Page 69 of He Has Charm (Boston Brawlers Hockey)
Now all I need to do is make arrangements and tell Maddox. Shit. They’ll want to meet him and I’m not sure if he’ll want to meet them. My heart rate kicks up just thinking about the ask.
But I need to put it out of my head right now and get to work on the deal with Jason Santos for Maddox’s guest appearance on Jason’s cooking show special. I’ve included healthy cooking as a requirement, but I have a feeling that won’t be a problem. This deal is one more way to prove to Maddox how I feel about him, but I need to do something bigger, more personal, something that will show him how special I think he is no matter what kind of heart defect he potentially has.
I glance around the kitchen at his things scattered around ten place a call to Delaney. I have an idea.
* * *
“What are you doing here?” Maddox says, more suspicious than surprised.
I should have expected his reaction since I haven’t been coming to practice, but today was closed to the press, so I came for the last twenty minutes and waited patiently while he stayed on the ice for extra shooting drills against the backup goalie. He pulls off his helmet and gloves and wipes the sweat from his brow with his sleeve. My belly flips at the sheer manliness of him, at that special connection that I feel physically and every other way possible.
“Can’t a girl come and drool over the hottest guy on ice?” I say, going for lighthearted in spite of my deficit of feeling that way.
“Really?” He turns and looks around. “Who would that be?” He smirks and I laugh.
“Fishing much? Okay, if you need me to tell you. You’re my hottest guy. The only one worth watching and definitely the only one who would cause me to drool. Since I’m not a drooler. I was never—”
“All right, I get the picture.” He looks unconvinced and a little concerned. “So what’s really up?”
“Nothing that couldn’t wait until you got home. But I did want to let you know my mom and brother will be coming for a visit.” I don’t tell him they’re worried about me. I know he already feels guilty about his reluctance to be in a relationship with me—okay, his flat-out refusal to be in a relationship.
“Cool.” He grins. “Promise I’ll be on my best behavior.” His face clouds up. “What do they think our relationship is? Do they think—?”
“No. I told them there was nothing to all the rumors, that we’re business only. That’s the official status while we’re working together.”
“What do you mean while we’re working together?”
“I’m going to send my resume out, call some contacts for other opportunities—”
“Don’t do that, Harper. Not on my account. I don’t want to be responsible for you giving up your dream job just when you’re breaking out.” He looks so upset I want to hug him.
“It’s not up to you. It’s something I want to do. Because of how I feel.” He closes his eyes and leans his back against the wall and I’m worried until he opens his eyes again.
The clear blue pain I see stabs my heart.
“Don’t do this. I told you…”
“I know. But your… condition doesn’t change the way I feel. Not even a fraction.” I touch his arm because I’m starved for the connection, for the feel of him and I’m only human. Thank god he doesn’t pull back from me or cringe away. He only stares, forcing me to clear my throat.
“Well, in the meantime, I got a hotel room for my mom and Charlie and you can meet them after the game—I hope you don’t mind because there’s no way they’d let me get away with not introducing them to you.”
“Of course I want to meet them. We’ll go for dinner after the game. On me. Don’t say no.”
“Why would I say no?” That’s how far apart we are, how off he is on where he stands, like he’s some kind of unholy burden not fit for a so-called woman like me. “You know I love your company.”
“We weren’t supposed to have any moreMaddox and Harper sightingsin public, as you put it.” I feel the heat infuse my face.
“Oh, yeah. There’s that. We can eat at home. I’ll order a meal to be delivered. It’ll be fine. If you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind.” But he doesn’t look happy. I don’t know what’s in his head or how he really feels. I’m such an idiot. I’m pushing too hard and I can’t read him anymore. Maybe I’m totally off base and he’s using his condition as an excuse for why he doesn’t want a relationship. Maybe it’s me. Maybe he truly isn’t into me as much as I’m into him.
Shit. I could be all wrong. Inventing all kinds of crazy psychological problems for him so that I can believe he really wants me deep down. Oh god, no.
“Harper? You okay? Dinner at home with your mom and brother sounds great. It really does. I only hope my game improves by Friday.”
“Don’t worry, your game is fine. You’re fine. You’ll do great. You could be doing terrible and you’d still be great. You’re a—” He laughs.
“As much as I’d love to let you go on telling me how great I am, I need to shower and dress.” I clamp my mouth shut and let him go to the locker room. Most of the other guys are already coming out dressed and on their way home. They wave and I wave back.
