Chapter 14

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

GEMMA

New York is as curious and busy as ever. Checking into the hotel was a breeze. Davy made his displeasure known about Dario sharing with me. Dodge is in the room on one side of us and Levi, another Ellison Security guy, on the other. There is testosterone all around me.

Dodge thought that if the man follows me to New York, he will be easier to spot because he has a good memory for faces. I just want this over with. But now I must take care of Nash and Dover.

Nash is nineteen and Dover has just turned twenty. Their excitement is contagious, but so are their nerves. They will not be on the ice for the next two games, but they will travel back with the team to get some ice time in Boston.

I like both. In fact, Dover had shocked me because within five minutes of meeting him, he told me he was gay and asked if that was a problem. I had stumbled over my words to inform him that the boss was gay, so no, it wasn't a problem for me or the team.

Nash had laughed and slung an arm around Dover's shoulders. I'd seen Dodge checking out Dover a couple of times. Dodge and Levi are everywhere I am, which is fine with me. But it bothers me that Dario has no one with him. Well, he has the team. But that's different.

I check my phone and read the message from Miles, the coach. I smile. "Let's go down to the ice."

Both guys jump up, but I can see the nerves they are trying to hide.

"You two are doing great. I promise you have nothing to worry about."

Levi leads the way while Dodge brings up the rear. The arena in New York isn't as big as the Vikings' home arena, but it's big enough. The corridors to the locker room are long and well lit.

My nerves jump, but everything calms down when I see the team coming out of the locker room.

I walk around Levi and find Dario. His face lights up as he approaches me.

"Sweetheart," he says and reaches for me. I hug him, enjoying the brief brush of our lips. "Are you okay?" He whispers.

"I am now."

His smile widens and then he looks over my shoulder. A possessive arm wraps around me. "This is Nash and Dover, the guys I told you about." I say to the guys, "This is Dario."

"Her boyfriend," Dario states. I roll my eyes.

Dover smiles. "She's the wrong gender for me." He laughs. "But you're not."

Laughing, I pinch Dario's side. "You asked for that!"

Nash shakes his head. "Wrong hair color for me." He follows that with a wink.

"Whatever," Dario mutters. But he gives the guys a fist bump. It must be a male thing. "So, you guys are coming to see how we play?"

"They're coming back to Boston with us." I kiss him on the cheek. "Go win a game." Then I whisper, "I'll tell you the plan I have for the hot rod in your pants after tomorrow's game."

He groans. "Tease," he mumbles and turns to join his teammates, but not before slapping me on the butt.

"Is he always that possessive?" Nash asks.

"We're new, so yeah."

"Okay." He chuckles, and Dover gives him a shove.

Miles rushes over. "I got this, Gemma. I'll send them up to you with Dario."

"That would be great." I wave them off.

Dodge drops in next to me. I eye him. "I noticed you like Dover." I waggle my eyebrows.

Dodge shrugs and gives me an eye. "He's too young." End of discussion. He takes my arm and leads me out of the tunnel. I'm supposed to watch the game from the executive box with Wyatt, and the New York manager.

"Did anyone show up at my apartment?" Ellison has set up cameras in the hallway to my apartment as well as in the entrance.

"No." Dodge shakes his head but doesn't meet my gaze.

"What are you not telling me?"

His mouth tightens. "Another letter was delivered. Addressed to me at Ellison's offices in Boston. It said, ' Tell the slut I'll see her soon .'"

"Oh God!" I come to a stop. He urges me to keep walking.

"You're not alone, Gemma. He won't get to you."

I don't say anything as fear grips me. What the hell am I supposed to do?

Wyatt and Dallas greet me before I enter the executive box. I'm embarrassed to see Dallas after what he said to me. But the man smiles and puts me at ease. "I owe you an apology. I was out of line." He looks at Wyatt and then back at me. "I was trying to save Wyatt a headache. It backfired. Dario's a good guy."

I smile. "Thanks. That means a lot." I look at Wyatt. "You know about us?"

He frowns. "Dario came to see me yesterday. He told me that if one of you had to go, it would be him." He smiles. "I explained a few things to him, and nobody is leaving. Besides, who am I to stand in the way of true love?"

Dodge snorts, trying to hide it behind a cough. "Back to business. Nash and Dover. First impressions?"

I let out a sigh of relief and say, "I think they'll be a perfect fit for the team. They're both nervous and afraid of messing up, but they like to tease. I can tell how much this opportunity means to them. I hope they play as well as you expect, because it would be sad not to sign both."

"That's what I was hoping to hear." Wyatt grins. "Why don't you guys go inside and watch the game. There is plenty of food and drink." He squeezes my arm and walks past.

I look at Dodge. "Did you know Dario talked to Wyatt?"

"I had an idea. Didn't know for sure."

"Hmm."

Levi opens the door, and we enter the huge suite. I see faces I recognize, but more I don't. I turn to Dodge. "Do you agree with my assessment?"

He opens his mouth to speak but pauses. "I do."

"Good. I wasn't sure if I was off my game with everything going on."

"You're doing fine."

I smile. "That means Dover will be living in Boston."

He rolls his eyes. Levi pretends not to hear, but I see his lips twitch.