Chapter 13

Ivan

We'd been almostto the hotel when I'd gotten Chey's text, so I'd grabbed Connor, Canyon, and Gabe, and we'd headed out to the diner she'd mentioned. I couldn't explain why, exactly, except that any time she mentioned Stevie, Damien seemed to be involved, and I already knew she didn't like or trust him. There was something about the guy that rubbed me the wrong way as well, so I hadn't hesitated to head out to meet her.

She hadn't invited me to join them, but my gut told me she would be happy to see me.

And the way her eyes lit up when she saw me told me I was right.

"Hi." She got up quickly, hurrying over to greet us.

I dropped my head, pressing a light kiss on her lips as she whispered, "What are you doing here?"

"If we're intruding, we can leave, but I had a feeling…" I glanced in the direction of the table.

"You're a life saver," she said, smiling up at me. "You have no idea how glad I am to see you."

Dear god, when she looked at me like that, I felt like a teenager falling in love for the first time.

"I had a feeling," was all I said, sliding an arm around her shoulders as she greeted the other guys.

"We need a bigger table," I said, motioning to the waitress.

"The French Onion soup is to die for," Chey said as the waitress cleared off a table that would fit all of us.

Damien looked pissed off, Stevie looked relieved, and to his credit, Jim just seemed amused by the whole thing. Good thing he wasn't pushy, or I'd have had to punch him in the face.

"Good game tonight," Chey said, proffering her spoon with some soup on it.

I nodded as I closed my lips around the warm liquid.

"Oh, that's good," I said, looking at the waitress. "Bring me one. And a club sandwich, please."

The others ordered and I put my arm around the back of Chey's chair, leaning toward her. If Damien and his buddy weren't sure about my presence in her life yet, they would be by the end of the night. I didn't have to do anything overt to make my point, so hopefully this would be the end of the matchmaking attempts, or whatever it was they were up to.

"So, you're one and two on the road trip now," Jim said, staring at something on his phone. "That's not bad considering last season's record."

"It's taking time for all the new guys to gel," Gabe responded. "But we're getting there."

"How many seasons you think you have left in you?" Damien asked him pointedly.

Gabe didn't bat an eyelash. "As many as I can get away with. Most of us don't ever want to retire, even when our bodies betray us, but I won't stay beyond my usefulness. When the time comes that I'm not as effective as I should be, I'll be done. It's that simple."

Damien smirked. "Well, you landed yourself a billionaire wife, so if I were you, I'd be protecting my head and living the good life."

"Honey." Stevie squeezed his arm. "That's kind of personal, don't you think?"

"It's public knowledge," he said, shrugging.

Ugh.

I fucking hated this guy.

Thank god the waitress brought out our food relatively quickly, so I had something to think about that didn't include punching him. I seemed to think about that a lot when we were in the same room together.

Conversation was more mellow after that, talking about the Knicks' season and then switching over to Damien and Stevie's upcoming wedding plans.

"Whatever she wants," Damien said smoothly, relaxing back against his chair with his arm around her. He loosened his tie and smiled as if he suddenly had genuine feelings for her. It was the first time I'd seen any affection from him, and it was oddly uncharacteristic. "I figure she and her girls will come up with all the pink and flowery stuff they like for weddings. You know how it is."

"The ladies do tend to like to run the show," Canyon said. "Not that I've ever gotten married, but my sister did, and that was a whole thing. Cost my parents a fortune and now they're getting divorced after two years."

"How come?" I asked curiously.

He made a face. "He hit her. And I took care of that." He folded his arms across his chest.

"Some women ask for it," Damien said casually. "Cheating, lying, spending too much money… there's more to it than you hear about."

"If your wife is cheating," I said slowly, "you either get counseling to find out why, leave, or pack her shit and kick her out. You don't put your hands on her."

"Some people are old school."

"Like you?" Chey asked, squinting slightly.

He shrugged again. "Not necessarily, but you know how it is. Especially when there's money or emotions involved. Tensions can get high. People do things they wouldn't normally do."

"Not in a million years," Gabe said, scowling. "I wouldn't lay a hand on my wife. Or any woman, unless she came at me with a knife or something."

Canyon and Connor agreed, while Damien made a face at us.

"So, you're all part of this woke, me too bullshit?"

"We're not part of any bullshit," I said with as much patience as I could muster up. "We're just good human beings who believe that physical violence is never the answer." I paused. "Off the ice, of course. Hockey is different. But there are also no women playing hockey with us. Whether or not they should, is another conversation for another day."

"Well, I didn't say I would hit a woman," Damien said, obviously realizing no one was on his side. "I just said I could understand why it happens sometimes."

"There's no reason, ever," Gabe said, pushing his plate away.

"Anyway, it's late," Chey said abruptly. "I need to get some sleep. It was a long day."

"Same." I quickly pulled some money out of my wallet.

"I've got it," Jim said, holding up a hand. "I don't get to eat with a group of pro athletes very often. Please. It's my pleasure."

"Thank you." I inclined my head and the others all said something appropriate.

"I've got my car and driver," Chey said to me. "Does everyone want to come with me so I can drop you off? I think we'll fit…"

"We can walk from here," Stevie told her, getting up to hug her. I couldn't hear what she whispered in Chey's ear, but Chey nodded.

"See you soon," Chey told her.

Within a few minutes, Chey and I, along with Gabe, Connor, and Canyon were in the SUV that had been her vehicle of choice all week.

"Is he as much of a douchebag as I think," Connor asked after a moment, "or am I just na?ve?"

"You're plenty na?ve," Gabe said, "but not about Damien. He's a hardcore douche."

"Stevie's gorgeous," he said after a moment. "I don't understand. She could have anyone. Why would she pick someone like him?"

"One of life's great mysteries," Chey replied. "Stevie's been through a lot. I don't know what she's looking for, but she keeps finding it in the wrong places. All I can do is hope she comes to her senses before she marries him. However, she and I are going to have a tough conversation about continuing to blindside me with attempts to set me up with Damien's friends. That shit is going to stop. Either that or the friendship will be over. This isn't cool."

"You want me to say something?" I asked her quietly.

She shook her head. "Thank you, but no. This is between Stevie and me. There's a female version of the bro code, you know? She should know better. I'm not interested. That's all there is to it. The first time, fine, let me meet the guy. But after that, enough. Especially when I've told her I'm seeing someone."

"Seems to me that Damien guy has something on her," Connor said.

We all looked at him and he shrugged.

"What do you mean?" Chey asked.

"Look at it from my very na?ve perspective. She's gorgeous. A model. I'm going to guess well off, if not super rich, right?"

Chey nodded. "She does well."

"Even if she's a fuck-up hot mess emotionally, she can have almost anyone. Why him? Is he that good-looking from a woman's perspective?" he asked Chey.

She made a face. "Not my type, but I guess he's okay since looks are very subjective. But it's his personality that's shit."

"Exactly. She should hire a private detective to find out what he's up to. I bet he has a ton of gambling debts or something." He paused. "Or she does."

We were all quiet.

"Out of the mouths of babes," Gabe said.

"Well, she and I are going to talk, and I'll see what I can find out." Chey squeezed my arm. "Hang out for a minute, will you?"

"Sure."

The others got out and filed into the hotel.

"Rick, take us around the block, will you?" she called to the driver.

"Sure, Ms. Chey."

"What are we doing?" I asked curiously.

"I don't know. I just wasn't ready to say good night. Plus, I wanted to properly thank you for coming to the rescue." To my surprise, she reached up and put a hand on my cheek as she lifted her mouth to mine.

I claimed her lips without hesitation, sliding my tongue against hers.

I'd been patient as fuck.

It was time to show her how much I wanted her.

I'd let her take the lead with how far we went, but I wasn't going to hold back as much anymore. If she wanted me, I was all hers.

She turned her body so she could wrap her arms around my neck, and I pulled her closer. Her body was slight but firm, toned muscles lurking beneath soft skin. I loved how it felt to have her in my arms, and I deepened the kiss. Her mouth molded to mine, and she climbed into my lap, straddling me. I cupped her bottom, moving her so she could feel my erection pressed against her core, and she sighed against my lips.

"You feel so good," she whispered.

"I wish I could go back to your hotel with you," I replied, "but I need to be here in the morning. Just in case Coach calls a meeting or something."

She met my gaze curiously. "Is there a reason you're not inviting me up to stay here with you?"

"I'm leaving the ball in your court," I said quietly. "I want you, but you've made it clear you think our lives are too different right now for anything to come of this. And you're not the type of woman I'd have a one-night stand with."

She smiled, tracing a line around my lips with the tip of one finger.

"That's nice. You're a sweet talker."

"Sometimes."

She leaned forward, using the tip of her tongue this time, and gently running it along the underside of my bottom lip.

"You're also a sweet kisser."

She nibbled on the cleft of my chin, her lips soft against my skin.

"I'm not really into one-night stands either," she said. "So, this can be whatever you want it to be."

"You have to tell me what you want, Chey. I don't want to make any assumptions."