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  “Would you like some more time to decide?” he asked, and I realized we hadn’t even looked at the menu. Elyse’s effect on me was surprising, and not something that women usually did to me.

  “Yes, please. We’re too distracted with the view.” I looked towards the window, but I had been staring at Elyse.

  “I can’t blame you there,” he said. I gave him a sharp look. He smiled and turned his face away from her before telling us he’d be back in a moment. I narrowed my eyes at him as he walked away, turning back to see Elyse gazing at me with a smile on her face.

  “First date, and you’re already doing that?” she asked as I reached for my wine, holding my glass out so we could toast. She lifted her own and clinked it gently against mine, smiling as she took a small sip. When she finished, she set the glass down to pick up the menu. Her eyes scanned the entrées, and I noticed that they widened for a fleeting second.

  “Is everything okay?” I asked her as she blinked and looked at me.

  “Yeah, sorry. I am a starving artist, so meals like this aren’t my usual fare.”

  “I do fine at my job, and I’m happy to spoil you,” I assured her as she blushed. She continued to peruse the list and glanced at me. “See anything you like?”

  “The crab and shrimp platter sounds so good,” she murmured, and I found it quickly.

  “It does.” I smiled and kept looking. “Order it, Elyse. I’m getting the surf and turf. They come with sides and soup or salad as well.” She smiled and read again before closing her menu. The waiter breezed by and stopped as he noticed our menus closed on the table.

  “What can I get for you?” he asked Elyse, staring intently at her as she shifted in her seat. She ordered and stammered out the sides before he glanced at me. I ordered, meeting his eyes the entire time before he walked away. I watched as another waiter tapped him on the arm and gestured to me with a worried look on his face.

  “Are you okay?” she softly asked as I nodded, regaining my composure.

  “Sometimes I get restless off the ice. I also don’t like the way that he was looking at you.” She raised an eyebrow and reached for her wine. She looked uncomfortable, and I leaned in, catching her gaze. “Are you bothered by this?”

  “I haven’t dated much. I suppose I’m not used to it,” she replied as she took in the view of the city lights. It was darker out now, and I wondered why she didn’t date. She was beautiful, and I sensed that she wasn’t like other girls who chased me. Not that she was anywhere near doing that, but her shyness was refreshing.

  I eased into a light conversation and discovered that she was an only child and that her father lived in the downtown area. He was successful at an investment company and was paying her bills so she could focus on art. There was no mention of her mom, and by the look in her eyes, I guessed she didn’t want to talk about the subject. Perhaps she recently lost her or a bitter divorce had left the two estranged.

  “If your father pays for everything, why do you work at a second-hand bookstore?” I asked as she tore off a small piece of bread.

  “I guess I need to feel like I’m doing something, and it’s a great place. It relaxes me,” Elyse replied as she popped the piece of bread in her mouth before tearing off another piece. “I do that to get out of the house and paint at other times. It’s a good balance.”

  “Do you see your dad often?” A look of pain crossed her face, and I frowned.

  “No, not often.”

  “Doesn’t Tori drag you out? She seems like a party girl.”

  Elyse smiled. “She makes every effort. I don’t say yes to everything.” A different waiter brought our plates, setting them down as Elyse smiled.

  There was a large part of me that wanted to protect this girl from something I couldn’t see. I also wanted to be the reason she smiled from now on.

  Chapter 3

  ELYSE

  THE RESTAURANT WAS gorgeous, and unlike any place I’d taken myself to before. The views and lighting were perfect, and the food on the plate in front of me made me salivate.

  I sipped my wine to calm the butterflies in my stomach and reached out to place the thick white cloth napkin in my lap. I glanced at Ryder as he grinned and did the same.

  My father was generous with his money. My house and bills were paid, and there was a lot left, but I hated the fact that he always gave me cash over any quality time with him. When Mom died, my dad simply shut down and did the bare minimum to raise me. I was thankful for friends and Mom’s family that often took me for the weekend and the holidays. Dad talked about Mom haltingly from time to time. I knew it hurt him, but I loved the tidbits that I did get.

  I knew that I could do more with the money that he gave me. I also knew that he believed in my talent since he always told me that, even if I knew that it always reminded us both of Mom. I didn’t trust my future and tried to put money away, just in case. What if I failed at being an artist? I only had the job at the bookstore, and the few classes I had taken at the community college didn’t amount to much. I wanted the cushion to fall back on if my dreams didn’t come true.

  The food was incredible. I ate slowly, savoring every bite. Ryder watched me as if amused, and I pushed my plate away once I ate as much as I could. I reached for my wine and sipped it, feeling it rush to my head. I knew I was overdoing it, but it felt good to let go.

  Ryder finished his plate and left his wine sitting as he leaned back.

  “That was so much food. Are you full?” I asked.

  He chuckled. “I work out all the time. I can afford to eat a lot as long as I keep it under control,” he replied, and I blushed as I nodded. His body was perfect. I felt my eyes wandering over his broad chest. I caught myself, and he smiled knowingly. I finished my glass of wine and he looked the table over. “Would you like to take a walk?”

  “Where?”

  “There’s a walkway into the city that we can go on. It’s a nice view, and you’ll be safe anywhere in this city with me.” His voice lowered, and I shivered as it vibrated through my body.

  “Okay,” I replied, not willing to let the night end just yet.

  The waiter walked over to remove the plates, and Ryder asked for the bill. When the waiter returned with the black folder, Ryder reached for his wallet and placed a card inside it. I fought the urge to look at the total.

  When I got up, Ryder offered me his arm, and we walked out of the restaurant together.

  As we walked, I asked him about his career. I didn’t know much about hockey, but I was interested in Ryder. He was born in Scotland and lived there for the first seven years of his life and moved to the States for his father’s job. He told me about growing up on the ice and how he had a knack for hockey from the beginning. His father encouraged him along the way, and with the help of constant training, Ryder ended up on a competitive team at the beginning of middle school. From there, he joined the high school team and quickly became one of the top scorers in the area. He played in college and was drafted immediately afterward to the team that he was playing defense for now. His parents moved to Canada to be close to his mother’s large family once he and his sister left home. Apparently Ryder had something like twenty cousins on his mother’s side.

  We crossed a bridge over the main road and headed down to the sidewalk. Ryder reached out and took my hand in his large one, linking our fingers together. I looked up at him, aware that he was easily half a foot taller than I was and much broader. I was tall for a woman at five foot eight, but he had to be six foot four, at the very least. My heels only added a couple of inches, and I still felt short beside him. “You’re a big man,” I murmured as I looked around to see where we were.

  “You have no idea,” he said under his breath. I stared at him, but he acted as though he had not responded. “Let’s go this way. We can get some coffee before I take you home, if you’d like.” I nodded, and he led me to the left as I walked with him. I looked at the small bistros and bars as we passed, hearing the laughter inside as d
oors opened and closed. One street led to some shops and open restaurants, and the other to a park.

  I felt good with the wine flowing through my body and the man holding my hand beside me. I hadn’t been on many dates. I made a few friends in school, and when the boys asked me out I declined, saying that I had work or plans. I just never felt like committing to anything. I lost my virginity to a guy in college with little fanfare and only a handful of repeats. I couldn’t handle the idea of confiding my pain to anybody other than Tori. Relationships required that.

  Not that this was a relationship. It was just a date.

  “We didn’t discuss you too much over dinner. I don’t want to be that guy, Elyse.” Ryder’s slight accent vibrated through me, and I smiled weakly. That wasn’t an oversight on my part, since I hated the looks of pity and sympathy I received when talking about my past.

  “I’m just a starving artist trying to make it. Your life is much more exciting than mine,” I tried to quip, but he paused with my hand tight in his.

  “Somehow, I doubt that. Not with the depth I see in your eyes.” I turned around to look at him, seeing the intensity of his stare. He tugged gently, and I held my hand up as I stumbled forward against his chest. His skin was taut and warm underneath his shirt, and I licked my lips slowly as he released my hand to slip his long arm around my waist. “Elyse, I don’t want you to feel like you have to run from me.”

  “I’m just getting to know you,” I murmured before his mouth claimed mine gently. It wasn’t a hard kiss, not by any means. It was gentle, and I moaned against his lips as my body responded, parts of me coming to life that I was convinced were dead or had never been reached before. His mouth moved quickly, and I reached an arm around his waist to pull him closer. I felt his tongue on my mouth and parted my lips eagerly, rewarded as he tilted his head to deepen the kiss.

  I wasn’t sure how much time passed as we kissed. Seconds or minutes, but his slow kisses were so good. Ryder was as skilled with his lips as I assumed he was on the ice, and I felt a void as he pulled away, clawing at his hair as he panted against my forehead. “I’m sorry. I didn’t plan on that.”

  “It’s okay,” I murmured, wanting more as I breathed in his woodsy scent. I didn’t want to continue this in public, but I was scared that if I let him go, he would disappear.

  “Would you like to get that coffee now?” he murmured before kissing my hair. I considered his answer and nodded, deciding that I needed some time to think this over.

  He led me to a small dimly lit coffee shop, opening the door for me. I walked through and looked around at the mismatched couches with a soft smile. I’d never been here before, and the atmosphere was great. We walked up to the counter and placed our orders before Ryder paid. Once we had our drinks in our hands, he led me to a love seat by a fireplace and we settled in. We were close, and I pressed my swollen lips together before glancing down at my drink.

  “You didn’t mind what happened back there?” he asked. I stared at him in surprise.

  “I probably wouldn’t have responded like that if I didn’t. It was a surprise, but a good one,” I admitted quietly as he chuckled. “What do you want from me, Ryder?”

  “You’re so shy, but you can be direct,” he mused as I stared at him. “I want to get to know you. That kiss almost knocked me on my ass, and that’s not easy to do. It doesn’t mean that I expect you to do anything you’re not comfortable with. I just want to see you smile and feel good about yourself.”

  Chapter 4

  RYDER

  ELYSE DIDN’T FEEL bad about herself, but I could see in her expression that she doubted herself. It was evident in her eyes that she went through something, and the curiosity was deep. I just had to let that go for now.

  We sipped our drinks, and I focused on the heat between our bodies. I wasn’t going to kiss Elyse again yet and would revisit that when I dropped her off at home. I asked her when she worked at her bookstore next, and she told me the following afternoon for the closing shift. She smiled when she spoke of it, and I knew she loved her job.

  “I don’t have a pre-season game until two nights from now. It’s a home one, and then we travel for about a week. Want to go out again after work tomorrow?” I asked.

  “You want a second date with me?” she responded, and I knew I wanted that more than anything.

  “I do,” I admitted, and she smiled.

  “That sounds nice. I get out of there at eight. Will that work for you?”

  I nodded.

  “You can pick me up at the bookstore. It will save some time.”

  “That sounds great. I know the place already. One of the wives likes to go to the café attached to your store and writes her books while the baby is with the nanny.”

  Her eyes lit up, and I tilted my head at her.

  “Becci? I see her on my day shifts. She’s great. She’s married to a hockey player?” Elyse asked, and I nodded.

  “Our assistant captain.”

  She took a long drink from her cup and laughed.

  “I know her a little. We just make small talk before she goes to the corner table and gets to work. I always tease her about reading her next release.” Elyse set her cup down and smiled.

  “I’ll tell her that I know you. Maybe she’ll get you a signed copy,” I suggested, and she laughed sweetly.

  “Since we’re going out tomorrow, why don’t you take me home so we can have that goodnight kiss?” Her voice was low, and I met her eyes, a deep purple in the light of the shop.

  “Yeah, I can do that.” We left the coffee shop, and I opened the car door for her, driving slowly to her house. The idea of kissing her again thrilled me, and I parked at the curb before turning the engine off. The road was lit with streetlights, and I glanced around slowly. “Is this a safe place to live?” I asked, and she laughed.

  “I have a few police officers scattered around the neighborhood. They keep a close eye on things,” she replied as I stared at her. “You’re protective again.”

  “I can’t help it. My mom raised me to watch out for people,” I told her as she raised her eyebrow.

  “Is she a fan of you beating up men on the ice to watch out for your people?” Elyse countered, and I pictured my mom as she told me that I needed to tone things down on the ice.

  “She isn’t. She’s proud of me, but it’s my dad who tells me to be aggressive out there,” I admitted, and Elyse smiled. “Can I start that kiss in my car?” She nodded and I leaned in to brush my lips against hers, feeling the electricity between us. I liked this girl. I wanted her as more than a one-night stand or even a casual fling. I kissed her again and she responded, tilting her face against mine as her tongue stroked my lip.

  We took it to her door, and I pulled her against me, kissing her fiercely. The porch light was bright, and I knew that anyone who passed by might see us. I wanted to unlock her door and bring her inside where there was a counter. There was a couch. There was that sturdy oak table that I’d noticed. Fuck, I wanted this girl.

  I heard her keys and slid a hand down to capture them. She moaned against me, and I pulled away. “If I unlock this door and let us in, I’ll never want to leave.” I stared into her wild eyes and licked my lips. “I won’t ever force you, but I am only a man, Elyse.”

  “Tomorrow. I’ll see you tomorrow,” Elyse stammered, and I nodded. I kissed her again, chastely this time, before unlocking her door.

  “Lock your door, Elyse,” I told her, and she nodded before backing inside. She blinked at me before closing the door, and I listened to the deadlock click in place. I turned to walk to my car and looked out as a sheriff drove through the neighborhood in an SUV, giving me a long look.

  “You’re Ryder Bellamy?” he asked as he stopped and rolled down the window with a quick look around.

  “I am.” I offered my hand, and he shook it before glancing at the townhouse behind me.

  “Are you seeing Elyse?” he asked.

  I smiled. “Something like that,”
I replied, and he frowned a little as he looked at me.

  “Take care of her. She’s been through a lot.” His words were vague, and I raised an eyebrow as I scrubbed a hand through my hair.

  “What do you mean?” I asked, and he looked at the townhouse for a moment.

  “Just be gentle with her,” he warned before nodding. “Good luck with the season, Ryder.”

  He rolled up his window and parked at a house just down from Elyse’s place, hopping out and walking inside. I unlocked my car and glanced towards Elyse’s house, seeing the light through the closed blinds, turning on in the front rooms as she seemed to walk down the hallway.

  The next day dragged until it was time to pick Elyse up at the bookstore. I dressed in fitted black jeans and a white button-up, slipping my feet into work boots on the way out. I slicked my hair back casually, comfortable to let it do what it wanted. I spent most of my life with a helmet on my head, so I didn’t worry too much.

  I drove the car to the quaint part of town that offered a lot of shopping and antique stores. I glanced at her building and parked down the block as soon as I could find a space. I checked myself in the mirror and tried to force my nerves into settling down. I wasn’t usually like this with a woman, but I had to think for a moment on how long it had been that I dated one on a serious level. I guessed that it was a few years, and I opened the door and stepped out into the fresh night air. I looked around and noticed a few people walking on the sidewalk before making my way to Elyse.

  Her second-hand bookstore had a heavy wooden door with a small glass pane, and I could see her at the counter as I peered in. She looked stunning with her hair in a ponytail and a smile on her glossy lips. I paused as I took her in and jumped as someone asked if they could get into the store.