Read Online Slap Shot by Lily Harlem - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Lily Harlem
Tags: Erótica
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tight in his palm. “Because it’s not just about sex, it’s about you. I want to get to know you, figure out how you think and make you understand that there is no sense in being alone.”
“But why would you care about me being alone?”
“Because that’s how my life is, trying to meet someone is always superseded by my NHL fame. Women see the money, the hockey captain. They don’t see me.” He lifted my knuckles to his mouth. “I can sense that you’re different and I like that. I like it a lot.”
The car purred to a stop outside my house. “I am different, but that doesn’t necessarily mean in a good way.” I pulled my hand from his and gripped my purse. I had seen how relationships could go. The way my mother and father lived together was enough to put anyone off getting involved.
“Let me be the judge of that.”
I shook my head and opened the door. “I came out with you because you left me no choice. The meal was lovely and I wish you well in all your future plans, Rick, but…”
“But?” His voice was a low growl. “But what the hell is the problem?”
“Once again you caused me to break a promise I made myself and I can’t afford to do that.” I slipped out. “Goodbye.”
Quickly I shut the door. Tapped my heels up the path and let myself into my home. Dead-bolting the locks, I leaned back against the wood, my eyes filling with tears as they adjusted to the darkness of the living room. The Lexus waited several minutes, ticking over in the silence, then revved away, a deep hum that faded into the distance and out of my life.
Chapter Four
“Have you sorted out the Warringtons’ cake yet, Maddie?”
“No, I haven’t had time. This golden anniversary thing at the zoo is a complete headache. They even want to ride off on an elephant at the end of the evening.”
“Is the zoo okay with that?”
“Yes, but they say it has to be before eight because apparently that is elephant bedtime.”
“And have you told Mrs. Johnson?”
“Yes, she told me to offer them an extra five hundred dollars to have the elephant stay up late but the zoo isn’t budging.”
I sighed and rubbed my hand across my forehead. “Okay, you carry on with that and I’ll do cakes and balloons for Rachel Warrington’s christening.” I wandered back into my office and stared at the pile of notes and files on my desk. My to-do list was as long as my arm but my heart just wasn’t in it. I couldn’t summon the enthusiasm I usually did for anything involving Best Laid Plans. It was as though a part of me was elsewhere, but I wasn’t sure where.
I frowned. We needed some help. We needed some help fast. “You know anyone who’s on the ball and needs a job?” I shouted to Maddie.
Quiet.
“Maddie?”
“Actually, yes.” She appeared at the door to my office, a broad beam on her face. “My cousin Cassie has just moved back home, she’s been living in Ohio with her boyfriend and it all went wrong. She’s smart, efficient and has turned her hand to all sorts of things over the years.”
“Perfect,” I said, flopping onto my chair. “Give her a call and see if she can stop by tomorrow. Tell her to park for the day. If I like her she can start immediately.”
“You’ll like her,” Maddie said with a grin. “She’s just like me.”
“In that case I will adore her,” I said, smiling back and picking up my mobile. Perhaps that would be one problem solved.
I got busy, booked two venues for events over the next three months. Sorted out a halal buffet and sourced a dozen white doves for a wedding in the spring. I chased up the fountain to be delivered to Carly’s and ordered gladiator outfits for the fifteen male bar and waiting staff.
Despite the rush of business, I had no events to attend this coming weekend—a rarity—and I was looking forward to kicking back in sweats and lazing around. Just me, quiet, no commitments. The blank two days on my calendar looked very inviting.
I nibbled on
“But why would you care about me being alone?”
“Because that’s how my life is, trying to meet someone is always superseded by my NHL fame. Women see the money, the hockey captain. They don’t see me.” He lifted my knuckles to his mouth. “I can sense that you’re different and I like that. I like it a lot.”
The car purred to a stop outside my house. “I am different, but that doesn’t necessarily mean in a good way.” I pulled my hand from his and gripped my purse. I had seen how relationships could go. The way my mother and father lived together was enough to put anyone off getting involved.
“Let me be the judge of that.”
I shook my head and opened the door. “I came out with you because you left me no choice. The meal was lovely and I wish you well in all your future plans, Rick, but…”
“But?” His voice was a low growl. “But what the hell is the problem?”
“Once again you caused me to break a promise I made myself and I can’t afford to do that.” I slipped out. “Goodbye.”
Quickly I shut the door. Tapped my heels up the path and let myself into my home. Dead-bolting the locks, I leaned back against the wood, my eyes filling with tears as they adjusted to the darkness of the living room. The Lexus waited several minutes, ticking over in the silence, then revved away, a deep hum that faded into the distance and out of my life.
Chapter Four
“Have you sorted out the Warringtons’ cake yet, Maddie?”
“No, I haven’t had time. This golden anniversary thing at the zoo is a complete headache. They even want to ride off on an elephant at the end of the evening.”
“Is the zoo okay with that?”
“Yes, but they say it has to be before eight because apparently that is elephant bedtime.”
“And have you told Mrs. Johnson?”
“Yes, she told me to offer them an extra five hundred dollars to have the elephant stay up late but the zoo isn’t budging.”
I sighed and rubbed my hand across my forehead. “Okay, you carry on with that and I’ll do cakes and balloons for Rachel Warrington’s christening.” I wandered back into my office and stared at the pile of notes and files on my desk. My to-do list was as long as my arm but my heart just wasn’t in it. I couldn’t summon the enthusiasm I usually did for anything involving Best Laid Plans. It was as though a part of me was elsewhere, but I wasn’t sure where.
I frowned. We needed some help. We needed some help fast. “You know anyone who’s on the ball and needs a job?” I shouted to Maddie.
Quiet.
“Maddie?”
“Actually, yes.” She appeared at the door to my office, a broad beam on her face. “My cousin Cassie has just moved back home, she’s been living in Ohio with her boyfriend and it all went wrong. She’s smart, efficient and has turned her hand to all sorts of things over the years.”
“Perfect,” I said, flopping onto my chair. “Give her a call and see if she can stop by tomorrow. Tell her to park for the day. If I like her she can start immediately.”
“You’ll like her,” Maddie said with a grin. “She’s just like me.”
“In that case I will adore her,” I said, smiling back and picking up my mobile. Perhaps that would be one problem solved.
I got busy, booked two venues for events over the next three months. Sorted out a halal buffet and sourced a dozen white doves for a wedding in the spring. I chased up the fountain to be delivered to Carly’s and ordered gladiator outfits for the fifteen male bar and waiting staff.
Despite the rush of business, I had no events to attend this coming weekend—a rarity—and I was looking forward to kicking back in sweats and lazing around. Just me, quiet, no commitments. The blank two days on my calendar looked very inviting.
I nibbled on
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