“I want to learn too,” Lark says.
“Okay, let’s go then.” I can’t take my eyes off of Maksim.
Dru falls and Maksim flawlessly helps him up and looks like he gestures for Dru to keep going. Malcolm skates toward the goal and gets the puck in the net, the light on top flashing. He grows so excited he lifts his arms, only to lose his footing and fall on his ass.
“He scored!” Marin exclaims.
Maksim screams a huge WOO-HOO that echoes through the arena and Malcolm smiles a big toothy smile as my heart leaps.
I don’t need nine dates to know how special this man is.
“You owe me for this,” Jana says from the other end of the phone.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t feel comfortable going on this date.” I apologize for the umpteenth time since Mr. Gerhardt called and told me he’d set up a date for me.
That’s how he does things. He doesn’t ask permission, just does whatever he thinks is best, and to him, I’m his daughter’s lonely friend who needs a social life. Never mind that I’m seven dates away from sleeping with a member of his team.
“I thought you and Maksim aren’t exclusive?” Jana asks.
“Well, I’m not asking him if we are.” I’ve never felt so in limbo with someone. I think we’re only seeing one another, but I don’t have the nerve to outright ask. “All I know is I’m not comfortable going out with someone else.”
“You do know it’s some guy from my dad’s country club. Like the tournament planner or something. I have nothing to wear that fits what he’ll be looking for.”
“Jana, you’re gorgeous. I’m sure whatever you wear he’s going to love.”
“You better nail Maksim, and I want all the details after you do. That’s payback for making me go on a date with this guy. And you need to tell my dad to stop fixing you up.”
I open my bag of sour cream and onion chips, pop one in my mouth, and eat it.
“Are you eating? You’d better be going out with him tonight.” There’s anger in her tone because Jana hates blind dates. One time she showed up and the guy made her pay the bill in full since she was Jana Gerhardt and the entire conversation was filled with questions about her trust fund.
“You know they have that bachelor party for that trainer on the team.”
She groans. “You should’ve gone on the date. He’s going to be at strip clubs and you’re sitting at home in your pajamas, eating what sounds like potato chips and probably watching Netflix by yourself.”
“Come over after the date.”
“I’m going to call and cancel,” she says.
“No! I don’t want your dad to know I didn’t go. If you show up and make an excuse for me, he’ll be pleasantly surprised. If we just cancel, he’ll call your dad and your dad will call me, then I’m either going to have to lie outright or crumble and tell the truth.”
She laughs. “Man, Paise, I love you, but you think too hard on things. Just tell my dad you don’t want to be fixed up.”
I should take her advice, but Mr. Gerhardt has been sort of like the father I never had—at least since my parents divorced and my dad started his new life. He worries about me and my well-being. I don’t want to disappoint him.
“Just come over after the date. I’ll call you and you can say something came up.”
She groans. “I hate doing that. They always know it’s fake. Then they think I’m stuck up…” I let her ramble on while I get comfortable on my couch and scan Netflix for a show to binge this weekend. “You know what I mean?”
“Yep,” I say, not really knowing what she said.
“Keep your phone on you in case I send a 911 text!” Her voice rises.
“I will.”
She groans again. “Okay bye.”
“Chin up. Maybe he’s gorgeous and a great guy.”
“Doubtful.” She hangs up.
I place my phone down on the coffee table. Just the thought of Maksim sitting in some velvet chair with a half-naked woman in front of him, shaking her ass and her tits splayed in front of his face, makes my appetite disappear. Jana’s right. While he’s sliding dollar bills in a G-string, I should be out having my own fun. I need to be prepared for when this thing goes south.
I’ve been trying to tamp down any expectations I have for Maksim, but it’s harder every time I see him. He’s so attentive and sweet and really seems to like me for me. But once we part for the night, that nagging in the back of my head returns, reminding me that my mom won over my dad once upon a time too. And after she popped out a kid and he took a back seat to motherhood, he hightailed it out of town with a newer, shinier model.
Sometimes I think the therapy I did in college while earning my degree wasn’t enough. I should be going to see someone now that I’m grown and need to find a healthy relationship.
The honk of a horn outside sounds, and I roll my eyes that one of my neighbors has plans. I’m used to spending my nights like this, so why should tonight feel any different? Because lately I’ve been spending time with Maksim, and when I’m not, Jana finds her way over.
The horn honks again. This time longer.
I push the blanket off my lap and look outside to see Maksim’s Mercedes parked outside. What the hell is he doing?
I look down at myself in my pajamas. Shit. Picking up my phone, I dial his number.
The minute the call connects, Maksim doesn’t answer with a hello, but rather, “Get your sweet ass down here, I’m taking you on date number three.”
“Um, I have to change.”
“No changing. Don’t worry, no one will see you. We’re going somewhere private.”
“I’m in pajamas,” I say in a low voice.
“All the better. Come on, I’ll put the seat warmer on for you.”
Although we’re in Florida and it’s somewhat warm this time of year, I’m in a tank top with no bra and a pair of pajama shorts that I’m fairly sure show off half my ass. But I guess if I want to tempt him to cross that line sooner than the nine dates, this isn’t a bad outfit to do it in.
I grab my keys, my purse, and leave my apartment.
I wasn’t prepared for the smoldering look from Maksim though. The minute I sit in the passenger seat of his Mercedes, the energy shifts. Maybe I bargained for more than I was ready for.
“Yeah, I was wrong. Go change.” I keep my eyes facing the windshield, hands gripping the steering wheel tightly.
There’s no way I’m going to continue our date with her in that outfit.
“I told you I was in my pajamas,” she says, not reaching for the door.
“I thought you’d be wearing something with more fabric.” My fingers tighten on the leather steering wheel even more and my hands ache.
“Hmm… I’m thinking I should refuse. Tempt you.” She leans back in the seat.
I peek over and see her nipples erect through the tight tank top. “I swear, Paisley, if you don’t leave this car and go change, I cannot be responsible for what I do.”
Her legs widen. “Maybe I want you to go all caveman on me.”