“You think this is a game?” The earlier playfulness was gone, leaving Meryl’s voice soft, and Nik wondered if she interpreted his words as an accusation.
“It crossed my mind, yes.” He looked to the sidewalk, studying the cracks, and the tip of a weed that popped up through it. “I don’t want to think that.”
“What do you want, Nik?” she asked.
“I want to be a great hockey player,” he said. “I want to help you make the Young Generals program a success. And I want to not anger your father.”
“Forget about my father for a minute, and the fact he signs your paychecks,” Meryl challenged. “If not for that, what do you want? From me? Us?”
Nik swallowed hard. So much for placing the ball in her court. It was now in his for sure. If he thought she owed him the truth, he owed her the same. “I find you very attractive,” Nik said. “And interesting. I would like to get to know you better on a personal level. If not for your father and his prohibitions, I would like to take you on a date.”
“Screw my father,” Meryl said with a bluntness that surprised Nik. “I’m done letting him control me.”
“So what are you saying?”
“That I’m interested in you too. And not just because I need your help with the hockey camps. I’d like to get to know you better. On a personal level.”
Her words both pleased Nik and scared him at the same time. He’d never met anyone quite as bold and forthcoming as Meryl before. Maybe it was proof of American girls being different from Russian girls, or maybe it wasn’t a national thing and was simply about Meryl. Either way, she excited him.
“Does that mean you’d like to go out with me?” Nik asked. “Like on a date. A real one?”
She didn’t hesitate at all before saying, “Yes. I’d like that very much. When?”
Still bold. “Tomorrow?” Nik suggested. “I am off for one more day.”
“And so am I,” Meryl said. “Tomorrow’s fine. And if you don’t mind me picking the place, there’s something I’d really like to show you, since you probably don’t know much about San Antonio.”
“Very little.” Nik found himself relieved that Meryl wanted to take charge. He wouldn’t even know where to begin to take a beautiful woman for a romantic date. Especially since the woman was used to wealth and privilege. “You can choose. Just tell me what time, and I’ll wear my best tie, even though I don’t like them.”
“No tie,” Meryal said, shaking her head. “A sport jacket, though.”
“I can do that,” Nik answered. He was definitely intrigued. “I look forward to it.”
“Me too. Very much.”
Chapter Nine
Meryl’s prior dating experience was limited to Jensen and a few unremarkable evenings with fellow students at Trinity which largely left her bored. That was the thing about having her first love affair with a professional athlete. It was hard to date ordinary college guys after that. Sure, Nik was her own age, and the same age as the guys at school, but he lived in a different world. He travelled all over North America playing professional hockey. People wore jerseys and T-shirts with his name on them. He had his own computerized likeness in a video game. That was quite a bit different from studying for a History final.
If Nik offered her a similar level of excitement that Jensen had, though, the parallels ended there. Jensen was older, experienced, and had possessed an ego fitting of his celebrity status. Nik, on the other hand, was quiet, unassuming, and down to earth. Maybe that came from being new to the NHL or new to the United States. Either way, he seemed to lack arrogance.
Meryl had let Jensen take charge in their relationship, and she’d liked the excitement he could show her. He’d known far more about the ways of the world than a sheltered, boarding-school raised seventeen-year-old ever would.
Now, suddenly, she found herself in the other role. Perhaps she should have held back and allowed Nik to decide where they would go for their first official date, and maybe he would have surprised her with something spectacular in spite of being new to the city. Instead, Meryl decided to take control. She hoped Nik wasn’t put off by it. He didn’t seem to be, at least.
He greeted her at the door wearing a black suit paired with a blue shirt, with the collar open and no tie, exactly like she’d requested. A hint of hair peaked out from the first two open buttons, and Meryl found herself wondering how he’d look without that shirt. Could she expect more hair, was there only a little bit? Down, girl, she cautioned herself.
“You look very nice,” Nik said. “Your dress matches your eyes.”
“And your shirt too,” she said, chuckling. “People might think we planned this.”
“They might.” His lips curled in a smile. “I hope they will think we’re an attractive couple and not wonder what you are doing with me.”
A couple. Meryl liked the sound of that. “I doubt that will be a problem. You’re the one who’s famous, after all.” She twirled a strand of hair around her finger. “Are we going to be mobbed by people screaming your name and wanting your autograph?”
“I doubt it,” Nik said. “Did you see anyone mob me the other night?”
Meryl considered that and shook her head. “No. They left us alone.”
“Exactly. Now, if I played the sport you Americans call football, for the Dallas Cowboys, things would be quite different,” Nik said with a laugh. “Or if this were Canada. But in Texas, I think hockey is still not as well known. The players on our team, we are more—what is the word—unanimous?”
“Anonymous,” Meryl said. “I think you mean anonymous. As in people don’t recognize you.”
“Yes, that’s what I mean. I’m sorry. I still find English confusing sometimes.”
His English was very good now, much better than six months ago when he’d first moved here, but Meryl still found it adorable when he seemed unsure of a word. She certainly didn’t want him to feel self-conscious. “It can be confusing even for people who’ve been speaking it their whole life,” she said, hoping to put him at ease about the mistake. “And you’re right. Hockey is still new enough here that you aren’t big time celebrities.” That, at least, worked well for dating hockey players and wanting to be left alone. “Maybe we can change that, though.”
“With the hockey camps?”
“Yes, and the other stuff we’re doing,” Meryl said. “The charity foundation, things like that. And of course, if you guys keep winning, that will help,” she added with a smile.
It was intended as a bit of a joke, but Nik predictably took it seriously. “We’re trying. I want to play another game. I feel as if we let people down the other night. Especially me.”
So he was still upset about the loss to Columbus and the missed opportunities. It spoke highly of his work ethic. “You’re doing fine,” Meryl said. “No one expects a win every night. And I’m sure you’ll beat Edmonton in a few days.” Too bad it was a road game and she wouldn’t be there. “Anyway, shall we go?” she asked. “I do have something else planned for today besides standing in the doorway.”
“Oh, right,” Nik said with a laugh. At least this time, he seemed to understand she was joking. “Where are you taking me, anyway?”
“You’ll see soon enough,” Meryl said. “By the way, I hope you’re not afraid of heights.”
***
When Meryl mentioned heights, Nik’s first thought was rock climbing or perhaps zip lining, but since she wore a dress, and specifically requested he wear a suit, they were probably overdressed for such an adventure. It turned out the height reference was because they would be dining at a restaurant atop the Tower of the Americas, which Nik quickly learned was the tallest building in San Antonio. In spite of that, it only ranked twenty-seventh in the state of Texas. Dallas and Houston apparently liked very tall buildings, since they were home to the other twenty-six. Still, at 750 feet, it was considerably taller than anything in Siberia.
The restaurant also rotated, offering panoramic views of the ent
ire city, including downtown and the Generals’ home arena. “Nice view,” Nik said, after they’d been seated and ordered their dinner. “I’ve never eaten in a moving restaurant before.” He hoped Meryl wouldn’t look down on him or think him unsophisticated. He knew there were plenty of revolving restaurants in the world, including one in Moscow’s Ostankino Tower. He’d just never been in one.
“The CN Tower in Toronto is a lot more impressive than this,” Meryl said. “But for San Antonio, it will do. I thought since you were new to the area, you might like to see it.”
“Yes, thank you. I’m trying to learn more about the city.”
“Do you like it here so far?” Meryl asked. “I mean, I know you miss your family. But are you enjoying San Antonio?”
Nik pondered the question as he took a drink of water. “For the most part, yes. It’s hard, living with strangers, and I am hoping to get my own place after the season. But the town is nice and the fans have been good to us so far. I think as we become more involved in the community, it will be even better.”
“That’s what I want to see too,” Meryl said. “More charity work, the camps we’ll be doing, all of that can help. I love hockey and I love my hometown, and I’d like to see the two work out well together.”
She spoke with passion, and Nik believed her words. It also occurred to him how little he knew about her. “So this is your home, then? I wasn’t sure, because you mentioned Toronto.”
“You’re probably wondering how we got into hockey,” Meryl said with a laugh.
“I am curious, yes.”
“My father is half-Canadian, so he grew up with hockey,” she explained. “That’s how it all started.”
“From Toronto?” Nik asked. It seemed logical, since she referred to CN Tower.
Meryl shook her head. “Ottawa actually, but the Senators weren’t for sale, so my father wanted his own team. Enter San Antonio. His primary business is here, and my brother and I were raised here, so it’s a good fit.” She looked out the window at the night sky as they slowly revolved around it. “A lot of people hoped for Seattle or Las Vegas for the league expansion, but we really want to make San Antonio work.”
“And myself and the other players will do the best we can,” Nik said. Colton was traded from Montreal, but was firmly establishing himself in his new city, and Trevor was trying to make the most of his last chance in the NHL. “You didn’t answer my question, though, about Toronto.”
“Oh, that.” Meryl looked relieved when their food came. “Before the Generals, my father owned a professional soccer team, the San Antonio Renegades.”
“Soccer, like the rest of the world calls football.” Nik sliced into his steak, finding it medium rare, exactly the way he liked it.
“Yes, that,” Meryl said with a laugh. “Anyway, the Renegades played in the professional North American Soccer League, and there’s also a team in Toronto, so I had the chance to travel there a time or two.” She looked down at her plate as she said it, leaving Nik wondering about the history.
“You don’t like Toronto?” he asked.
“I like Toronto fine. My experience there is complicated, though.”
Complicated. The way Americans seemed to refer to things they didn’t want to talk about. “Your family doesn’t own the soccer team anymore?”
“No.” Meryl shook her head. “Things didn’t work out, and my father sold the team. They relocated to Memphis and won a championship there.”
Her answers were curt. There was a story there, and Meryl didn’t seem happy discussing it. “And hopefully the Generals will win a championship here.” After all, the goal of every NHL player was to win a Stanley Cup.
“Maybe. If my father doesn’t find a way to mess it up.”
Nik frowned, wondering if that were a possibility. After all, he didn’t know much about his team’s owner other than he’d made his fortune in oil, then later alternative energy, and he seemed committed to building a winning hockey team. After all, he’d spared no expense in bringing in quality players.
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to give you a negative impression about your boss,” Meryl said, reading his concern.
“But you’re not close to your father,” Nik said. That much had been obvious during dinner two days before.
“No, I’m not, but my issues with him aren’t a reason for you to be concerned.”
“If you say so.” Nik hoped it was true. “I guess it’s complicated, having so much wealth.” He smiled. “That’s a problem I will never have.”
“Oh, your entry level contract is pretty darn good,” Meryl said, and Nik nodded.
“Yes, it’s more money than anyone in my family has ever come close to earning, and I’m grateful for the faith the team has shown in me.”
“So tell me something,” Meryl said. “Why did you decide to live with the Crawfords this year rather than get your own place?’
It was a question Nik got asked a lot. “My agent and manager suggested it. They thought since I’m young and had never been to the United States until six months ago, that it would help me adjust to life here, and it has,” he explained. “They do not speak Russian, so I am forced to learn English quickly. And they’ve helped me learn about the city, such as good places to go and the areas to avoid. My mother is pleased, because she worries about me being here on my own.”
“I’m sure she does.” Meryl smiled. “You must miss her terribly.”
Nik nodded. “Yes. I am hoping to get her to move here for next season, when I get my own house.”
“And do you think she will?”
“No.” He let out a slight laugh. “I’m still trying, though. She’s had to work very hard, especially since losing my father, and I’d like for her to not work so hard. I can support her now, and she can rest.”
“You’re a good son, Nikolai,” she said, using his full name for a change.
“I try my best.”
***
He was a perfect gentleman, polite and well-mannered, and seemed to genuinely appreciate the views of his new city that the tower afforded them. After dinner, they went up to the observation deck to get an even better view.
“I can’t believe it. There’s our arena over there,” Nik said, looking down from the deck. “It looks so tiny from way up here.”
“Yes, it does.”
“Where is your University?” he asked. “Can you see it from here?”
Meryl shook her head. “No, it’s north of here, and it’s not a very big campus.” She pointed. “It’s that way, but you can’t see anything.”
“That’s too bad. I would like to see it.”
He sounded sincere, and Meryl smiled. “I can take you there sometime.”
“I’d like that. Will you be continuing your studies even while you work for the team?”
It was interesting that he would ask, and something Meryl hadn’t thought much about until now. She’d be busy over the next couple months while the project got off the ground. Taking a break from school, though, wasn’t an option. That would be sure to draw her father’s ire, and he was already probably secretly convinced she’d fail. “Yes,” she said. “My education is very important to me. I might have to take a lighter course load this coming semester, though, while we get everything set up.”
“It’s a big project,” Nik said. “But you will make it great.”
His confidence in her inspired Meryl even more. Yes, it would, because she would work tirelessly to make sure it was. “With your help, of course.”
She shivered involuntarily in the slightly brisk December air, and Nik took off his jacket and placed it over her shoulders. “Perhaps we should go, if you are cold.”
“A little.” Even in Texas, a short sleeve dress wasn’t appropriate for being outdoors on a winter night, especially seven hundred feet in the air. Meryl didn’t want the evening to end quite yet, though. “There’s something else I want you to see before we leave.”
“What’s that?”
&
nbsp; “We’re going for a tour across the entire state of Texas.”
Nik’s brow furrowed in apparent confusion. “I thought you said before we leave here.”
“I did,” Meryl said with a grin. “It’s actually a 4-D theater ride called Skies over Texas.”
“Four dimensional? I didn’t know there was such a thing.”
“I’ve never experienced it myself,” Meryl said. “I believe there are effects in the theater, such as wind, rain, and moving seats. But if you’re up for the adventure, we can see all of Texas in less than ten minutes.”
“I like adventure,” Nik said. “Let’s see this great state you call Texas.”
Seeing the whole state was an exaggeration, of course, but the thrill ride did take them to a rodeo, NASA and a high school football game, in which the experience was so real Meryl thought the linebacker was about to knock her to the ground. That was nothing compared to the desert snake that appeared to extend out of the movie screen, poised to attack them.
Meryl jolted in her seat and reached out for Nik’s hand, which he took, but fortunately the snake retreated fast. Probably because he wasn’t real, making Meryl feel a bit like an idiot for being so scared.
“You do not like snakes,” Nik presumed as the ride ended and they left the theater.
“No. I hate them. Had I known there would be snakes in this, I wouldn’t have suggested we do that.” Now she’d probably have nightmares about the hideous creature. “I’m sorry I grabbed at your hand like that.”
“It’s okay. I didn’t mind.” As if to prove it, Nik took her hand as they walked to the car.
Meryl pressed the key fob to unlock it, and Nik reached out to open the door for her. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure. I’ve had a great time tonight.”
“Me too.” Meryl still didn’t want the night to end. “I can take you back to your house, if you’d like,” she said, even though that was the last thing she wanted. If she took him there, the night would surely end. It wasn’t his house, after all, and he wouldn’t invite her in. “Or we can drive around for a bit and talk some more.” She took a breath. “Or we can go back to my place.”
Crossing the Line (Men of the Ice Book 2) Page 6