Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 115838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
“Okay, as much as I want to sit here and pat myself on the back,” Lexi adds, “I need a shower and, apparently, the guys have set up a celebration dinner for us.”
“Fun.” I hold up my phone. “Okay, girls, selfie time,” I announce, making sure the three of us are all in it and the playground is in the background before I take the picture. “That will be going into our social media as well as the newsletter I’m going to be sending out on Monday,” I tell them.
I get into my car and head home, taking a nice long shower. My body feels like I just did the biggest boot camp of my life, along with a triathlon. I take my time blow-drying my hair and applying my makeup, telling myself it’s just for me, but secretly knowing it’s just in case Zane’s there. Seeing him today dressed down and working side by side with his team had me fanning myself a couple of times, and it had nothing to do with the heat.
I grab the white tank bodysuit, putting it on before slipping on a pair of tight blue jeans. I turn around, making sure it looks good from the back before I grab the dressy white jacket with shoulder pads. Pushing the sleeves up to my elbows, I then slip my feet into my nude sky-high stilettos.
I’m parking my SUV when I see the parking lot full and wonder how many people are actually here. I grab my purse and walk into the restaurant, and I’m shocked when I see the whole fucking hockey team here, along with all our volunteers from today.
The whole restaurant is filled and I look over at Lexi, who comes over to me. “Surprise!” she exclaims to me, and I just shake my head. This is a lot more than who I thought would be here. I thought it was going to be just us.
“It wasn’t even my idea,” she admits to me. “I was just as shocked as you were.”
“So much for a quiet night out,” I mumble as Kirby and Kylie come up to me.
I kiss Kirby on the cheek as we crowd the front door and then look over to the side. I see more of the team, but also see Shauna and Seth are at the side talking, when he notices me. “Hey.” He comes over. “How great is this?” he says, looking around at the packed bar. “The team came out to celebrate with us.” Kylie and Kirby walk to the side to talk to Shauna and her husband.
“Oh, wow,” I say, looking around. “I thought it would just be a couple of the guys,” I tell him, but I’m looking for one person in particular—the one person who I shouldn’t care whether he’s here or not.
I feel him before I see him when the door opens behind me and he steps in. His frame fills the doorway, and when I look over my shoulder, I find his eyes directly on me. He’s wearing black pants with a black shirt. The army-green color jacket is pushed up at the sleeves, a silver watch on one wrist, while the other has a black beaded bracelet. “Hey.” His gruff voice sends shivers down my spine. His hair is perfect and my hands itch to run my fingers through it.
“Hi,” I say, looking down and trying to not make it more uncomfortable than it feels. I’m about to say something else, but it would seem my mouth has forgotten how to do anything but drool when his scent finally makes it to me.
“This is fantastic,” Seth states from beside me. “Thank you guys so much for all your help today.”
Zane nods at him. “It was a pleasure.” He looks at me one more time. “But all praise has to be given to Victoria. She’s the one who got in touch with Jill to get the team set up.”
“Someone gave me the idea,” I remind him, and he grins and looks down. My hands are gripping my purse tighter than needs to be.
Jaxon and Ariella come our way. “She’s here,” Ariella announces, coming to me and kissing my cheek. “Surprise!” she says. “I know you weren’t expecting anyone but us and a couple of friends but—”
“Zane,” Jaxon cuts in, “thought it would be nice to celebrate.” My head whips to Zane.
His eyes are on me as he puts his hands in his pockets. “It was the least we could do.” He looks around. “Now if you guys will excuse me, I’m going to go and show my face so they don’t think I forced them to come here and then bailed on them.”
He walks past me but not before his hand touches the bottom of my back as he passes by. I watch him walk away from me. “Ariella, have you met Seth?” I hear Jaxon speaking, and even though he’s in front of me, it sounds like he’s far away. The only sound present in my ears right now is the beating of my fucking heart.