Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

King

A s we drive through the city, Willa looks over at me, curiosity gleaming in her eyes. "So, where are we going?" she asks.

I chuckle. "It's a surprise."

I'd only told her to dress warm and casual for our date tonight, and she'd hit the mark while looking very stylish. Her long legs look fabulous in a pair of dark-wash skinny jeans that she paired with a cream-colored turtleneck and a navy, quilted vest. Over that she's wearing a navy peacoat and her only deviation from casual are the camel-colored boots with a pegged heel. No worries… she won't be wearing them long.

Narrowing her eyes at me playfully, she says, "Here's some Willa101. I'm not a fan of surprises."

I grin, eyes back on the road. "Trust me, you'll like this one."

The drive doesn't take long and we reminisce about the prior evening's festivities at her house. Dinner was amazing and the company even better. After we ate, I dragged Rafferty and North into the kitchen to clean up. It was a move that Willa protested, but Brittany happily sat on one of the island stools and gave orders and pointed where things went. After the kitchen was tidied and take-home plates were tucked away in the fridge for each of us guys, Izzy insisted on playing Heads Up. I guess in deference to the men, Willa put football on the TV, but for the most part, we were all in on the game—fast-paced group charades that had us acting like fools and laughing our asses off.

When it was time to leave, I'll admit I didn't want to go. But I kept that to myself, instead giving Willa the same friendly hug I gave Brittany and Izzy.

I'd thought things were cool until the guys started bantering in the car. Neither guessed that I had a romantic interest in Willa and Rafferty was the first to burst the bubble. "Is it just me or is Willa smoking hot?"

"Totally hot," North agreed with a nod. "You going to ask her out?"

"Maybe," Rafferty mused. "I mean… she's in a different class of women than I normally date."

"You mean the type you bang and sneak out of their beds before the sun rises?" I asked.

"Exactly," he replied with a smirk. "I'm not sure Willa's that type of woman."

"She's not," I said, and the snappish tone had Rafferty turning narrowed eyes on me. I hadn't told either of them that I'd already asked her out and she'd accepted. As far as they knew, I was only helping her coach the Ice Pups.

"That sounded like you have insider knowledge," he mused.

"Of course I do," I replied nonchalantly. "We coach a team together. I've gotten to know her."

"It sounded jealous," North pointed out from the driver's seat.

"I'm not jealous," I scoffed.

"Sounded jealous," Rafferty agreed. "You got something for her?"

"No." My denial was swift and sure.

"Good," Rafferty said with a laugh. "Then I'm going for it."

"The fuck you are," I snarled, and both men guffawed.

"I knew it." Rafferty chuckled as his gaze flicked between me and the road. "You really like her. I said you were smitten when you first mentioned her to me, didn't I?"

I could have denied it, taken more of their shit, and basically told them to mind their own business, but I wasn't about to let Rafferty call Willa and ask her for a date. She might just say yes, and since he's twenty-seven, it puts him closer to her age. She might find that more amenable.

So I ended up telling them the truth… that we were going out on a date. I still had to listen to their shit, but it was more of them being awestruck than anything since I've never really shown an interest in women when we've all hung out.

It was a lot of good-natured ribbing after that and neither one of them said anything about the age difference. Not that they know Willa's exact age, but they learned enough about her to know she's an established doctor and would be a bit older than me. The fact that they didn't give me shit about it means it's not a big deal, just the way I told Willa it wouldn't be.

When I pull into the parking lot of our destination, Willa frowns as she sees the sign, reading it aloud. "Steel City Ice Arena. Are we… going skating?" she asks, a hint of bewilderment in her tone.

I park the car and turn off the engine, then look at her with a mischievous smile. "Something like that."

"Is this place even open?" she asks as she grabs her door handle.

I can see why she'd ask. There's only one other car in the lot besides mine. "It's open."

"Not a very popular place," she murmurs as we exit the car. I walk to the back hatch and Willa meets me there. When I pop it open, she gasps when she sees her skates beside a picnic basket. My skates are in a dark duffel bag and I unzip it to grab them.

Eyes wide with surprise, she asks, "How did you get my skates?"

I chuckle as I pick them up and hand them to her before nabbing the picnic basket. "I made arrangements with your sister before I left your house yesterday. She snuck them into my car last night so it would be a surprise." I grab my own skates with my other hand and hit the button for the hatch to close.

Willa's expression is slightly bewildered. "This might be the sweetest, most original idea for a date I've ever heard of. And so sweet you got Brittany to grab my skates."

"I know I've only got this one shot to convince you to go on another date. I remember you said at dinner on Monday that you still get out on the ice sometimes. I want to see what you've got."

She laughs, shaking her head as we walk to the building. "I haven't skated seriously in years."

"But you still have it in you," I say confidently, using my hand holding the skates to open the glass door for her to enter. "Come on, let's go."

We walk inside, and everything is dark except for spinning colored lights above the ice. Willa's eyes widen again as she takes in the sight. "Where is everyone?" She looks around, awestruck, and then pieces it together. "Did you rent out this entire place for us?"

I grin, feeling a bit proud. "Being a Titan has its perks. We have the rink to ourselves for two hours. There's a manager lurking around somewhere, controlling the lights and music."

A romantic song starts in the background, a little cheesy but I'm going with it. "Let's skate first."

We sit on the bench by the ice and lace up our skates. Willa looks at me, her eyes sparkling. "This is beyond charming, King. I'm not sure I believe that story you told me that you don't have experience dating."

Chuckling, I nudge her shoulder with mine. "I'm a creative guy. And anything worth doing is worth doing well. Now, let's see what you can do out there."

Willa laughs, shaking her head, and that long brown hair pours over her shoulders. "All right, but no judging."

I grin. "I wouldn't dream of it."

As we step onto the ice, the smooth surface reflects the colored lights spinning around us, creating an enchanting atmosphere. The lilting melody of "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran fills the air, setting a romantic backdrop for our evening. I don't know if it's over the top because again… not a lot of experience. But Willa's smile as she takes it all in makes me think it was the right call.

I watch as she glides effortlessly across the ice, her movements fluid and light. Her long hair flows behind her, her arms held out gracefully, and she looks like she was born to be out here.

"Let me see something cool," I call out, eager to witness her skills.

She grins at me. "All right… I'm going to start easy with a single axel. This is the foundation of many figure skating skills."

Willa builds up speed, her blades crisply slicing the ice. Her eyes are focused ahead, and I can see the determination in her expression. She approaches the jump with a smooth, forward glide on one foot, her body perfectly balanced. As she reaches the takeoff point, she pushes off from the outside edge of her left skate, launching herself into the air. My breath catches as I watch her leap, her body twisting in midair. It's so fast I can't tell how many times she goes around, but I'm thinking one and a half because she lands facing me on the back outside edge of her right skate.

She says she doesn't skate that often, but she looks like she never left the ice. The single axel might be a foundational jump, but in Willa's execution, it's nothing short of breathtaking. She makes it look so effortless, her movements smooth and precise. As she skates back toward me, a smile lighting up her face, I find myself in awe of her talent and beauty.

Breezing by me, Willa does a few elegant spins and another small jump near where I stand. As she lands, her skate catches in a groove in the ice, and she stumbles forward. I react quickly, catching her in my arms, the force of her nearly knocking us both over.

I hold her for a long moment, her body pressed against me. Those pretty blue-gray eyes meet mine, and for a moment I wonder if I should kiss her. The thought lingers, making my heart race, but instead, I smile and ask, "Can you show me how to skate with you?"

She grins, pulling back slightly but still holding my hand. "Sure. Let's start with some basics. I'll show you how we can dance together on the ice."

Willa positions herself in front of me. "Hold my hands like this," she instructs, and I grip onto her. "Now, follow my lead. We'll start slow."

We begin to move, her guiding me through simple steps, our skates gliding in unison. Despite being a hockey player, this is different, more intricate. She leads me into a basic hold, her hands directing me to place one hand on her waist and the other holding her free hand.

"Keep your knees slightly bent," she says, her voice low and encouraging. "And match my rhythm."

We skate around the rink, our movements syncing, and I start to get the hang of it. We pick up speed, laughing and joking as we go. Willa's laughter is infectious, and I find myself grinning from ear to ear.

"You're doing great," she says, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Now, watch this."

She turns around gracefully, skating backward while still holding my hands. "Just keep your eyes on me," she says, guiding us around the rink. We continue to glide, our movements becoming more fluid and confident.

"This is amazing," I say, marveling at how effortlessly she leads me. "You're amazing."

She blushes, her cheeks rosy from the cold and the compliment. "You're not too bad yourself. Maybe if you want to ditch your hockey gig, we could try couples figure skating."

Laughing, I shake my head. "I think I'll keep my day job."

We continue to skate and it feels like we're the only two people in the world, lost in this perfect moment together. Because we're both athletes and are at home on the ice, we become more adventurous with our movements. Willa spins around to face me again, joy shining across her face. But just as we're about to make another turn, I lose my balance and immediately loosen my hold on her hands. She doesn't let go though and as I start to fall, she comes with me. Instinctively, I twist to take the brunt and we crash down onto the ice.

I hit the cold surface first, a dull thud reverberating through me. Willa lands on top of me, her weight cushioned by my body. The impact forces the air out of my lungs, but the sensation of her warmth against me quickly overrides any discomfort as we slide to a stop.

For a moment, everything is still. Her face is inches away, her breath mingling with mine in the cold air. Her eyes, wide with surprise, lock onto mine. Time seems to slow down, and all I can think about is how close she is, how perfect this moment feels despite our clumsy fall.

Without thinking, I lift my hand and gently place it behind her head, my fingers tangling in her hair. I feel the silkiness of it, and my heart races at the intimacy of the touch. Her eyes soften, and I can see the same emotions reflected in them—the surprise and undeniable attraction.

Slowly, I bring her face down to mine. Her lips are supple and warm, a gentle pressure that sends a jolt of electricity through my entire body. It's a tender kiss, exploratory and sweet, yet it ignites something deep within. I feel her respond, her lips moving gently and following my lead, and it feels like the most natural thing in the world.

My heart pounds in my chest, and I can't help but think how wonderful this is, how right it feels to be here with her like this. Her hands rest on my chest and I know she can feel my heartbeat thrumming. The kiss deepens slightly, our lips moving in perfect harmony, but I keep it tender with just the promise of something more.

When we finally pull back, her eyes are closed, her lips slightly parted. I take a moment to memorize the way she looks, the way she feels in my arms. When her eyes flutter open, they meet mine with a mixture of wonder.

"That was…," she begins, her voice barely a whisper, but it trails off as if she can't put into words the wonder of it.

I can only agree with the sentiment. "Yeah… it was."

She smiles, a rosy blush spreading across her cheeks. "You're not too bad at this," she says playfully, her eyes twinkling.

I chuckle, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I could say the same about you."

Despite the cold ice seeping through my clothes, Willa's body on top of mine warms me through and through. She's all soft curves that feel heavenly against me and I know if we kiss again, my body will react in a way that could be embarrassing.

So I make the move to break the connection, helping Willa up from the ice. I don't let her hand go, instead entwining my fingers with hers as I lead her over to the bench.

"You hungry?" I ask, opening the wooden gate so she can step through.

"Starved," she admits, plopping down with the picnic basket between us.

I set out the food: a variety of cheeses, fresh baguettes, an assortment of cured meats, a colorful fruit salad, and a couple of decadent-looking chocolate tarts for dessert. I uncork the wine and pour us each a glass, handing one to Willa with a smile.

I raise my glass and look into her eyes. "To our first date. I think it's going so well that I already know I want a second."

Her smile widens, and she clinks her glass against mine. "If you asked, I don't think I'd say no."

We eat on the bench, the ice rink glowing warmly around us. The food is delicious, and the wine adds a pleasant warmth to the cool atmosphere.

Willa looks at me thoughtfully. "So, tell me about your first relationship. You said you only had the one?"

I nod, sipping my wine. "Her name's Emily. We started dating in high school and stayed together through my time in the juniors and minors. Then she moved to Houston with me when I got called up to the Jam. We were serious—first love and all that. But the pressures of my professional career were hard on her, and we eventually broke up. I guess it just wasn't meant to be."

Willa nods, her eyes understanding. "And you haven't dated anyone since then?"

I shake my head. "I loved being in a committed relationship, but I've been focused on my career. No one has really interested me."

"Until now," she says, glancing down at the cracker in her hand.

"Until you," I confirm.

Willa's gaze slowly rises to meet mine. "My marriage to Scott was… not good. It ended horribly and as you know, I made a huge mistake in marrying him. It makes me—"

"Cautious?" I guess.

"It makes me different," she says, and I cock my head in question. "Right now, I'm not interested in getting serious with anyone. My marriage was so suffocating, I felt like I was in a prison. Now that I'm free…" She looks down and shrugs. "I guess I just want to stay free." Her eyes come up to meet mine. "I just want… casual."

"But I'm a nice guy," I point out because she's trying to set some clear boundaries. "You're safe with me."

She smiles but it's a little flat. "Yeah… Scott seemed like such a nice guy at first too."

I wince but reach out and take her hand, squeezing it gently. "I get it. I really do. But you said yes to this date and I can tell you're enjoying yourself. You're going to say yes to a second date too. We'll see where it goes."

"I'm not averse to dating at all. Again, I like it casual." I see the uncertainty on her face. "The age gap though… it worries me."

I lean in, looking her straight in the eyes. "Willa, age is just a number. Are you worried because you're thinking about what others might think or how it might look?"

"I guess," she says, a slight shrug telling me she's not sure the source of her angst.

"Well, I don't care what anyone thinks. It's no one's business anyway."

"Your friends are going to make fun of you," she points out. "Dating a cougar."

I laugh, leaning in and giving her a swift kiss on her mouth that makes her look a little starry-eyed. "No, they won't. Rafferty and North figured it out somehow and they didn't mention your age once. In fact, Rafferty wanted to ask you out and I shut that down quickly."

"You're kidding?"

"Not kidding."

"Rafferty, huh?" she asks, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I mean… he is handsome. Is he older than you? Closer to my age?"

Her teasing is exactly what's needed, because it means she's not overly uptight about this issue. I kiss her again, mostly to wipe Rafferty's name off her lips. She sighs into me, and my hand goes to the side of her neck to hold her in place as I explore her mouth.

When I pull back, she blinks at me dreamily. "I bet he doesn't kiss like you."

Laughing, I press my lips back to hers. "I have no idea and I'm not about to find out. But let's do this again, and we can keep it casual if that's what you want."

I can see the hesitation and dare I say fear, but it's short-lived and I'm rewarded with a blinding smile. "Then it's a definite yes for a second date."