Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 124494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 498(@250wpm)___ 415(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 498(@250wpm)___ 415(@300wpm)
When I try to pull back, she winds herself tighter around me. I gently pry her hands free and kiss her fingertips. It’s agony to let her go again. If we stay in here much longer, I won’t be able to resist her, and we risk getting caught. “Go find the girls, angel.”
She nods, steadying herself. “Yes, Roman.”
“Good girl.” I press my lips to her temple and lead her to the door.
She runs her hands over her hips, smoothing out her dress. I make sure the coast is clear before she steps into the hall and heads for the ladies’ room on not-entirely-steady legs.
I give myself a couple of minutes to get my body under control again before I leave the conference room. I pull my phone out and send Lexi a message.
Roman
Better than I remembered.
Lexi
I thought I’d romanticized how good it was. I was wrong. All I want is more.
Roman
Just a few months and we can have it all.
Waiting for the right time to show her how good it can be is the ultimate test of my self-control.
CHAPTER 16
LEXI
“Grace is playing clean tonight,” Vander Zee observes as our enforcer gains control of the puck and shoots it to Bright, who takes it back down the ice, toward the opposition’s net.
“He is.” I follow the puck as Bright passes to Hendrix, then Grace, and back to Bright.
“The change up with Palaniappa was smart. I’m not the only one who’s noticed,” he adds.
I feel like I’m slowly earning my place here, becoming the asset he expects me to be. “They’re playing with their skill set now, not their emotions.”
It was a potentially risky move, especially with two less-seasoned players on the first defensive line, but over the past two weeks, it’s allowed other players to shine, and Madden can handle the pressure. More than that, he needs to see how the rest of the players can elevate their game when given the chance, so he can do the same. If things continue on this trajectory, we could make some gains in the second half of the season. Two Cup wins in a row is rare, but making it to the finals would be great for team morale. And for Roman’s final season.
The commentators have picked up on the shift, and while they agree that it’s been good for on-ice performance, they continue to bring up the glaring issue that Grace and Madden still aren’t spending much time on the ice together. But during the last press conference, when Grace was interviewed, he credited me with the line change, and said he and Palaniappa work well together.
It makes what happened with Roman at the holiday party even more conflicting. Fraternization between staff and players is highly frowned upon. Being discovered could wipe out all the positive gains I’m making, yet my desire for him is a physical ache. I watched the situation with Hemi and Dallas unfold on social media last year, and while it was managed well, this is so much different. An assistant coach and a player in a relationship could jeopardize the entire team. Vander Zee and Fielding’s leadership could be called into question. And if handled incorrectly, it will invariably ruin my career.
So there’s really no choice but to give each other space until the end of the season. The holiday party was one transgression—a mistake made of hormones and pent up longing. Once he’s retired and there’s distance between my role and his, we can pursue this.
But can we be alone and not act on the chemistry? If he hadn’t knocked over the chair that night, how far would it have gone? I shake my head and focus on the game, not the member of the team whose hands and lips I can’t stop thinking about.
Toronto wins 2-1. It’s particularly satisfying since we lost the last game against Detroit. I’ve learned that on nights like this, some of the players will hit the club. But Fee and Callie are here, so I fully expect to head straight home.
“I vote we go out for dessert tonight,” Rix says.
Hemi perks up. “I’m a fan of dessert.”
“There’s a coffeehouse not far from my place that has the best cakes and ice cream sundaes. And I have class tomorrow at ten, so it’ll ensure I get to bed at a reasonable time,” Rix adds.
“Hemi and I have an early meeting with the women’s team, so this is perfect,” Hammer agrees.
“I never say no to cake and ice cream.” Shilpa pulls out her phone. “I’ll let Ash know, and he can tell the rest of the boys.”
I send a message to Dred, on the off chance she can get out of work a little early. She couldn’t make the game because she runs the adult evening literacy program.
Lexi
Going out for ice cream sundaes. Think you can join us?