Page 233 of Off Limits: The Firsts

I pause. I can see it in his eyes. This is one of his life-lessons moments. The last time we had one, he pushed me to find love—to give my whole heart. And I did. I let go of my fear, and I believed love was possible. I realized it was worth the risk.

And that’s when it hits me.

“They won because they believed they could. They won because they played as a team. They won because they trusted their captain and wanted those endless hours of pain and hard work to count for something. They let go of their fear of losing and believed in themselves.”

My dad’s smile isn’t something he gives quickly, but right now, I see my favorite one. Pride. He’s proud of me, and somehow I don’t think it’s simply about my answer.

“You’re right. They played as a team. Just like we do here. What you drop, another will pick up. What I drop, same goes. We’ll survive without Maddox . . . but you’re missing my point.”

“What is your point then?”

“His point is that he sent you to recruit me.”

I gasp at the sound and then the sight of Hunter standing in the doorway to my dad’s office. He’s leaning against the doorjamb, his thumb hooked in one belt loop of his jeans, and he has a sheepish smile tugging on the corner of his lips.

“Because he saw more in me than I could see in myself. He saw potential through my anger and skill through my antics. He saw something that most dismissed. He knew if I could get my head in the right place, that would be to my benefit. He knew that you’d see me as more than a hockey player when that’s all anyone had. He knew that you’d help me see through the pain because like me, you were fighting your way through it too.”

I stare at him as my jaw falls lax and my heart swells. And there are tears. For some reason, tears are welling when there’s nothing to be sad about.

Because I’m not sad.

No.

I’m so damn happy, so fulfilled, that I never knew this feeling was real or possible or something I wanted to feel.

“Is that right?” I finally ask.

“Yes. That’s right.” I turn to face my dad and shake my head as I try to process what he means. “I didn’t realize it at first.” He chuckles as he stands and leans his hips against the credenza at his back. “I thought you were the right one to go after Hunter because you were dogged, and I didn’t think you’d take any of his shit, but the more I talked to you, the more you questioned me, I realized everything Hunter just said was true. That you two were more alike than I’d ever thought. Funny how fate is that way.”

I eye my father. I see the moisture he blinks away in his own eyes and can feel his pride for both me and Hunter.

He nods his head and smiles softly. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to get ready for my client.” He holds his hand out to shake Hunter’s when he approaches him. “Good to see you. Congratulations, again.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“It’s Kenyon.”

Hunter nods as my dad walks down the hallway toward his office.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, rising from my chair.

A sly smile crawls onto his lips. “I wanted to make sure you were fulfilling your end of the deal.”

“My end of the deal?” I ask and raise my eyebrows as he steps inside the conference room, shuts the door behind him, and proceeds to turn the blinds closed.

Just what exactly does he think we’re going to do in here?

He puts his hand on the small of my back and tugs me into him. His lips find mine in an instant. He’s warmth and arousal and comfort . . . and home.

Isn’t that what I’ve come to realize over these past few months? That even though my dad sent me to find Hunter, I also found me?

I know I should be worried that I’m in my office—in the conference room—and being totally unprofessional, but it’s so damn easy to get lost in Hunter.

In his touch. In his humor. In the way he makes me think about things other than the day-to-day. In the way he makes me feel.

My body heats from his touch, despite it only being hours since I slid out of bed beside him to come to work.

It’s only when his hand tries to slip inside the waistband of my slacks that I push my hands against his chest to stop him. “Whoa, tiger.” I laugh and press one more kiss to his lips. “Not here.”