“You know, you don’t need to do that,” I say, kissing her temple.
“Do what?”
“Tell me you’re here and you’re coming in. Just come in.”
She rests her head on my shoulder and I feel the soft brush of her lips against my neck. “It’s just habit, I guess. And if Tony found out I just came in, he’d know something was up.”
“You okay?”
Her sigh is warm on my skin. “Yeah. Just tired.”
“You need to stop picking up shifts at the bar.”
“I also need to pay my bills, though, and those shifts help with that.”
I pull back and look down at her. “Will you please take some money from me, Miranda?”
Her expression darkens. “No. Stop bringing it up.”
“I just hate seeing you so tired all the time.”
“The semester is almost over.”
“But then there’ll be another one. Whatever you make at the bar in a year, I’ll write you a check for right now. Just give me a number. You know I can afford it, so just let me help.”
“No.” She steps away from me. “I can take care of myself.”
Every time we have this conversation, whether it’s in person or by text, she frustrates the hell out of me. Miranda is stubborn and proud.
“I never suggested you can’t. Just take the money, would you? It would make me happy.”
A smile tugs at the corners of her lips as she bends down to get something from a shelf on her cart. “Thank you for offering, Jake. But that’s just not me, taking money from a guy I’m…” Her voice trails off and her cheeks flush.
“What? Dating?”
She shrugs and meets my gaze. “I don’t know. Are we dating?”
“Yeah, we are. Look, I know we’ve both been super busy, but we’ll both have more time soon. It’s not that I don’t want to see you. I miss you.”
When she stands, I think she’s going to fall into my arms, but she just says, “I miss you, too.”
“If you quit the bar, we’d have more evenings together. Lately I’ve either got a game or you’re working at the bar or studying every damn night.”
“That’s just our lives. This is why I don’t date—because I’m genuinely too busy for it right now.”
“So let me help.”
Her eyes darken to a deep shade of amber. “Stop, Jake. I don’t want your money. This is what it’s like to date a woman in the real world.”
I arch my brows at her. “As opposed to what, the women I’ve dated from fake worlds?”
“Yes. Models and actresses and heiresses don’t have second jobs at bars or night classes or worn-out hands.” Her tone is laced with anger, but tears glisten in her eyes.
I take a deep breath. “You’ve been Googling me, haven’t you?”
“Maybe. And there are like a thousand photos of you out there. If you aren’t in your hockey uniform, you’ve got a different beautiful, famous woman on your arm in every one.”
I sit down on the arm of the couch so I’m facing her. “You can’t blame me for women I dated before I met you.”
“I don’t blame you!” Her eyes are wide and her voice is rising. “What man in your position wouldn’t date those women? I’m a hotel maid, Jake. And while this is convenient on mornings I walk into your hotel room, you won’t be here forever.”
“I still want to see you when I move out of here, Miranda.”
“It can’t work. We hardly have time to see each other now. Next time a supermodel catches your eye, you won’t even remember my name.”
“You know that’s not true.”
She rolls her eyes. “Okay, so you’ll remember my name. But you know what I mean.”
“I know what you mean, but you’re wrong.”
“It’s driving me out of my mind, Jake.” Her voice breaks.
I stand up and go to her. “What’s driving you out of your mind? Tell me exactly what’s going on in your head.”
She takes in a deep breath and lets it out. “I like you. Despite the arrogance, the extensive history as a playboy and—”
“You like me,” I finish for her, smiling wryly. “I get it. Continue.”
“And you’re rich, famous and hot. Women have some seriously devoted fan pages about you, Jake. They write fanfic. Do you know that?”
“All right, you need to stop with the Googling.” I put my hands on her shoulders. “Stop trying to find reasons to doubt this, okay?”
“You’ve dated some of the most beautiful women in the world. I’m not like that, nor will I ever be—don’t you see? We’re from two different worlds.”
“I think you’re one of the most beautiful women in the world. And you’re also much more.” I brush my fingertips across her bare neck, which is exposed since her hair is up in a bun. “You’re smart and tenacious. Sweet. Funny.”
When I lean in and kiss her neck, she moans softly. I’m rock hard within two seconds. It’s been a long fucking time since my dick has gotten attention from anyone besides me.
“What are you doing for Thanksgiving?” she says in my ear.
My whole body stiffens. Shit. When Hailey texted me about Thanksgiving, I told her I already have plans. That’s sort of true. But I want to be straight up with Miranda.
“I’m, uh…hanging out here. I might go over to my agent’s place in the evening.”
Miranda puts her palms on my shoulders, pushing herself back until we’re eye to eye. “Alone? You’re planning to be here alone?”
I shrug. “Yeah.”
“No. Come home with me and Paige.” Her gaze is warm, her tone imploring. “Not like a meet the parents thing, just a casual thing. My mom makes lots of food and our whole family comes over. Grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins. But they’re all pretty cool.”
I take one of her hands in mine. “Thank you for inviting me. But I can’t go.”
“Why not?”
“I just…” I drop her hand and look away.
“You’re planning to be here alone, Jake.”
“Because I want to.” I meet her gaze again. “I’ve got places I could be that day, but I prefer to be alone.”