Chapter 10

Eliza

Did he say wife?

I blink a few times, but each time Coleson comes back into focus, his eyes are serious, with no hint of teasing. My mouth snaps closed as I eye him. I don’t want to ask if he said wife because I don’t think that’s what he said. Maybe he said “When I ask you to end my life.” That sounds way more believable than him asking me to be his wife on our first date. I’m crazy. I made that up, surely. I force a laugh as I set down my fork and shake my head. When I meet his gaze again, he’s not laughing or even smirking at me.

Coleson only stares.

“I must have heard you wrong?—”

“You didn’t,” he says, cutting off my failed attempt at trying to cover up my stupidity. “I’ll give you the coffee shop if you marry me.”

I smile. Then I drop the smile. Then I giggle. Then I press my hand to my throat because I must have died when I was choking earlier. “What?” I screech, and he looks down, exhaling hard.

“I need a wife,” he says softly. “When I say I fucked up my image, I’m not kidding. My reputation is a flaming bag of shit.”

My heart is pounding so hard, I can hardly hear him. “And getting married will help?”

He doesn’t look up, and I miss his intent gaze. He shrugs, tearing apart the cake with his fork. I’m unsure if he’s being shy or if he’s embarrassed, but either way, I feel for him. “According to my publicist, I need to appear settled and approachable. A wife will do that. People won’t assume I’m out fucking all the time if I’m tied down.”

I scoff. “Athletes cheat on their spouses all the time. I know a guy who has families all over the USA.” Yes, he’s a jackass, but he was a good lay. I met him at a wedding, and we ended up in the back of his limo. I found out later he was married and had eight kids with five different women. Easy to say, I hightailed it away from him.

“I don’t cheat.” He looks up, his eyes so dark. “I may have fucked around a lot, but I’ve never cheated on anyone. Though, I’ve never been in a relationship either.”

“And you want your first relationship to be a marriage?” I ask incredulously.

“I don’t have a choice,” he says softly, his eyes urging mine. “I’m not asking for forever, McDavid. Just a year. Give me time to get into the NHL, to show that I’m not the piece of shit I’ve appeared to be, and that I’m truly reformed. No longer a manwhore, but a family man. During this time, I’ll train you to run everything, and at the end of the year, I’ll sign over the coffeehouse to you.”

I’m speechless. My jaw is hanging open as I try to process what he is saying. He wants to marry me to fix his image, and in return, I’ll get the coffeehouse. It doesn’t make sense to me. “Why me?”

He licks his lips. “You need something from me. And this way, we’re both getting what we want.”

“I wanted to own a little coffee spot, not a whole-ass shop.”

Coleson shakes his head. “No, you want something that’s yours. This can be yours if you help me.”

I want him to be mine.

Oh no, ma’am. Calm your tits, I chastise my inner slut.

I press my lips together as his words hit me like the truck that hit my sister. I know I’m an asshole for thinking that since my sister was seriously hurt, but really? I take a deep breath as my brain sends me images of me owning this place. It would be all mine, and he’d train me. Louisa could put books in here, and we could work together to hold events. Elliot could market it for us. I could be successful; I could have something that is mine, like Coleson said. Like I’ve yearned for. I grew up with nothing being mine. I was an object for men, to be used and owned. I escaped to give myself the life I wanted. To make something of myself.

This is a huge opportunity.

But a year.

To someone who doesn’t want a marriage?

Shit.

What would my sisters say? What would Peepaw say? He may have been fine with Ciaran and Louisa getting together, but this is way different. Ciaran is a good dude, and he already made the NHL. Or almost has. Peepaw has to know that Coleson’s reputation is shit and about him fooling around with a teammate’s wife. I doubt he’d want me tying myself to him. Because being married makes us one. What he does affects me, and vice versa.

Am I truly considering this?

“When would you need an answer?”

He swallows. “As soon as possible.”

“And what would the conditions be? Will we really be married, or just saying so? Will we only make appearances?”

He shakes his head. “Since the town is so small, we’d go downtown and get married for real. You can move in here or I can find us another apartment, but we’ll need to live together. I’ll pay for everything for the next year, and you will want for nothing. I’ll also pay for the divorce, and it’ll be straightforward. You’ll have the building, so the upstairs would be yours. I’ll hopefully move to wherever I’m playing.”

My heart is in my throat. “You’ve put a lot of thought into this.”

“I have.” His eyes are dark, hopeful, and while I want to agree immediately, I know I need to think this through.

I press my fingers into my temples. “This is a lot.”

“It is, and I know I’m asking for more than I should. But if you could help me with this, I promise I’ll do anything you want.”

I’m sure he didn’t mean to make that sound so sexual, but it sure did. I clear my throat, trying to focus on what he is asking instead of my raging hormones. “I don’t know, Coleson.”

“I understand,” he says softly, and I can see the tension in his jaw. “How about you think about it for the next couple days, and you let me take you hiking this weekend. We can talk about it more, and I can answer any questions you have.”

I’d rather not hike, but I do like the idea of thinking about it a bit. “Okay.”

“Okay.” Awkward silence stretches between us. Between my almost dying and his request for marriage, it’s easy to say this date hasn’t been what I thought it would be. When he runs his hand over his mouth, I look up, and he gives me a wry smile. “I killed the mood, huh?”

I smile softly. “I think I did that first by choking on the cake.”

He grins. “I thought that was the highlight.”

The heat in his eyes reminds me that he saw my boobs, and a deep flush creeps up my neck. “I can’t believe my boobs popped out.”

He laughs. “I was determined not to let you die.”

“Yeah, because you need a wife.”

“Exactly,” he agrees with a wink, and I laugh with him. It’s easy and carefree. I like the laughter. I like how it makes me feel. “Can I walk you home?”

“I’d like that.”

He gets up first, and I take the hand he offers. He tucks it into the crook of his arm, and together, we head to the hall that leads to the alley entrance. We walk in silence, the coolness of the air a bite against my bare skin. I’m thankful he’s so big and blocks a lot of the breeze, but the shop isn’t far. My mind is reeling, and even though I knew it was only a short walk, I am sad when we reach the door. I go to look at Coleson, but he takes my hand and brings it to his lips. I watch his lips curve around my knuckles in a sultry way before he meets my gaze. “I had a great time.”

“I did too,” I admit. “Minus all the choking, exposed boobs, and marriage talk.”

He winks. “Those were my favorite parts.”

I snicker as he steps closer, and I hadn’t realized my hand was still in his. He brings it against his chest, and I can feel his heart pounding against my palm. “I’ll pick you up at six a.m. on Saturday.”

“Ew, why so early?” I gasp, and he chuckles.

“The bears are out that early, and I figure we need a good run,” he says with another wink. Before I can reply or even protest, he leans in, his lips capturing mine. I don’t know how he does it so smoothly since he has to bend to get to me, but soon, I’m not thinking of anything but his lips crushing mine. They’re so soft, so inviting, and when he pulls away, I follow for more. His chuckle is deep, rough, and has me squeezing my thighs tightly.

“A reason to show up at six a.m.”

Unsteady, I open my eyes to find him walking away, one hand tucked into his pocket, while he runs the other one through his hair. I lean into the back door, breathless, heart pounding, and pussy whining for him, as I realize one thing.

I’m going on a hike at six a.m. on Saturday.