Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 98324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Okay. Well. I’m close to hyperventilating, but that’s not the worst reaction.
Sharp leans against the door frame. He takes both of us in with a measured glance. “Look, kids. I’m not a big enough asshole to give my female employees any guff over their private lives. But I will do this.” He turns to face Eric, laying a hand on his shoulder. “My dude, do not, under any circumstances, underestimate, betray, or mistreat Darcy.”
I gasp.
“That’ll never happen,” Eric says crisply. “You have my word.”
“Good,” Sharp says, turning his gaze to mine. “Make no mistake—Darcy Kendrick is the Legends’ most important employee. She’s smart. She’s dedicated. And even if she tries her best never to show it, I know she actually cares about me. If she ever quits, the organization will collapse faster than an ice sculpture in July.” He shifts his gaze to Eric. “… And if one of you has to go, I’ll trade your ass to Calgary so fast you’ll get frostbite from the jet stream.”
My jaw unhinges. So does Eric’s.
“Night, kids.” Sharp gives us a half-hearted wave and closes the door, leaving Eric and me standing here alone together.
It takes a full beat for Eric to cross the room and pull me into his arms again. “That was… wow?”
“Wow,” I echo. My eyes are strangely hot right now. Sharp’s words are still echoing through my mind. Smart. Dedicated. Most important.
Did that just happen?
“You okay?” Eric takes my hand and leads me over to a huge king-sized bed. We both get onto it and end up on our sides, facing each other. “I think he meant it,” he says, smoothing his thumb across my cheekbone. “All of it. And somewhere in that speech, he said it’s none of his business who you’re dating.”
“He did,” I agree. “He said… a lot.”
“I guess we’re not as sneaky as we thought?”
“No,” I agree. “And here I was, so impressed with us.”
“Same.” Eric smiles at me. “But this is better, right? I don’t want to give up our nice breakfast dates, but maybe we don’t have to hide.”
“We don’t,” I agree. “If the team knows…” I take a shaky breath. “I’m allergic to people knowing my private business. But it will be fine, right? They respect you, and maybe nobody will give us a hard time.”
“I wouldn’t let them,” he says. “Here, let me try something.” He turns and grabs his phone off the bedside table. He taps something on the screen, catching his tongue between his teeth in a look of concentration I’ve grown to love. “How do you feel about this?”
He hands me the phone, which contains the draft of a text in the players group chat.
Eric: Guys, a quick word. As some of you may have noticed, I’m dating Darcy Kendrick in the GM’s office. It goes without saying that you should continue to treat Miss Kendrick with the professionalism she deserves. I don’t want to hear any jokes or rudeness of any kind. As an added incentive I’ll remind you all that she has a hand in your travel arrangements, your calendar, and sometimes the menu.
TL;DR: no chirps or you’re getting 7 a.m. meetings, hotel rooms near the elevator, and mystery meat at every team meal.
I cackle. “I like it. Just the right balance of professional and vindictive.”
Then I press send.
Eric takes the phone out of my hand, hitches his body closer to mine, and kisses me thoroughly.
And, yup, all the day’s complications fade quickly. We melt together, and I let out a little groan of enthusiasm as his hand finds its way under my shirt.
“Baby,” he says. “Thank you for sneaking into my…” I expect to hear hotel room, but he says “… DMs. Best thing that ever happened to me.”
“Mmm,” I say, grabbing his face with both hands. The talking is nice, but the kissing is nicer.
He rolls on top of me and props his elbows on the bed. “Hold up. I’ve been needing to say something, but people kept interrupting us.”
I give up and flop my arms out on the bed. “Okay, you have two minutes, then I’m getting this shirt off you.”
He smiles. “I might not even need both of those minutes, because it’s just a quick thing. You should know that I’ve never had as much fun as I have these past couple of months. And that’s because I’m in love with you.”
My heart stops. “Eric.”
He calmly lifts one wrist and checks his watch. “That only took a few seconds, see?”
I grab his beautiful face in two hands and kiss him.
“Oh yeahhhh,” he says against my lips. “Say more.”
I’m attempting to do just that—with my tongue—and also unbutton his shirt with my newly healed hand—when his damn phone starts pinging. Probably in response to Eric’s text.
“Ignore them, baby,” he says, helping me with the buttons.