“It’s kind of a relief to get away. I wasn’t expecting everyone to actually show up.” I grinned.
He laughed. “That’s how it goes, isn’t it? Then the times you think everyone will come is when no one does.”
I laughed and nodded. “Of course.”
“I’m really happy you invited me.”
I turned my head just enough to look at him. “Me too.”
“Can I admit something?”
I narrowed my eyes. “Sure?”
“I just don’t want you to think I’m a total creep.”
My heart beat heavily in my chest. “Now I’m worried.”
He laughed and bumped his shoulder into mine. “No, I’m making it sound worse than it really is.”
“You should probably just tell me, ‘cause now wild scenarios are going through my head.”
His eyes held mine. “I was hoping I’d run into you again. The day on the elevator, do you remember?”
I nodded while holding my breath. He remembered that? He didn’t seem to recognize me the second time we met.
“I couldn’t believe the most gorgeous woman literally fell into my arms, and I hadn’t thought to get your name or anything. I figured you worked in the marketing department, but I had no way of figuring out who you were without walking around the floor like an insane person.”
I gasped. He was looking for me too? “Really?”
“Yeah. Everyone who sits around me knows I was looking for you, the beautiful girl in the blazer.”
I laughed. “The blazer?”
He nodded. “That’s what we called you. I couldn't believe it when you were in the elevator again. I froze. And then afterward, I was so angry at myself for missing another opportunity.”
“No way!”
He rubbed a hand over his face. “I was berating myself, but then you showed up at lunch, and I thought it was an actual miracle. I couldn’t believe my luck.”
I finally burst out laughing. His face twisted in confusion. “What’s so funny?”
“I was looking for you at the same time you were looking for me!”
He threw his head back in shock. “What? Really?”
I nodded. “I called you Goldie because of your eyes.”
His eyebrows shot up and a smile finally appeared.
“I was coming down on the elevator that day because I’d gone to the sales floor to see if you worked up there. It was serendipitous that we both got on at the same time. Once I knew the team you were on, my boss did recon work for me and found out from your boss that a lot of your team ate lunch on the second floor, so Cora and I gave it a shot.”
He watched me for a few silent moments before breaking out in a wide grin. “So you were stalking me too.”
I nodded.
“Now I don’t feel as bad for searching the company directory. Not everyone has their picture loaded, though, so I couldn't find you.”
“I’m so glad I’m not the only crazy one.”
He took my hand in his and squeezed. “No. I was trying to find you too.”
I stared into his eyes and felt relief and happiness wash over me. I wasn’t alone in this. He was interested in me too. There was the flashing neon sign I had needed.
“Lane—”
He cut me off by leaning forward. His lips pressed against mine, soft and warm. I sighed and slid my hand up around his neck, holding him close. His free hand traced my jaw before his fingers slid to my hair. A rush coursed through me. His bottom lip glided against mine before he pulled back.
“I’ve thought about doing that for days.”
I smiled and tilted my forehead to rest against his. “Me too.”
“I didn't want our first kiss to be at midnight. I didn’t want you to think that was the only reason I was kissing you.”
My cheeks heated. “You planned this?”
He chuckled. “I hoped.”
“Me too.”
“I don’t want this to be a one-night thing. I want to spend more time with you.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Are you asking me on a date?”
He pulled back and nodded. “Yes. Will you go out with me on Saturday? We can go to the flea market and get lunch.”
“That sounds wonderful.”
We stayed huddled together, talking and enjoying each other, as well as marveling over how we found each other until we heard chanting fill the air.
“Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four…”
Lane lifted my chin and kissed me while cheers and whistles filled the air.
He pulled back with a wide smile. “Happy New Year.”
I nodded and responded with another kiss.
Holiday Breakaway
One
Jessica
I rolled my shoulders and discreetly stretched my neck. This meeting was only supposed to take an hour, but we just passed the three and a half mark. These women could talk more than anyone else I’ve ever met. They acted like it had been months or years since they’d seen each other, but I knew it couldn’t have been more than a day. For the first forty-five minutes, they chatted and gossiped about the guys on the team before changing the topic to why I was here. The Utah Fury’s Christmas Party. An annual charity event that Chloe had planned on her own in the past but was now using Dani’s company. Our company.
Even though my title was her assistant, I was treated more like her partner. It helped that I was her only employee so she bounced all her ideas off me.
“Everything is set except for the theme,” Dani announced while looking at her tablet. We circled this topic dozens of times but could never settle on anything. “It’s only a week away, so we need to decide today.”
We managed to send out invitations and post reminders around the office and locker room without actually having this settled. It wasn’t the most traditional way to plan, but we were making it work. After all, the client was always right, and our client––well Chloe––wouldn’t make up her mind.
“Then we should just stick with the tried and true,” Taylor suggested tentatively. She worked in the front office as a graphic designer but somehow got roped into being on the planning committee by Chloe.
“We’ve done the winter wonderland theme too many times.” Chloe groaned.
“What about more of a Candyland theme?” Taylor offered. “But we’ll keep it to just holiday treats.”
I appreciated her effort. We were all scraping the bottom of the barrel for ideas Chloe wouldn’t immediately throw away.
“Like peppermint candy canes and chocolate bark?” I added, hoping we could settle at least one major topic.
“That’s too similar to what we did two years ago,” Chloe said with a dismissive wave.
I closed my eyes. It wasn’t like there were many options. She wanted to keep it holiday-themed, but the list was only so long. She wanted something new, revolutionary, but if we hadn’t thought of it now, it wasn’t going to happen.
“Santa’s workshop?” Dani suggested.
“Too specific for Christmas. We don’t want to isolate anyone,” I reminded her. Half of our ideas were rejected for that purpose. I understood. Not everyone celebrated Christmas, and we needed to be sensitive to that, especially since this was an event open to the public. The team wanted to be as inclusive as possible.
“What about a beach theme? Like Christmas in July, but we won’t call it that. More like an opposite party?” Taylor spoke slowly as if she was waiting for someone to interpret her.
Chloe shrugged. “Eh.”
Eh? Eh? What was that supposed to mean?
I pulled out my phone and searched for ideas again, looking for the most obscure themes that hadn’t already been brought up.
“How about ‘A Few of Our Favorite Things’? We can have each player’s favorite thing about the holiday season either on display or available. Like a movie playing or some food or games?”
Chloe shifted in her seat, sitting up straight. “I love it.”
I a
lmost sagged in relief but remained professional. Finally, progress.
“That’s great, Jessica.” Dani shot me a wide grin.
“We can gather the list of the players’ favorite things,” Taylor offered while looking at Chloe.
“Dani and I have the decor and caterers to focus on.” Chloe pursed her lips. “Can you and Jessica split that up?”
I nodded when Taylor checked with me. “Of course.”
I didn’t necessarily need an excuse to talk to any of the players. Interning with the team meant I was around them enough that the novelty wore off. Most of them were pretty normal, once you got over what they did for a living. Plus, Chloe didn’t allow fangirling in the front office. She sniffed out the people that were working there for the wrong reasons and made sure they didn’t last long. We were hired to work for a thriving company which happened to be an NHL team. But she was all business first. I was lucky that she took me under her wing and trusted me with planning some of the team’s events. Her reference was the reason Dani interviewed me in the first place.
When I first applied at DG Events, I had no idea who Dani was dating. Chloe mentioned she had a friend that was opening an event planning business and said she would pass my name along to the owner. After the interview, Jake Jones, Dani’s boyfriend, stopped by the office, and I put the pieces together. She was the wedding planner. I heard stories about the memorable trip to Mexico, but not enough to put the pieces together.
Dani liked that I had experience with high-profile clients, and four months later, here I was back in my previous office working once again with the Fury.
“We’ll meet again at the end of the week to cover anything else that we missed today,” Chloe announced as she closed her laptop.
I didn’t think it was possible that we hadn’t covered absolutely every single detail, but I knew better than to question her. Chloe’s mind worked in a very mysterious way. She was always planning and plotting ten steps ahead. It exhausted most people to even try to keep up. I didn’t. I simply followed directions with precision while always being prepared for things to change with a moment’s notice. That’s why she liked me. I didn’t push back.
As an intern, it wasn’t my place to, but I also respected her too much to ever try. She knew what she was doing, and it was my job to support her.
Now, she was once again my boss—well…client—but the lines were pretty blurry, and I fell back into the familiar role of executing her checklist while waiting for that phone call that changed the plan.
“Sounds good. I’ll update you tomorrow about the lighting and tech vendors,” Dani said as she stood.
“Thanks.” Chloe smiled at her, then at me and Taylor. “This is going to be an amazing event. I really appreciate all of you.”
I’d helped plan the holiday event last year, but I was so low in the ranks that I wasn’t actually in any of the planning meetings. I was a foot soldier making sure everything came together in the end. I didn’t get to enjoy the fruit of my labors either. I was too busy keeping the party running smoothly to pause for even a moment.
This year wouldn’t be that different, but at least my opinion was being heard.
As I gathered my laptop and notepad and slid them into my oversized purse, the meeting room’s door swung open, and Jake walked in, followed by Lance and Jason.
“There you are!” Jake flung out his arms, wrapping Dani in a tight bearhug. “We’ve been waiting for hours.”
Chloe tsked but didn’t contradict him.
“You ready, babe?” Jason asked Taylor. She smiled sweetly, and they said their goodbyes before heading out.
I wanted to follow them, but Lance was in the way.
“Hey, Jess,” He smiled down at me, and I offered the same polite smile I always greeted him with.
“Hi, Lance.” Dani told me I didn’t have to bother being nice to him, but I didn’t have it in me to tell him to give up. He made it clear from the first day we met that he was interested in me, and I couldn’t deny he was attractive in an athletic, preppy model sort of way. Unfortunately for him, Dani and Jake shared stories about his behavior in Mexico and before.
He was a player. He tried to hit on Dani, but she managed to dodge him, and now it seemed he had his sights set on me. At least, when I was in the vicinity. I’m sure it was out of sight out of mind for him.
“I haven’t seen you in a bit. How are you?”
It had been a week and a half since I was last stuck in the office alone and forced to speak to him. Usually, Dani ran interference and told him I was out running errands when he came in with Jake to say hello.
“I’ve been super busy with a few holiday events, but good. You?”
His grin widened. “Good.”
He was probably used to women swooning when he unleashed that smile. It wasn’t that he wasn’t a nice guy. He was.
I just wasn’t interested in being his latest conquest. This wasn’t a playing hard to get scheme for me. I genuinely wanted to remain distant because I knew he was a kind, funny, handsome man that I was physically attracted to.
One of my worst personality flaws was that I fell too hard and too fast. I knew that. My heart had been broken too many times in the past. I loved love. I was that girl. But I learned my lesson, over and over again.
Now, I knew better. He was the type of guy I would have fallen for just a year or two ago. But not anymore. I was focusing on myself. Loving myself. At least that’s what my therapist recommended. She was very big on self-love and reminded me I couldn’t truly love someone without loving myself. She believed my past relationships failed because I sought out love and approval from the wrong sources.
She wasn’t wrong.
I told Dani and Chloe about my mission to remain focused on myself and getting my head and heart in the right place, and they agreed to be my support team. They were my relationship bouncers, making sure the wrong men––or any men––didn’t make it into my life.
So it wasn’t just Lance that was to blame for this situation. Although, I thought I made it pretty darn clear I wasn’t interested when I flat out told him I wasn’t dating right now. For some reason, he took that as a challenge. It had been almost two months since that conversation, and he seemed to up his efforts to seek me out.
“We’re going to grab dinner. Do you guys want to come?” Jake’s offer seemed to be for Chloe as well as me and Lance, but he was only looking at me. I almost narrowed my eyes. Whose team was he on? I swear sometimes he acted like Dani had told him about my opinion of Lance and he helped limit the run-ins we had, but times like this, I believed he was conspiring with his teammate.
“I’ve got some more work to do. I’ll see you guys later.” Chloe headed out of the room, leaving me to come up with an excuse to avoid an impromptu double date. So much for being my bouncer. Couldn’t she have said she needed my help?
“So?” Lance watched me.
“I’ve got some work to do for tomorrow. Maybe next time.” I gave a small wave and skirted out of the room. I didn’t wait for them to catch up at the elevators by taking the stairs. Maybe it was immature, but I wanted to avoid any additional awkward situations.
It worked. For a few minutes. Unfortunately, I didn’t think about running into anyone at the garage level. It wasn’t Lance, thankfully, but it was Reese and Erik. They were terrible together. I wouldn’t say they were bullies, more like big brothers that enjoyed teasing me relentlessly.
“Jessie!” Erik called as they stepped away from Reese’s car.
I loathed that nickname and they knew that, but it didn’t stop them from using it.
“Chloe’s brother,” I nodded in acknowledgment and continued to my SUV parked down the row.
“I told you that doesn’t bother me,” he lied. I knew it drove him crazy. He was the famous twin and didn’t like even a moment without the spotlight.
I glanced at Reese and offered a too-sweet smile. “Chloe’s son’s father.”
He narrowed his eye
s but chuckled. “I’m not even the husband anymore?”
I raised a brow and continued walking.
“You’re not coming to dinner? I heard Lance was going to invite you,” Eric called once I was a few steps away.
I bit the inside of my cheek and sighed before turning. “I can’t. Maybe next time.”
“Next time he isn’t there?” Reese added, and when I didn’t contradict him, they both started laughing.
“Poor guy can’t take a hint, can he?” Erik said.
“You’re breaking his heart.”
I scoffed but didn’t acknowledge them again. I almost felt bad that Lance’s teammates were aware of my rejection but not enough to change my mind and go with them. I couldn’t see an outcome that didn’t end with at least one of us hurt, and I didn’t want that to happen even if it made me the bad guy.
Two
Lance
I shouldn’t have come. I realized that about two seconds after sitting down.
“Solo again?” Erik asked with a smile I didn’t trust.
Madi, his wife, elbowed him in the side but didn’t say anything. I knew they spoke about me behind my back and in front of it. It wasn’t like I made much of an effort to hide my efforts to get Jessica to go out with me. Why try? The guys on the team, and the Pride, were notorious for sniffing out crushes and potential romances like bloodhounds. I figured if I was open about it, then they couldn’t mock me.
I was wrong. They could laugh and tease and make comments with pleasant, friendly smiles because it wasn’t a secret.
“Yup.” I picked up the menu and held it up to block my view of the table.
“Be nice, you guys. I have a feeling she’ll cave soon,” Dani added. She’d been saying that for weeks, so I no longer believed her. At first, it gave me hope and I doubled my efforts to get Jess to agree to just one cup of coffee. But after a solid week of rejection, I stopped listening to Dani. She might be Jessica’s closest friend, but she was also too polite to hit me with the truth.
“Why don’t you move on? There are plenty of other women that would love the chance to date you,” Reese said, without a hint of mockery.
Snowflakes and Ice Skates: A Holiday Romance Anthology (Utah Fury Hockey) Page 11
