She blinked and nodded. He was right. But…he wanted to go on a date with her? Even though it could damage his career?
She was about to turn away when Jack held her back by the shoulder. “By the way, we usually go to the Ice Lounge after a home game. It’s the bar right around the corner from the stadium.”
She blinked in confusion. “What?”
He raised the corner of his mouth. “Well, you wanted an invitation. Now you have one. Now you can come and make the players like you. A little tip: the same applies to them as with Lyle and the coach: They don’t understandfriendlybut intelligence, humor, and a little kick in the ass, they get. Leon in particular needs one to thaw out. So…just don’t be too polite and the guys will understand you’re cool.”
“That’s twisted logic,” she said, astonished. “But, I have to know… are you only inviting me because I just made out with you?”
He smiled broadly. “No.”
“Then why?”
“Because I like you.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “Oh. So, we both like each other?” she inquired stupidly.
Jack suppressed a smile. “Wasn’t the last fifteen minutes enough proof for you?”
Blood rose to her cheeks. “Well, the physical aspect doesn’t necessarily mean…”
“I like you, Penny,” he interrupted, gently stroking her lip with his thumb. “A lot.”
“Oh,” she repeated, blinking. “That’s bad.”
“Disastrous,” he agreed. “That makes it all the more important that we discuss the impossibility of our situation over a meal together.”
She bit her lip to stop from smiling. “Hm. Well, I’d better…” She nodded toward the exit.
“Do that.”
She took a few hesitant steps back, her gaze still fixed on his face. “Jack? Are you serious about the date?”
“Dead serious.”
“But…”
“There’s always going to be a ‘but,’ remember?”
The corners of her mouth twitched wearily. “It’s a pretty big but.”
“What if not going out would be a pretty big mistake?”
She had no idea about that…so what the hell?
Chapter Sixteen
Ilike you, Penny. A lot.
The words were innocent, but they had been warming Penny’s heart for days. They warmed here even in the ice arena, where, although the VIP box where she and the rest of management sat for games was heated, it was still chilly. It was strange. The people here claimed they were there to watch the game, but mostly what she had observed them doing was drinking copious champagne, digging into the buffet, and standing with their backs to the rink while they gossiped about other rich people. Not even Gareth and Lyle were focused on the game; they had spent the last half hour fawning over a woman with a pearl necklace and an arrogant face.
This game was incredibly important. If the Hawks didn’t win eighty percent of their games this February, they would never make the playoffs, which began mid-April.
At this rate, though, Penny might not even live to see it.
She swallowed and shook her head. These were all worries for another day. In any case, it was clear that the game was making about as much of an impression on the CEO as her idea of using Leon as a striker. They obviously hoped that if they stopped talking about it, Penny would simply forget it. Shewouldn’t, though. She was using this opportunity to analyze Leon Alvarez’s performance – at least, whenever she wasn’t looking at Jack.
That meant she was watching Leon for about half the game.
