His Game, Her Rules

by Charlene Groome

  “Thank you. That is sure nice of you,” Dell says.

  “No problem,” Eileen says and smiles.

  “What would you like me to write on?” Ty asks. “I’m sure we can find a napkin.”

  Dell fumbles through his back pockets. “Oh, no,” he says with a look of fear. “I thought I had a piece of paper on me.”

  “I’m sure I have that too,” Eileen says and pulls a small notepad from her purse. She tears off paper and hands it to him. “Here,” she says, handing Ty the paper.

  “Thank you again. You’re very kind, very kind,” Dell says, nodding at Eileen and then hovering over Ty as he writes.

  “You must be Eileen,” Dell says. “You’re the skating coach, right? I’ve read about you.”

  “You have?” she asks, taken off guard. “I try not to read those stories.”

  “They’re always saying good things about you. It’s never anything bad, but they do seem to mention your relationship quite often,” Dell says. “Not like it’s any of my business, but you two make a good couple—you know, with playing hockey and all.”

  “Thank you,” Ty says, looking up from signing the piece of paper.

  “Just to keep the facts straight,” Eileen says and pauses. “There is nothing—”

  Ty cuts her off. “It’s always nice to be with someone who complements your career. Thank you, Dell,” he says, handing him his autograph and passing the pen back to Eileen. “We try to keep our relationship private. The more people know about us, it seems like they just want to know more, and that’s not our style.”

  Dell nods his head. “I understand,” he says, holding up his signed paper. “Thank you. You’ve really made my night. Good luck this season.”

  “Thanks! Have a good one,” Ty says, grabbing his drink in front of him and crashing back into the couch.

  “So why didn’t you tell him we’re not dating?” she asks, holding her drink with both hands.

  “It just confuses people.”

  “Not if you tell them the truth.”

  “It’s easier to go along with it. No harm done, right?”

  She takes a sip of her drink. “I don’t want people to get the wrong impression.”

  “What’s that guy Dell gonna do? He’s happy and he doesn’t care who I’m dating. No big deal, is it?”

  Is it?

  “Well, don’t get any ideas,” she says.

  “Why not?”

  “Because—because it can’t happen, that’s why.”

  “And why not?”

  It takes her a second or two to answer. “I think your intentions are different from mine.”

  “You think so?” he asks, his eyes capturing hers.

  “Yes,” she says, feeling his stare warm her body.

  “You don’t know the new Ty.”

  The lights dim and the show begins.

  “And if my intentions are different from yours, how come you’re out with me tonight?” he asks, looking at her and then looking ahead at the stage. The music is loud and the audience is standing and cheering.

  Eileen leans to one side so that Ty can hear her over the music. “Can’t two adults go out casually and have a drink, see a concert? Get out and have some fun?”

  Ty takes a swig of beer. “Isn’t that my line? Face it, Elle—we have the same intentions,” he says, loudly.

  “You think so?”

  “I know so,” he answers. “You’re just playing hard-to-get.”

  “How do you figure?” she challenges him.

  “We’re both single, we both love the same sport, we both hate shopping. . . . I guess our jobs are similar in some ways, and both could use the company,” he says with ease. “We’re perfect for each other.”

  “Pardon?” she asks, straining herself to hear him.

  “We’re perfect for each other,” he repeats in a louder voice.

  “I don’t know about that,” she yells back.

  “You have a hard time admitting when you’re wrong, don’t you? You also don’t like to be told what to do.”

  “You’re right—I don’t like to be told what to do. At least I can admit that.”

  “And for some reason you don’t like people to know about your personal life either.”

  She eyes him and says, “What’s wrong with that?”

  “Nothing,” he says casually. “You’re just hard to read some times. It’s hard to tell what you like. I mean, I don’t even know if you like me.” He looks at her and then at his bottle of beer. “I think you do or you wouldn’t be out with me tonight, right?” He sounds serious. Eileen thinks he might smile and turn his question into a joke, but to her surprise, he doesn’t. “And you wouldn’t have had dinner with me at my house.”

  There is no way around this.

  “I like you,” she says quietly.

  “What?” he shouts.

  “I like you,” she says, a little louder, bursting into laughter.

  Ty cups his ear. “Sorry, what’s that?” he asks, and she can tell he’s teasing her now.

  She looks around them before answering him and sees a set of eyes staring back at her. “I like you,” she says, looking into his eyes. “You’re right. I wouldn’t be out tonight if I didn’t.”

  “Do you really?” he asks with a grin. “I couldn’t tell.”

  “Yeah.”

  “I’m actually surprised. You don’t act like you do.”

  “I do,” she says, trying to sound convincing.

  A smile comes across his face. “I never thought I would hear that from you.”

  “Are you happy now?”

  “Yes, I am,” he says, slightly amused.

  She takes a drink. “Okay then, please don’t ask me again.” Eileen puts down her glass and sits back on the love seat. “You’re putting me in an awkward situation.”

  “Why? Are you not one to show your feelings either?”

  She crosses her arms. “I’m a private person and I’d like to keep it that way.”

  “I like to think of myself as a private person too, but sometimes there are things that have to be out in the open and if you’re true to yourself, you should be fine with people knowing a little bit about you. I’m sure you’re dying to tell me more. I know there’s more to tell.”

  “There really isn’t.”

  “I know you’re not boring,” he says. “I bet you have a lot to tell me. For some reason, you’re holding back.”

  “What do you want to know?” she shouts.

  “Where do you hope to be in five years?”

  “Married,” she responds without thinking it through.

  “Kids?”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  “Okay, and do you like cats or dogs? Those seem to come before everything else.”

  “Dogs,” she answers. “I volunteer at the animal shelter sometimes, and I wish I could take one home.”

  “You do have a soft spot.” He gazes at her before taking a swig from his bottle. “So, going to the movies or renting?”

  “Renting. You can wear your pajamas and order in pizza. And you?”

  “Both. And what kind of ice cream do you like, chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry?”

  “Haagen-Dazs Sticky Toffee Pudding,” she says with a laugh.

  “Wow, I guess there’s no such thing as just strawberry, is there? You probably like Strawberry Supreme with walnut pieces,” he says with a laugh, and she can’t help but laugh with him.

  “Okay, I’d take chocolate. And you?” she asks.

  “Vanilla.”

  They watch the concert and tap their knees and bob their heads to the music. “I saw these guys play when they released their hit, ‘Moonshine.’ ”

  “Love that song!” she says. Her eyes meet his, and at the same time, her stomach leaps with excitement.

  “Me too!”

  It’s like the music has stopped and all she can hear is the beat of her heart. Is she falling for this guy?

  After the show, Ty grabs for her
hand and they walk to his truck.

  “White or red wine?” he asks as they approach his truck.

  “Are we still playing this game?” she teases.

  “Come on, I want to know more about you,” he says as he turns his alarm off with a click of the button on his keychain and opens the passenger door for her. “You won’t tell me about yourself unless I ask.”

  “Red,” she answers as she hops into the seat.

  Ty starts up his truck, and instead of driving to pick up her car, he drives to her house.

  Why did being with Ty feel different from before? And why did she feel a strong desire to hold on to these new growing emotions? She doesn’t want to see the night end. For once in her life, she was on a “date” and wasn’t in a rush to go home or dreading the thought of a phone call to invite her out again. This was real. Or was it the rum and Diet Coke?

  Ty parks his truck and turns off the ignition. “I’ll walk you to your door,” he says, jumping out of his truck and greeting her at the passenger door.

  “You don’t have to,” she says, walking with him to the front entrance.

  “I want to make sure you get to your door safe. I can come by tomorrow to pick you up so that you can get your car.”

  She uses her key to open the glass door, and they walk inside to take the elevator up to her floor. “Right, my car. I hope it’s okay parked there overnight.”

  “I’m sure it will be. I should have picked you up though,” he says. “But then that would make this a date.”

  She laughs as the elevator doors shut. “But it wasn’t a date,” she says, suddenly getting a whiff of his sweet scent. A warm sensation comes over her, and she tries to look away from him, breaking his warm stare.

  “I don’t know why you just can’t let loose and have a good time, regardless if it’s a date or not,” he tells her, following her out of the elevator.

  “I think I did pretty well tonight,” she says as she unlocks her door. She doesn’t want to admit to him that she is scared of a repeat of the relationship she had with her ex, Mario. She wants a guy she can trust and build a relationship with. Could Ty possibly be that type of man?

  “Yeah, you did,” Ty says, leaning in closer so that his one shoulder is bracing her doorway and they can feel each other’s breath. Eileen leans against the door, one hand on the knob. She twists to open it and from her weight, it does. She falls backwards and Ty reaches for her and instantly goose bumps speckle her arms. She sucks in a breath, unable to control the sensations that are coming over her again. As the door opens and they both are inside, Ty closes the door behind him with one hand while his other hand is still on her arm. He holds her gently. She feels blissfully happy, more so than she ever imagined she would feel.

  Ty brings his other hand to her face, leaning in and kissing her fully on the mouth. His lips are soft, tender, and full of desire as though satisfying a craving. Is this really happening? she asks herself. Why must she enjoy this so much? She is his skating coach, she tells herself over and over. She’s breaking the rules, her rules.

  He releases her lips and smiles. “Well, looks like you changed your mind about mixing business with pleasure.”

  Her cheeks grow warm. “It’s not supposed to be this way,” she murmurs quickly. “And you’re right, I’m breaking my rule,” she manages to say and takes a sudden deep breath.

  He holds her close and looks into her eyes. “Rules can be broken as long as nobody gets hurt,” he whispers, reaching for her head. He combs his fingers through her long strands of hair as though fascinated by the length.

  “That’s why I have rules.”

  “Is that what you’re afraid of? Getting hurt?” he asks, lifting her chin when she tries to look away.

  Eileen looks him in the eyes. What was she afraid of?

  “I’m not afraid,” she stammers. “I’m just unsure.”

  Ty’s lips find hers again. He holds her face lovingly and embraces her body as though keeping her from falling away from him. Eileen finds comfort in his strength and his energy. She can’t help but let him care for her at the moment. She lets go.

  Being in his arms gives her a sense of security she never thought she’d find—not that she needs it. She is her own person with her own set of rules. She doesn’t need a man to make her feel safe and looked after, but she does feel something with Ty that she hasn’t experienced before. Is this how his other women feel when they are with him? Eileen tries not to think that she might be just another woman, because right now she feels like the only one.

  Ty kisses her neck, his lips trailing down to her collarbone. His hand traces her cheekbone down to her fingertips.

  “We shouldn’t be doing this,” she whispers.

  “Why not?” he whispers back.

  “I’m your skating coach.” Her eyes are shut as she feels his lips kiss her neck and then find hers. Ty feels for her shirt and lifts it up over her head, revealing her sculpted black bra. His hand runs over her padded breasts, and he cups her hips so that his hands are touching her bare skin. Eileen’s emotions cloud her brain; it’s impossible to think straight. She’s dizzy with emotion.

  “I am so attracted to you,” he says in her ear and kisses her earlobe. “I’m sure you know.”

  “I had no idea,” she murmurs.

  “Where’s your bedroom?”

  Eileen walks backwards as they kiss, leading the way. This is so unlike her. She has never let a boyfriend, or a guy, into her bedroom after just one date. She can’t help the feelings that overpower her, at least not tonight. Maybe Ty’s intentions are different. Maybe he wants more than just to sleep with her.

  “I’ve wanted you since the day we met,” he says before their lips connect again. His tongue circles the inside of her mouth, and she lets him taste her and returns the pleasure.

  This moment is too much, she thinks as he kisses her with more intensity. Eileen brings her hand between his shoulder blades, feeling the tightness of his back. Ty’s lips have weight to them as they cover her mouth. She is pulled into a trance of fulfillment.

  Ty slowly moves her toward her bed. She follows his lead, and he lays her down softly, kissing and holding her, caressed in his arms. She’s entwined in his embrace, letting her hands feel the strength in his arms. He is too much. Too attractive. Too sexy. They kiss like two desperate people in need of affection.

  She pulls at his shirt, trying to lift it up, and without resistance, Ty does it for her. His generously sculpted abs have her in awe. She can’t help but run her hands over his chest in admiration. He is a work of art. No wonder he’s featured in magazine ads and television commercials; he is simply gorgeous from head to toe.

  Ty runs his hand over her silky black bra and gently kisses the tops of her breasts. He lifts her chin to him for a kiss as he lets his hands run over her skin as though searching for more options to place his lips. He takes his time, caressing her body.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he says, as he stares into her eyes. He kisses her again, and without looking, he unbuttons her jeans, slides them off, and tosses them onto the floor. He runs his hand between her thighs, making her toned legs feel like jelly, and brings his lips to her skin, running his tongue along her smooth legs.

  Ty strips off his jeans. His boxers are fitted, revealing a generous package waiting to be opened. He’s as ready as she is, she thinks, gazing at his perfection. He grabs for his jeans and pulls out his wallet, taking out a foil square, and lays it on a pillow for when the time is right and slips under the covers. They stare into each other’s eyes and she feels the need to be loved. Ty slowly closes himself onto her and she wraps her arms around his neck and loses herself in the moment. He discreetly opens the condom wrapper and puts it on. Once secure, she lets him come inside her. He doesn’t take his eyes off her, combing her hair with his fingers. He kisses her neck and she closes her eyes with satisfaction. This has to be some crazy dream, she thinks as she breaks her number-one rule.

  Chapter
11

  Ring! Ring! Ring!

  Eileen wakes up feeling a little groggily. She rubs her eyes and realizes it’s her telephone ringing, and not her alarm clock going off. She looks to her left at the man lying beside her, verifying that she indeed did something last night that she probably shouldn’t have done.

  She looks at Ty, who is comfortably sleeping, and reaches for her phone beside her bed. “Hello?” she asks in a sleepy voice.

  “Elle!” a tense male voice says. “I wanted to catch you before you left for the rink.”

  “I don’t work Sundays,” she says in an annoyed whisper.

  “I knew you would be up. You never sleep in.”

  “I was sleeping, Nick,” she says, pulling her hair back from her face.

  “Sorry,” her brother says. “Have you read today’s newspaper?”

  “No! I was sleeping,” she hisses and scrambles out of bed, almost tripping over her scattered clothes on the floor. Thankfully wearing cotton shorts and a tank top, she scurries her way out of her bedroom to the living room, and doesn’t dare look back, afraid of waking him or worse, having to say the first awkward words. Eileen doesn’t want to explain to her brother who she invited for a sleepover.

  She holds the phone tightly to her ear, closing her bedroom door as quietly as possible behind her.

  “It says you and Ty Caldwell are dating.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Ty Caldwell? The guy you’re supposedly dating? And why are you whispering? Is he there? Don’t tell me he’s there, Elle,” Nick says in a desperate plea. “You don’t want it to turn out the way it did with Mario. I thought you learned the first time.”

  Eileen tries to fake a yawn heavily into the receiver, acting like she is still waking up. “No! Definitely not,” she says. “You woke me up and I’m tired.”

  He ignores her. “Well, it says here—”

  “Well, whatever it says, I hope they have my title right. Last time they called me their personal trainer,” she says, rubbing her eyes. “I’m not their personal trainer.”