Shootout (Northbrook Hockey Elite Book 6)

by Sophia Summers

  Mmm. Not yet.

  Chapter 12

  Janae rested her hand on Trane’s elbow. He stood taller and led her up the steps to one of the nicest restaurants in the area. He wasn’t much for flashy wealth, but the understated elegance of Pedro’s suited him just fine. The man at the front nodded and led them to a back booth overlooking the city skyline.

  Janae sat across from him, her soft curls falling down her shoulders in shimmery waves. Her warm eyes smiled at him, and her dimple made a flash appearance.

  He grinned.

  “This is nice,” she said.

  “So not a dive?”

  “Definitely not a dive.”

  Their server explained the specials and took their drink orders.

  Janae had just delivered a bomb when she told him his father had tried to talk to her. But Trane pushed thoughts of his father far away. He would need to address the issue as soon as possible. If his dad was going to start talking to people Trane cared about, Trane had to put a stop to it, now.

  Trane reached across the table, and Janae immediately put her hand in his. “Come to my place.”

  Her eyes widened. He watched emotions flit across her face. And the first emotion—pleasure. He grinned. “I’m not ready for you to get all personal or anything. I just don’t want this to be a short night.”

  She stared him down, her face intent, then she leaned forward. “What if I like a little personal?”

  He tried to swallow through a very dry tongue, then sent his thumb across her knuckles. “All the better when the timing is right. For now, I’m great with foot rubs and other things.”

  Her dimple showed up before her slow smile grew. “Sounds like maybe we could go right now.” Her laugh was breathless and he started to agree with her.

  But then he shook his head. “I don’t mind waiting.” He raised her hand to his lips and let them linger, catching the tip of her knuckle between his teeth.

  Dinner was delicious, as he knew it would be. She raised the first bite to her mouth and then closed her eyes. “Oh, Trane. This is amazing.”

  “They do all natural, all fresh ingredients. I’ve been coming here for a long time. They started in a train station.”

  “With food like this, I’m not surprised to see them in such an elegant location now.” She raised an eyebrow. “How do you find all the good places? What made you decide to try train station food?”

  “I have an eye for potential.” He shrugged. “And I love a good underdog.”

  They ate slowly, stretching out the evening in just the right ways.

  “So tell me what you think of Detroit.”

  She looked away. “I don’t know.” Then her eyes flit back to his. “I’m sorry. It’s your home now. I like it much better than I thought I would.” She toyed with her spoon. “It’s growing on me.”

  He interpreted that to mean, you’re growing on me. And he could only agree. The more time he spent with her, the more he wanted to.

  “My plan was to get a name for myself here with the Comets and then springboard back to something…more.”

  “I assumed as much. You’re really talented.” The light pink to her cheeks warmed him. “You really are. You could probably do anything in this business, right?”

  She looked away. “Besides Broadway apparently.”

  “But you did Broadway. So maybe move on? Do something bigger?”

  “What’s bigger than Broadway?”

  “Who did the design work for the new Ice Girls show?”

  “I did.” She smiled.

  “That’s amazing. Who choreographed it?”

  “Guilty again.”

  He searched her face until she smiled back. “So, I could explore those avenues.”

  “Absolutely. And I think the owner could be persuaded to pay you as a design team member in addition to your ice girl pay and position.”

  She nodded. “He knows he’s getting a steal of a deal here. Once we negotiate some sponsors, we’ll be having another talk.”

  “When I watched you out there, the joy on your face, the girls’ faces, the precise work, and the visual appeal, it was amazing. Now, I don’t know anything about what it’s supposed to look like, but I know the audience agreed with me.”

  “It’s crazy the response. I’m blown away. I had hoped to make a name for us as a new dance team concept, eventually, but that it happened so immediately, just blows me away.” She sipped her drink. “And wait until you see what we’ve got coming.”

  Her excitement made him laugh. “That’s awesome. I’m looking forward to it.”

  “But you’re going to play? Already?”

  “Yeah. I gotta get out there, get our team in the playoffs. I can’t leave the team hanging. If we don’t make it to the playoffs, I’ll blame myself for the whole next year.”

  She didn’t like it. He could tell. And he loved that someone actually cared about him for more than his hockey ability.

  They finished up, and he loved the feel of her small hand in his as they walked out and climbed into his truck.

  When she scooted back over to sit by him he nodded and put it in reverse. “Yep, I’m loving this truck.”

  She rested her head on his shoulder.

  He dipped his chin to the top of her head. “You tired? Want to call it a night?”

  “What? Heck no!”

  He pulled her hand closer, onto his thigh, linked with his. “Good.”

  “I heard something about back rubs?”

  “And feet.”

  “Yeah, we’re not ending this night any time soon.”

  “Hey whatever it takes, right?” He winked at her. “I don’t have practice tomorrow, and the game is not until the next day.”

  “I do have practice, but the girls don’t do early. We’ll be crawling in at noon, and even then, some of them will look like I had called a six a.m. practice.”

  “I’d love to see that day.” He chuckled. “The girls are good people. Fun to hang out with. I’ve enjoyed getting to know them.”

  He felt Janae’s eyes on him.

  “For friends.” Out of the side of his eye, he watched a satisfied expression cross her face. So, she felt some sort of claim on him? That made him happier than it should.

  “They said you’ve spent most of your interaction with them keeping the hockey players away.”

  He heard the question in her voice.

  “Yeah…” How could he say this delicately? “When I know the guys aren’t into anything real with the girls, I step in, or if they’re pushing their advantage.” His anger simmered, but he tamped it down.

  “Whoa. Did I just get a protective bear feeling from you?”

  “Yeah, you did.” He growled. “I see some of these guys…mostly on other teams, because the Comets know to respect our girls. But some of those other guys are punks.” He looked away. Then at a stoplight he turned to her. “Watch yourself. I don’t know what happens all the times I’m not there, when no one stands up for the girl.” He felt his irritation rise.

  “We need more men like you.”

  He nodded, once, curtly. And tried to find his previous cheer.

  She squeezed his hand. “So, no wonder they all think I cast some spell on you.”

  He drove for a minute more. “You don’t need a spell on me Janae. I’m just really into you.” He smiled, thinking about how true that was. Janae was the best part of his life so far. If it were up to him, they might never be apart. But he knew that wasn’t a good idea. She’d met his dad, notwithstanding he would have given anything for that meeting to never take place. If she knew much more about him, would she want to stick around?

  But they didn’t need to think about any of that now. They were just getting to know each other, just beginning, and he planned to enjoy every second.

  Chapter 13

  They jumped out of the truck, and Trane led her to the elevators. They were standing at the base of one of the tallest apartment buildings she’d ever seen. The doorm
an and the guard at the desk on the main floor had saluted.

  She found that funny. “They’re cool.”

  “Yeah, we understand each other.”

  Trane towered over anyone she’d ever met. He pushed the elevator button. When it opened, he used his key and pushed the top floor button.

  “You live up there?”

  The pleased rise of the corner of his mouth made her smile. “I do. I’ve got the top floor.”

  Wow, penthouse. She knew goalies made a ton of money, more than anyone else on the team, but Trane was so understated about everything, a part of her was surprised he’d pay for and live in the penthouse apartment.

  He draped an arm across her shoulders. The weight of even his hand on her arm was comforting. “Turns out I like to live in a nice place. And I like the security.”

  “And now nice trucks?”

  “Yep, that too.”

  The elevator stopped at the top. Her ears popped a little bit before she stepped out into a great room with floor to ceiling windows.

  “Wow.” She walked over to the edge, looking out at the Detroit skyline. “I didn’t know Detroit could be beautiful.”

  “Oh, hey now.”

  She turned to him, an apology on her lips, but his eyes sparkled in response.

  “You should go check out their lake country. There are some beautiful properties for those ready to settle down.”

  She nodded. “And for the rest of us, an awesome bachelor pad in the penthouse apartment.”

  “Why not?” He used a remote and adjusted the lights, turned on a fireplace and soft music.

  “Okay, Trane. Is that some babe setting?”

  He shook his head. “I don’t do babe settings. What you see here is my relax after a game setting. It sounded nice for what I have in mind.”

  She stepped closer, liking him more and more. “And what’s that?”

  “Come on.” He tugged her toward the couch that faced a stunning floor to ceiling fireplace.

  “Grab a blanket.”

  Two of the soft, faux fur blankets were folded at the corner of the couch. She tossed one to Trane. Then he sat and pulled her feet into his lap.

  When he started kneading her right foot, she leaned her head back and groaned in pleasure. “This.” Her eyes closed and she could feel her smile spread. “This is what I’ve been needing my whole life.”

  When he didn’t answer, she opened her eyes and almost laughed at his sincere expression. “I hope so.” His hands worked wonders. He started at the balls of her feet and worked up to each toe. It felt like a reflexology visit and an incredible massage all at once. Then he pressed into her arch and without thinking, her own back arched. “This is heaven.”

  “I agree.” His smile was friendly, and she wondered if he had any idea how sexy he was.

  “So, let’s play a game.”

  Not wanting him to stop any time soon, she raised an eyebrow.

  “I’ll work on your feet and legs. And we answer questions.”

  “As long as you keep that up, I’m putty. Ask away.”

  “Who’s your favorite superhero?”

  She laughed. “Really? That’s what you want to know?”

  “Well, sure. You can tell a lot about a woman judging by her favorite superhero.”

  Trane was something. She thought back to the last Marvel movie she’d seen. Nope. DC Comic? “Ah, Superman.”

  He scoffed. “Really? Superman?”

  “Yeah, you asked, now you’re going to mock my hero?”

  “No, no way. He’s respectable. In a completely unbelievable, over the top way.”

  “What part is unbelievable?”

  When he stared her down, she answered, “Ok, except for the invincible stuff, he’s a vulnerable guy who can’t even get the girl he wants unless he goes all hero on her. That’s lovable.”

  Trane nodded.

  “So, who’s yours?”

  “Easy, Spiderman.”

  “What? So you’re a teenager?”

  “Okay, now I see what you mean. No more knocking anyone’s heroes. Spiderman is great. He’s a guy who’s been given too much, too soon, but he’s the man for the job.” Trane looked out the window, and Janae knew he was talking about much more than just super heroes. “Sometimes you just have to do the job, whether or not you feel like you can or should.”

  “That’s deep. Spiderman it is. Plus. He has webs. That’s cool.”

  “Totally. And access to Tony Stark’s whole weapon system.”

  “And now you’re speaking a different language.”

  “You haven’t seen the latest one?” Trane immediately started looking through something on his remote. “I have it right here. Should we watch it?”

  “Another night.”

  “As long as there’s another night, I can leave your education lacking, for now.”

  He switched to her heels and started moving up her calves. Janae thought she might die of pleasure. “This. Is. Perfect. Mmm.”

  “So, next question. Would you ever go naked in public?”

  She choked. Literally started coughing. “What kind of question is that? Would you?”

  “I asked you first.”

  “No. I can’t think of a time I would ever want to be naked in public.”

  “But consider, what if you were at the baths in Japan? That’s just what they do there. Or skinny dipping with friends. You never did that? Or on a dare?”

  “In public? I can think of no reason why I would ever strip down in public. Nope.” She narrowed her eyes in suspicion. “Please tell me you aren’t some kind of creeper…”

  He held up his hands, and she immediately missed his attention on her legs.

  “I am not a creeper. I have no desire to strip down in public. I was just wondering.” He winked. “And hoping.”

  She swatted him with a pillow when he laughed. And then she appreciated him even more. “I could never go skinny dipping when I was younger. It felt scary. Or embarrassing, or something. And vulnerable.”

  He shrugged. “I wouldn’t know. I didn’t really have friends outside of hockey, and hockey isn’t really a strip down naked sport. And Michigan is cold. Chicago too.”

  “Okay, I want to ask a question.”

  He kneaded the muscles in her calves and around her knees and everything in her shouted for more. His hands were surprisingly soft. And huge. They were enormous. Like his fingers spanned both her lower legs. And strong, but his pressure was gentle and insistent and as he continued, she found her breath coming shorter, and her stomach clenching in happiness. Wow, he was good.

  “So, my question.” She eyed him. “Have you ever been in love?”

  “Nope.”

  “How many women have you kissed?”

  “I plead the fifth.”

  “Hey! You can’t plead the fifth.”

  “Why not? That’s not a good question to answer. If I tell you a number you feel is too high, you’ll form an opinion and doubt my sincerity with you if I ever get so lucky as to kiss you. If I tell you a number that’s too low, you’ll think I’m inexperienced and lose respect.”

  “Whoa, no way would I think you’re inexperienced.” She could hardly handle just the feel of his hands on her legs. And she’d been thinking ahead to his lips for their whole date.

  “Oh really?” His eyebrow went back up and did a gentle wiggle before dropping. She wondered if he even controlled it.

  “Really, so spill. How many?”

  “Four.”

  She didn’t know what to say. She expected him to say he’d lost count.

  “Yep. Four. I thought I cared for each one.”

  “Wow.” She was astounded at so few. “And what happened?”

  “Didn’t stick.” He patted her legs so she moved them, slowly, regretfully.

  “I’ll go get you something to drink, what would you like?”

  “Water is great.”

  “You got it.”

  Didn’t stick. He obvi
ously didn’t want to talk about it. Interesting. Maybe this guy feared relationships? Or the girls broke it off? He thought he loved them? Her mind spun through all kinds of scenarios, all equally intriguing to her. There was a reason Trane was still single.

  But he returned as cheerful as ever with a cup of water on ice for her. “My turn.”

  As soon as he sat in the corner, leaning back against the side arm, she scooted over and took the space right in front of him, leaning back on his chest.

  He wrapped large, warm arms around her, and she leaned her head back against his chest just below his chin.

  He ran his hands up and down her arms once. “So, tell me three wishes.”

  “Ooh, this is fun. Are these like fantastical Genie wishes? Or plausible dreams?”

  “Good question.” He pulled her tighter against him for a second, like a mini hug which sent thrills of electricity through her. “How about plausible.”

  “Okay.” She closed her eyes. Being wrapped in this man’s arms was a delicious feeling she hoped to repeat often. “I wish I could really jumpstart this career of mine.”

  “Seems like it’s happening.”

  “I know. I can’t believe it. Fingers crossed it keeps up. Second wish: I wish I could make a difference to someone, somehow.”

  He went very still. “In what way?”

  She turned to him, dislodging his arms, but she wanted to say her next words to his face.

  He studied her like what she was about to say was important.

  “I just wish I could help someone, or be someone important for a person in need, someone hungry, or someone who really needs help.” She searched his face, hoping he would understand. “I don’t have anyone really. My family is gone, or they don’t talk to each other. No one really looks to me or needs me, and I think that would be…nice.”

  “Where does that come from, I wonder?”

  “I think maybe from past missed opportunities and a selfish lifestyle I hope to never see again?”

  He tipped his head, like he was not totally believing her words. But then he said. “What would you like to do?” His lips were full. She’d noticed before, but now, sitting so close, they were suddenly fascinating. They puffed out and she imagined they were soft.