by Amy Brent
“I did some research after the interview. You’re a young owner, Mr. Neller.” Holly replied, just a few feet shorter than his height of six feet two inches. “I was curious.”
“You have me there. The chance came up and I took it.” He glanced at her, shivering a bit as he smiled. “Call me Aaron.”
“Really?” Holly asked him, giving him a disbelieving glance. “Okay then.”
“We’re a family here. I don’t want it uncomfortable or even formal. This is a tough game and I don’t like to sugarcoat things.” Aaron told her, seeing her nod. “I want everyone involved and I want you to feel like you can come to me with anything, Holly. I am going to be a very involved owner.”
“I can see that.” She replied, meeting his eyes again. “I like that in a boss.”
“I prefer colleague.” Aaron corrected her, holding her eyes longer. This wasn’t some restaurant where he’d be asking her to clean. Aaron was putting her in charge of a big part of his team’s life.
The team started taking shots on the empty goal before the new-to-the-league goalie stepped in to stop them. The media that was allowed in took the seats and spaces for filming, excited about the new Rangers. Holly sat down as Aaron’s interviews started, something he’d dressed for in slacks and jacket with the shirt and tie underneath. He sold the new coaches and staff, assuring the reporters of a very good year with the charismatic smile that had gotten him through several player interviews during those days.
Aaron smiled when his parents stepped inside to see the action, taking a seat with them as he looked over the tough practice that he’d known Pat would give them. Everyone kept it clean for the cameras and guests, having fun with each other as they honed their skills. He noticed Holly leaving towards the end, feeling her eyes on him a few times during the practice as he watched her leave.
That ass. Oh…that looked sooo…tempting.
He wanted her on his desk upstairs, spread out and waiting for his hardening cock. She turned her head once to look at him, her skin flushed pink before she turned forward again. Aaron looked back at the ice, feeling his father look at him. “The league doesn’t need a scandal, son. You’re an owner now.”
“Just looking, Dad.” Aaron responded, locking his gaze on the center as he skated the puck around several players and scored a goal. “She’ll have her hands full with these guys.”
“She’ll handle them just fine. That girl has spunk but it’s not meant for you.”
“She’s lovely though, Glen.” His mother gushed, her cheeks pink with the cold and excitement as she snuggled against her husband. They’d been in love since they first met and she was always ready for her son to meet a nice girl, since his sisters were married with two kids each now.
“Simmer down over there, Mom.” Aaron teased her, keeping his tone light as he agreed silently with her. He took them to his office after practice was over, offering a generous view of the ice and the best technology that money could buy. That had been just a slight upgrade on Aaron’s part, since the old owner was set up with televisions and a large monitor when he left. Aaron also had the owner seat high in the crowd if he chose to sit there, as well as some of the best box seats that he knew the family would love. He talked with them as he imagined the guys coming in to see her, using all of their charm to try to get into her pants like he wanted. Aaron had been that player once and had quite the tryst with one of the therapists back in his day. The thought it her doing it made his stomach twist and he offered to take his folks to lunch to distract him from it.
Aaron went home afterward, watching the night’s game as he googled Holly on his laptop. She had indeed worked for the UFC and kept her fighter going for a long time and a few championships before choosing to move on. She was smart to gain that kind of experience while she was still in school and Aaron glanced over pictures of her at various events. She had a beautiful smile and her hair was silky and curly when she wore it down, though not so far at work. Holly seemed to be a natural girl, not wearing a lot of make up like some women did. She knew how to play herself up and he admired several pictures as his father’s words played through his mind.
There was a story about an assault after an event, one that Aaron read closely. Manny’s security had stopped it before it became a full-fledged rape but she’d been sent to the hospital with some injuries and the photo of her with a black eye and split lip filled him with rage. That was about the time she’d decided to leave the job, something he couldn’t blame her for with all of the publicity. She’d worked for a private firm until applying for this job, seemingly ready to be in the public eye again. Aaron had two sisters and hated the idea of anybody hurting them and the protective blood filled his veins as he forced himself to move past that picture and look at others where she was all dressed up and appeared happy and smiling.
CHAPTER THREE
There was no need to reason to go to the arena the following day aside from the fact Aaron wanted a good workout and it was the best gym in the area. He belonged to the one in his building as well but he’d always loved the team gym and he was hoping that some of the guys might be there. Better yet, he hoped that Holly was there even though she’d told him that her focus was on yoga. He could tell in the pictures too. Her legs were toned and body lean with the perfect curves, showing that she didn’t starve herself or be unhealthy about things.
Aaron cleared his mind of the thoughts as he entered into the lower level and took an elevator to the top, using his key to get into the building. There was usually someone here to prepare for one of the many events going on or just handling orders for them. He was already dressed for the gym and walked into the large room with his bag, glancing around the room as he decided what to do. It was fairly empty except for someone on the treadmill in the corner and he looked closer to see red curls bouncing as he grinned. She was here.
Aaron settled on weights to start, sliding in his ear buds as it seemed she had done the same. He set the high weight that he’d stuck to his whole life, since his arms were fine and he wouldn’t give up everything. He grabbed his cold water and rested back on the weight bench against his towel, shirtless in only a pair of workout shorts now. He’d noticed that Holly was wearing figure hugging tiny shorts and a fitted tank top as she walked, moving her head along to some beat. He tried to forget that she was there looking that good and started lifting smoothly as he let his breath in and out. It felt good to strain his muscles and he pushed himself today since he might just stick with weights and a little treadmill. He was just finishing when he looked up to see her looking down at him, her eyes bright and wide as she watched him set the bar back and reach for his water. “Morning.” Holly greeted him, reminding him of the news story as he tried to fight his attraction towards her. “Easy for you to get here too?”
“I walked. How about you?” Aaron replied easily, enjoying the way she skimmed over his body slowly.
“Yep. I have a place with a roommate close to here. I can actually afford it now that I have a decent job.” She smiled at him as she pressed the towel around her neck up to the sweat that was pooling in her hair. “Thank you for that.”
“You had all of the qualifications. Just try to keep the guys away from you.” Aaron warned her lightly as his eyes darkened.
“It takes one to know one, right?” She shot back in her own teasing tone, catching his gaze with a smile. “I encountered a lot of that in the other job, Aaron. I handled it and I’ll handle this. I might be younger, but these testosterone- minded players are not my thing.”
“What is your thing?” Aaron asked her, unable to stop himself as their gazes locked.
“I like older guys personally. Someone who can balance me.” Holly said, pressing her full lips together. “I was never into those quick casual things, since I like to actually talk as well.” She let her eyes rest on his abs for a long moment. “I used to have a crush on you in high school, you know. Posters and the whole thing. It was always kind of my goal to work for the NHL.
”
“High school? I guess it went away and you met better guys?” Aaron asked her, sitting up to look at her with deepening eyes.
“Nobody can compare to a hockey player.” Holly told him, smiling at him. “Why didn’t you coach instead of jump right in?”
“I thought about it after everything went down. When the team came up for sale, my dad and I talked about it and I figured I’d try. I know my stuff and I can guide these guys.” Aaron replied, taking another swig of water. He dared to look down her body at the dark purple shirt that was tight against her body and the shorts that showed off those legs as she moved from one foot to the other. “I can’t not be involved in the sport. It’s my life.”
“I knew that when you played. There was a magic to your skills.” Holly complimented him as he looked back into her face. “I was very sorry when you announced your retirement.”
“Thanks. That means a lot.” Aaron told her, reaching for his own towel. “Would you like to go get some lunch? Neither of us have to work until tomorrow before the game.”
“Is that against the rules or something?” Holly’s voice was a whisper as he glanced around the room to see some of the guys walking in.
“I can keep it to myself if you can.” He replied softly as he looked back up at her. “All done here for today?” His voice was louder now as she smiled at him and nodded. “Be safe out there.”
“I’ll meet you out front in a few.” Holly mouthed as she greeted the others with a warm smile. “How are you all feeling today? Nothing’s causing a problem right?”
The guys responded with various forms of hello and that they were feeling fine before she hoisted the bag over her shoulder and told everyone goodbye. Aaron chatted with them about the game next day and the early practice, telling them to play their best and listen to their coaches. The guys knew what they were doing. He stood about ten minutes later, pulling on a shirt before he told them goodbye and left the room.
Holly was waiting by the front doors downstairs dressed in a simple black dress with a thin jacket pulled over it. It was warm right now, unusually so in the city. She had her hair loose around her shoulders and she glanced at him with a shy smile. “Did they suspect anything?”
“They were too busy watching your ass on the way out.” He replied dryly as she shook her head.
“Let them. They’re a great bunch of guys but I’m not into anyone that way.” Holly assured him as they stepped out onto the crowded sidewalk. “What do you like? I’m vegetarian so that might complicate things a bit.”
“Not at all. How about we cab it to Blossom?” Aaron offered, trying to lean that way a bit himself.
“Let’s walk.” She challenged him and he grinned at her.
“It’s nice out. This has been a good Fall.”
“Lead the way.” Holly secured her bag on her arm and started down the sidewalk as she remained silent for a moment.
“Is this going to be a problem?” Her voice was hesitant as he looked at her.
“Lunch?” Aaron asked, needing her to tell her what she wanted.
“Maybe. You’re my boss, Aaron. I work for you. I know that I’m not supposed to date any of the players even though anyone in the industry knows that it happens. I assume that goes for the boss as well?” Holly questioned as he looked forward. “I don’t want to risk your job or mine but I was risking that going to the interview. I knew that I was attracted to you.”
“I knew that I was when you walked into the room. I want to kick all of their asses when they look at you the way they do.” His confession was low and rough as he watched her shiver, her nipples forming into hard points as the breeze blew the jacket open.
“So we’re doing this,” she said slowly, looking at him for a long moment.
“I want to if you do.” Aaron told her, watching her blush and nod. They kept walking, talking softly about their lives as the city faded around them. She didn’t talk about the attack, though he didn’t expect her to. Aaron just wanted to know what she was comfortable with as a result of it, since he wasn’t known to be gentle in bed. Aaron also kept his private life under the radar so he doubted she’d know anything about that, knowing that it wasn’t as wild as anyone had heard anyway. She was complex and smart, observing so much about life for someone as young as she was.
They reached the place and he opened the door for her as someone walking out called out his name. Aaron stepped outside to greet the crowd of two guys and two girls, taking a picture for them as he watched Holly wait inside with a smile on her face. He didn’t expect a lot of paparazzi around for himself, but he had a habit of being careful.
This was wrong for both of them to do on some level. It was forbidden, but he’d deal with that later. Once he was inside, they ordered tea and their entrees as he looked at her face in the sun. “You are so damn beautiful. No wonder the boys get distracted when you are around. How do you handle so much attention?”
Holly frowned and sipped the iced tea as it was set in front of them. “I focus on work, Aaron. I am not here to get promoted because I slept with someone as I’ve had that offer in the past. I turned it down. I can admit that some of the men I’ve worked with are very handsome and my friends have asked me how I resist them in what they call an intimate situation.” She shook her head. “Seeing them in pain isn’t intimate to me. It’s time to work to make them better for the next time out there or the next day and to help the doctor.” He frowned as she spoke, realizing how shallow his time with the therapist had been as he looked back. “I don’t want to be with you for my job. I am just really attracted to you.”
She was honest about it and he appreciated that over the ways other women had approached him, seeing her heart on her sleeve. “I think we should keep this completely outside of work, to be honest. I am going to be around a lot, in part because of you, but they won’t know that. I just want to see the team grow and that’s what they’ll know.” They shared a long look as their food came, heated and wanting as she forced herself to look down at the food with a deep breath.
He felt a little nervous as they ate, asking more questions about the UFC as she answered them with a lot of laughter. It had been very fun for her when the guys were working out or preparing for a fight, but the actual events were tense for her. She’d sat in the front row with the rest of the crew, ready to run and do whatever needed if someone decided to fight nasty. Holly was actually a fan of the newer rules of fighting in hockey, which made him chuckle. Aaron wasn’t a big fighter in his time but he liked a little badmouthing on the ice here and there.
They paid the bill and walked out to head to their part of town, comfortable as they walked closer together but didn’t hold hands. Aaron wanted to but he wanted things to look professional for the public since she’d already been through so much. Once they reached his building, he asked her where she lived as they paused on the sidewalk. It was a few blocks further and he licked his lips as he looked into her eyes. “Want to come in? I can order in some dinner later and we can get to know each other.”
“I…should we?” Holly asked, her green eyes heavy with need as she stared at him. They both knew what would happen if she said yes, and he nodded.
“I won’t do anything that you’re not comfortable with, Holly.” Aaron promised her, telling his cock to calm down as it hardened painfully. “I'm not that guy.”
“Yes. I want to.” They walked into the building as he greeted the doorman and led her to an elevator. “This is a nice building.”
“I bought the apartment a few years into playing with the team. It suits me.” Aaron replied, wondering what her apartment looked like as he realized he might not see it at all. He pushed the button for the twentieth floor as her eyes widened, moving a bit closer to her in the empty car.
“Mine is just on the third floor.” Holly admitted, watching as he joined their hands together with the same eyes.
CHAPTER FOUR
Aaron opened his door just a few steps away from the el
evator, his heart picking up the pace in his chest as he watched her walk in slowly. She smelled like a mixture of cherries and lime, something he hadn’t noticed until he was this close to her. Her hair bounced around her lean shoulders, looking loose and free as she looked around the large living room. “This is beautiful, Aaron. I mean, I’ve been in places like this but wow.”
“You’ve traveled in some good circles in your business.” Aaron walked over to the shelf to drop his keys into the bowl of rocks and looked at her. “It still takes you by surprise though, yeah? You didn’t grow up with money, did you?”
“We just did okay. Average really. I worked hard in school to get my scholarship and take as much as I could early so I could work sooner.” Holly admitted, smiling as she spoke about her family. “They’re in Kentucky with my sister. Abby is in tenth grade and Dad works for the State while my mom is a travel agent. They’re very happy but they’ve always been simple. I guess I feel guilty sometimes for what I’ve seen but I help them out when I can.” She looked around again. “New York has really been overwhelming to me.”
“I grew up over in Philadelphia. Dad moved them here when I started playing for the team though they have a house out on Long Island. Mom isn’t a fan of city life.” Aaron told her, watching as she walked over to him. “Dad did well investing what he made at the bank as a manager and mom sold houses part time. My two older sisters are married to nine-to-five guys and have families out there as well. They taught me to work hard for what I have.”
“You have.” Holly murmured, dropping her bag onto the floor by the couch and licking her lips. “I can’t believe I am going to kiss Aaron Neller.”
“Are you?” He asked her in a husky voice, feeling her response in the way that she threw her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his softly, guiding the kiss before she moved his mouth against hers slowly. Holly moved to her tiptoes as she took a deep breath through her nose and parted her lips for him, inviting him to taste her mouth as he pulled her closer. Aaron slid his tongue against hers slowly, dragging out the feeling of it as his body started responding.
