The D-Man

by Stephanie Julian

  “I’m going to, yeah.”

  Her smile deepened. “So, when would work for you? I have to work tomorrow night and you have a game Wednesday and you leave Thursday for games, right? When will you be back?”

  “Sunday. Probably around noon.”

  “Do you want to come over for dinner Sunday? I’m not a bad cook. I’ve picked up a few tricks working in restaurants all these years.”

  “Yeah. Sure, that sounds great. Thanks. I won’t be able to stay too late though, ’cause we have practice the next morning.”

  Could you be any more of a dork?

  “No problem. You have games Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, don’t you?”

  She must have checked their schedule. He liked that.

  Trying not to grin like an idiot, he nodded. “Yeah. One in Toronto and two in Hartford.”

  “And you guys travel by bus, right? That must suck.”

  “You get used to it.”

  She shook her head, a slight smile on her lips. “Not a lot fazes you, does it?”

  His brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, you just kind of roll with whatever comes along. At least, that’s how it seems. You’re just so...mellow.”

  He had to laugh. “Seriously? That’s how you see me?”

  “Absolutely. You’re totally the most mellow person I know. Why? How do you see yourself?”

  He took another sip of beer and thought about his answer. “On the ice? Or off?”

  Her head cocked to the side. “Is there a difference?”

  “Yeah. I’m a different person on skates. On ice, I’m totally in control. I know what I need to do and I go after it. Off the ice...” He shrugged. “I blend into the background. And I’m okay with that.”

  She looked confused, like she had no idea what he was talking about. “You don’t blend into the background, Justin. People notice you because of how chill you are. I think that’s why you and Derek get along so well. You’re such opposites, and opposites attract.”

  He started to grin and couldn’t stop at the idea that Derek was attracted to him in any way. Except...she wasn’t wrong.

  He shrugged it off, like he did everything else. “Derek’s a good guy. He’s fun to be around.”

  “Why do you say that like you think you’re not?”

  “I don’t mean it like that.”

  “I like to be around you.”

  Heat rose, making his cheeks burn. And when she smiled, he knew his cheeks were bright red.

  He forced himself to speak. “I like being around you, too.”

  And her smile got a little sexier. “Glad to hear it.”

  They stood and stared at each other, smiling for several long seconds until finally, he had to look away.

  “So, Sunday. I’ll text you and let you know when I’ll be back.”

  “Why don’t we just say be here around five and if that doesn’t work, you can text me? And maybe you wanna wear a shirt that buttons down the front.”

  Damn, the way she said that made him think about stripping off her clothes, one piece at a time. She could do whatever she wanted with his as long as she made them disappear fast.

  He nodded, not sure how he should answer that. Not even sure she wanted an answer because it hadn’t been a question.

  “You want me to bring anything?” When her smiled widened, he knew he blushed even harder. “For dinner.”

  Her eyes glinted as she said, “Nope. Just you.”

  Nodding, he finished off his beer and realized they’d been standing in the kitchen the entire time they’d been talking and he hadn’t really noticed. He would’ve stood there all night and just listened to her talk, but he had to get up for practice tomorrow. He had a job he got paid to do.

  Setting his empty bottle on the counter, he straightened. “Then I’ll see you next Sunday.”

  She looked like she might say something else but after a few long seconds, she nodded, set her own bottle on the counter, and walked him to the door.

  After he slipped on his coat, he opened the door but turned before he walked out.

  “I’m looking forward to it.”

  Her smile was so sweet, he wanted to taste it. But this was their first date.

  And he was a huge believer in anticipation making things better.

  But she looked up at him with that smile and he couldn’t help himself.

  Leaning down, he pressed a quick kiss to her cheek.

  He heard her suck in a quick breath, as if she was startled. And when he pulled away, her smile had softened and the look in her eyes was one he couldn’t quite figure out.

  “Go back inside. It’s cold. Night, Viv.”

  She didn’t. Not until she said, “You’re dangerous, Mr. Perry. Is it okay if I text you this week?”

  His turn to smile. “Absolutely.”

  “Then I’ll talk to you soon. Night, Justin.”

  He turned and walked to his car before he did something stupid like walk back into the house and ask her if he could kiss her again, this time all over.

  Chapter Five

  “So how’d your date go?”

  Vivi grinned as she ran water in the sink to soak the pots for a few minutes. It was a Tuesday night in the dead of winter and the tavern hadn’t been busy at all.

  “I can’t believe it took you this long to say something. I thought for sure that’d be the first question out of your mouth today. I was getting a little worried that someone died and you were in mourning. I’ve never known you to keep your mouth shut.”

  Sophie smacked Vivi on the ass with the dishtowel in her hands. “I was trying not to pry, smart-ass. I figured you’d spill your guts as soon as you got here tonight, but when you didn’t say anything, I thought maybe it didn’t go well. And then I thought, that can’t be right. Justin is a sweetheart, you’re just tormenting me.”

  Vivi was laughing by the time Sophie finally stopped talking. Her friend was glaring at her.

  “We had a good time. There just isn’t that much to tell.”

  Sophie continued to put the few dirty dishes in the washer while Vivi did the pots. It’d been so slow, Sophie’s dad had left early. Of course, he must have told them twenty times to call him if they needed anything or anyone gave them a hassle.

  Of course, no one gave them a hassle. Hell, the two regulars who’d been sitting at the bar for the last hour, two eighty-year-old men with hearing aids who weighed about a hundred pounds soaking wet, had asked if she and Sophie wanted them to stay and walk them to their cars.

  They’d smiled, thanked them, and assured them they’d be okay as they locked the doors behind them.

  Closing the washer door and setting it to run, Sophie bumped her shoulder against hers. “So...you didn’t have a good time?”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  Sophie huffed. “Okay, now you’re just being a dick.”

  Vivi laughed and bumped Sophie’s hip. “Seriously, there just isn’t that much to say. We went to dinner. We talked. We went back to my house for a beer and then he left.”

  “He just left. He didn’t kiss you? Didn’t...”

  Sophie waggled her eyebrows, making Vivi laugh.

  “No. I mean...he kissed me on the cheek but it was our first date.”

  “What the hell does that matter?”

  Vivi shrugged. “I don’t know. It doesn’t to me. But I guess it does to Justin.”

  “Huh. Maybe he’s just too shy for you.”

  She thought about that for a second. “I don’t think he’s shy. I think... he’s just a really nice guy.”

  Leaning back against the opposite counter, Sophie watched as Vivi mirrored her.

  “You kind of make it sound like that’s a problem.”

  “No, not a problem. It’s just...”

  Sophie cocked her head to the side. “Just what?”

  Wrinkling her nose, she huffed out a sigh. “Maybe he’s just too nice for me.”

  “What does that mea
n?”

  Vivi let her head drop back as she sighed. “Hell, I don’t know what I mean. He’s smart, he’s funny. He’s listens when I talk. Have you noticed he doesn’t swear, like, at all? Maybe he’ll say hell or damn but I have yet to hear him drop an f-bomb.”

  Sophie shrugged. “I haven’t but I’m not surprised. Then again, I don’t really hear him say a lot when the other guys are around. He just kind of sits and listens and smiles sometimes.”

  “The man has a great smile.”

  Sophie’s grin popped out again. “You’re smitten.”

  Vivi pulled a face. “You’re a dork.”

  “Maybe. But I’m right. You should see the look on your face when you talk about him. It’s so cute.”

  “Shut up. I’m not cute.”

  Sophie just laughed. “You are so cute right now, I think I’m getting a cavity.”

  Vivi reached behind her and flicked water from the sink at Sophie, making her laugh even harder.

  When she finally stopped laughing, Sophie shook her head. “Aw, come on. It’s cute how you’re so into him. He’s just not your usual type. And,” she held up a hand before Vivi could say anything, “don’t try to deny that because I’m pretty sure even you would admit you have a type.”

  Vivi flipped her friend the finger before she turned back to the sink. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Uh-huh. Yeah, right. So you just think it’s a coincidence that all the guys you dated recently wouldn’t be out of place as Sons of Anarchy extras?”

  “Sounds like you have something against bikers.”

  “Nope. Not at all. And you know that’s not what I’m talking about. Those guys all totally sucked at relationships. None of them had a healthy relationship with women. They were all totally unavailable.”

  “Maybe I just wasn’t looking for anything long-term.”

  “So are you now?”

  Sighing, Vivi put the pan she’d scrubbed clean in the drying rack. “I don’t know, Soph. Maybe. Maybe I’m just looking for someone to spend time with who isn’t a complete douche.”

  “Well, Justin definitely fits in that category. He’s totally not a douche and he’s total boyfriend material.”

  “And what if I don’t want a boyfriend? What if I just want to hang with a nice guy for a while?”

  “That’s not a bad thing. But maybe you want to tell Justin that’s what you’re looking for. I think he might be the kind of guy who’s looking for a commitment.”

  Commitment.

  Vivi started to hyperventilate at that word. Since her breakup with Jamie, commitment may as well have been a four-letter word.

  She didn’t do commitment. Hell, she barely did dates. Hookups, sure. Dinner, maybe. But nothing that required she commit to spending a certain amount of time with one specific guy.

  So, yeah, maybe she had a slight problem.

  That didn’t mean she’d become a hermit.

  She just didn’t date with a purpose.

  By the time she got home that night around half past midnight, she’d convinced herself seeing Justin again was probably a bad idea. She didn’t want to give him false hope.

  Getting a little ahead of yourself, aren’t you?

  She’d dated a professional athlete before. He hadn’t turned into a dick until she’d known him for months. Had allowed herself to get attached.

  She didn’t think Justin was a dick. No, she knew Justin wasn’t a dick. He was exactly what he appeared to be.

  A decent guy.

  They were a rare breed, as far as she was concerned.

  It was close to one a.m. when she finally slid into bed after taking a shower. She grabbed her phone and was surprised to see a message waiting for her from Justin.

  Hope you had a good night at work. I figure you’re working tomorrow night too but if you’re not, do you want tickets to the game? Looking forward to Sunday.

  Oh my god, the man was too good to be true.

  Unfortunately, she did have to work tomorrow, at the Bomb Shelter. She’d been working fewer shifts there recently. Yeah, it meant less money but they’d recently hired a new manager and he was kind of a creep.

  The kind whose hand lingered just a little too long on her back when he brushed past her. Or who stared at her boobs when he thought she wasn’t looking.

  At least, he was an equal opportunity creep. He treated all the women who worked there the same.

  But he was friends with the owners so she either sucked it up or she quit. Yeah, she needed the money but there were other jobs out there.

  And could she seriously justify quitting a job just so she could go to a hockey game to see a guy she went on one date with and hadn’t even kissed?

  Do it.

  She could call in sick. Hell, half the servers at the Shelter called in sick at least once a week and they were still employed. Mainly because the owner, Dale, couldn’t find enough servers to work for him and he paid a little more than industry standard.

  Shit. She wanted to go to the game.

  She tapped out a reply before she could stop herself.

  Yeah, I’d like that. Thanks.

  His reply took only seconds.

  Great.

  Then a pause.

  Do you want to get a cup of coffee afterward? Or some food? Just for an hour or so? I have to be up early but I’d like you to keep me company. No problem if you don’t want to. Just wanted to check.

  The man was too good to be true. She couldn’t help wondering what was wrong with him.

  Damn, you’re jaded.

  No, she was a realist. At least, that’s what she’d been telling herself for...well, forever.

  Maybe it was time to be a little less cynical.

  Sure. Coffee after. Maybe pie. Although you probably need real food.

  Wait. Isn’t pie real food? Apple pie doesn’t count as a serving of fruit? My whole life is a lie.

  It was corny, yes. It wasn’t even that funny but she heard his voice in her head as she read his text and it made her lungs work a little harder. And left a little hollow in the pit of her stomach.

  How the hell did he do that?

  Pie. Steak. Whatever. I’m good with whatever you want to eat.

  She realized she was holding her breath, waiting for him to answer her. Would he take the bait and respond with sexual innuendo?

  You’re great no matter what. See you tomorrow night. Sleep tight.

  Well damn. She stared at that text for at least a minute, not knowing how to respond.

  She hated thinking that he just couldn’t be this nice. That underneath all that charm and sweet smile was an asshole just waiting to show his true colors.

  Night Justin.

  She put her phone on the bedside table so she didn’t sit there and wait for him to respond.

  But she was pretty sure she fell asleep with a smile on her face.

  *****

  “Damn, that sucked.”

  Justin dragged his sweater over his head and let it fall on the floor of the locker room while he sat with his head bowed.

  They’d just lost, five-two, to one of the worst teams in the league.

  Yeah, he knew sometimes that’s how it went, but it just sucked when it happened to you.

  “Dude, I know it’s a bad game when you’re swearing.” Derek slammed down onto the bench next to Justin to unlace his skates. “We got our asses handed to us tonight.”

  “Coach is gonna chew us for sure.” CJ shook his head, sweat dripping onto the floor as he bent forward, holding his side. “Not that we don’t deserve it.”

  “Make sure you have the trainer check that out, man.” Derek pointed at CJ, who cringed as he drew his sweater over his head. “We need you on this trip.”

  “Coach shoulda benched me in the second.” CJ let out a groan as he bent to unlace his skates. “I fucking sucked.”

  “Shut up, dude. I’m pretty sure we all sucked. Hell, even Lad sucked and he never sucks.”

&nb
sp; “You are right. I never suck.” Lad walked by on his way to his locker. “However, tonight I was off game.”

  “We were all off game, dude.” Derek tossed his skates in his locker. “Don’t beat yourself up.”

  Lad frowned at Derek. “Why would I beat myself off?”

  Justin huffed out a laugh and several of the other guys burst out laughing despite the frustration and anger.

  Lad frowned harder. “What do I say?”

  Grinning, Derek stood and wrapped his arm around Lad’s shoulder and shook him until his hair sprayed sweat and made the closest guys bitch.

  “Trust me, it’s better if you can find someone to do it for you.”

  Lad shook his head. “I do just fine for myself.”

  Which made everyone laugh harder.

  Justin was pretty sure Lad knew exactly what he was saying. Yeah, sometimes his English wasn’t perfect, but Lad’s comprehension was amazingly good for a nonnative speaker.

  “That’s because you cannot find anyone to do it for you.”

  Jake Mozik leaned against the end of the lockers, looking like he’d just stepped off the cover of a magazine. Except for the ingrained lines of stress that’d shown up on his face since he’d been on injured reserve the past several months.

  “Hey.” Justin nodded at his fellow defenseman and hung behind as the rest of the team filed into the showers. “We could’ve used you tonight.”

  Jake nodded. “Yes, you could have. Hopefully, I will be cleared to play in next few weeks. Riding the bench sucks ass.”

  Justin couldn’t blame the guy for sounding disgusted. Between the horrible game and his injury, Jake probably felt pretty damn useless.

  “How’s therapy?”

  Jake’s mouth twisted. “Sucks ass too. But I think I might be finished soon. Doctor says I may have okay to skate next week.”

  Now that was good news. “Glad to hear it.”

  “Yes, I am as well.” Jake paused and raised an eyebrow at him. “Should you not take shower? You have date tonight, yes?”

  Justin’s mouth dropped open before he could catch it. “How do you—” He shook his head, sighing. “No, you know what. Never mind. I don’t wanna know.”

  Now Jake grinned. “I have ways. You are dark horse. Did not see you and Vivian as couple but now I think is good.”

  “Thanks for your approval.”