
No. Stop. I couldn’t start thinking like that. I wasn’t going to sabotage this before it really even started.
I’d talk to him tonight.
My phone vibrated on my desk. It was a message from Emma wondering where I was. I was missing a practice. My absence had been noticed. It would probably raise more questions if I missed it than if I stayed hidden away in my office.
I was first and foremost Erik’s sister. He told me over and over again how important it was to him that I was there to support him.
I could do this without giving anything away.
I closed my laptop and left my office. It was a normal day. Normal practice. I would work and watch my brother just like I did every day.
When I got to the seats the Pride had taken over they all clapped.
“We were missing you!” Sasha called from the other side of the row.
I waved and took the empty seat next to Emma. “How are they looking?”
“You can feel the nerves. Only two days until the game.”
She was right. There was an energy in the arena that hadn’t been there last week.
“They’ll be fine.”
She nodded. “He’s looking good though.”
I looked up but didn’t see Erik on the ice. “Where?”
She pointed across to where Reese was talking to her husband at the goal.
“Olli always looks good. That’s why we keep him.”
She laughed and bumped her shoulder against mine. “You know that’s not who I’m talking about.”
I looked at her and she winked. She knew? How did she know?
“Olli told me about the date.”
I narrowed my eyes. “What date?”
She laughed harder before taking a breath. “Oh, honey. Calm down. I’m not going to tell anyone.”
So, it was Olli that planned it. I knew it wasn’t Reese on his own. “Well, now I know who to thank. It was a perfect night.”
“I’m glad. It’s about time.”
“For what?” I looked down at my laptop, but I wasn’t going to get any work done. I hadn’t seen the girls in three days and I knew there would be gossip to catch up on. Plus, I wanted to pump Emma for all of the information she had.
“You.”
“Me what?”
“You’ve been here for, what, four years?”
I nodded.
“And you’ve been working with the team for two of those?”
She knew this, but I didn’t know what she was trying to point out.
“Yes, Emma.”
“And I’ve known you for that entire time.”
“Yes?”
“I’ve never heard you talk about a guy, never heard of you going on a date, never seen you look at one of the guys.”
“They’re like my brothers.”
“But not Reese.”
“I guess not.”
“I’m just excited that someone finally caught your eye. He’s a good one, too.”
“I think so.”
“How did Erik take it?”
I kept my mouth shut, and she started laughing. “Oh, honey! You are in so much trouble.”
I was so glad she and Kristen were so entertained. “How about you tell him?”
“No way!”
I cringed. “Olli?”
“He likes his face the way it is.”
I closed my eyes. “Hartman?”
“I don’t think that’s a captain’s responsibility.”
I sighed and leaned into her. “What if I get the whole team to stand between me and Erik when I tell him?”
She patted my arm. “That might be necessary, but not for you. For Reese.”
“Oh yeah. I should probably wait until the season’s over so they don’t kill each other.”
She wrapped her arm around my shoulder. “Give both of them a little credit. They’re professionals. I�
�m sure the can keep their personal feelings off the ice.”
I doubted it.
“You’ll have to tell him soon. He’ll want it to come from you. Don’t let him hear it from someone else.”
That would be much worse for everyone involved. But I hoped I could get away with it for a little while longer. One date wasn’t anything to get upset over. Maybe if things got more serious. Then I’d tell Erik. Yeah, it could wait.
When I got back to my office, Kristen was blocking the door holding with a letter. “This came for you. Is Erik starting another charity?”
I took the envelope and read the address. The Utah Department of Commerce. That was fast.
“No, it’s for Reese’s.”
Her eyebrow raised. “Oh yeah? Then why are you getting mail for it?”
“Because I’m helping him.”
I turned and walked into my office, but she followed. “Are you helping him as the Marketing Director or as Chloe, the beautiful single woman?”
She was smirking, but I ignored her. She was like a child bully. The only way to beat her was to not give her the attention she wanted and hoped she went away.
“Single woman it is.”
“Out.”
She left my office laughing and closed the door. If I didn’t love her so much I’d request a new assistant.
I pulled out my phone and sent Reese a text that we were ready for the next step. I told him I was available tomorrow to work on it if he wanted.
I finished the rest of my work while checking my phone every few minutes. He never replied. Had I broken a rule? Was I not supposed to text him so soon after our date?
I slumped in my chair. This was why I didn’t date. It was too stressful. I hated constantly doubting myself.
Chapter Eighteen
Reese
I’d been able to avoid Olli for a few days, but he finally cornered me after practice to talk about the date like we were teenage girls. I told him it had been a nice night, but he wasn’t satisfied. I wasn’t allowed to leave until I told him we’d kissed. He hit me on the back with a wide smile.
“Atta boy.”
“You’ve been married for too long.”
He looked up to the stands to where I was sure his wife, Emma, was sitting and shook his head. “It’s never long enough.”
Puck Drop: Utah Fury Page 10