Around two a.m., he’d fallen asleep in a tangle of sheets and moonlight spilling in through the windows. One second he’d been talking about growing up in Edmonton, then he’d gone out as if someone had flipped a switch. She’d never seen anyone fall asleep that fast, and she watched him for a few moments to make sure he was okay. She pushed a lock of hair from his forehead, and she touched his cheek and the rough stubble on his jaw. Then she gathered her clothes and left without waking him.
She’d never fallen so fast and so hard for a man, and she’d left without waking him mostly because she hadn’t known what to say. Thanks? Let’s get together again sometime? See ya at the game tomorrow night? She’d left because that was the rule with a one-nighter. Someone always left before dawn.
She’d also left without her panties. She hadn’t been able to find them in his dark bedroom, and she hadn’t wanted to wake him by turning on the light. She’d left them there and now her biggest fear was that his cleaning lady, or worse, Marie, would find them.
No, that was wrong. Her biggest fear wasn’t the discovery of her missing panties. It was seeing Luc tonight and feeling the horrible push and pull of her heart. In the past, she’d had boyfriends and one-night stands. She’d been hurt, and she’d hurt others too. But nothing compared to how Luc would hurt her. She knew it. She knew it was coming, and yet she couldn’t seem to stop it.
It was all so horrible and wonderful, and in the middle of all the confusion was guilt. He’d confirmed for her last night what she’d pretty much known. She could no longer tell herself that he’d find the Honey Pie article flattering. That he wouldn’t mind. He would, and there was nothing she could do about it now. There was no way to make it up to him, and knowing that he would never find out she was behind it did nothing to help with the guilt churning in the pit of her stomach.
She loved him and she didn’t even bother lying and telling herself that she hadn’t dressed for him. She wore red lipstick and a red silk blouse beneath her black blazer and wool pants. She felt silly, running out and buying a blouse because he said he liked her in red. Like that would make him love her.
A half hour before the game, she headed to the locker room. “Keep your pants up, gentlemen,” she began as she entered. While she recited her good-luck ritual, she could feel Luc’s gaze on her, hot and vibrant, and she absolutely refused to look at him. Not after last night. Not after the things they’d done together in his bedroom. When she was through, she tucked her chin and headed for the door.
“You forgot something,” Luc called out to her.
No. She hadn’t forgotten. She kept her gaze on the toes of her boots as she turned and walked back across the room. When she stood before him, she finally raised her gaze from his skates, up his bulky pads, past the fish on his jersey to the mouth that had kissed her passionately the night before. All over her body. “I thought you weren’t playing tonight.”
“I’m not, but if the goalie gets pulled, I’ll have to go in for him.”
“Oh, all right,” she sighed. By sheer force of will, she kept her cheeks from turning red and finally looked up into his amused blue eyes. “You big dumb dodo.”
“Thanks,” he said through a wicked grin, “but that wasn’t what I was talking about when I said you forgot something.”
She’d given her pants-dropping speech, shaken the captain’s hand, and called Luc a dodo. She hadn’t forgotten anything. “What are you talking about?”
He leaned forward and said just above a whisper, “You forgot your panties in my bed last night.”
Everything within her stopped and she couldn’t remember how to breathe. She looked around to see if anyone had heard him, but they all seemed busy elsewhere.
“I found them under my pillow this morning and I wondered if you put them there on purpose. Maybe a good-morning present.”
Her face and neck were on fire and her throat closed. All she could manage was a squeaky, “No.”
“Why didn’t you wake me up before you left?”
She clenched her hand and cleared her throat. “You were asleep.”
“I was resting up for round two. God, you were hot last night.” He looked closer at her and his brows lowered. “Are you embarrassed?” he asked, genuinely perplexed.
“Yes!”
“Why? No one can hear me.”
“Oh, my God,” she whispered and walked away before her hair caught fire. When she returned to the press box, Darby was there. And he’d brought Caroline.
“Hey, you two,” she greeted as she sat down. “If I’d known you wanted to come to another game, Caroline, I would have invited you to come with me.”
“It’s okay. I’m really not much of a fan, but Darby called and I wasn’t doing anything else.” She shrugged. “I tried to call you last night. Where were you?”
“Nowhere. I unplugged my phone.”
“I hate when you do that.” Caroline studied her a moment, then leaned closer. “You’re lying.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Yes, you are. I’ve known you all your life. I know when you’re lying.” Her gaze narrowed. “Where were you?”
Jane leaned forward enough to get a glimpse of Darby. He was on his cell phone. “I was out.”