Chapter 5

CHAPTER FIVE

Lola

This was a brilliant idea.

As soon as I walked into Jordy’s penthouse apartment, I instantly felt better. It’s huge, spacious, with wall-to-wall glass. Exquisite oversized abstract paintings in golds, soft greens, and blush pinks hang on every wall. I've never seen anything like them. They’re beautiful.

It feels lived in, warm, homely even.

It’s taken me by surprise and is a far stretch from the bachelor pad I thought Jordy would live in.

“Look at the view.” My hands land against the floor-to-ceiling windows. I’m like a kid in a candy store, admiring the multicolored lights of the city below as the snow continues to fall. “The snow looks so pretty from way up here,” I say, then point to a giant structure in the distance. “You can even see the arena from here. This is gorgeous, Jordy.”

“You are.”

I sigh and turn to face him. “We need to set some ground rules tonight.”

He removes his jacket, laying it over the back of his enormous sectional sofa, then toes off his black biker boots that he never seems to lace up. “I agree.”

“You need to stop flirting with me.”

“Okay, but you have to do the same.” And there’s that goddamn cheeky grin of his again.

“Okay,” I agree. “My room needs to be as far away from yours as possible.”

“You can sleep in the east wing.” He points in the direction he’s referring to. “Is that because you can’t trust yourself around me and my six pack?” He asks at the same time he pulls up the hem of his tee shirt to flash me his abs.

I raise my hand to stop him because he’s right, but I need to shut him down. “Don’t tempt me.”

“Trust me, that’s exactly what I am trying to do.” His reply is smooth and steady but has a warm and inviting undertone that makes me want to run over to him.

“You’re impossible.” I’m so tempted.

“You used the wrong word, baby. You mean irresistible.” Jordy pulls his tee shirt higher, revealing more muscles I can only dream about licking.

He adds, “I swear to fuck I can smell your arousal from here. You’re imagining what it would be like to dip your tongue into each divot of my abs, aren’t you?”

I gasp at his deliciously sin-filled words. I wasn’t, but I am now. Okay, maybe that’s a lie. I have been, I want to. Shouldn’t. Maybe I should because the heat between my thighs is growing hotter by the second.

And what the hell is this strange energy between us? The chemistry we have is overheating and about to bubble over. I’m not sure I can take any more.

I clear my throat and try to compose myself. “Like I said, you’re impossible.”

Jordy lowers his shirt again. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.” Running his hands through his hair, he adds with a deep sigh, “I promise to behave.”

“Great, I just need something to sleep in.”

“Sleep naked.”

“Jordy,” I warn, narrowing my eyes, while my heart hammers at the idea of being naked in the same apartment as Jordy Miller.

He smiles cheekily. “I’ll give you a tee shirt.”

“You don’t happen to have face wash and moisturizer I can use, do you?”

“I do.” He runs his hands over his cleanly shaved face. “Gotta keep the skin looking smooth for the media.”

“And for the puck bunnies.” I’m nosey, desperate to find out if he’s had other girls here.

“Never slept with a puck bunny.”

“Oh.”

“There has only ever been Sienna.”

Like a defibrillator jump-starting my startled brain from that information, I’m double shocked. “Right.” I can’t believe someone so hot has only ever slept with one woman. One.

“I’m one of the good guys, Lola. I don’t fuck around.”

“Good to know.” His admission makes me feel normal. I didn’t lose my virginity until I was in my last year at college.

Graham was only the second person I ever slept with.

I’m one of the good guys .

Jordy doesn’t need to tell me that. I know he is.

“Well, now you know, Lola. Happy?” He knew I was fishing for details.

“It wasn’t really any of my business.” I play with the zip on my jacket.

“I wanted to make it your business.”

The penny drops. He wanted me to know his relationship status.

He’s not just single, and ready to mingle. He’s single and wants me.

The intensity of the spark between us is scorching hot. I’m not sure my heart can take anymore. Or my mind, it feels like it’s short-circuiting. I need to sit in a bath of ice to cool me down, or do some serious self-care because the need to get myself off is deep… and I need it now. I rub my heated forehead and change the subject. “Do you happen to have a spare toothbrush and some toothpaste?”

A vibrator?

There’s a pregnant pause before he replies, “I’ll have Edgar bring me a toothbrush from reception. They keep stock of them down there.” He taps on his phone quickly, then holds his finger in the air to clear up whatever is on his mind that I didn’t even think of. “Going back to what we just discussed, I never have women over, if that’s what you are thinking.” He shakes his head. “I only know they stock toothbrushes because my sisters told me. You know, for when they invite guys back.” He gags. “I don’t even want to think about them like that.” His body shakes off the disgust he’s obviously feeling.

I've seen his twin sisters at the arena before at games. Scarily identical, I would struggle to tell them apart. They shout the loudest of profanities. Gorgeous they might be, but hockey makes them feral.

“Your sisters live here too?” I ask.

“On the floor below. They have a habit of helping themselves to my fridge, just in case you hear someone in the middle of the night shuffling about like a wild animal who hasn’t eaten for months. It’ll be one, or both of them.”

I point at the fridge, silently questioning why they can’t organize themselves.

“They’re both doctors, work stupid shifts and crazy long hours.”

“Ah.”

Jordy taps his phone screen again. “Message sent. Your toothbrush will be here in a few minutes,” he says, pushing his phone back into the back pocket of his jeans.

“Great,” I reply, suddenly feeling awkward.

“Fancy a nightcap?”

“I changed my mind.”

“Are you scared you’ll get drunk and beg for me to fuck you against the window?” He looks over my shoulder, a dreamy expression on his face, as if he’s imagining us together.

I feel myself going redder than a strawberry. “I said no flirting.”

He shrugs with a laugh. “I was kidding. Lighten up, Lola.” He does nothing to hide the devilish grin that’s broken out across his lips. He’s so cheeky.

I’m slightly disappointed at how easily he agreed to no more flirting though.

“It’s been a long day. Would you mind if I call it a night?” I ask.

“Of course not. Do you know what you’re doing tomorrow?”

My shoulders sag. “I don’t.” All I want to do is collect my clothes and personal belongings. I haven’t figured out how yet, or where I am going to live, but I will as soon as I’m in bed and can spend some time searching the internet for a place to rent.

Having never liked anything enough that I could see myself living in, I’m kicking myself for letting Graham convince me to sell the beautiful home I grew up in. It was stunning. White picket fence, wrap-around porch, and stuffed full of memories. Graham convinced me to sell and start fresh, so we could make new memories when we started our own family.

And now I find myself homeless.

I’m blaming Graham for everything.

Asshole.

“You look upset. What’s going on in that pretty little head of yours?” Jordy asks.

“He cheated on me.”

“He did.” His face turns thunderous. “I’m a gentleman and I can’t tell you what I really think about him. Just know that if I see him, I might not be able to stop myself from knocking his teeth out.”

“I paid for those.” They are too white and make him look ridiculous. I never told him that but Graham liked them, so I told him I did too. I've become a pathetic people pleaser.

“That will make it even more satisfying when I remove them all from his mouth.” Jordy grins. “I've got your back, Lola. Wade will too.”

I snort at the way he’s acting protective. “Okay, Sam.”

“Sam?”

“The Alpha wolf in Twilight .”

“I thought that was Jacob?”

“He didn’t want the title and passed it to Sam.”

“Did he?”

“We can watch it together another night to confirm.”

His face lights up at my suggestion of spending more time together.

“It won’t be a date.” I make sure he understands.

“Not a date.” He nods, sounding less than convinced.

Steering us back on course, I draw attention to my biggest problem. “First, I need to find a place to stay.”

“You do but I have a spare room, rooms actually, if you need one.” Running his hands through his hair, he looks uneasy suggesting that, as if he’s overstepping. “As a temporary measure.”

“I can’t let you do that.”

“Friends do that for each other, Lola. Of course I can. That’s not breaking any Eagles’ rules.”

“Okay.” I’ve used that same damn word all night. Somehow being in Jordy’s orbit makes me nervous.

“It can be your plan B.”

“I don’t even have plan A at this point.”

Jordy’s deep chocolate eyes stare back at me. “Knowing how you operate, you’ll have it all sorted out by morning.”

Jordy knows me better than Graham ever did and that makes me wonder how long Jordy has been paying attention to all my little nuances and if he likes me more than he’s letting on. I sure hope he does. Maybe that’s just wishful thinking.

He adds, “You’re lucky you didn’t buy a house together. That would have been a legal nightmare, but my mother is a divorce lawyer, and she would have helped you get what was rightfully yours.”

Jordy’s family are legit book smart. And wealthy.

Which is kind of intimidating.

Although I do have a business degree from Harvard.

I’m also a millionaire in my own right, not that anyone on the team knows that, yet. When my father passed away, I inherited his empire; and while I am rich, I’m not in the same tax bracket as Jordy’s family.

“It was stupid of me to go out with you tonight, Jordy. I should have been looking for a place to stay.” Decision made, I announce, “After tonight, I’m going to stay in a hotel until I do.”

“Do whatever feels right, Lola. I can help you move your things tomorrow,” Jordy suggests. “We could do it when Graham leaves to go to work, and you can use my truck. Depending on how much stuff you have, it might take a couple of trips, but we could do it.”

“That would be so helpful.” My muscles relax, knowing that will make my life much easier. “I’m not taking any furniture.” I never did like the pieces Graham had me agree to buy from that expensive antique shop. As nice as they looked, I always thought they smelled moldy.

“I only want my photos and my personal bits. There’s not much.” I put a lot of my things in storage until we found a bigger place, which I’m patting myself on the back for doing. I also put all of my dad’s furniture in storage, along with his personal belongings, which I hate myself for agreeing to. Today I feel the loss of him more than ever. “One trip will be enough.” My voice cracks but I don’t want to cry again and try to fight back the tears.

“I’ll get the guys on reception to sort out moving boxes for you then. They’ll be here in the morning.”

I can’t stop the tears from falling because no one has looked after me in a while. “You’d do that for me?”

“Yeah, Lola. I would.”

I quickly wipe away the tears that have spilled over and are running down my cheek. “Thanks. That means a lot.”

“Lola, I…” A soft ding interrupts him, causing him to let out a frustrated sigh. “That’ll be Edgar with your toothbrush,” he says, walking to greet him as the elevator doors open. “I’ll ask him about the moving boxes.”

“Thanks, Jordy,” I whisper, removing my jacket and then taking in the stunning view over the city again while Jordy organizes my life for me. It felt like such a huge task before, and now it feels simple.

I’m going to be okay.

I hope.

Looking into the distance, I wish my dad could see this. He would love it. He loved the snow and wintertime. He said it was his favorite time of the year because we got to spend lots of nights together watching movies, snuggled up on the sofa in front of the fire.

I feel the deep ache in my heart. I miss him so much. If only things were different.

But he’s not here. I’m dealing with everything by myself now, and that’s the way it has to be until the end of the hockey season.

Until then, I’m alone. Wade’s assistant. Nothing more.

“It’s all sorted.” Jordy appears at my side, holding out his hand for me to give him my jacket. “Boxes will be here by eight tomorrow morning.” He drapes it over the back of one of his oak wood dining chairs that look designer and expensive. “Do you think Graham will go to work in the morning?”

“You bet your ass he will. All he cares about is that stupid shop.” Looking back, all he seemed to care about was the money I inherited when my dad died.

Screw him, I’m canceling the payment for the rent tomorrow. Graham can deal with the aftermath. I couldn’t give a shit if the landlord takes him to court and sues his ass.

The quicker I cut anything that links me to him, the better.

I want the cheating bastard out of my life forever.

A wave of tiredness hits me, causing an involuntary yawn to leave my lungs.

Like a bear ready for hibernation, I could sleep for months.

“Bed, sleepyhead.” Jordy passes me my newly acquired toothbrush with a tender smile.

“I need something to sleep in,” I remind him.

“Well, that’s easy.” Jordy pulls his tee shirt up over his head, taking it off, fully exposing his firm muscles, the deep divots of his laddered abs, and perfectly sculpted arms.

Mercy me.

I’m going to hell for all the impure thoughts of how his body would move as he fucked me and how he would feel above me. And what he would taste like if I were to lick his washboard stomach, which I thought about earlier and now can’t stop imagining.

“Holy shit,” I mutter under my breath.

“Are you going to take it, or do you need more time to look a little longer?” He holds it out for me.

I reluctantly shift my gaze away from his sexy body to his face. It’s criminal being that handsome.

I whip the shirt out of his hands, making him laugh and his stomach muscles clench.

Fixated with his boxers that sit higher than his jeans, I can’t seem to look away. The tempting V of his Adonis belt leads to a little sprinkling of hair just below his belly button, making butterflies dance in my stomach.

Jordan is ripped. Tall, and lean, he’s solid in every way, but my God, I don’t think I’d know what to do with a body like his. It’s almost too intimidating.

Almost.

“I’ll show you to your room.” Jordy smirks as if he knows what I’m thinking, before leading the way to his guest bedroom.

Following him down a lit hallway, my eyes glue themselves to his solid shoulders and hypnotizing hips that sway in illicit ways.

His over-confident swagger is addicting and the ambient lighting only emphasizes the deep peaks and troughs of his muscles, making them look like they are dancing.

He looks like a catwalk model. Perfect and surreal.

And I’m alone with him.

I don’t trust who I am tonight. I wanted him to kiss me earlier in his garage.

“This is your room.” Jordy pushes the door open, revealing a ginormous corner bedroom overlooking the city below.

“Wow.” I scan the room and my attention lands on the large abstract painting above the bed in soft caramel and blue tones, with flecks of gold spattered across the canvas. “That’s beautiful.” I move in for a better look.

“It’s one of my favorites,” Jordy reveals.

“It matches the others.” There are at least four similar paintings in the living area.

“It’s part of the same collection. The artist uses impasto paint to give it that three-dimensional look. The paint brings the pieces to life.”

“You like art?” I ask, surprised at this revelation.

He nods shyly, then picks up a remote from the nightstand. “These shut the drapes,” he says, changing the subject. “And the buttons along the bottom control the lights.” Dropping it down on the bed, he pushes his hands into the back pockets of his jeans, making him look wider than he is.

While Wade is built like a tank, Jordy is leaner and possesses a strong upper body made for fighting for the puck and withstanding checks. I know this because I’ve watched him play. His transitions and breakaways are insanely quick. And if I had x-ray vision to see through the denim of his jeans, it would confirm how muscular his thighs are. From head to toe, he’s well-balanced with a body made for speed. He's perfect.

With no recollection of how I got here, I somehow find myself toe to toe with him.

Looking down at me, jaw tense, his hands still in his back pockets, he inhales deep, inflating his chest. His nostrils flare before he lets out a heavy sigh.

If I stretched up a little, it wouldn’t take much for him to dip down and close the height difference between us. I’m captivated by the thought of our lips touching.

“Night then,” he utters softly, before clenching his jaw so tight his muscles tic, once, then twice, as if he’s holding himself back.

“See you in the morning, Jordy.” I rise to my tiptoes and kiss his jaw because it’s as far as I can reach.

His huge hands cup my face, and when he bows his head, for one hope-filled moment, I hold my breath and close my eyes when I think he’s going to kiss me. Instead, he kisses my forehead, and I shoot my eyes open just as he turns away, telling me over his shoulder, “I’ll leave the skincare you wanted at your door.”

He shuts the door behind him, and it feels like he closed the door on us .

Disappointment washes over me.

I know it’s the right thing to do, but why do I feel sad about it?

Looking down at his tee shirt I’m holding, I lift the soft fabric to my nose, filling my nostrils with his aftershave that’s intoxicating. The strong scent igniting heat between my thighs.

It smells so good.

Like sin and bad decisions.

It’s just one night under the same roof as him, Lola.

You can do this.