Chapter 12

Tyler

The weekend goes by in a blur. With a win under our belts, we head home right after the game.

We have two more games this week and have to prep for and keep up the good run we're having.

When I'm not on the ice, I've thought of nothing else other than Cindy and our date. The fact I got to learn so much about her in one sitting only spurs me on. She's definitely reserved, and it seems like she has lived a bit of a sheltered life growing up. I can't imagine how that must have been for her growing up so strictly, and I'm sure with Coach Carter as her dad, it meant things were no picnic. But she speaks very highly of her dad, and I like she has a good relationship with him. It's her mom that seems to be the problem. I saw the tentativeness in her eyes.

It makes me feel bad for her because she doesn't have the relationship she wants with her mom. She seems pretty close to her sister, though. I think that's pretty cool.

I decide as soon as I get back I want to invite her to the game on Friday. So I texted her about it.

Me

Hey babe. Will you come to the game on Friday? I love seeing you in the stands.

She replies almost immediately.

Cindy

Of course. I love seeing you on the ice ??

Me

I wish you were at every game

Cindy

One day maybe

That definitely sounds promising.

Me

I'll make sure you get good seats

Cindy

Thanks! Can't wait to see you xx

It's only at training that I find out Taylor's long-lost love Emmerson is coming to town with her friend Maddison, who both live in Florida. At least, that's who we think is coming. As Cindy said, she has tickets for the game for herself, Susie, and her two friends from Florida.

I don't even know why I blurt this all out to my friends while we're at training, especially with coach mere meters away. I guess all the frustration that's been boiling over prior to me and Cindy meeting has finally reached its peak. We have been texting every day, all week, and I want to take her out after the game on Friday, if she'll agree.

Coach has already given us a massive lecture on our practice game the other day, and how our passes were sloppy. Thank fuck we picked things up for the game we just won. He sure as hell won't let us hear the end of it if we've had a bad run. I guess that's his job.

"You got that, James?" I hear Jay Jefferson, our center man, hollers towards Taylor after coach's rant about tight passes. "Eyes on the puck."

"You shitting me?" he shoots back towards Jay. It's Jay's signature thing, poking the bear. Taylor seems to be his target today. "I was the only one with my fucking eyes open last week. The rest of you might like to try it sometime."

Me and Ashton chuckle in unison.

"Riiiight, I'll remember that the next time you let one slip through the cracks," he laughs.

"The only thing slipping through the cracks will be my foot up your ass," Taylor quips.

We all laugh, including Jay. We form a tight circle, passing the puck back and forth.

"Speaking of slipping through the cracks…" I start, not even knowing where I'm going with my words, but all three guys look at me expectantly. "I met up with one of the most gorgeous women I've ever seen last weekend…"

There it's out there. I almost sag with relief and I haven't even mentioned her name yet.

Now I'm wondering if that was a good move or not.

"Yeah, and what?" Jay presses.

He knows about my previous stalking tendencies at the coffee shop every Monday morning. And I still haven't gotten out of the habit….

I half think about keeping quiet, but then decide to just lay it on the line. Other than Luke that I hardly see, these three are the closest thing I have to best friends. We've gotten close this past year. It's Ashton's first year with the Hawks when he was transferred from Nashville.

"She's so freaking fine. She's gonna be wearing my jersey," I declare. Hoping I won't regret that statement when someone overhears. I try to keep my voice as low as possible.

"You finally got a chick to sleep with you more than once?" Ashton jokes.

I give him a sharp look.

"Yeah… a puck bunny," Taylor adds, not being able to hide his amusement.

I know they're just messing, because I haven't been with any puck bunnies in a long time, but it doesn't prompt me to joke along with them. Not when it comes to Cindy.

"I'm just shitting you, man," Taylor says, shaking his head.

I point my stick directly at him. "Watch it, James… We'll see how the puck bunnies like you when you're missing your front teeth."

Taylor laughs. He's a big guy too, tall and well stocked, and a fistfight or two isn't beyond him. I think we'd be about even, but no doubt he probably thinks he can take me.

He holds his hands up in surrender, which is one thing I like about Taylor. He doesn't act like a big shot. "I'll heed that as my first warning."

"You do that…" I mutter.

"Who's the lucky girl?" Ashton asks with a chin lift.

"Cindy Carter," I whisper. The last thing I need is anyone overhearing, even if Jake Hudson and Ulrich Muller, the goalie, are standing next to us. Ulrich is a big dude, so he can block out some of the noise we're making. That's my theory, anyway.

Meanwhile, Ash, Taylor and Jay are all falling over themselves, erupting in laughter from revealing who I'm talking about.

"You're a dreamer," Taylor says, holding his sides and wiping his eyes like I've said the most hilarious thing in the world.

"That's a good one!" Jay looks like he's having a hard time believing it too, even given what he knows. Maybe he thinks I've got no gall anymore.

Ashton shakes his head. "You can't be for real."

"Shhh." I place my finger over my lips. "It's a new thing, and a big fucking secret."

"Then why the fuck are you telling us?" Taylor laughs.

"Because she's coming to the game on Friday with a bunch of friends. Some chicks from Florida too," I say, and his face drops. Just like that. Something skitters across his features.

"Which chicks from Florida?" he prompts when his momentary lapse has recovered.

"I forget most of their names, but Cindy has been friends with one of them forever. Emma, someone or other," I say. I actually have forgotten her name, which is terrible.

Ashton looks at Taylor as an air of silence hangs between us.

"You alright?" Ashton asks him.

"What?" I glance over at them.

He shakes his head. "Nothing…"

It's then I realize from the look on his face that it must be his ex coming to town. From memory, she lives in Miami. Fuck. I feel like an asshole for bringing it up now.

I'm just about to smooth it over when Jay interrupts.

"Back to you and Cindy…" he goes on. "Does Coach know you're bagging her?"

I shake my head, clenching my fist at my side. I don't like even Jay talking that way about her. I know he's going to drill me about this later and why I didn't tell him first that things had progressed. "I'm not bagging her," I insist quietly, checking over my shoulder that no one is listening. Coach is yelling at some of the other guys away from us. "I just want to bag her, among other things."

I can't be a saint all the time.

It's then Coach spots us all standing there jabbering away and he starts yelling. "What are you shitheads whispering about over here?" he roars, coming up behind us. "If your passes worked as fast as your fucking mouths, we might actually get somewhere in the next game!"

Fuck. Last thing we need right now is pissing coach off.

It's time to get down to practice and get these women out of our heads, even temporarily.

The thought ‘women weaken legs' comes to mind from my favorite Rocky movies, and sometimes Coach Carter reminds me of Mickey.

The thought makes the corner of my mouth turn up, despite the fact we're all getting our asses handed to us. It's hard to imagine coach being a softer kind of guy, but maybe with daughters that's how he is with them. And once again, I'm glad.

We continue our drills after that and get ready for the scrimmage, but it doesn't stop coach yelling directly at me to get my head in the game.

My head is all over the place. It's like he fucking knows. And to make matters worse, it's his daughter that I'm pawing over.

Regardless, I need to see her again. We need to figure some shit out if we wanna start seeing each other. We might only be one coffee date in, and some texts, but I want to know what she wants. And I'm gonna find out by the end of today.

* * *

I wait until the end of practice and drag out the rest of the day in the gym, then hit the sauna before I have a shower. I make sure I'm the last to leave.

"You okay, man?" Jay asks me before he heads off for the day.

"Never better," I tell him.

"You know we were just shitting you before, right?"

I give him a wry smile. "Wouldn't expect any less."

He gives me a nod. "See you tomorrow. I think us four should have dinner tomorrow before the game?"

"Sounds good to me."

"I'll see you then." He grabs his equipment bag and takes off. I glance at my watch. It's ten to five, so I make my move. Hoping she hasn't left early for the day.

And like the stalker I am, but don't want to believe, I wait outside the staff entry door for her to come out and walk to her vehicle.

Nothing like inserting yourself into someone's pathway. This is what I've resorted to.

Again, I know I could just ask her out. I know she wants to see me again. But there's nothing like spontaneity.

I thrive on that shit.

So I lean back on the side of the stadium wall and wait with my arms folded across my chest.

Looking up at the graying sky above me. I hope it doesn't decide to belt it down with rain.

I mean, I'd probably still stand here and wait, but I'd rather not get drenched if I can help it.

Sure enough, a few minutes after five, the office girls start to pile out. I glance at my cell while casually glancing up each time someone walks by. Finally, I see her colleague Andrea, followed by Cindy. She doesn't see me until I jut forward and reach out to touch her arm.

I know it's taking a risk, but no one else but Andrea seems to notice. The other office staff are already heading off to the carpark.

Cindy gasps when she sees me, holding her hand to her heart.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," I say.

Andrea is just staring at me with wide eyes, as both girls look at each other, then both back to me again.

"I just had to ask Cindy something," I say, lamely. "Work related, of course."

"Don't mind us," I hear Simon's very distinctive voice behind us. Now he's stepped out of the building. He loops his arm into Andrea's and tugs her forwards. "You ask away."

They both smile conspiratorially. Andrea finally seems to get over the shock of seeing me outside the building waiting for her friend, and they both scuttle off in front of us.

Cindy lingers back, smiling, pressing her lips together at the same time.

I wait until they're both out of earshot.

"I really didn't mean to scare you," I start.

She shakes her head. "It's totally fine. I was just surprised, that's all."

"I wanted to see you. I figured I couldn't exactly stop by your office."

"I guess not," she laughs nervously. "I wouldn't have minded, but you know how it is."

I lean back on the building for a moment as she looks up at me.

I swallow from the intensity of her dark eyes. They keep pulling me in and sucking me under. Does she have any idea?

"Prying eyes." I nod, glancing up at the sky. It still looks like it's going to bucket it down.

"I'll walk you to your car," I say, pushing off the building now that everyone has left for the day and it's just us.

"You know security footage would still see us talking," she says as we walk.

I chuckle to myself. "That's true, but we can't get shot for talking, right?"

She shrugs. "I need to refresh my memory on the rules tomorrow."

I run my hand through my hair. "I'd be interested to see if you can find any loopholes."

"If anyone is going to find one, it'll be me," she assures me, and I like her confidence.

"I might hold you to that," I muse as I feel a few drops land on my cheek as we walk.

"I think we should hurry." Cindy picks up the pace, just as the rain starts to pour.

I would like to say it came from nowhere, but it was threatening all afternoon.

A few drops suddenly turn into a downpour. She buzzes her car as she pulls her rain jacket over her hair. "Quick, we need to get in." She giggles as we fully make a run for it.

I bolt around the passenger side and we dive in at the same time.

"It really sneaks up on you," I breathe, as I wipe the rain off my face and sit back in the seat.

"Tell me about it."

We both laugh at how wet we just got in a short space of time.

I glance at her as we both still.

"Cindy, I need to see you again outside of work."

She momentarily closes her eyes, her head nodding. "I know."

"I couldn't stop thinking about you while I was away." I texted to tell her this, of course. It's nothing new. But saying out loud to her feels better somehow.

"Me either," she says. "I liked catching up, even if it's risky."

"Is this the part where you tell me nothing is going on, so we don't need to worry about that?"

Please say no.

She gives me a look and purses her lips again. "I wasn't going to say that."

"What's happening between us?" I ask outright, because I need to know.

"Possibly things that shouldn't be happening." She sighs. "It's kinda of complicated given our work situation. And we kissed."

"That we did. But, as you say, the paperwork fine print will give us some answers." I admit I haven't delved into that, hoping we might get away with it a little longer while we get to know each other.

"I will make it my mission," she says.

"Until then?" I ask.

"We just have to keep meeting in secret, I guess."

I can't hide the fact that part turns me on a lot. Not the part about her dad finding out and us getting into some serious shit, especially because I'm the captain and he trusts me, but I don't mind breaking the rules here and there when I have to.

It crosses my mind, of course, that this is one rule I shouldn't even consider breaking. It could be to my detriment, or even the end of me, but I can't help it. I wanna jump in with both feet.

"Let's meet up after the game on Friday?" I ask.

She nods. "I'd like that."

"It's an important game. I like the fact you'll be there."

She smiles. "I'm looking forward to it, too."

I can't stop the grin that sweeps across my face. "Friday it is, then. I'll be watching out for you."

"Friday," she confirms with that sweet little smile I'm growing to love.

I look out the windshield and know it's not going to clear up outside any time soon.

"I'll drive you to the players' parking lot," she says.

"It's just a light sprinkle."

"I insist."

I chuckle as she starts up the car. "Well, ok. If you insist."

Something about her taking charge also ignites something in me. I like it.

So she drops me off at my car, which isn't hard to miss.

"A real subtle vehicle, by the way," she says.

I chuckle. "My car was the first thing I bought, even before my house on the lake. I guess I'm a guy. What can I say?"

"It suits you. And it was a very comfortable ride the other night."

"Well, thank you." I reach for the door handle, knowing I should exit now before I sit here all afternoon in the carpark with her. "I'll see you Friday," I say again. We confirmed that, but it doesn"t hurt to say it again.

"Ty." She grabs my arm just as I'm about to leave and I turn in my seat. She leans across out of nowhere and puts her arms around my neck, pulling me towards her.

Her lips find mine, and we kiss soft and slow – all the things I'm usually not – as our mouths move against each other.

Of course, that's enough to get me excited because I love her hands on me, but I know I need to contain myself.

This is our work parking lot, for god's sake. It won't stop my erection, but it might stop me from grabbing her and pulling her into my lap, which is exactly what I want to do.

She pulls back to look at me, our noses still touching. She smells so damned sweet, like peonies and marshmallows, I want to eat her all up.

"Cindy," I breathe.

"You're so sweet, Ty."

"I'm not always," I tell her. She'll know it now if she looks down at my lap.

"You are to me."

"Like I said, I like you a lot."

"I like you a lot, too."

We kiss again, and I slide my tongue against her lips as she parts and lets me in. I softly stroke my tongue against hers in a sweet, seductive dance I want to get caught up in and never stop.

I can't help the groan that escapes my mouth.

She smiles as she pulls back again. "You okay?" she whispers.

"Not really, but I'll get there."

"If it helps, I don't want you to leave."

I like that. It makes my heart swell. And it isn't the only swollen thing right now.

"Better get out of this car before–" I shake my head. I know she's conservative, but how much so? I mean, she initiated the kiss.

"Before what?"

I shake my head, hoping that will clear my senses, but it doesn't. "Can't you tell you have an effect on me?"

I know my sweatpants are leaving little to be desired, as there's a huge bulge there. Even if they are black, there's no hiding my missile.

Her eyes flick down and I see them grow wide. Yep, she's seen what she's done... "Ty, I'm sorry."

I laugh and shake my head. "Don't ever be sorry for that, babe. I mean that. But I really have to go." That's if I can walk. I'm dying to adjust myself.

I lean back over and kiss her swiftly, then press my lips to her forehead and reach for the door handle. "I'll text you later."

As soon as I'm out in the rain, I breathe almost what feels like a sigh of relief.

Because she wants me. I mean, it was obvious before, I guess. But her reaching for me like that confirms it. The way she gets me excited because I know she's not like other girls, she's sure as hell gonna make me work for it. I can tell. But I don't mind it, not one bit.

The anticipation is explosive.

I wave as she drives away and I jump in my car, hoping to god she finds some glitch in the contract, and maybe it won't be as messy as we think it will be.

And if it is, I'll just have to make a glitch of my own.