He glances at her and sips his coffee. After the trip to Philly, I’d be lying if I said I don’t feel more connected to Aiden. The way he handled the obnoxious fan, the way he picked me up, the fact that he’s not at all like what anyone would picture a professional hockey player to be.
“I can put on my Speedo and we could go to the beach,” he jokes.
“Perfect.” I smile. “Just make sure they’re the super low ones so we can see those hip indentations.”
He moves his hands to cover his chest and crotch. “I feel dirty now.”
Tedi laughs from her desk.
“The other thing is… would you mind if I follow you around for a day?” I bite my lip because I hate asking this. I’m sure he’ll hate the idea. “We could invite Maksim and kill two birds with one stone.”
He holds up his hands. “Hey now, I don’t kill innocent animals.”
I tilt my head. “Har har.”
He shrugs. “Sure. Actually, Maksim and I are going fishing tomorrow morning. Want to join us?”
I scrunch up my eyebrows. “Fishing? Don’t people wake-up really early?”
“Not much of a morning person, huh?” He sips his coffee.
“No, but I’ll make do. I’ll bring my camera and do some candid shots of you both. Tedi?”
“Hell to the no.”
Aiden turns around in his chair. “What if I told you Tweetie was coming?”
Tedi blushes. I’m as amazed by her reaction as Aiden seems to be. While we were in Philly, she was never in our room. From what I heard, she and Tweetie rented their own room because Ford said he wasn’t leaving his and Tweetie’s.
“I’m curious, did that fuck-it bucket list include ‘have a relationship with a hockey player’ on it?” Aiden asks.
Tedi balls up a piece of paper and throws it at him. “I never thought it would happen, okay? But I’m not through with him.”
Aiden turns to me and raises his eyebrows.
I lean over and whisper, “Is he really a good guy?”
Aiden scrunches his eyebrows at me and finishes his coffee before throwing the cup into the trash can.
“I’m going to the bathroom,” Tedi says and walks out of the office, leaving Aiden and me alone together.
“So is Tweetie a good guy?” I ask again.
Aiden stares at me. “What kind of answer do you want? The one I should give the best friend of the girl he’s banging or the truthful one?”
I stare at him. “Seriously? That bad?”
“Nah.” He waves me off, dropping his foot so both are on the floor. “He’s a good guy. If Tedi wants something serious, he might too.” He shrugs. “I mean, he’s not a perpetual bachelor like Ford or anything.”
“Hmm… she rarely puts herself out there. I mean, she’s been with him more than once.”
“Is that like Guinness Book of Tedi’s Records or something?”
“Kind of. Ever since I’ve known her, she’s never wanted a boyfriend or any kind of commitment.” I shake my head. “And I probably shouldn’t be having this conversation with you. So back to fishing.”
He laughs. “It’s cool, I’m down with the girl talk.”
I open my drawer and pull out some paperwork. “I’m sending these home with you for you to fill out. You can give them to me tomorrow. Let me know if you have any questions.”
He groans. “You’re giving me homework?”
“I do travel all over creation for you.” My eyebrows rise, and he chuckles.
“Technically, you’ve traveled once. Which reminds me, when we head to New York, my cousin is having an adoption party. Her husband is adopting her daughter. I thought maybe you’d want to go with me?”
My eyes widen and my heart trips over itself. Is he asking me out on a date?
“Completely platonic, of course. I’m getting them tickets to the game that night and they’ll be sitting with you, so I thought you might like to meet them beforehand. Their daughter, Jolie, is the best thing ever. She’s seven and loves me because hello, I’m the best hockey player ever.” He raises his shoulders as though he’s bragging.
“Oh, well, um… sure.” I’m unsure how to answer. It’s weird that he’s asking so early. What if the drink thing is already off the table by then because it stops working?
“I have to give her a head count, and I figured this way you’re not stuck in the hotel room the whole time either.”
I laugh. “You did say New York City, right? I’m pretty sure I could find a thing or two to do.”
His smile falters. “Oh, then by all means, you don’t have to come with me.”
There’s something weird in his expression, like he’s disappointed I might not go.
“I’m happy to go. You’re right. It would be nice to meet them before we’re all watching the game together.”
His cloudy expression clears. “Great. I’ll let her know. She’s been on my ass about it.”
“Perfect.”
We sit in silence for a moment before he stands. “How’s Joran? I haven’t heard from him in a while.”
Funny he says that, because I haven’t either. “He’s good.”
“Good.” He knocks on the corner of my desk. “All right. See you tomorrow.”
“Can you text me the address?”
“Definitely.”
He walks out of the office and I lean back in my chair, unsure what exactly is happening between us. Then I head to the window and wait the three minutes it takes him to ride the elevator down and head out to his SUV in the parking lot. He walks out of the building threading his fingers through his dark hair, then circles his keys around his finger. When he stops at the driver’s door, he glances toward my office. I’m thankful for the mirrored windows so he can’t see me. Then he slides in and drives away.
“What are we looking at?” Tedi whispers in my ear and I jump.
She and Aiden clearly have the same sense of humor.
“Nothing.”
“Bullshit. You were checking him out.” She sits on the edge of my desk. “Let’s get real for a moment, shall we?”
I walk over to our small kitchen area where there’s a coffeemaker and a few snacks. “Let’s drop it. He’s a client.”
She turns to look at me. “You can tell me.”
I can trust Tedi with anything, I know that. But admitting anything to her is admitting it to myself too. I can feel myself almost bursting though, dying to talk to someone.
“He’s an attractive guy,” I say. “A really nice guy. By all accounts, a decent guy. Of course I’m kinda into him, but I don’t date athletes anymore.”
“Oh please. Aiden and Jeremy are on two opposite sides of the field.”
“You say that now, but their lifestyle is very similar—on the road, girls galore, anything they want at their fingertips.” I refill my coffee mug and head back to my desk.
“Not everyone will take advantage of that.” Tedi has her serious look going. The one that suggests I need to forget Jeremy and move on.
“Okay, okay, enough personal talk. Time to get to work.” I shoo her off my desk.