Love's Freedom

by Misty Wright

  "Hi," he said with a welcoming grin, showing handsome, boyish dimples on either side of his mouth, "Evangeline, I presume."

  "I am," she said, craning her neck. He was really tall.

  "Six foot seven."

  "Pardon?"

  "I get asked that a lot-my height," he said.

  "Oh, I was curious," she admitted. Mark was tall, but this man had him beaten. She saw him look down at Jennifer and didn't miss the emotion in his eyes. Now she knew where their son got his eyes and hair from. Janine was a really nice-looking man and actually had those same telltale dimples when he smiled much like his son. They were a beautiful family.

  "She met your brother in the house," Jennifer said.

  He glanced at his wife. "Ah, did he tell you he's taller than me?"

  She nodded.

  "He does that a lot." He chuckled guiding his eyes over Evangeline's head, "It still doesn't make him better than me."

  "Hey!" Cole piped up. He was standing behind Evangeline.

  Evangeline burst into laughter. She didn't know he was there, but she really liked the way they were with one another. Mark was right; they didn't act like rich snobs at all.

  Mark and Janine started talking to each other about-what else? -hockey.

  "Mark said you work at a flower shop," Jennifer said, taking her arm and leading her away from the men. She wanted to get to know this knew love interest of Mark's without them around. If Mark was interested in a woman enough to bring her to the barbeque, she wanted to know everything. He had always come alone in the past. She saw Evangeline cast a glance over her shoulder.

  "Don't worry, Evangeline, they'll be babbling about the last game they had and strategizing for the next for an hour. Even though those two are inseparable, it's like they can't get enough of one another. Now, about your flower shop."

  Evangeline returned her attention to Jennifer. "Oh, actually it was my grandparents. When they came from Italy, they opened it. My mother inherited it from them, and when she died they left it to my sister and me."

  "My mother passed away when I was young. I was raised by my father," Jennifer said. "So I know how tough it can be without a mother. However, Janine's mom means the world to me. I don't know how I would have gotten through colic with Shane if it wasn't for her. Liz is the best."

  "I'm sorry about your father. Mark said he died."

  She shrugged. "It was a couple of years back." She looked at her sideways while leading her through the crowd. "My father had certain ways about him that made it difficult for him to be close to me."

  Mark was right, Jennifer did tell her about her father like he said she would, but Evangeline didn't know what to say to that. However, Jennifer didn't seem to need an answer. Over the next hour, she took her around and introduced her to everyone. Every now and then, she caught a glimpse of Mark through the crowd and usually at that exact moment his eyes met hers and he gave her a devastatingly gorgeous smile.

  She quickly averted her gaze and pretended to concentrate on what Jennifer was saying. Mark, to her, seemed to be set apart from the other men there. And there were a lot of beefy, thick men like him, but none caught her attention like he did. Her heart thumped whenever she set her eyes on him, and just a small gesture of his smile that was meant for her made her feel warm all over. It was different from the ones he'd give other people and it made her feel special.

  He was right, though. She was able to see how other people were around him and it did help her know him a little more. People liked him. Every time she glimpsed him, he was laughing with his friends and he had this harmless boyishness about him that made him seem really attractive. Janine, who stood beside him most times, seemed a little more serious. Jennifer, on the other hand, was very funny. Evangeline swore she never laughed so much as she did with Jennifer.

  After the introductions were done by Jennifer, and after several glasses of wine, Mark finally appeared and took her hand.

  "Okay, Jennifer, no hogging the girlfriend."

  Evangeline's heart leapt and she glanced up at him. As far as she was concerned this wasn't a relationship, and once he realized that she wasn't like other women he was used to, he'd get bored. However, hearing that word made her wonder if she was wrong. Still, she couldn't see a man like Mark settling for a commitment of any kind. That was the main reason she never admitted anything to him. She just couldn't trust him yet.

  "I suppose," she said, giving her an amused look, "I've had you long enough."

  Mark gave Jennifer a grateful look that she nodded to in response. Whatever nervousness Evangeline was feeling, didn't seem to be there anymore. He appreciated how much Jennifer did to help her feel at ease.

  After Jennifer left, he leaned down and spoke in her ear. "Was I right?"

  She looked up at him. "About Jennifer? Oh, yes. She's wonderful."

  "I didn't tell you this before, but she works at the arena. She's a power engineer."

  "You're kidding," she said in disbelief.

  He shook his head. "She didn't want to be attached to her father's money. I didn't tell you because I wanted you to see for yourself how great she is."

  "I actually appreciate that," she admitted. "I thought she'd be really sophisticated and-" she paused, not wanting to insult his friend but wanting to let him know the truth, "-I thought she might look down on me."

  "I thought so," he said, undisturbed by her confession.

  "You're not upset?" She knew how much he thought of Jennifer and Janine. The last thing she wanted to do was insult his friends.

  He shrugged. "She's a billionaire, married to a hockey star and lives in a fifteen million dollar home. Who wouldn't make that distinction?"

  She breathed a sigh of relief.

  "I really admire your honesty, Evangeline," he said sincerely.

  That was something her sister was always giving her hell about, her honesty. She hiccupped.

  His brows shot up and he looked at the glass of wine that she was drinking and was almost empty.

  "How many of those did she give you?" asked Mark.

  Her eyes went to her glass. It actually took her a moment to remember. "I don't know-three, maybe."

  "Oh, hell." He took the glass from her and put it on a server's tray as he walked by. "I really don't need to piss off your family by bringing you home drunk."

  She grinned. "We're Italian; we drink wine for breakfast."

  "Sure you do," he said, not believing her and tightened his grip on her hand. "I think I'll just keep a close eye on you for the rest of the night."

  "Why Mark, are you trying to seduce me?" She leaned toward him and gave him a lovely smile.

  He burst into laughter. It took him a moment to get it under control before he could talk again.

  "Honey, there will be no question when that happens," he said, settling his eyes on hers.

  She flushed despite the wine that made her brave. "It won't happen."

  "You just keep telling yourself that," he said, moving his eyes down her front suggestively.

  "Mark!" She felt her cheeks heat up under his scrutiny. That was the first time he actually made any sort of indication that he found her desirable. Wow, she liked it.

  He laughed again and squeezed her hand. "Let's eat, I'm starving."

  She let him lead her to one of the tables as others started to find seats when the food was brought out. He introduced her to everyone there and she already knew that she wouldn't remember all of their names. Yet the atmosphere was loaded with humor. It was obvious that Mark and his teammates were close. Now she knew what made them so effective on the ice. Her eyes went to him just to find him looking down at her with his deep brown eyes darkening.

  Quickly, she averted her gaze. He was confident in himself when it came to her and she really wasn't that forthcoming. Yet he seemed determined that she'd succumb to his charms. Was that the only reason he hadn't left her alone? He knew what experience she had because Glen told him in a not-so-subtle way, but he was still intere
sted in her. That actually frightened her because even if she wanted to be with him, she knew just from the way he was that she had nothing near his experience. It would be disappointing for him; she knew it would be.

  Throughout the meal, he laughed and joked with others at the table, but he always made sure she was included in the conversation. He was definitely a gentleman despite what she thought in the beginning about how arrogant he was. Well, he was conceited, but he had grounds and at least he wasn't a jerk-yet.

  Later in the evening when it was time to go, Mark led her over to Janine and Jennifer.

  "I promised her family I'd have her home by eleven. We have to go."

  "Really?" Jennifer said, trying to refrain from laughing at the curfew. Since when did Mark obey rules? Evangeline answered her unspoken question.

  "He's trying to impress my brothers," Evangeline said, "and it's not an easy job."

  "Yeah, I remember when Mark's sister started dating this chump from town, he-"

  "Shut up, Janine." Mark cut in.

  "What did he do?" she said, her curiosity piqued.

  Janine looked at Mark who was ready to kill him. "I'd better not. I like my teeth. Let's just say it involved a dead duck."

  "That's enough," Mark said, warning him again.

  "You spoil the fun," Evangeline said. Then she gave Jennifer a look and made a motion to her ear like she was holding a phone. Jennifer laughed.

  "Enough of that," Mark said, taking her hand and pulling her out the door. "You two are not allowed to be friends."

  "Too late," Jennifer called after them.

  Evangeline laughed all the way to the car.

  After he put her in the passenger's seat and got in behind the wheel, he turned to her and grinned while shaking his head. She was laying her head against the seat and smiling at him. "You had fun."

  "I really did. Thank you, Mark. It had been a long time since I enjoyed myself like that."

  "I'm glad you like my friends. It means a lot to me." His eyes went down the front of her again.

  She dropped her smile and cocked her head slightly.

  "It does?" My goodness, he could make her warm up so easily.

  "Absolutely." Then he turned and started the car, not elaborating on it.

  Evangeline stared at him, pondering what he said. He threw things out there like that this evening and it made her wonder about him again. Did he really mean all of those things? Every time she decided not to trust him, he would say something so sweet that it completely contradicted his famous reputation.

  An hour later, and five minutes before he said he'd have her home, he pulled over to the curb a few hundred feet from the front of her house and she looked at him in question.

  He cut the engine and turned to her. "All I'm asking for is a kiss. If I pull up front, your family will have their faces pasted all over the front windows."

  She looked at him, then turned and looked at the house, biting her lip to keep from smiling. He was right about that. There were lights on and she knew that either one or all of her family were waiting up.

  "They can't see in here, Evangeline. My windows are tinted, but my Porsche is not common in your neighborhood." He knew they'd be looking for it, and if it was just sitting out front for a moment, her family would know what was going on inside.

  She brought her head back around to look at him. Again, he was being considerate. More than likely they were tear a strip off her if he did park out front, and it was a few minutes before she got out of the car.

  "A kiss?" he asked softly, dropping his eyes to her mouth.

  After she let her eyes move over his face, studying him, she nodded.

  "One," she said, and he grinned. She narrowed her gaze playfully. "Why do I think that word isn't in your vocabulary?"

  "Smart girl, but one is all I need. Now come here." He leaned over and at the same time reached up and nudged her chin with his forefinger to get her to tilt her face up to his. Then he paused his mouth a mere breadth from hers and met her eyes. "You are so beautiful," he said before he took her mouth under his.

  Oh, he wasn't lying. It was one. A very long, smooth one. And along with his compliment, it shot a thrill through her.

  His mouth was warm, sensual and he certainly knew how to use it. With his nearness she could smell his cologne. It swirled in her nostrils making her feel euphoric. Of course, several glasses of wine probably had something to do with that, also.

  He was careful with her, she knew he was, because he wasn't the least bit aggressive and this was a man who had that as his middle name. It was obvious he knew how to read a woman's experience and she hadn't had much with kissing. He was tender and patient. Her mouth even parted to accept more of him, but after a moment, he eased off. She wanted more, and after she reflected back on it later, she knew that's exactly what he was aiming for.

  When he finally lifted his head from hers, only slightly, so he could look down at her and hopefully see disappointment in her eyes. There it was. It's what he was wanting.

  "I did say one."

  Unfortunately, he wasn't immune, either. He expected her to taste good, but not to elicit such a heated response from him. He may have looked calm and collected, but inside he was on fire. Her mouth was perfect; soft and pliable under his and he knew it wouldn't take much to teach her more because she was ready for it, but he couldn't. First of all, it was no use carrying it a little further because he was catching a flight tomorrow morning and staying up all night with an erection wasn't an option. Secondly, he knew her. If he pushed her, she would run.

  "I liked that," she admitted.

  He smiled. "I'm glad, because I'll want more." Then he turned and started the car to move it forward down the road so they were directly in front of her house.

  He got out and opened the door for her to help her out and walked her up to the steps. "I'm going to miss you."

  "How long are you gone for, again?" she asked, ignoring his statement and the rapid beating of her heart that went with it. She wasn't sure if he was teasing or if he was serious. She still didn't know him well enough to figure it out. Furthermore, this man was a star athlete who had women crawling all over him, so how could he possibly miss her?

  "Until next week. We have two games down there, so we stay a few days to adjust to the climate and train in their arena to make it familiar to us."

  "Wow, I never thought it was so complicated."

  He shrugged. "The pains of being a hockey player." Amusement was in his expression. That was the easy part. The part that he didn't tell her was the research they did on other teams: studying video, breaking it down, anticipating plays and player styles.

  "Uh-huh, some pains, a star athlete. Well, maybe I'll see you when you get back," she teased.

  "Maybe?" He started walking backwards. "Short of an act of god, I'll be back." He waved, got in his car and drove away.

  "So?" Tito said as she came in the door. He was waiting in the porch leaning against the wall.

  "So, what?" She grinned.

  "Evangeline, you're killing me." He and Glen had actually stayed up until she got home. They were worried about her in more ways than one. It wasn't just Mark's worldly experience with women that bothered them; it was the fact that she would be around a social group that she wasn't used to. Neither one of them wanted her to be made to feel like she wasn't worthy. Despite how brutish they were with her, they loved her and knew she was a naïve, kind, beautiful woman who could be easily taken advantage of.

  When they heard the car drive up, Glen had left Tito to find out how her night went, and left for bed. They didn't want to seem like they were ganging up on her.

  "Oh, don't worry, Tito, his friends are wonderful! His best friend's wife is like you and me. If I met her outside of that mansion they own, I would think she was a regular middle-class working woman."

  Tito felt some relief and couldn't help but start liking Mark for the consideration he was showing Evangeline. He knew that men like him di
dn't do that often. Hell, he didn't do it often. He knew how he looked to women and used it just like any hot-blooded man in his prime would.

  Epilogue

  Almost exactly nine months later after that episode of cold dinner in the kitchen, Evangeline had a nine-pound baby boy. He had a head of thick black hair. The room was full of their family members, but Mark only had eyes for his wife and son.

  Their families were more shocked than anything when Mark had called them from Vegas to tell them they had gotten married, but easily forgave them. Janine and Jennifer stood up for them. They were able to make the flight on short notice. Dutch stayed at the house back home and watched Shane. It wasn't as if he didn't have experience; he had five sons.

  "He's so beautiful," Evangeline said, looking down at the bundle in her arms.

  Mark had his arm around is wife as he sat on the side of the hospital bed running a finger over his son's cheek. He never felt such overwhelming pride and love for anything like he did when his son was born. He actually felt like weeping.

  "I want to call him Trevor," Mark said.

  "You can call him anything you like." She said looking at him with love in her eyes.

  He smiled and kissed her. "Trevor Jacob Hartley."

  "Wow, what a compliment," Jacob said, staring down at his son holding his grandson.

  "I bought his skates," said Dutch out of the blue like it was completely expected.

  The room filled with laughter.

  PARTNER'S DEAL - PART 2

  Prologue

  This time, Janine did smile, but he returned his eyes to the ice as if he was just thinking about something. There were cameramen everywhere, their cameras panning the players during those few minutes before the start of the game and he, like the opposing players, would look terrible to the fans if he started showing unsportsmanlike behavior. It was supposed to be a game. A game with hidden undercurrents and emotions that kept the passion for it alive in the players.

  She shouted from the other room before appearing with three bowls of snacks. Thank god Glen had bought the large flat screen television last summer, because the neighbors came over to watch after her father bragged about the neighborhood that she was dating Mark Hartley, though he really didn't have to. Most of them had seen the game that Evangeline was at and the media attention she had gotten. There must've been fifteen people in there, including her family.