Chapter 7

"Keys, sir?" the valet asks as I step out of my car. He's an older man, mid to late forties with thinning salt and pepper hair that he's combed back on the top of his head.

"Thanks," I reply, handing him my keys and a hundred-dollar bill. "Take care of her for me, eh?"

"Of course, Mister Lexington," he says as he climbs inside.

The engine roars to life as the valet starts it up and pulls away to park it in the lot. I make my way up the stairs toward the entrance of the venue. Scanning the crowd of people, I find Liv mid-way up the steps. She's chatting with a younger couple I don't recognize.

These types of events usually bring out the same people, so finding people I don't recognize is uncommon. I still can't understand how I managed to attend this event all these years and somehow never noticed Aspen. Not that it matters now. I've definitely noticed her and tonight there's only one face I am interested in seeing.

Hers.

I haven't stopped thinking about her since the moment I saw her. I've gotten off to the thought of her three times already today, and it's still not enough.

Off-limits or not, I have to have her.

Noticing my approach, Liv giggles, "Ah, finally, babe. I was wondering what was taking you so long." She"s pissed.

"Traffic, babe," I add.

Nodding my head, I exchange introductions with the couple that kept her entertained while she waited for me. I have no doubt that despite the cold tonight, she spent the entire time waiting outside for me. She'd never enter an event of this magnitude without me to parade her around and show her off. Image is everything to Liv, and tonight I don't even need to see the price tag of the godawful dress she's wearing to know it probably cost enough to feed an entire third-world country.

Tight fitting to her frame, the thin metallic gold piece of fabric barely covers her tits and shows way too much leg. Paired with the tallest heels she could find. As long as it's a brand name and gets her remembered, Liv will wear it. Unfortunately, there's no way anyone's forgetting this one for a while.

"Should we head inside then? I'm sure Daddy is wondering where we are by now," Liv asks, turning her brown eyes to mine.

"Yeah, let's do that. It's freezing out here anyways." I force a laugh that earns me an annoyed side eye as I lead her up the last couple of steps.

When we get inside, we stop by the coat check before making our way into the large main room of the venue. It's packed. There are at least fifty tables with ten or so people seated around each one. A live band plays soft music, and the dim blue lighting gives the room a calm yet expensive aura. The moment we're inside my eyes scan the room for Aspen. Liv's grip around my arm tightens as she leads me towards where our table is.

I spot Aspen a few tables away from us. Her dad and Ace are sitting with her, along with some of the Knights starting lineup.

She looks fucking gorgeous wearing a deep blue gown that looks like it was fucking made for her. Who am I kidding, even sitting down I can tell how well it hugs her perfect little body.

It was made for her.

"Hi, Daddy. This must be us, yep, here's your spot." Liv's voice hits my ears. Pulling my eyes from Aspen, I find Liv pressing a kiss to her father's cheek and I grab the back of her chair to pull it out for her. Once she's seated, I sit down next to her. Coach is on the other side of her and offers me a curt nod. "Sorry we're late. Poor Duke was stuck in traffic."

"You're not late," Coach replies to her as he checks his watch. "It's still early, give the boy a break, Olivia."

"I was just saying, Daddy…" she pouts.

Turning my eyes back to where Aspen's table is, I find myself utterly speechless at just how fucking beautiful she looks. She looks happy, inviting. She's chatting with the guy seated next to her, and by the patch on his suit, I can tell he's one of her brother's teammates. He's flirting with her. I can't help but want to break every bone in his body.

He'll get his.

When we meet on the ice, he's mine.

Mrs. Denninger, widow to Marcus Denninger, a former NHL player who still holds many records, heads out onto the stage in a ruby red dress. She waves her hand and the band pauses. Taking the mic in her hand, she turns her sights on the crowd of people.

"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the New York Little Leagues fundraiser." The event starts, perfect timing. With everyone's eyes on the stage, the guy trying to hit on Aspen stops his attempts and turns his focus to the lady on stage. Liv pulls on my arm. Her way of telling me to pay attention.

I lift my eyes back to Mrs. Denninger on stage. She goes on to explain the fundraiser and where exactly the money raised tonight will go. Behind her, a PowerPoint slide spins with pictures of kids in the league and their smiling faces while they're on the ice. Carefully, I risk a look at Aspen to find her completely focused on the children in the slideshow. Her lips pull into a small smile as she places her hand over her heart and laughs as a picture of a kid pops up on the screen.

Just a little guy with a huge jersey hanging off his tiny body as he makes goofy faces at the camera. Adorable.

"Now you will see members of our team coming to your tables carrying a clipboard. They will be taking the donor's information over the next few minutes so if you wish to put a smile on a child's face, now is the time."

I flag down the first guy with a clipboard I see, and he rushes over. With my fingers, I direct him closer to my face so I can whisper in his ear from my seat. He does so and fills out the paper on his clipboard in the process.

"Thank you, sir. That's very generous of you."

"Of course," I reply. "Happy to help."

"Aw how sweet of you, babe. Don't you think, Daddy?" Liv purrs, running her hand through my hair. I hate when she does this and she knows it. She also knows another girl is getting my attention and since she clearly can't say anything about it at the moment, this is my payback.

"Yes, dear. Very generous of you, Lexington," Coach replies, offering me a nod.

He's impressed. Nothing says "I can take care of your daughter" more to the Upper East Side like blowing a few hundred grand at a fundraiser where anyone who matters can see it. Although it isn't all about money with Coach, it is to Olivia, and the only way to make her happy is to have pockets deeper than the Mariana Trench. I'll never understand how people can make money and status the center of their world. Don't get me wrong; I may have been born with money, but I don't give a fuck about it. It's never brought me a moment of genuine happiness or peace. If anything, it's created more problems, more expectations that I don't give a shit upholding.

I lean back in my chair, risking another glance towards Aspen's table.

Fuck.

From this angle and the way her dress hugs her frame, she looks like a goddess. My cock hardens in my slacks under the table at the sight of her alone. The thought of how good that body would feel beneath me crosses my mind.

Tapping the mic, Mrs. Denninger gains the attention of the crowd once more.

"The donations are in, and as a thank you, per tradition, we would like to announce the top donors of the night. First up, our third largest donation comes from Mr. and Mrs. Johnston with a total of fifty thousand dollars," she announces, and the room breaks out in a round of applause. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston are well known on the Upper East Side. They own a few chain restaurants, but nothing super big or fancy. They came into their money seventeen years ago when Mr. Johnston won the local lottery.

New money.

That's what my parents call them.

"Next, our second largest donation comes from Madame Deloiox, with a total of one hundred and ten thousand dollars."

The crowd applauds again.

Madame Deloiox is also well known to anyone in New York who has money. She owns and manages the biggest escort service in the country. Shit, half the bachelors here tonight have one of her girls draped over their arm.

"Lastly, our largest and most generous donation tonight comes from none other than our very own New York University Makos captain, Mr. Duke Lexington, with a total of three hundred thousand dollars," she adds excitedly before bringing her hands together.

People turn their focus on me from their chairs, nodding and applauding. I thank them, returning their nods as I wave my hand above my head and scan my eyes across the crowd. But the moment they land on Aspen's eyes, the entire room seems to disappear and I find myself sinking in their ocean depths.

Liv's hand on my thigh tightens, pulling me back.

"Really? Three hundred thousand dollars? Where did you even get that kind of money?" she seethes through clenched teeth against the shell of my ear.

"Who said I don't have money?" I laugh as I grab the glass of water from the table. People have turned their attention back to the woman on stage as she continues her speech.

"I just didn't know you did," she spits, leaning back in her chair. Around us, servers make their way into the room carrying trays of steaming food that they deliver one by one to each table.

"Why would you?" I reply with a hushed tone just as the server places my tray in front of me.

The night is comingto an end. The rest of the event went smoothly, surprisingly. However, I'm not entirely sure what I missed seeing as I spent my night fixated on Aspen and the guys from her brother's team who are seated around her.

"This place is dying down, can we go now?" Liv asks as she sulks in her chair. She's been itching to leave since Coach did shortly after dinner.

"I already told you to go. I don't know why you're waiting on me."

"Because Duke, we should be seen leaving together, don't you think?"

"Not really. Who the fuck cares? You came here without me, don't you think they expect you to leave without me, too? And honestly who is even paying that much attention to what people do?"

"People notice things," she snaps. "You think I haven't noticed you watching her? Your new little obsession?"

My eyes slowly move to Aspen, angered by the fact that Liv has the balls to mention her. "Shut up, Liv," I spit, bringing the glass to my lips.

"Whatever, I'm out of here. It's your ass on the line if people think something is up between us, remember? Not mine." She storms out, her heels clicking along the tile floor as she makes her exit.

She's not wrong. It is my ass on the line, and as annoying as Liv is, I should cut her some slack for keeping up this act with me. Only a few people remain at the fundraiser, one of them being the only reason I haven't left yet. Aspen. Ace and his team left hours ago, but she stayed back to help clean up, and even though it's late and I have early practice, I haven't been able to tear my eyes off her.

So, here I sit, like a shark. Hunting my prey.