His Game, Her Rules

by Charlene Groome

  “Relax, no one’s going to know,” he says, reaching his arms out for her, but she isn’t quite sure if she can trust him yet. She doesn’t even know if she can tell her best friend, afraid more people will find out.

  An odd ringing sound is coming from her bedroom. She looks up at him, listening to the ring. “That’s my cell phone,” Ty says, breaking away from her. He walks into her bedroom, searching for his phone. “Hello?” he says and Eileen can’t help but listen in on his conversation.

  He stays in her bedroom, and she listens, wondering whom he’s talking to. “I’m fine. . . . I’m just out, doing some running around. Where are you?” he asks. “Where? In an hour? I’m not sure I can make it there in an hour. How about noon? Yeah, well, I’m a little busy at the moment or I’d come over right now. . . . Yes . . . uh . . . no . . . okay, see you then.”

  He disconnects and walks back into the kitchen. “We’ll have to get your car,” he says, scratching the back of his head.

  “Hopefully it’s still there,” she says, taking another sip of coffee.

  “It’ll be there,” he says, reaching for the mug he left on the kitchen counter. “Are you able to go now?”

  “Now?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I need to take a shower. I feel gross,” she says, wrinkling her nose. “I can’t leave the house without getting cleaned up.”

  “We’re just going to pick up your car. Nobody will see you. You’ll hop out of my truck and into your car, unless you need to stop somewhere on the way,” he says, gulping down his hot coffee.

  “I won’t be stopping anywhere if I don’t have a shower,” she argues. “What’s your hurry? Where do you have to be so early on a Sunday?”

  “I forgot about my plans today.”

  “Now I’m curious. Please, do share,” she says, not wanting to let go of her coffee mug.

  “Are you jealous?”

  She spits out a “No. Of course not.” Is she? Her stomach feels tight from the thought of Ty kissing another woman or even holding another woman, for that matter.

  “Good. There’s nothing to be jealous about.”

  “What would I be jealous about?”

  “Me seeing someone else.”

  “What?” She laughs nervously, feeling her cheeks warm. “I don’t care.”

  “Sure, you do. But don’t worry—I’m not the two-timing type.”

  Well, that’s a relief. She smiles.

  “We’re not really seeing each other.”

  He combs his fingers through his dirty-blond hair. “Some guys and I are going trail biking.”

  “Oh,” she says, feeling left out. Why should she care what he did without her? It’s not as if they’re a couple, right?

  “I’d invite you, but people would talk and you don’t want anyone to know about . . . us,” he says, putting his empty mug in the sink.

  “Right,” she says, feeling disappointed.

  “I’ll get dressed and then we should go.”

  “Don’t you want me to make breakfast?”

  “Maybe another time, sweetheart,” he jokes and pecks her on the cheek. “I don’t have time. You’ll be home in half an hour.”

  She follows him into her bedroom and grabs a pair of sweats and a faded T-shirt. She feels sheepish about getting undressed in front of him, so she takes her clothes into the bathroom to change, pulls her hair back into a ponytail, sprays a lightly scented body mist, and brushes her teeth, trying to feel a little human.

  When she steps out of the bathroom, Ty is standing in the hallway with his shoes on and his keys in hand. “Wow! You look amazing!”

  She touches her ponytail to make sure it’s secure and says, “You don’t waste any time, do you?”

  “I don’t like keeping people waiting,” he says.

  “It must be important,” she says, putting on her shoes. “I mean they must be important people if you’re dropping everything to see them.”

  “It’s not like we had plans. I don’t think you even expected us to shack up, did you?”

  Eileen feels her face redden and tries to hide her complexion by turning around to pick up her keys. “Uh, no, of course not!”

  “Unless you knew this all along and were playing hard-to-get.”

  “No! I’m not like that,” she says, locking the door behind them. “Trust me, this was very unexpected.”

  Ty cracks a smile. “I don’t know. I think you had this in mind all along,” he says, laughing. “I think you portray yourself as some hardass woman, but really you’re a softie.”

  “Really?” she asks as they leave the building and head for visitor parking. She hops into his truck.

  “Uh-huh, I do,” he says, turning his key in the ignition. “You obviously couldn’t resist my charm.”

  She rolls her eyes as she clicks her seat belt. “Please, I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but it was the alcohol talking. I don’t usually drink enough to get tipsy and invite guys back to my place, so don’t let this one-nighter get to your head because it won’t happen again.”

  “You sound like you mean it, but I find that hard to believe.”

  “You shouldn’t. This was all just a—”

  Eileen can’t quite finish her sentence. Was this truly a mistake?

  “Go on, this was just a what?” he asks, driving and eyeing her tight lips.

  “A mistake,” she says softly.

  “You think it was?” he asks sadly, bringing his free hand to his chest. “I’m hurt.”

  “Well, don’t you?” is all she can say.

  “No. Definitely not.”

  “I’m surprised.”

  “You shouldn’t be,” he says and looks at his gas gauge. “I’ve got to stop at a gas station and fill up. We should do this again sometime.”

  This brings a smile to Eileen’s face. “I don’t know about that.”

  “Why not? You had a good time. I had a good time. It’s all good.”

  She shakes her head with embarrassment. “The more we see each other, the more people will talk.”

  He pulls into a Chevron. “You really need to let things go.”

  Ty hops out of his truck. She glances back at him as he leans against his truck, with one hand on the gas pump. He’s wearing last night’s clothes, a wrinkled shirt and blue Mavi jeans, but one would never know that he wasn’t wearing clean clothes. He looks downright sexy. Eileen can’t stop thinking about last night. It wasn’t just a make-out session or a close dance at the concert. She slept with him, and it doesn’t seem real for some reason, more like a dream. Why he picked her, she’ll never know.

  She waits patiently in the passenger seat, fidgeting with her hands. She clicks off her seat belt and gets out of the truck and walks over to Ty.

  “I’m going to grab a coffee since I didn’t have time to finish mine. Do you want one?” she asks.

  “Yeah, okay,” he answers.

  She walks inside the convenience store and pours two coffees. She stirs in milk for hers and puts lids on the cups when she hears her name.

  “Elle!” a female voice cries.

  Eileen turns around to meet her friend’s confused eyes. “Where are you off to?” Brooke asks, stepping away from the counter.

  “I . . . uh . . .” Eileen looks down at her coffee cups. “Grabbing drinks.”

  Brooke glances out the door window. “For who?”

  Eileen’s face flushes.

  Brooke’s eyes grow wide with amusement. “Is Ty with you? You spent the night?” She gasps. “You did, didn’t you?”

  “No, uh, we went out last night and he crashed at my place. It’s nothing really. . . .”

  “Good for you!” Brooke lowers her voice. “How was it? What’s he like?”

  Eileen can feel her face getting hotter. “Shhh.” She looks around.

  “Why are you in denial?”

  “I’m not. It’s just that I don’t want anyone to know.”

  “Why not? That’s amazing! I knew you wou
ld hook up with one of them.”

  “He’s not one of them,” she corrects. “He’s different.”

  “You need this,” Brooke says, giving her a reassuring nod.

  “I better go. Ty’s dropping me off to get my car.”

  “Call me later with details. And I want to hear about everything.”

  Eileen ignores Brooke and pays for the coffees. From the window, she watches her friend wave to Ty as she passes to the pump. So much for keeping a secret.

  Chapter 12

  Later in the afternoon, Eileen drives over to Ty’s apartment holding the Vancouver Daily in a tight grip, rattled and aware that hanging out with the hockey player is not helping her career. She had no idea the general public would be interested in her personal life. Eileen needs to put an end to these meetings and get-togethers fast before they move onto a deeper, romantic level in their relationship. Something she can’t afford to risk.

  Ty opens his front door for her, looking muscular in a T-shirt and shorts. His hair is damp and wavy, curling at the top of his ears. His blue eyes are surprisingly piercing as though he sees something he can’t explain.

  Eileen slides off her shoes. “What?”

  He steps forward to shut the door, turns around, and kisses her fully on the mouth. Her body falls into his arms, leaving her breathless when he releases her. “You look really good,” he manages to say.

  She takes a quick look at what she is wearing. Apparently he finds a woman in a basic summer dress appealing.

  Ty walks into his kitchen and pulls out a jug of milk. “Can I get you something to drink? I’m making a smoothie. Want one?”

  “No, thanks. Listen, about last night—”

  “Yeah?” he says casually, taking a banana from the fruit bowl on the kitchen counter and peeling it. His shirt is form-fitting, revealing his broad shoulders. He gives her a half smile as though waiting for a compliment. “You enjoyed yourself?” He throws the banana into the blender and takes out a handful of cut strawberries from a bowl in the fridge.

  Her shoulders fall. “Ty! I’m talking about us! This is serious!” She unrolls the newspaper and flips to the page. “I had to read the article for myself. It’s horrible! I don’t get it! Why is there so much hype about our personal life?”

  “Did Bill write something he shouldn’t have?” Ty scoops protein powder into the blender and turns it on. “What does it say?” he shouts.

  “I’ll let you read it,” she says, throwing it down on the counter.

  He turns off the blender, grabs a tall cup, and pours himself a smoothie. “Are you sure you don’t want any?”

  She shakes her head. “No thanks.”

  Ty wipes his hand on a tea towel and takes the article in hand. “Hey, that’s us! It’s a good picture!”

  “Never mind the picture—read the article!”

  He smirks as he reads.

  “I didn’t think it was that funny,” Eileen says, disturbed.

  “This story about the cat that ran up the tree and his owner followed, thinking that he could just climb back down, but he got stuck. . . .”

  She shoots him an unimpressed look.

  “Are you trying to be funny?”

  Ty doesn’t answer as his eyes skim the page. When he finishes reading, he looks up.

  “So?”

  “I don’t think it’s a big deal.” He puts down the newspaper, takes a straw from the cupboard, and puts it in his cup.

  “Really? I don’t think it’s right having articles written every week about you and me. And why don’t you think it’s a big deal?”

  Ty takes a seat in his recliner and sips his frothy drink while Eileen sits down on the couch across from him.

  “It is what it is,” he says. “Who cares?”

  Her eyes narrow. “This is horrible!”

  “Come on, Elle. It’s a good article.”

  “It is not! Seriously, this is my reputation. I made it very clear in the beginning that I don’t mix business with pleasure and I sure don’t date men I work with.” She covers her face with her hand.

  “We had a date,” he mocks.

  She tries to be serious, but his playfulness is killing her. Why did he have to be so hot and so much fun? He was supposed to be done with her by now. What was she getting herself into?

  She takes her hand away from her face. “I told you it wasn’t a date. It was a meeting,” she emphasizes. “That’s what I’ll say. I’m sure I’ll hear from Steve, or Joe or Ted. . . .”

  “It was fun. You can admit that, Elle.”

  She can’t. It would mean she liked him more than she bargained for. As long as she had a job to do, she would have to end it with Ty.

  “People are going to think I took this job to get a date . . . to be close to men! People will forget I have talent. You heard what Ali said. And how about the other wives? This is going to jeopardize my job.” She takes a breath. “Ty.” She says his name softer than planned, with more feeling than she wanted. Her eyes close to focus on how she is going to tell him that they need to separate and go their own ways, but as she opens her eyes, she feels a tug at her heart. Ty is watching her as though he is really listening to her. Does he really care about her?

  She swallows a gulp of air before talking. “I . . . we . . . can’t do this. We can’t see each other anymore. The team is going to read this and then what?” she asks with a steady voice. “They’re going to think that we’re dating and we’re not.” She folds her arms to her chest, thinking of how Ty greeted her and how close they’ve become. Why is this so hard? Harder than she imagined.

  He kicks the leg rest down to stand up. “I disagree.”

  Her head leans slightly forward as she waits for an explanation.

  “I don’t know what the big deal is. Who cares what people think?”

  “Maybe it’s not a big deal to you, because this is another game you play, but I don’t play this game, so I would appreciate it if you would talk to this Bill reporter guy and tell him that he needs both sides of the story. Didn’t he learn that in journalism school?”

  Ty starts to chuckle while trying to keep a straight face. He stands in front of her, hands on his hips.

  “Now, what’s so funny?”

  “You.”

  She gives him a disapproving look. “I don’t think this is funny. I’m concerned.”

  “Don’t be.” He sips his drink and puts it down on the coffee table.

  “Are you going to speak with Bill or should I?”

  “I can talk to him if you want,” he says.

  “Good. That’s what I was hoping for.” She walks to the wall-size window and looks out at the view. The water glistens like sequins on a ball gown. Breathtaking.

  “Feel better now?” he asks as he walks over to her. The scent of his cologne paralyzes her. “By next week, this story will be forgotten.”

  “Why isn’t this a big deal to you?” She knows he’s not some regular guy looking for publicity because Ty has enough of that.

  “I don’t care what people think of me. I get paid to play hockey,” he says, staring out the window. Ty smiles. “Besides, I think it’s true. I think the reporter is right.”

  “Come on,” she says with a nervous laugh. “I don’t know what you’re trying to do and what you want from me. You know you can have any one of those puck bunnies . . .” She catches his stare. “What do you want from me?”

  Ty takes a step closer to her and he tilts his head slightly. Eileen is frozen, unsure of what her reaction should be.

  He doesn’t answer her question. Instead, he stands tall, throws his hands together, and asks, “Hungry?”

  Isn’t he going to kiss me?

  If only he were a horrible kisser, she could turn away. And if only he were boring, she could leave for better company.

  “I’ll make us something to eat,” he says, finishing his smoothie and walking into the kitchen to set his empty glass down in the sink. “I missed lunch. The trails were insane! Bra
ndon flew off after he tried to make a jump.”

  “Is he okay?”

  “Oh, yeah,” Ty says, going to the fridge and taking out a package of ham and a block of cheese.

  “And the story says a source confirms the relationship. I’d like to know who that person is.”

  “Do you though? Does it matter?” he asks, making his sandwich.

  “I don’t know. I guess not.” She leans against the granite counter and watches him cut open a bun. “You’re known for having a lot of girlfriends.”

  “I am?”

  Her cheeks flush, as she realizes that they haven’t talked much about their personal lives. They’ve kept quiet about their pasts.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he says, adding some mustard and lettuce.

  “Yes, you do! From what I heard, you are carefree when it comes to women. Taking them home and trying them on for size, so to speak.” She clears her throat.

  “Where do you come up with this?” Ty asks as though he’s hearing it for the first time. He takes a bite of his sandwich, still standing in front of her.

  Eileen’s cheeks are warm. “I don’t know,” she stammers. “It’s a known fact that you’re a casual-sex kind of guy.”

  He swallows. “Really? I didn’t know.”

  “Seriously? You’re kidding, right?”

  “Yeah, I had no idea,” he says, filling a glass of water. “And you want to know where you stand? Is that it?”

  “No . . . uh . . . I’m just wondering, that’s all. Are you still having casual dates with other women?”

  “Do I sense jealousy?” He smirks.

  “Huh? No! Not at all.”

  “Then you’re okay with me seeing other women?”

  She watches him take another bite and wipe his lips with a paper towel.

  “Yeah, yeah, of course.” Her voice is small, and she feels her chest tighten as she thinks of women hanging off of him, proud of the attention.

  “Because you don’t want anything between us, is that right, Elle?”

  “I . . . I . . .”

  “Look, if it makes you feel better, I’m not seeing anyone and I’m not having casual sex.”

  “You do though, don’t you?”

  He shakes his head.

  “You’re just saying that, Ty. Tell me the truth! I need to hear it from you.”