His Game, Her Rules

by Charlene Groome

  “I thought I’d save us the trouble.”

  Their eyes lock for a second before Eileen blinks and turns her attention to his home. “Very nice,” she says, looking around, admiring the artwork and carefully thought-out mementos. His place is stunning. It looks like a page out of House & Home magazine.

  The windows are tall, perfect for staring out into the evening summer sky. The brown and beige couch and recliner chair look like they’ve never been sat on. The fabrics are firm and lint-free. The solid wood coffee table displays a hardcover book on the history of hockey.

  Eileen looks around at her surroundings. “I have to say, I didn’t expect your place to be so . . . so . . . spectacular. I mean, the details! You sure know how to decorate.”

  He grimaces. “I can’t take all the credit. I had help,” he admits, popping their dinner in the oven to warm. “Something to drink? A glass of merlot?”

  She hesitates, knowing that one glass has its disadvantages. She is firm about not spending the night and doesn’t want to unwind too much. She tries hard not to get too comfortable; that will only lead to trouble.

  “Come on,” he says, sensing her hesitation. “You have to have a glass with lasagna.” He slips two glasses off the metal rack under the counter and reaches for a bottle from his wine rack.

  “Those are generously sized glasses,” she says, watching him uncork the bottle with one easy lift of the corkscrew.

  “Do you want a glass of wine or a sip of wine?” he teases as he pours.

  She lifts her glass with her left hand. She’s gotten used to using her left hand, even though her right hand is feeling better.

  “Cheers.” Ty clinks her glass, takes a sip. “Here, let me show you around.”

  “It’s the biggest apartment I’ve ever been in,” she admits, taking in the luxuries of his penthouse overlooking English Bay.

  He shrugs. “It’s not bad.”

  “Not bad?” she balks. “It’s beautiful! Jeez, it puts my place to shame.”

  “Come on, Elle. You have a decent apartment.”

  She knows she does for a modest person. However, this is breathtaking. It’s hard to wrap her head around something this grand. It’s like having a choice of owning a Volkswagen or a Porsche. They’re both well made, but one is more desirable.

  “Yeah, but you have a built-in Miele coffee machine!”

  “You may have noticed when you got here; the bathroom is on your right, just through those doors,” he says, lifting his glass in that direction. “And over here, is what the Realtor called the study. Some study, huh? It’s more like a closet without a door.” He laughs.

  “It serves its purpose,” she says, as though she’s doing a walk-through as a buyer. “Big enough for a computer and a bookshelf.”

  Ty opens the French doors. “And here is my bedroom,” he says proudly. “Not much in here, but really, what does a guy need? I’ve got a walk-in closet that’s only a quarter full, a bed, a dresser, and a bathroom.”

  “I like it!” she says, impressed by the well-appointed space.

  “There’s another bathroom down the hall beside the spare room.” He swings open the door to reveal the empty space. “I never did need the extra room. I guess with just me, I don’t have too many possessions. Especially when I don’t know how long I’ll be here.”

  “I guess so,” Eileen says, realizing that Ty could be living here until the end of the season or for a few years. “Do you think you’ll be traded?”

  “I don’t know,” he says. “There’s speculation, but my agent thinks it’s just talk.”

  “I guess you don’t know,” Eileen says.

  “Sometimes it’s a surprise.” He leads her to the living room.

  “You’ve got quite the view,” Eileen says, gazing out the window. “I could stand here all night.”

  Ty turns around to appreciate the ambiance and catches Eileen’s eye.

  “I’m dying to know about my class,” she says, gritting her teeth.

  “It was easy.”

  “It was? You didn’t have people chasing you down in the parking lot?”

  He takes a sip from his glass and says, “Actually, the class was a breeze. It was the parents who had to be told to relax. That Oliver guy was a big help. You must have told him I was coming. He was standing outside waiting for me.”

  “He was?”

  “He gave me a rundown on where to go and what to do.”

  “Your own assistant!”

  “I could have figured it out on my own, but he insisted on helping. He also had an idea. Asked me to show up one Saturday to sign autographs.”

  “Yeah, I told him it probably wouldn’t work.”

  “Oh! I said I’d be happy to.”

  “You did?”

  “Yeah, why not?”

  “You know,” Eileen begins, shrugging a shoulder. “You’re busy. It’s not for charity.”

  “Yeah, but fans like that sort of thing, showing up, talking to them. I told Oliver we would be in touch.”

  “I’m glad it went okay,” she says.

  Ty looks out the large window and then glances back at her. “I can see why you like working with kids. They were a lot of fun. You can tell them to skate to one end and back and they don’t complain.”

  “They complain, just not to you!” she says, spotting Ty from the corner of her eye as she looks out onto the water. His relaxed demeanor puts her at ease and she sips from her glass, relieved that her class went well and that, by the sound of it, Oliver was pleased.

  Just then the oven timer beeps. “Dinner’s ready!” he says, stepping away.

  Eileen follows him into the kitchen. “Where do you want to sit?” She spots his staged dinner table. Hardly used—she is sure it’s all for looks, though it would be foolish not to think he entertained women at this table. Eileen finishes her wine and places her empty glass on the counter.

  “How about outside?” he suggests. “It’s a nice night.”

  “I’d like that,” she says, watching him fill her wineglass. She hears her cell phone ring and takes it out of her purse to check the number before answering. Eileen hesitates.

  “Go ahead,” he urges, topping up his glass.

  “I’ll be quick,” she says and brings her phone to her ear.

  “Hi, Eileen. It’s Bill Braxton calling from the Vancouver Daily. I hope this is a good time.”

  “I was just sitting down for dinner.”

  “I’ll make it quick then. Since your accident at practice, how are the guys treating you, now?”

  “They seem to be accepting me,” she says. “I can’t let one guy ruin it for me.”

  “What challenges have you had recently?”

  “I don’t think I’ve had any. I’m trying to meet the team’s expectations and I think I’ve done that.”

  “Do you have anything to say about Bret Thompson?”

  “No, I don’t,” she says, biting her tongue. It’s not worth it, she thinks and hangs up.

  They portion out their dinner and take a seat side-by-side, facing the water. The breeze is light and warm.

  “I can’t imagine waking up to this view every morning.” She takes a bite of her dinner.

  “You can,” he says. “I won’t stop you.”

  She swallows hard. He can be so tempting when he wants to be. She looks down at her plate and decides to bite into her garlic bread before taking another drink.

  “Hey, the offer never expires.” He picks up his glass, eyeing her deliciously.

  Eileen wipes her lips with a napkin. Her heart is beating erratically. Why is he so alluring? When she took the coaching job, she never suspected that she would fall for one of the players, though she was teased that they would be fighting over her. That of course wasn’t true. She kept her eyes on the job, but Ty just has a way of magically securing her neediness and leaving her wanting more. Is he testing her to see how far she’ll go? Did he really have a bet going on to see if she would sleep with him?r />
  Without notice, Ty leans over his chair and gently takes her face in his hand, his lips closer, like they are calling for her. She jumps suddenly, realizing that he is about to kiss her. She is craving his affection, yet scared to lead him on. His hand cups the back of her neck, easing forward.

  She closes her eyes, wanting so bad to kiss him back. “I can’t,” she whispers, anticipating his touch.

  “It’s only a kiss,” he whispers back and his lips find hers. She can taste his sweet cologne. His tongue moves inside her mouth and skims her bottom lip like a feather flittering. He’s such a good kisser, she thinks as he plays with strands of her hair. She has to stop him before they lose control. Eileen puts her hand to his chest, tapping him and pushing him away.

  “I really like this.... I don’t want to start something that has a short shelf life,” she admits. And although it sounds silly and untrue, she has to tell herself nothing will become of them. It’s safe that way. Her heart won’t break.

  “I’m not asking for anything. It was just a kiss.”

  “That’s not what I want,” she says, hating herself for ending it so soon.

  “What do you want, Elle?” His blue eyes are eager for something more.

  She doesn’t know how to answer such a big question. “I don’t know,” she says, lying back in her seat and wondering why she’s here in the first place.

  “I’ll tell you what. If we’re still on for next Saturday night, I have tickets to a concert. We’ll have a bite to eat beforehand and I can give you the Ty Caldwell treatment.” He sits back and picks up his glass, taking a long sip.

  Eileen likes the sound of that.

  “I’ll drop you off at home after the concert, okay?”

  She gives him a smile.

  “I want you to get to know me.” His upper lip curls as though his statement is an afterthought.

  “I’d like that,” she says. “But it’s not really a date, is it?”

  He shakes his head. “Whatever you want to call it is fine by me,” he says, taking a sip from his glass.

  Eileen can see why he is so successful with women. He’s a smooth talker, he’s attractive, and he knows how to make a woman relax. Fortunately, she won’t ever know what it’s like to fall in love with him because this is as far as it goes if she can help it.

  Chapter 10

  A week later, Eileen walks into the restaurant with a slight limp, looking casual in jeans, a black top, gold hoop earrings, and a gold ring on her right index finger, a treasure from her parents on her sixteenth birthday.

  She looks around for Ty, but doesn’t see him.

  A waitress interrupts Eileen’s concentration. “Are you looking for somebody?”

  “I’m supposed to be meeting someone here . . . a guy . . . tall, dirty-blond hair—”

  “Is that him over there?” The waitress points, and Eileen tries to focus in on the table he’s sitting at. He’s not alone.

  “I’m not sure. It looks like him,” Eileen says, staring, trying to get a better look. “I’ll go over and see. Thanks.”

  “Two girls just joined him.”

  “Yeah, that would be him,” Eileen says and approaches the table. There are indeed two beautiful women sitting with Ty and talking his ear off, laughing as though they’re all old friends.

  Do I go over and talk to him? After all, he’s the one who wanted to go out with me tonight and I did remind him that this isn’t a date, so if I turn and leave it’s not like I stood him up.

  Eileen eyes the two women as she walks toward them.

  Either they are both trying to pick him up or they know him. Judging by his deep laugh, he is enjoying the company. What made me agree to dinner? Can’t I say no to a blue-eyed, overly attractive hockey player?

  Eileen makes eye contact with Ty and he jumps up as though caught in the act and motions her over to the table. The two women look over as he says something to them and smiles.

  “Hi, Elle!” Ty greets her, homing in on her with a pleasing eye.

  “Have a seat,” he says and pulls up a chair from another table.

  “Thank you,” she says as she takes a seat, feeling a little awkward sitting with two other women and one sexy bachelor. Are there going to be questions asked and the best answers will win?

  “What a gentleman,” the woman with tight black curls says. “Mark needs to take tips from you.”

  Eileen looks at Ty and is impressed by his outfit, loose-fitting jeans and a golf shirt. His blue eyes are what gives him away though; they’re bright, happy, kind.

  “This is Jen and Ali—they’re the wives of Buckley and Anderson,” he says by way of introduction.

  That’s a relief.

  “And this is Eileen,” he says to the wives. They both look like models: tall with fresh faces and skinny arms. “She’s our skating coach,” he adds proudly. “She’s a heck of a skater, too.” He takes a gulp of his beer.

  “I’ve heard,” Jen says with a lasting smile.

  “Oh, yeah?” Eileen says with amazement, pushing her chair closer to the table.

  “Uh-huh. Stealing the attention from the boys,” Ali says.

  “Hardly!” Eileen says. “I’m there to coach.”

  Jen glances at Ty and then back at her. “Right.”

  Her doubtfulness stings. “I’m all business—you have nothing to worry about.”

  “That’s why you’re out with Ty?” Ali asks. “Business meeting?” She laughs.

  “Nothing’s going on here,” Eileen says.

  “I know what you’re doing. I said the same thing four years ago and married him.”

  “We need to go,” the other woman says, and they both stand up at the same time. “We’re off to the movies.”

  “Girls’ night!” whispers Jen, grabbing her light knit sweater and giving a quick wave before turning on her toes.

  “Have fun,” Ty says with a quick nod.

  “Enjoy your night,” Ali says. And the two women walk off in laughter.

  “What’s with them? Jealous because I skate with their husbands?”

  “Nah, they don’t care. They’re teasing,” Ty says, clutching his half glass of beer.

  Eileen drops her shoulders. “That was not teasing.”

  “Ignore her. Ali can get worked up at times.”

  “Did you see how she was looking at me?” Eileen asks as she takes a seat. “It’s as though I’m a threat.”

  “I told you before, not everyone likes the idea of a woman on the team.”

  “I’m not on the team. I’m the temporary skating coach, remember?”

  “You have to expect it,” Ty says soothingly. “Ali’s harmless.”

  “Well, someone really doesn’t want me working with you guys and has been threatening me.”

  “Threatening?”

  “Yeah. I told you about my car getting keyed—well, that’s part of it. I’m sure. I have had notes left on my car and phone calls. It happened again the day you covered my skating class. I had a phone call saying to quit the Warriors or else.”

  “Or else what?”

  “The person hung up.”

  “Did you tell the police?”

  She shakes her head.

  “Maybe you should.”

  “How does someone I don’t know, know where to reach me? How does he know where I work?”

  “Media?” Ty leans back in his chair. “You have posters hung at various places.”

  Her eyes squint and she turns her head slightly.

  “I saw your poster at the golf course.”

  Her mouth widens into a smile. “Glad they’re getting noticed.”

  “It has your name and number on it. Maybe that’s too much information.”

  She blows out a breath. “It’s just my name.”

  “You have a name for yourself, and anyone who has been following the league knows who you are and what you do.”

  “I suppose. But the first threat was the same day I had my on-ice interview and then
again the other day, except this time the guy asked me to simply ‘give it up’ and said ‘don’t think you’re equal to Ritchie because you’re not.’ It was so strange. The call caught me off guard. I mean, who does that? Someone really doesn’t like me working for the Warriors and it’s not just Thompson. At least I don’t think the calls are from him. It’s kind of hard to tell.”

  “I don’t know what to say.”

  “It has to be someone from the team.” She exhales and rubs her forehead. “I can’t think of who it could be.”

  “Maybe someone from your other job doesn’t like the idea of you splitting up your time.”

  “No, I can’t think of anyone. And I don’t know anyone who cares what I do for a living.”

  “Someone could be jealous or it could be someone you don’t know. You need to get the police involved so they have a record. This has been going on now for a month.”

  Eileen chews on her bottom lip.

  “You’re safe. I’ll take your mind off it. I’ll order you a drink! You obviously need one.”

  The same waitress comes by their table. “Did you decide on something to drink?”

  Eileen replies, “I’ll have a rum and Diet Coke, please.”

  The waitress looks at Ty and asks, “Another one for you?”

  He looks at his half-filled pint of beer. “No, thank you,” he answers and the waitress leaves the table. “So what did you do today?” he asks. “Sleep in, go to the gym, have time for a little shopping?”

  Eileen smirks. “Yeah, right, sleep in? What’s that? And shopping? I like to stay away from the malls. I’m not much of a shopper.”

  “A woman who doesn’t like to shop? I had no idea she existed. I think I just found the woman of my dreams.” He laughs.

  “Don’t get any ideas, Caldwell,” she tells him playfully. “I can’t be bothered to walk through a mall in search of something I don’t really need. I shop when I need something.”

  “We make the perfect couple then.” He takes a sip of beer. His grin is everlasting.

  “Couple? I don’t know about that.”

  He swallows hard and then says, “Haven’t you heard?”

  “What?”

  “We’re a couple. That’s the rumor.”