Falling for the Backup

by Toni Aleo

  “Hey,” he whispered.

  He had spent hours memorizing her body that afternoon. She was so beautiful; he had never been so completely blown away by someone. “Ready to go?” he asked, still holding her close. He’d much rather go back into her house for more of what they’d shared earlier, but he wanted this to be more than just sex, even if there was a chance that after this dinner she’d walk away.

  “I am,” she said, and broke out of his embrace. His arms ached to be around her as he watched her grab her purse before locking the door. “You look really handsome,” she said, putting her keys in her bag as they stepped down the porch stairs.

  He shot her a grin before saying, “And you look really gorgeous. Like a naughty sailor.”

  “Yes! Just the look I was going for!” she exclaimed, as he opened the passenger door for her. He smiled as she came close, her red lips only inches from his. “Maybe later if we still like each other, we can rock the boat.”

  Jordan tried not to laugh, but he couldn’t help it. She laughed along with him before he leaned over and gave her a quick kiss. “I have no doubt that we’ll still like each other after this, and as much as I want to rock not only your boat but your world after dinner, I might not be able to. I’ve got an early practice tomorrow.”

  “Duly noted, but I think it might be worth being a little tired.”

  Jordan helped her into the truck, hoping he hadn’t hurt her feelings. It was the last thing he wanted. He walked around to the driver’s side and got in, then Aynslee glanced over at him and said, “By the way, I like your flirty talk. It’s superhot.”

  Jordan smiled as he started the car and pulled out onto the road. He reached over and took her hand, noticing how soft and small it was but how perfectly it fit into his. Resting them against his thigh, Jordan was convinced that no one could wipe the grin off his face.

  A half hour later, Jordan sat beside Aynslee at a romantic corner table at Maggiano’s Little Italy. He loved this place: Not only was the food amazing, but the ambience made it really feel like an Italian café. Jordan usually went there with Shea and the guys before games so they could talk about strategy, but this was much better.

  “This is amazing,” Aynslee gushed as she took another sip of wine.

  “It is,” Jordan agreed, just as the waiter came over to their table. Jordan took the liberty of ordering all of his favorites for them to share. He then reached over and turned her chair so that she was sitting between his legs. He leaned over, kissing her cheek softly. “Did I tell you that I thought you were gorgeous tonight?”

  “I think you did, when you said I look like a naughty sailor,” she laughed.

  “That’s right, I did,” he said, “but I had to tell you again.”

  She looked over at her glass, running her finger along the rim before saying, “Thank you.” Then, surprising him, she said, “Tell me everything I need to know about you.”

  “Tell me everything about you first, and then I’ll answer the same.”

  “Okay,” she said. “Let’s see … I don’t have any pets because I am so busy, but I want a dog. I love dogs.”

  “I do too, but I don’t have time either.”

  She continued, “I could be classified as a nerd. I like The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, comic books, and stuff like that. I played World of Warcraft all through college, and at one point I wanted to name my kid Frodo.”

  “No way,” he laughed.

  “Yes way; it was bad. I’m over that, but the only reason is because I’ve moved on to Greek mythology, and now I want to name my son Perseus.”

  “Really?” he asked. He was falling for her more every minute.

  She nodded eagerly before pointing to herself and saying, “Total nerd.”

  “No, I said really because I love Greek mythology too.”

  “Really?!”

  “Really,” he said with a smile. Leanna hated Greek mythology and pretty much everything else that he was interested in. Aynslee was made for him.

  “That’s so awesome. I also love to read. A lot. I read a book every two days or so.”

  “Me too,” he said with a nod. “The guys on the team tease me because I’m always reading instead of playing Xbox with them.”

  She laughed as she looked deep into his eyes. He was usually shy and awkward when he was under the gaze of someone, but not with Aynslee. He couldn’t remember enjoying himself more. They talked about everything. They both agreed that Wrath of the Titans was a great movie but it could have been better. Jordan loved country music because of his South Carolina roots, while Aynslee was more into rap. It made him laugh to think of her rapping about hos and bitches as she drove to school, but she guaranteed him she had mad flow, whatever that meant.

  They talked about living in Nashville and how she loved it more than Knoxville. Jordan talked about South Carolina, telling her how much he loved growing up there, close to his relatives and grandparents. She loved Buffalo but sometimes wished that she had grown up in the South. She liked the Southern hospitality and loved the food. They talked about their families, and it still blew Jordan’s mind how many siblings she had. Apparently the niece that she was supposed to stand up for in the wedding was pregnant.

  “It’s insane! I don’t have kids—I’m not even married, for that matter. And she’s pregnant?! Ack! Jordan, I’m gonna be a great-aunt!”

  “You’re the hottest great-aunt I’ve ever seen.”

  “You only say that so I’ll sleep with you again.”

  “Maybe,” he teased, taking another mouthful of fettuccine.

  She laughed as she smacked his thigh, then took another sip of wine. After having their plates cleared from the table, they ordered dessert. Jordan didn’t want the night to end. He didn’t want to go home to his empty condo. He wanted to stay nuzzled up beside Aynslee, just listening to her. As she talked about how she got her suitcase back from her aunt, he wondered if she was feeling the same way he was. He knew that such strong feelings usually didn’t come until months, maybe years, into a relationship, but he felt at home with her. He didn’t care if he laughed too loud or if he was being a dork. She seemed to like him just the way he was.

  As the waiter served their dessert, Aynslee said, “I have the best job ever. I love it. Yesterday, one of my kids told me he was going to be a world-class hippogriff fighter. How cute was that?”

  “Very cute,” he agreed. He thought she was too.

  “Yeah, I love my kids. I’m not one of those teachers who thinks my kids are all I need, though. I want my own one day.”

  He knew that she was making sure he shared that desire. “I want kids too—as my mom loves to point out, she wants grandchildren, and I hope to one day give them to her,” he said, receiving another smile.

  “My mom is the same way,” she said, slicing into the decadent red velvet cake. “Even though she has seventeen grandchildren and a great-grandchild on the way, she still wants more.”

  “Seventeen? Sheesh.”

  Aynslee laughed before putting the forkful of cake into her mouth. When she loudly groaned, enjoying her dessert, Jordan’s cock came to life. He went to move closer but then stopped. He was enjoying himself immensely, but he knew he owed it to her to tell her how things were with him and his job and his very-soon-to-be-realized transfer.

  “You got quiet on me; what’s up?” she asked, causing him to look over at her.

  “Sorry, I was thinking,” he said, giving her his full attention.

  “About?” she asked, a sweet smile on her face. His mouth pulled up at the side when he saw that she had a little piece of whipped cream on her lip. Reaching over, he licked the cream off, replacing it with his lips. She tasted of the cake and wine, and he basked in it as he moved his mouth over hers. Parting slowly, but with a few small kisses before pulling completely away, he looked at her beautiful flushed face. His heart hammered against his chest as he held her gaze, her hand resting against his cheek.

  What if he told her a
nd she decided not to see him after this? He wouldn’t be able to handle it. She was funny, beautiful, crazy, and she scared the living shit out of him, but he wanted her. All of her. The thought of not being able to kiss her or touch her was not an option. He didn’t understand how this had all happened so quickly, but it had. Now he was left in the position of telling her about his unsteady future and hoping for the best. Really, though, what was the best? No matter what, he would be leaving her behind and someone would get hurt, but even knowing that didn’t stop him from wanting to see her. Be with her, sleep with her, and laugh with her.

  He couldn’t walk away.

  Taking a deep breath, he looked down before saying, “I need to tell you something.”

  Aynslee decided that she liked every single thing about Jordan.

  Holding his face in her hand, she took in every delectable thing about him. She loved his eyes, his mouth—hell, his whole face—but most of all his mind. He talked with such confidence now that he was past his initial shyness. He was a completely different guy from the one she’d talked to on the plane or even at Starbucks. He was relaxed and even funny. It probably had a lot to do with the fact they’d skipped the first date and jumped right into bed. She liked the Jordan from before, but this Jordan, she was sure she could fall for.

  Hard.

  It was scary, and she couldn’t believe she was thinking that so soon, but it was hard not to when his hand grazed along her knee, or held her hand, or, really, when he just looked at her. When he talked, he looked directly into her eyes, veering away only to eat or to take a drink. And when he laughed, he laughed with everything inside him. He was so fucking hot, it should be illegal. Who would have known that having sex first would loosen this guy up?

  Aynslee had been nervous that when he left to go home and change she would never see him again, but there he was, at her door promptly at six o’clock, devouring her with kisses before taking her to one of her favorite restaurants. He was sweet and caring, but what totally blew her away was how much they had in common. He loved Greek mythology! He loved dogs, he wanted kids, and he was basically everything she wanted in a man. It was refreshing and exhilarating, and she was sure she had never felt this way about anyone. In her heart she felt good about Jordan, and throughout the whole dinner she’d believed that her heart was right and that maybe he did feel something for her. But then his eyes had dimmed, and she could see that something was wrong. She just hoped that he wasn’t about to walk away, because she was pretty sure he’d take a big chunk of her heart with him.

  “Yes,” she said, looking down at the cake they were sharing, “what’s that?”

  “You know how I said I was the backup goalie for the Assassins, right?”

  She nodded before saying, “Actually, a friend told me; you confirmed it.”

  He rolled his eyes playfully as she giggled, hoping to lighten the mood, but when he looked at her again, all the seriousness was back.

  “Okay, well, I’m not happy with that. It bothers me. To be honest, it drives me insane that I’m not on the ice as the starting goalie. My dad—he’s my agent—knows that I’m not happy and has been looking at other teams for me to transfer to.”

  Aynslee didn’t know what he was talking about, but she had a feeling it wasn’t good. Nodding her head she said, “Okay …”

  “Well, the reason I was in Buffalo was because I had a meeting with the New York Rangers and the Buffalo Sabres. Unfortunately, they don’t want me, so that leaves the other team I wanted to go to, which is the Carolina IceCats.”

  “Okay,” she said again. He looked at her as if all this meant something, but she was completely confused. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what you are trying to tell me.”

  He took in a deep breath before he said, “I’m probably going to leave Nashville and move to another state that has a team I can start for.”

  Whoa, what?

  Her eyes went wide. “What? I thought you loved Nashville.”

  “I do,” he said softly. “I love my team and I love this city, but ever since I hurt my knee, they don’t want to play me, and, Aynslee, hockey means the world to me. I want to play; I don’t want to retire. I am healthy, and I need to play.”

  She knew he was awesome. All the videos she’d watched on YouTube proved that, so why couldn’t he stay here? Why couldn’t he be the starting goalie for the Assassins?

  “When?”

  He turned his eyes away. “I’ll finish the season here and then start somewhere new next season. I am hoping for Carolina, since my family is there, but if that doesn’t work, then I’m not really sure.”

  She nodded and asked, “It’s a sure thing? That you’ll be moving, that is?”

  “Yeah. I have to play somewhere. I can’t do this much longer.”

  “But there’s a chance that maybe you can stay?” Looking up at him, hoping for the answer she wanted, she watched as he shook his head.

  “Unless the goalie they have now quits or leaves, no, I won’t be staying.”

  She took in a shaky breath, staring down at the table again. She couldn’t believe this. She finds the guy that she has been dreaming about and he already has one foot out the damn door.

  Shit!

  She knew she should chalk this up as a loss and walk away, but when she looked at him, she knew she couldn’t. The same way he couldn’t walk away from her anymore. Maybe they would get lucky and he wouldn’t go. Or maybe, in the short time they had, he’d fall for her like she knew she was falling for him and ask her to go with him. Even though this was her second year at New Life, she knew she would be able to find a job somewhere else, and if this relationship went the way she felt in her heart it would go, then she’d relocate, no problem.

  Just to be with him.

  “What do you want, Jordan?” she asked quietly before moving her hand into his. “Do you want to keep going with this? Or stop it right now? Because I want to keep going. I’ve never felt like this about anyone, and I’m not ready to let it go.”

  He smiled and leaned in closer to her, reaching up to run his thumb along her lips.

  “I’ve been so closed off to everyone, but with you it’s different. I like the way I feel around you. Call it crazy, but I like you. A lot. I don’t want to walk away, but I also don’t want to hurt you.”

  Her heart skipped a beat. “I like you too, and we’ll just have to remember that we both knew your future plans going into this, and if we make it to the end of the season, we’ll reevaluate everything.”

  He nodded and placed a sweet kiss on her lips. Aynslee kissed him back, her heart pounding in her chest, while her brain went crazy. She was worried that she would fall hopelessly for this man and he would hold back because he knew that he was leaving. But when he kissed her and held her, it didn’t feel as if he was holding back. It felt real. It felt like forever.

  “You know, too bad hockey isn’t like sex,” she said offhandedly.

  He glanced over at her and laughed as he laid his credit card on top of the bill.

  “Why’s that?”

  She shot him a naughty look before saying, “Because I see no problems with your knee in bed.”

  “Oh, is that right?” he asked, leaning toward her again, his hand traveling up her thigh.

  “Completely and utterly right. You’re a hundred percent in that bed, and even out of it, Jordan Ryan. Those coaches don’t know what they are missing out on.”

  Jordan laughed as he pressed his forehead against hers. “I’m so thankful I met you.”

  Aynslee smiled, feeling the exact same way as she cupped his face in her hands.

  “So am I.”

  Chapter 7

  Jordan watched as the Blackhawks’ team rushed the Assassins’ net in the United Center ice arena. He was bored out of his mind. This marked the twenty-first game of him sitting on the bench—his longest streak of not playing since he’d started in the NHL, minus the time he was hurt. Jordan was fucking tired of it. He should’ve pushed for a
trade during the season, but he did not want to do that to Elli, the owner of the Assassins; besides, if he had, he would have never met Aynslee. It had been an amazing three weeks since they’d first slept together, and when he was home, they were attached at the hip. Never in his adult life had he called a woman more than once in an hour’s span or spent every waking moment with someone, but he wanted that with Aynslee. He was falling for her, and he was falling hard.

  After Leanna broke up with him, Jordan thought he would never open up to another person or even love again, but Aynslee had proved him wrong. She made him laugh to the point of tears and made him harder than a frozen puck with just one of her sexy looks. But time was against them. They were already into April, and playoffs were starting at the end of the month. He would probably leave right after the season. He had things he needed to do in Carolina before camp started in August. He had toyed with the idea of asking her to go with him, but the more he thought about it, the more uncomfortable he felt about it. She had a life here, and he couldn’t ask her to uproot it just for him.

  Looking out at the ice, he saw that the clock was winding down. The Assassins were losing. The offense had been off the last couple of games, and even though Tate defended the goal well, the opposition still scored. It was 1–0, Blackhawks, and with only fifty-eight seconds on the clock, Jordan didn’t think they had a chance to win.

  He was right.

  After the game, Jordan was relaxing in his seat on the team bus to the airport. He pulled out his phone and sent Aynslee a quick text, letting her know he’d call once he got back to Nashville.

  Are you coming over?

  He smiled as he typed his response.

  Is that okay?

  Of course. I’ll leave the key under the mat.

  See you soon.

  Can’t wait.

  Jordan shut his phone off, still smiling as he leaned against the seat. He couldn’t wait to have her in his arms again. Looking around, he watched his teammates board the bus and take their seats. When his captain, Shea, entered the bus, he headed straight for Jordan and dropped down into the seat next to him. He moved his bag between his legs and then leaned back, glancing at Jordan.