by Robyn M Ryan
“Take it easy, baby.” He cupped her chin in his hand and raised her face toward his. “I love you.” He lowered his lips on hers, kissing her tenderly as her arms encircled his neck and pulled him closer to her.
“Drew, I love you,” she choked in a hoarse voice. He closed his arms around her, holding her tightly as she pressed her face against his shoulder. He stroked her hair comfortingly while he stared at the fire, wishing he could have prevented her from being hurt. He pressed his lips against the top of her head. Caryn took a deep breath as the trembling finally eased, and she pulled back slightly so she could see his eyes. Andrew lightly brushed the stray tears from her cheeks, smoothing the hair around her face, and then leaned to kiss her again.
“Okay?”
She nodded. “Drew, I’m so sorry about what happened,” she said, her voice trailing off.
“It’s not your fault.”
“I should have expected it. That was one of the reasons I moved to Toronto to go to school. I was tired of having my every moment controlled by their plan. I couldn’t see anyone they didn’t first approve. I can’t tell you the number of times they threw dinner parties that just happened to include the son of one of their friends or a younger executive for the company.” She laughed bitterly. “You know, they actually set me up with the son of one of Dad’s senior vice-presidents last year? He was in Toronto on business and they insisted I go on a date with him. I was never so bored in my life! But Dad kept saying what an asset I would be to him and how he had so much potential if he joined the company. How ‘lucky’ I’d be to land a man like him.” Andrew felt her shudder in memory and touched her cheek gently. He read the hurt and disappointment in her eyes. “I always hoped they’d be happy when I fell in love with someone; even if they hadn’t picked the man. I actually thought they might be happy.” She shrugged as her voice trailed off again.
“What happened?”
Caryn took a deep breath. “He said we had no future, that I was naïve and had no idea what I was doing. He had a report, Andrew. He’d investigated you.”
“I assumed that, Caryn. Don’t worry about it. I’d be worried, too, if I heard my daughter was involved with a hockey player. We don’t have the best reputations, you know.” He gently traced her cheekbones, a smile hinting.
“What did he say to you?”
Andrew shrugged. “He told me about the company, what they’ve planned for your future. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I should have, Drew. I’m sorry. I should have told my parents. Not exactly one of my brightest decisions.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“I really don’t know, now. It’s hard to explain. In Ottawa, it seemed like everybody knew I was William Stevens' daughter. I had no privacy. It was like I lived in a bubble. Nothing was private. I had to beg my parents to let me come to school here, not go to some Ivy League school in the US. I just wanted to find out who I am, without the company being part of everything I did. I guess I fooled myself into thinking it didn’t matter. You had a right to know what you were getting into. I’m sorry.”
Andrew gently lifted her chin, coaxing her eyes toward his. “I don’t blame you, Cary. That’s a huge burden for anyone to grow up with. Parent expectations are rough.” He pressed his lips against her forehead. “Your dad’s just concerned for your safety.”
“Safety? Why? You never…”
“Not me, honey. Your dad’s worried that being in the spotlight makes you vulnerable.”
“How?”
“There’s an incredible amount of money involved, Cary. Money makes people do crazy things.” He brushed his hand against her face. “He mentioned an attempted kidnapping when you were a child.”
Caryn cringed at that memory, shaking her head. “That was so long ago. I had no idea what was happening at the time. I was only five.”
“You know your parents remember it vividly. That’s something you don’t forget.”
“Tell me. I had a bodyguard any time I went out until I refused to go anywhere, even school. I remember that vividly. Then, when I got my driver’s license, I couldn’t even drive anywhere by myself. You know how embarrassing it is to have a driver take you to school and pick you up every day?”
Andrew laughed softly. “Some days I would have welcomed a driver.” He kissed her forehead. “You do know your father would spend whatever it took to keep you safe.”
“I think now he’s more worried about me generating bad publicity for the company.”
Andrew smiled at the sarcasm in her tone. “I don’t think he has anything to worry about there. Like you said, you are one of the only people in the world without a Facebook account.”
Caryn looked at him, her eyes suddenly brightening. “I actually set one up when I was sixteen. I was going through my ‘rebellious’ stage.”
“Define rebellious.”
“Pretty bad. I made a lot of bad decisions and posted stuff I shouldn’t have. I accepted friend requests from people I didn’t know. I had no privacy settings. It took less than a month for my parents to learn about it. Long story short, I was blocked from the Internet unless Mom or Dad were with me and, of course, grounded for what seemed forever.” She looked at Andrew with a smile. “I really didn’t care about losing Facebook, but being under constant scrutiny really hurt. That’s when I started figuring out how I could convince them to let me go to a university I selected.”
“That doesn’t sound too rebellious to me. Just tell me you didn’t post any nude photos or anything.” Andrew enjoyed making Caryn blush. The look she shot him required no words. “We’ll work things out with your parents, honey. Just give them time.”
“Oh, like tonight? That’s what he’s giving me.”
“What do you mean?”
Caryn pulled away as she sat up, brushing the hair away from her face. He watched as she took a deep breath. “I’m such a ‘disappointment.’ He thinks he can force me to do what he wants by threatening to cut me off. He was going to do it when I started to leave their suite, but my mom talked him into giving me time to decide.” She looked at him, her eyes reflecting the deep hurt. “He said I should talk to you, that you might have second thoughts now that you know I am not ‘just a college student.’”
Andrew shook his head and sighed. Caryn continued speaking in a small voice, “I told him he was wrong, Drew, that I loved you and wanted to plan a future with you.” She bit her lip, and Andrew could see her sudden embarrassment. She stared at her hands as she felt her face redden. He touched her chin and coaxed her eyes into meeting his. He brushed the hair from her forehead, his palm resting lightly against her cheek.
“I also want to plan a future with you,” he said as he pressed his lips against her forehead.
Caryn’s voice conveyed her confusion and hurt. “How could they do that? If they love me, how could they?”
“They love you, Cary. They’re just doing what they feel is best. In their minds, they see that our backgrounds are so different. I’ll probably never be able to give you everything your parents—or one of their associates—could.” Andrew tipped her chin until her amber eyes met his. “In their eyes, I’m just a dumb jock who gets paid too much money to play a game. If I get hurt, who knows what could happen? Just be sure you make the right decision.”
“I love you,” she said without hesitation. “I don’t care what you do, as long as it’s what you want. I love you and I want to be with you.”
“I promise I’ll be here for you. For as long as you’ll have me.”
“That would be forever.” She managed a slight smile. “I’m going to change into something more comfortable.”
“Sounds like a good idea—I’ll get us something to drink.”
He shrugged off his suit jacket and set it and his tie on the chair. He unbuttoned the top of his shirt as he walked to the kitchen. He grabbed a bottle of wine and poured two glasses and met her a few minutes later as she stepped down the stairs. He saw a shy smile on her face, the n
avy silk dress replaced by the jersey she’d worn opening night. She held her iPhone toward him.
“Here, you can text a photo to my dad. He’ll get the message.”
Andrew laughed softly as he set the wine glasses on the table and closed the steps between them. He hugged her close. “No way I’m taking this picture. My eyes only.” He pressed his lips against her hair. “Tired, babe?”
“Doubt I’ll sleep much. My mind’s all over the place.” She pulled back so she could see his eyes. “You have early practice?”
“I’m fine.” He nodded toward the loft. “Why don’t we go upstairs? I’ll get our drinks and we’ll put some music on.”
Caryn nodded, preceding him up the stairs, looking out the window as she waited for him to join her. The snow swirled in the brisk wind whipping around the streetlight, promising a thick cushion within a few hours. She shivered involuntarily, letting the curtains fall back across the window as she turned toward Andrew when he joined her.
He handed a glass of wine to her as he slipped his arm around her shoulders, nodding toward the window. “Blizzard?”
Shaking her head, Caryn sipped the wine. “I don’t think so tonight.”
“Too bad.” Andrew picked up her iPhone and scrolled through the playlists. He pressed the button, her favorite music filling the room.
“Drew, you don’t have to play my Garou songs. Pick something you like.”
“After I’ve learned these songs by heart? No way.” Andrew took her glass and set it next to his on the nightstand and then closed his arms about her, pulling her against him. “Come, let’s move away from the window. Sit with me. Just relax.” He drew her onto the love seat and wrapped his arms around her as she leaned her head against his shoulder. He felt her take a deep breath.
“I wish I could just shut my mind off.”
“Let’s try this.” He gently lifted her face toward him and kissed her tenderly.
“Better,” she said returning his kiss, pressing closer to him. She touched the hair that brushed his collar, whispering her love to him. He lifted her onto his lap and held her against him as he slowly left kisses across her cheeks, her ears and her neck. He heard her sharp intake of breath as his hand lightly brushed against her bare thigh, then slowly trailed his fingers across her skin to her other thigh. Her body moved toward his touch, and Cary’s hands clasped his hair as she brought his lips back to hers. “Don’t stop,” she whispered when Andrew paused in his tender exploration of her body.
Andrew touched her chin, drawing her eyes toward his. “Time out?”
Caryn nodded with a soft smile. “A quick time out?”
“That depends. We’re rushing down a path, and I don’t want you doing anything you’ll regret tomorrow.”
“I won’t regret anything, Drew. I love you.”
He shook his head with a reluctant smile. “Maybe we should wait until we sort things through with your parents?”
“I’m not going to let them run my life. If they don’t approve of my choices, or if they choose to…cut things off…” She shrugged as emotion choked her. She met his eyes determinedly. “I’m not going to change my mind,” she said in a hoarse whisper. “Please, let’s not wait any longer.”
Andrew studied her eyes for a long moment. “Only if you are ready to make the same commitment to me that I am going to make to you. I love you. I want to spend my life with you, have kids and raise a family together.”
“Sounds like a proposal?” She met his gaze with a soft smile.
“Statement of intent?” He lightly traced her lips with his finger. “The day I ask you to marry me will hold only happy memories—romantic setting, just you and me, and of course, the ring. I want you to be absolutely sure you’re ready to make that same commitment?”
Caryn leaned to kiss him in response. “Of course I am.”
“Then I do need to press the pause button.” He saw the question in her expression. “I need to make a quick trip to the pharmacy. I didn’t come prepared.”
Caryn suddenly giggled. “You mean you don’t walk around with protection in your wallet? With all those gorgeous women throwing themselves at you?”
“Nope. You are the only one I’m interested in and I had no expectations tonight.” He kissed her forehead. “This is a real mood killer, isn’t it?”
“I don’t want to wait for you to go to the store. Don’t leave, please. I don’t think I’d get pregnant.” Andrew chuckled at the forced whine in her voice.
“That’s all we’d need. You think your parents would ever accept us if I were to get you pregnant?” He closed his arms around her. “How about this? I’ll stay here with you tonight. I’ll hold you while you sleep. But we need to keep our clothes on…just for tonight. Come tomorrow, I won’t leave home with an empty wallet. And when the stars align, we’ll have an evening you will never forget.”
“Can’t wait,” Caryn sighed. Andrew was relieved to see a smile suddenly brighten her face. “And the stars will align tomorrow?” she asked.
“If that’s what you want, my love.”
EIGHTEEN
Caryn awoke first the next morning and was content to remain nestled beside him, his arm holding her securely against his chest. Sleeping in his arms, even though they took care to avoid temptation, made her feel so secure and loved. She lightly rested her hand against his bare chest, then without thinking gently traced the well-defined muscles, pausing to caress lingering bruises from the last few games.
Suddenly, Andrew grasped her hand and opened an eye to look at her. “You really, really don’t want me to go out in that sub-zero weather right this minute, do you?”
Caryn giggled. “I’m sorry. I just couldn’t help myself.” She rose up on an elbow to see his face. “I don’t think I’ve ever slept so well.”
He brushed his hand against her lips. “As long as I didn’t think too much about you in that jersey, I slept pretty good myself.” His fingers traveled to the edge of the jersey, teasing the skin just beneath the fabric.
Caryn slipped from his grasp. “This would be where I take a shower and make breakfast.” She kissed him gently before gathering her clothes and taking them into the bathroom. She showered quickly and pulled her hair back in a low ponytail. She grabbed fresh towels for Drew, setting them beside the sink before walking back into the main area of the loft. He was sitting in bed, and she felt her face warming as he nodded approvingly as his eyes slowly swept over her.
“You have practice, don’t you?”
Andrew glanced at his phone. “In about ninety minutes.” He pushed back the sheet and stood, stretching before raising an eyebrow at her. “Don’t suppose there’s a chance I left some warm-ups around here?”
Caryn shook her head as she slowly took in his body, clad only in his gym shorts. “Umm, no. Except that jersey you wore over in Europe?” she said. “You want me to run over to your apartment? I can stop at the pharmacy on the way.”
He laughed heartily before stepping to her side and gathering her into his arms. “Patience, babe.” He placed a gentle kiss on her lips. “You have anything for breakfast downstairs?”
“Eggs? Oatmeal? Toast? Yogurt? Left-over turkey?”
“That sounds perfect.”
“What?”
“All of the above. That should get me through practice.”
It was Caryn’s turn to laugh. “I’ll get started, then.”
While assembling his breakfast, Caryn’s mind replayed the previous evening’s events, and she found it impossible to reconcile her parents' rejection of Andrew with her love for the warm, sensitive man who had stayed with her last night. Their refusal to listen was as painful now as it had been twelve hours earlier. If they really loved me, how could they slam the door on our relationship? Caryn shut her eyes briefly, and then took a deep breath to steady her hand as she stirred the scrambled eggs that were cooking on the stove.
“Smells good,” Andrew said as he entered the kitchen. She looked at him, seeing he
had opted to wear his dress shirt instead of the jersey she’d offered. He’d left a couple buttons undone and had turned back his cuffs, but that only made him more attractive to her.
“You clean up nicely.” She smiled as he gently hugged her, and then nodded in approval when he saw the eggs.
“What can I do to help?”
“Set the table, then make the toast?”
“Got it.”
“You want coffee?”
Andrew pulled the plates from the cabinet and silverware from the drawer. “Orange juice?”
“Plenty in the fridge.”
They worked together in the kitchen as if they did this every day. Within a few minutes they were seated at the table and Andrew nodded at Caryn’s empty plate. “Nothing for you?”
She held up a container of yogurt before she opened it. “This is all I need right now. Take me to Sullivan’s later?”
“You bet. I believe there’s a pharmacy right across the street.”
“My thoughts, exactly,” Caryn said with a small smile.
***
As he did whenever his class schedule permitted, Tom sat in on the Leafs’ practice session, meeting Andrew outside the clubhouse afterwards.
“Skipping class?” Andrew asked as he pulled on his jacket.
Tom shrugged. “Figured I’d have a better chance of catching you here. Your evenings do seem to be rather full. Speaking of that, how’s Caryn?”
“Just fine. You should try spending some time with a girl instead of your textbooks once in a while.”
“I’ll have plenty of time after I finish rotations.”
Andrew was about to reply when he realized that someone had joined them in the hallway outside the clubhouse. He met Bill Stevens' eyes evenly as the man approached them.
“I’d like a few words with you, Chadwick. Alone.” Tom backed away, retreating to the opposite wall where he watched with interest.