“Not yet.”
I winked. “Give me a few minutes.”
Chapter Six
Noelle
* * *
We talked until long after we’d finished eating. I wound up having a second eggnog, which made me tipsy as hell, but that was okay. I wasn’t driving and alcohol would help me sleep better since I’d be back on the floor of the locker room tonight. I had an air mattress but it was hard sneaking it out of the arena in the morning unless I got up super early. Dwayne already suspected I slept there more than just the once in a while I’d told him I did. Otherwise, it would have been a lot more comfortable to sleep on the couch in the lounge. It was too easy to get caught there, though, so I’d gotten creative.
“Why do you look sad all of a sudden?” Remy was asking me.
“Oh, I wasn’t sad,” I said quickly. “Just thinking of all the work I’ve got coming up when the candy order arrives.”
“You really need help,” he said slowly. “That’s one of the things on my list to do tomorrow. Once I figure out who, exactly, is handling the finances, I’m going to hire some new people. I’ve already got a plan in my head.”
“How did you go from hockey to business?” I asked curiously.
“Do you know what happened to me?” he asked.
“You had a heart attack on the ice,” I said softly. “I can’t imagine what that was like. You must have been terrified.”
“Honestly, I don’t remember much. I remember feeling weird and telling one of my teammates I needed to get to the bench. The next thing I remember is waking up in the hospital.”
I nodded. “Still. Your family, friends…watching that on TV or if they were there…”
“My mother saw it on TV,” he said. “She said she was hysterical, calling my dad immediately, even though they were legally separated at the time.”
“That would be awful for a mom. For anyone who cares about you, but mostly a mom.”
“Luckily, I’m okay. I had to retire from hockey, but that’s better than the alternative. Anyway, I needed something to do while I was essentially relegated to bed rest and I started talking to a buddy of mine who’d done a bunch of endorsements. He gave me some ideas, so I got on the phone with my agent, and pretty soon I’d filmed a few commercials and started building a life away from hockey. I didn’t know at that point whether or not I’d have to retire, but I had a feeling. Deep down, I knew that after major heart surgery, I might not come back, and I had to be prepared.”
“Do you miss it?” I asked. “Hockey, I mean?”
“Every damn day. So much I bought my own team. I figure that should keep me immersed in hockey day in and day out.” His eyes twinkled.
“Sounds reasonable. I get my hockey fix by working at the arena, I guess.”
“Time for some new equipment, eh? Is there a women’s team?”
I shook my head. “No, but most of the beer league teams are coed.”
“Would you play if you had equipment?”
“I can’t afford the fees. It’s a lot and I’m saving up for an—a new apartment, because where I am now really sucks.”
“Can I help?” he asked. “Maybe make some calls to find you a better place or give you a reference of some kind as your employer?”
“I appreciate it, but I’m good. Hopefully I’ll have the money by next summer and things will be easier.”
He seemed thoughtful for a moment before asking, “Would you like to take a walk? The Christmas decorations on Main Street seemed pretty as we were driving here.”
“Sure.” It was probably a dumb idea, because I wasn’t dressed for the cold weather, but spending a little more time with him sounded too good to refuse. This might be my one and only date with him and I wanted to enjoy every second of it.
Remy paid the bill, shook Horace’s hand, and we headed outside. The temperature had dropped drastically and there was a cold wind blowing.
“Is it too cold?” Remy asked, glancing down at me.
“Maybe a little, but once we start to walk I’ll be okay.”
“Do you have gloves?”
“Not with me. I didn’t know we were going to be outside.”
“Here.” He took his off and handed them to me. “I’m fine.”
“Thank you.” I wasn’t going to refuse, even though I wanted to, because it was freakin’ freezing out and he was being sweet. I slid the massive gloves, which were warm from his body temperature, onto my hands and they felt so good. I had one good pair of gloves, but they were in my car somewhere since I didn’t spend much time outside in the winter.
“Did you say you went to university?” he asked as we walked past a row of shops with brightly decorated lights.
“Yes. I have a degree in hospitality and hotel management.”
“No jobs like that around here?”
“Not hardly. I’d have to move to Vancouver, and though I’ve considered it, it’s hard to get started in a new place, especially a big city. I don’t know anyone there, and I’d definitely need a roommate to survive, so it’s complicated. Small-town life doesn’t prepare you for careers and such.”
“I’m going over the numbers with my accountant tomorrow,” he said. “Once I know all the details, I’m going to try and get raises for both you and Dwayne. You seem to be the only two holding down the fort.”
“A raise would be really appreciated—oh look!” I smiled at the huge Christmas tree in the town square. “They just turned on the lights! It wasn’t lit up last time I was here.”
“It’s beautiful.” He reached for my hand and tugged me in that direction. “Let’s take a selfie.”
“Somehow, I didn’t picture you as the selfie type,” I said, laughing.
“I’m not, but this is as close as I’ve gotten to a vacation this year, so why not have a little fun?” He slid his arm around my shoulders, lifted his phone and snapped a few pictures. My hair was probably a mess, my makeup had faded throughout the course of the day, and I was tired, but being out with Remy made all my problems seem far away.
“Let me see!” I said, peering at his phone. He pulled up the pictures and I grimaced. “I look awful! Don’t post those.”
“You look beautiful,” he said in a deep voice that gave me goose bumps. “The wind whipping through your hair, your smile almost as bright as the lights of the tree…why would you want to look any different?”
“I…” My voice trailed off because I wasn’t sure what to say about that. “I don’t, I guess, but I would’ve liked to add a little lip gloss or something.”
He gazed down at me, his hazel eyes turning into liquid gold as he studied my face. “You’re beautiful just the way you are, Noelle.”
Oh, shit, he was going to kiss me. I hadn’t brushed my teeth in something like fifteen hours and I was a little tipsy from those two special eggnogs, but when his lips grazed mine, none of it mattered. It was the sweetest, most sensual kiss ever, and he wasn’t even trying to stick his tongue down my throat. Just the lightest touch of his lips moving over mine had my heart kicking into gear and my eyes fluttering closed. How was something so chaste hotter than the summer sun?