Takes me a moment to find her, and then our eyes lock. The rose-colored shirt she’s wearing reveals the soft skin of her shoulders to perfection, and all I want to do is put my hands on them.
She smiles—that’s a good sign—and takes a step toward me as I rush to close the gap between us. And then she’s in my arms, with her head lifted and those gorgeous eyes of hers swallowing me whole.
I don’t think. At all. And I don’t care who’s watching. As if what happened on the ice wasn’t enough, my teammates are about to get solid proof that Sophie and I are officially more than friends.
But the moment my lips touch hers, I forget all about that. I cup her beautiful face as her arms wrap around my waist underneath my jacket. The warmth of her hands seeps through my shirt and sends an ache through me that makes me realize she’s my missing piece.
I lift my head and stare down into her eyes, trying to convey some of what I’m feeling right now. The guys whistling and making catcalls as they walk by isn’t helping, though. This would be a lot easier if we were alone.
“Thank you.”
“For what?” She leans her head back to look up at me with those big eyes that envelop my soul.
“For being here. For kissing me through the camera hole.” I chuckle, and…I think I may be the one blushing this time because heat is rising up my neck, making its way to my face. “I didn’t do that for the crowd.”
She blinks twice, and those sweet lips I want to kiss again part to say something. Doubt flashes in her eyes.
Uh oh… Did I misread her? Maybe she did just kiss me out there because she didn’t think she had a choice. The thought makes me sick inside.
“Luke, I need to tell you something.” Her gaze darts back and forth as she searches mine.
I glance at the mix of players, girlfriends, and a couple of wives milling around us. Ethan and Mia are lip-locked, as per usual. I gesture down the hall toward the exit. “Let’s go outside.”
As soon as we step out of the door, a small crowd surges toward us. All young women, and they’re heading toward me.
“Luke!” Several female voices call out, but one rushes forward. She holds out something to me and lowers her voice to a sultry tone. “Sign it to Ella…with love…please?”
An image of me fills the front page of the paper. Other smaller pictures of me with the team intermingle with the article. But the main image is just me. No gear. Full detail. Sitting in Sophie’s office on that bench with the pink rose pillow.
I dart my gaze to Sophie.
“That’s what I needed to tell you.” Her voice shakes with her whisper.
Something primal surges up in me that makes me want toeither run or beat the crap out of that newspaper. But I know that won’t fix what just happened. I force a grin and take the woman’s pen.
“Sure. To Ella.” But I finish it with ‘thank you for your support’ because love has nothing to do with what’s going down here, and I think that’s what’s wrecking me right now. I trusted Sophie to keep my full face out of this.
After a few more signatures and passing glances of curiosity from some of the guys walking out, I grab Sophie’s hand and stride toward the parking area. At the sound of her frantic steps to keep up, I slow down.
When we reach my car, I drop her hand, pinching the bridge of my nose with my other one, and pace back and forth. I’m not even sure what to say at this point. I asked her not to show my face like that for a reason.
Just before Gabe reached out and asked me to join the team, I received a notice that my father was released from prison on good behavior. I requested that I not be contacted again. I don’t want to see him. I don’t want him to know anything about me. Or Kinsley, for that matter. We’ve dealt with enough, and our lives arefinallygetting back on track.
Rather, they were…until now.
Sophie’s panicked voice breaks into my internal rant. “I’m sorry, Luke. I didn’t intend for that picture to be used in the article. I didn’t realize I’d uploaded it to the paper until I saw it tonight. I’m so sorry.”
I stop pacing and stare at her. Do I believe her? I want to, but I’m struggling. I know how much she wants her own column. And that image of me is powerful—even I can see that, regardless of how uncomfortable it makes me to be so exposed.
Amazing how one pivotal moment can shift into another in a blink. A moment ago, I thought my life was finally turning into something good again. And now, I’m not so sure.
I run my hands through my damp hair. “What’s the reach of thisarticle?”
Confusion flashes across her face. “Less than thirty thousand. Why?”
“And only Florida?” The notification I received about my father mentioned he would be in a halfway house up north somewhere.
“Southwest Florida.” She looks like a terrified kitten ready to bolt for cover.
