“You haven’t said a word since we got here,” Emma comments as she adds box of flour to the cart. “Why are you so quiet, River?”
I shrug. “Just watching you at work.”
She chuckles. “I’m not that interesting to watch.”
“Ah, that’s where you’re wrong.” I dip my head down, speaking inches from her mouth. “I find you fascinating.”
Emma shakes her head, her soft laughter filling the air. “I’m sure the grocery store is the last place you want to be right now. This is far from fascinating.” She pushes the cart, turning her back to me, and I move to her side. “I think I’m done.” She peeks up at me and wets her lips, an innocent gesture that makes my cock semi hard. “Unless there’s something else you need. I can make whatever you like. Just add it to the list.”
She has exactly what I need, but I don’t want food. And I can’t tell her that, not without scaring her away. So I keep my dirty thoughts to myself.
“All good,” I tell her. “Lead the way.”
We move to the front of the store, and I can feel eyes on me. A few people recognized me in the produce section. One man even asked for an autograph. All part of the job, something you never truly get used to.
When I was a kid, I dreamed of meeting my favorite hockey players. So no matter how busy, or how inconvenient, I always stop what I’m doing to sign autographs. My fans are my number one priority.
Emma nudges me with her hip when we reach the register. She leaned over the cart to lift a handful of items and place it on the conveyor belt. This girl is so independent. Even when her brother offered to pay off her debts, she refused his help. And now, she won’t even let me put our food on the belt for the cashier to scan.
“On our way home,” she says, and I love the sound of that, “can you stop at Dunkin Donuts?”
“Donuts are not on our list. Too fattening.”
“For me.” She looks up at me with a hopeful smile. “Pretty please, River.”
How can I refuse her?
I can’t.
“Sure. Whatever you want, Em.”
After I pay and load the bags into the trunk, I drive Emma to Dunkin’ Donuts. We have a lot of cold shit, so I use the drive-thru to save some time. I order a large coffee with extra cream and three sugars and a dozen chocolate frosted donuts for Emma. Thankfully, the person handling our order doesn’t recognize me. So we get in and out with no more distractions and head toward the waterfront.
When I stop at a light, she pops off the top of her coffee cup.
My eyes widen as I watch her in horror. “What are you doing, Em? You’re gonna spill that all over the leather.”
This car wasn’t cheap, and it’s my baby.
Emma opens the box and grabs a donut, her fingers now coated in chocolate frosting. “I’ll be careful,” she promises right before she dips the donut into the coffee.
There’s so much half and half in her coffee it’s practically white, and I wonder why not just drink creamer instead.
“Ew,” I groan as she sinks her teeth into the wet donut. “That’s disguising. How can you eat that?”
Emma laughs. “Loosen up, River. Isn’t that why it’s called Dunkin’ Donuts?” She dips her donut in the coffee again and eats it with a smirk, her lips coated in chocolate.
I can’t help myself, so I slide my thumb across her bottom lip to wipe away the chocolate. She holds my gaze, breathing hard as I lick it from my skin.
“River,” she whispers, taking another deep breath. “You know we can’t, right?”
“I’ve never been good at following rules.”
“My brother,” she chokes out as she puts the lid back on the coffee cup.
The light changes to green, and I hit the gas pedal, eyes on the road. “Your brother only has one rule. That I can’t use you like a puck bunny.”
“He wouldn’t be okay with us, River. Besides, you’re not the kind of man who dates. I won’t be another one-night stand for you.”
I tap my fingers on the wheel and look over at her. She’s so fucking beautiful she takes my breath away. Even with traces of chocolate on her lips and fingers, she’s still stunning.
“I don’t want another one-night stand.”
The truth.
After years in the NHL, I’m sick of that lifestyle and want more. I want her. And if I have to become a reformed playboy to get her, it’s exactly what I will do.
As I pull into my parking space beneath the building, I hold her gaze that hasn’t left me. “I want you, Em. Always have.”
“We can’t,” she says under her breath, as if she doesn’t even believe it herself. “My life is a mess. I can’t handle another disaster.”