His chin settles over the top of my head, tucking me against his broad chest. I nestle my cheek against his shirt and wrap my arms around his waist. The swish of the waves in the distance, the steady beat of his heart, and the scent of his cologne dominate my senses.
“You’re such a mystery.” His words rumble through me. “You’re the strongest, most determined woman I’ve ever met, and at the same time, I’m awestruck by your innocence.”
“Hey...”
“No, beautiful, that’s not a bad thing. I meant it as a compliment.” He turns to the sound of the surf from the bay. “I wanted to take you away this weekend to spoil you with a fancy hotel, expensive dining, massages, a limo ride to the game, the exclusive Lightning executive suite... I wanted to show you how special you are to me, and yet, an airplane ride and a beach, and you’re happy.”
“I am,” I say. “I don’t need all that other stuff.”
“God, you’re so much more than I ever knew I wanted.”
My heart tugs. I can’t make Malcolm promises because I am more. I’m not a single woman who can be whisked away. I’m more than me. I’m Jase too. “Malcolm, can we live in the moment?”
He reaches for my hand and leads me back into the hotel room. “Yes...in case you didn’t notice, we have our very own Jacuzzi spa in the bathroom. I say we start living there, and then the moment can come out here to the king-sized bed...the one where you won’t get up and leave me at daybreak. And if you want, we can take the moment to the balcony or the beach...”
I giggle. “Let’s keep those moments in here for now. And no, I won’t be leaving at daybreak. If I recall, I’m being held captive until Sunday night.”
“That’s right. The entire weekend where you’re all mine.”
“With a limited phone plan.”
Malcolm’s smile is inviting as he tugs my hand. “Come this way...we have moments to live.”
My breasts vibrate with laughter as he pulls me through the bathroom door, my bare feet sliding on the shiny tile. The tub is huge. “I’d say I’ve never been in a tub that big before, but you’re getting a big head with all these firsts.”
Malcolm’s eyes widen. “It’s not my head that’s growing at this moment. Well...” His laugh resonates through the bathroom as he adjusts the water in the spa to warm. When he turns back to me, his blue eyes are darkened with desire. Reaching for the straps of my dress, his finger teases my skin. “Maybe this time we can save the dress?”
“What about my panties?”
“No, beautiful. They’re goners.”
Chapter Twenty
Mandy
I feel like the words are redundant at this point when I say I’ve never done this before, but as I hold tightly to Malcolm’s arm and he walks me into the Lightning’s executive suite high above the ice at Amalie Arena, I’m having a hard time coming up with anything else to say. All of the attention his mere presence garners leaves me a bit speechless.
The actual arena is gigantic, like a football stadium. Malcolm would say football stadiums are like hockey stadiums, but again, this is new to me. The executive suite reminds me of a man cave on steroids. Couches and chairs in clusters, a large kitchen area with an island full of food, and a bar with two bartenders ready for anything. There are some regular tables and other tall ones for standing. Beyond the perimeter is a balcony with more seats and ledges that overlook the rink. If perhaps we decided we didn’t want to watch the game live, it appears it will be playing on one of the many giant screens throughout the suite.
Sally reaches over and pinches my elbow. “Isn’t this cool?” Her excitement mirrors my own.
I nod my agreement as Malcolm stops to talk to some other men in suits. They all look very handsome, tall, and fit, but as I eye his ex-teammates, I find myself more enthralled with the one whose arm I’m holding.
“...introduce you to my girlfriend, Mandy Wells.”
Pink fills my cheeks as I reach out and shake each person’s hand. At first I have to fight the urge to redefine myself. I’ve never thought of myself as Malcolm’s girlfriend. Does that make him my boyfriend? Do I have a boyfriend? When does one become too old to have boyfriends and girlfriends?
As all those questions run through my head, I’m trying to keep track of names. The most consistent comment from his ex-teammates is astonishment that Pep has one girlfriend.
“Nice to meet you, Mandy. I never thought I’d see the day when Pep settled down. You must be quite the woman.”
I simply smile and nod, not knowing exactly how to respond. Thankfully, Malcolm saves me from most, answering for me. “She is...I couldn’t be happier.” With each response, my contentment grows.
About a half hour before the game, things change. Malcolm gives me a kiss on the cheek, and I know he’s about to leave for his ceremony.
“Beautiful, don’t you dare go home with anyone else while I’m gone,” he whispers. “I see them looking at how gorgeous you are.”
“I didn’t know that was an option. I’ve never been kidnapped by someone famous before.”
“It’s not.”
“Then I’ll be right here.”
That earns me a quick squeeze of my hand and a wink.
Within minutes the suite is much less crowded with the noticeable absence of over a half-dozen tall, wide, and handsome men. That leaves us with a few couples and many women, some of whom look much more comfortable in an executive suite than I feel.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” Sally says as we make our way toward the food bar.
“I don’t think I had a choice.”
“But now that you’re here...”
“It’s fun,” I confess.
She gives me a wink. “See, I knew you could do it.”
“What, come to a hockey game?”
“No, have fun and live a little.”
I shrug. “I feel guilty about this entire weekend. I’m sure Jase is fine, but I’ve never left him.”
“And when you’re doing that living thing...”
“I admit this is really neat.”
We take our plates and drinks and move out onto a balcony that overlooks the rink. My skin pebbles with goose bumps. Even with the air conditioning in the suite, it’s cooler over the ice. “I know I keep saying firsts, but this is my first hockey game,” I say casually as we watch our men from high above. They’re near the side of the ice by what appears to be an announcer’s table.
“Hmm. Pathetic.”
Sally and I both turn to the tall blonde woman beside us.
“Excuse me?” Sally asks. “Did you say something?”
“I said pathetic. Pep finally decides to settle down and you’ve never seen him play? You probably don’t know his stats or his number. You’ve probably never slept in his jersey or stood in line for an autographed picture.”
“Umm.” I’m admittedly a little taken aback.
“No, she doesn’t need to do any of those things—not with him on her arm,” Sally replies, her big-sister act in full gear. “And why should she sleep in his jersey when she has him in her bed?”