I give him a stern look. “No. I was thinking that it’s kind of surreal to have you here in my apartment eating Chinese takeout at my coffee table with me.”
“Why?”
“Because last night I saw you as a hockey star for the first time. Thousands of people were cheering for you.”
“That’s not why I gave you the tickets, you know. I wasn’t trying to make myself seem like a big deal.”
I can’t help laughing. “Jake, you are a big deal.”
“Not really. I don’t want you to look at me that way.”
“Right now I just see the guy who forgot to shave this morning and has a hole in his sock.”
He runs a hand over the dark stubble on his face. “I can’t shave—we won last night, remember?”
“That’s right. And no changing your socks, either.”
“Just my game ones.”
I wrinkle my nose with disgust. “They must get so sweaty.”
“They smell like a rose garden. You can sniff them when you come to my room tomorrow.”
“I’ll pass.”
“And did you have your victory shot of your favorite drink after the game?”
I kind of hate myself for fishing this way, but I’m curious about his “plans” last night.
“Yep. Always.”
“Do your teammates have the same stuff after a win?”
“Sometimes. If we’re all out together I usually buy a round for everyone.”
“So that’s what you did last night, I take it?”
“Yeah.” He uses his plastic fork to point at the spicy pork I’m eating. “How is that?”
“Good.” I slide the dish toward him. “Try it.”
He slides the dish of General Tso’s chicken he’s eating my way and takes a bite of the spicy pork.
“This is amazing,” I say as I chew a bite of the chicken. “The food at the game last night was great, too, by the way. I never thanked you for the tickets and special treatment. We had fun.”
Jake grins. “I figured the 200 Center crowd would take good care of you.”
“Something like that.”
“Anytime you want to come to a game, just let me know.”
We finish our food and he puts the leftovers in my fridge while I go back to studying. By eleven that night, I feel well prepared for my exam but mentally exhausted. I’m about to fall asleep on the couch when Jake takes the blanket hanging over the back and covers me up with it.
“Good night,” he says, kissing my forehead.
“Thanks for helping me study.”
“Anytime. You want me to lock up?”
“Mmm.” My eyes start to slide closed. “Sure.”
The sounds of him turning the lock on the door and then closing it are the last things I hear before I’m fast asleep.
—
When I knock on the door to Jake’s suite the next morning, he opens the door.
“Good morning, Mr. Birch,” I say with a smile.
“Good morning.”
He holds the door open and I push my cart through.
As soon as the door closes behind me, Jake wraps his arms around me from behind. “You sleep well?” he asks, his arms warm and strong beneath my breasts.
“Yes. How about you?”
My heart is racing from the feel of his body against mine. He envelops me; I feel like the whole world melts away as I sink back against him.
“I slept okay,” he says, kissing my jawline softly. “Had a dream about you.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah. You stripped off your uniform for me as soon as you walked into the room and got in bed with me.”
My stomach swirls with excitement. He’s excited, too, based on the feel of his erection against my ass.
“And then what?” I ask.
“I kissed every last inch of you and we made love for hours.”
I’m glad he can’t see the huge grin I break out in. No man has ever described it that way to me, and I love the sound of those words from Jake’s lips. We didn’t “fuck” or “screw”—we “made love.”
Well, in his dream, at least.
“That sounds nice,” I say.
“Nice?” His arms tighten around me. “It was a lot more than nice.”
I put my palms on his muscled forearms and tip my head back against his shoulder. He kisses my neck and earlobe, then groans with frustration.
“You have no idea how much I want to stay, but I have to go,” he says, sliding his arms out from around me. “I can’t be late for practice. If I wasn’t team captain, I’d say fuck it.”
I turn around and look up at him. “Have a good practice. I’ll try out that stripping thing when you leave and let you know how it goes.”
Jake puts his hands around my waist and pulls me against him so hard I inhale sharply with surprise. He crushes his mouth against mine in a kiss, his tongue hot and hungry against mine.
When he pulls away, I’m breathless. This is a guy I could fall hard for if I’m not careful.
“Send pics,” he says in a low tone.
He leaves the room and I just stare at the door, raising my fingertips to touch my swollen lips. I still haven’t caught my breath. And I’m pretty sure I know what I’ll be dreaming about tonight.
Chapter 17
Jake
The next couple weeks are busy. Between games, practices and an ad campaign photoshoot for the athletic brand I’m the new spokesperson for, I’m away from the Dupont more than I’m there. And when I am there, I’m pretty much just sleeping.
Miranda and I get an occasional few minutes together when she comes to clean the suite if I haven’t left for practice yet, but it’s nowhere near enough. Texting keeps us in touch, but it’s just not the same as hearing her voice and seeing her smile.
The only good part about being this busy is that I don’t have any time for Hailey. It’s been nice not having to go on fake dates with her.
It’s the Monday before Thanksgiving and I’m about to get in the shower when Miranda knocks a couple times and announces loudly that “Housekeeping” is here.
She pushes her big cart through the door and I meet her in the suite’s living room, waiting until the door closes to wrap her into my arms.