Breakout (A Dallas Demons Hockey Romance) Page 7

  “I guess.”

  “Come on, you know it,” I say. But then I circle back to his family again. “But surely your family can’t be angry now, right? They have to see how you’ve made it in TV. You moved across the country, rose through the ranks, and now produce a world-championship hockey team. I mean, you’re extremely successful.”

  Niko grins. “Oh, leaving Baltimore was another mistake. Family stays near family. So add another check mark in my screw-up column.”

  I groan, and he laughs.

  “But I vowed I would prove them wrong. My dream was to get all the way back to Baltimore to produce the Blades,” Niko says, referring to the Baltimore hockey team. “That way, I could prove to them not only did I make it, but I made it in my hometown, just like I claimed I would all those years ago. I’d be fulfilling that prophecy.”

  I notice he used the word “was” to describe his dream to get back to Baltimore.

  Not is.

  Could Dallas change his mind about going all the way home?

  “So there you go,” Niko says, breaking my thoughts. “All my emotional dirty laundry. Care to pass the detergent?”

  “We can share,” I say, smiling at him. “And next time, I’ll remember to bring the fabric softener.”

  Niko laughs. “I like your sense of humor.”

  “I like that you get it,” I say. “Most people don’t.”

  “Then you obviously haven’t met the right people.”

  No, I haven’t, I think, studying him. Until I met you.

  We stay at the café for a long time, sharing bits and pieces of our lives with each other. The conversation is so natural and easy that I don’t want it to end. I throw all kinds of questions at Niko, and he answers them all. Even better, he asks his own questions of me, and I can tell by the way he looks at me that he is enjoying this night as much as I am.

  Suddenly we notice chairs being put up on tables and Niko glances down at his watch.

  “Oh, shit, it’s almost midnight. And you’ve got work tomorrow.”

  I smile, reaching for my coat. “It doesn’t matter. Working on the bank website is boring whether I’m wide awake and fully rested or tired.”

  Niko furrows his brow. “Well, hopefully that won’t be for much longer, if I have anything to do with it. I’ve gone to bat for you, Lexi,” he says, his eyes firmly locked on mine, “and I need you as my editor. And I’ll do everything I can to get you on board at TATS.”

  Hope rises within me.

  “I don’t think I can ever repay you for all you have done for me,” I say, sliding into my coat. “There is never enough that I can do for you for even opening this door a crack for me.”

  “Stop it.”

  “No, it’s the truth.”

  “Are we going to argue about this?”

  “We seem to argue a lot,” I tease.

  “Yes, we do.”

  We both laugh and head outside. The temperature has dropped some more, and we walk back toward the arena.

  “Where are you parked?” Niko asks.

  “The P lot,” I say.

  Niko raises his eyebrows. “That super exclusive lot next to the building?”

  “Yep. Kenley gives me the tag from Nate’s tickets when she goes home with him.”

  “Nice.”

  “You park down with the players, right?” I know this from what Ryan told me. That the hockey production team parks down where the players park their cars.

  “Yep,” he says. “I junk up the lot because I’m not driving a Bentley or Maserati.”

  We both laugh. Before I know it, we’re at my Volkswagen CC.

  “This would be mine,” I say, nodding at the silver car next to us. “And yes, it’s a gift from my parents for graduating from TCU. Lord knows I don’t make enough to buy one.”

  “Yet,” Niko adds. “Not yet.”

  I smile at him. “Do you know how much editors make? I’ll be driving that car until it falls apart on Central Expressway.”

  Niko laughs. “Whatever.”

  A silence falls between us. The night is cold and breezy, and a crescent moon shines overhead.

  “Give me your hands,” Niko says.

  My heart pounds inside my chest as I extend my hands to him. Niko takes them and covers them with his own to warm my skin again.

  “You can’t drive home with frozen hands.”

  Crap. If he’s reducing me to a puddle by warming my hands, I can’t imagine what kissing him would be like.

  “I might have to hire you for this service,” I manage to say.

  “I offer it free of charge,” he says, staring down at me.

  Oh I want him to kiss me now. I’ve never wanted a man to kiss me so badly as I want Niko to at this moment.

  “Thank you for tonight,” Niko says.

  “No, thank you. For the wine, the coffee, the conversation,” I say. “I had a lot of fun.”

  “Me, too.”

  Niko continues to rub my hands, and I shiver in response.

  “So I go on the road tomorrow,” Niko says.

  “Right.”

  “It’s a long trip. Up to New York, Boston, and Toronto.”

  I nod. “I know.”

  Silence falls between us.

  “So maybe we could get together when I get back.”

  Ahhhhhh! I’m so happy I could burst at this moment.

  “I’d like that.”

  “Good, me too.”

  Niko releases my hands. I can’t help but notice he looks gorgeous in the moonlight.

  “All right. I’ll let you go, but I’m not leaving until I see you drive off.”

  I smile. “Okay.”

  Niko steps away from me, and I reluctantly open the door. He’s not going to kiss me, but that’s okay. Tonight was perfect exactly the way it was.

  “Night, Lexi. Text me when you get home, okay?”

  My heart melts even more. “I will.”

  I slide behind the wheel of my car. I turn the car on, wave to him, and then drive out of the parking lot.

  I glance in my rearview mirror, and Niko’s still standing there, watching me.

  I watch him, knowing he won’t leave until my car is out of sight.

  And just like that, I know.

  Niko is The One for me.

  And I only have to hope with all my heart that he might come to see me as The One for him, too.

  Chapter 10

  The One Online Dating Service Profile Question: If someone has significant travel for his/her career, is that a dating deal breaker?

  My write-in answer: As long as he stays in touch, misses me as much as I miss him, and wants to spend time with me when he gets back then it’s not a problem.

  This is happening, I think, staring at the Total Access Total Sports Building. Today is my first day at Total Access Total Sports.

  I smile to myself. I was called by Wyatt on Tuesday and sent him my resume and YouTube link so he could see my work, as well as a link to the corporate websites and videos I’ve worked on.

  He called that day, and we met for a lunch interview Wednesday. I was hired on the spot to edit the Demons Details, a magazine show about the Dallas Demons, as well as to work other editing projects during the week. They wanted me to start immediately, too. Luckily I worked out my last two weeks with the bank to do most of the work remote, which means I’m going to be buried in work every spare minute I’m not at TATS, but I know it’s going to be worth it.

  This is my chance, I think. I’m going after it with everything I have.

  And I feel the same way about Niko.

  We’ve done Connectivity video chats on his off days. We text daily, too. It’s like our conv
ersation from the coffee shop has carried right over, and even though he’s in Canada today, I still know I’m going to talk to him and continue to get to know him a little bit more, which I love.

  I draw an eager breath and head up to the building, thinking of how ready I am to start a new chapter in my life. After two years of doing freelance assignments for projects I had no passion for, I’m finally about to do what I’ve dreamed of doing since I went to TCU.

  I’m going to work in sports television.

  I step inside and approach the receptionist desk, where Wyatt told me to ask for Jake Pfeiffer, who is always there bright and early, and he would help me get situated.

  I approach the receptionist and wait for her to finish the call she is on.

  She disconnects and turns to me. “May I help you?”

  “Hi, I’m Lexi Stewart, an—”

  “Oh! So you’re Lexi,” she says, her eyes flashing in recognition. She gets up and moves down to the edge of her desk. “You have a delivery this morning.”

  I furrow my brow. “What?”

  She picks up a red Starbucks cup and flat box. “These are for you,” she says, placing them on the counter in front of me.

  My heart leaps. Niko had asked yesterday what time I was going into work on Friday. Could it be from him?

  No. No way. That’s crazy.

  I glance at the cup.

  And I see written in black Sharpie is the word ‘Editor.’

  It is from Niko.

  “Let me get Jake for you. He said you’d be starting today and to get him when you arrived. I’m Catherine, by the way.”

  “Nice to meet you,” I manage, but the whole time my heart is pounding against my ribcage. I slide the ribbon off the box, vaguely aware that Catherine is talking to Jake, and lift up the lid to find a notecard on top of crisply folded tissue paper.

  I pick it up and read:

  Editor,

  You’ll need these for your new career in sports TV. Have a great first day.

  Niko

  Excitement courses through me as I lift up the tissue paper.

  And as I do, my heart melts at what I find.

  Because Niko has sent me a pair of black fingerless gloves.

  I touch the gloves, and I realize how much thought he put into this gift. How did Niko even get this delivered to me anyway? He’s in Canada!

  My cell beeps in my purse, and I fish it out. I see I have a text message from Kenley:

  Nate just texted me. Your boyfriend picked up the tab for him and Harrison at breakfast. For doing intermission interviews. The guys are impressed. Not as much as you are, though. ;-)

  I blush furiously at her message. Oh, Kenley, if you only knew what I was holding in my hands right now! A gift from a guy I haven’t even kissed yet. Talk about impressive.

  And I really hope that little bit about not having kissed yet changes when he gets back from the road.

  “Lexi?”

  I jerk my head up to see a younger guy approaching me.

  “I am,” I say, smiling at him as I drop the gloves into my tote.

  He extends his hand and smiles at me. “Jake. Welcome to TATS. You ready to come on back?”

  I pick up my coffee and nod eagerly. “I’m so happy to be here.”

  I start walking with Jake, down the long corridor I walked with Niko only days before. Has it only been days? It feels like it’s been weeks!

  “We’re grateful for the help,” Jake says. “We’ve been short staffed, and the Demons magazine show could use someone with a hockey background. Niko says you fit the bill perfectly.”

  I smile, thinking of how wonderful it is to have Niko believe in my ability like this.

  He knows I can do this, I think.

  And I know it, too.

  “I love hockey,” I say. “I’ve been a fan for as long as I remember.”

  Jake laughs. “That’s what Niko said. For a moment I had to give him a hard time about suggesting you. I asked him if he was trying to get his girlfriend on board because he was so adamant you’d be a good fit.”

  My heart stops beating. I nervously glance at Jake.

  “Oh, really?” I say, trying to sound casual.

  But if Jake picked up on Niko’s interest from the way he was talking about me . . .

  “Yeah, but he laughed and said there was no ulterior motive. He said he doesn’t date in house, if you know what I mean. Niko said you were a talented editor that both he and Ryan could vouch for. And you were passionate about hockey, so that was his motivating factor for bringing you on board,” Jake explains.

  My stomach turns over as I absorb Jake’s words.

  Niko was simply being nice to his future editor.

  I realize Niko is just one of those good guys—who treats people who do good work in an effort to recognize them.

  I grip the Starbucks cup in my hand a little tighter.

  This drink was a welcome to work latte.

  It wasn’t his way of showing affection, like I stupidly allowed myself to believe.

  It is no different than the breakfast he bought for Nate and Harrison this morning, I realize painfully.

  And as it hits me, my heart squeezes inside my chest so hard it hurts to breathe.

  I force myself to focus on Jake, who leads me to my work area, explains Wyatt will be in later this morning to go over my schedule, but in the meantime I can fill out all my paperwork so I’m ready to go when Wyatt comes in.

  I smile at Jake, nod, and take a seat in my new cubicle. As soon as he’s out of sight, I draw a deep breath of air, trying to loosen the pain in my chest.

  We never even had an official date, and I let my crush on Niko grow wild. Niko himself even said it was drinks to celebrate our firsts—his as a Demons producer and mine of creating an open for TV.

  He couldn’t have been any clearer.

  And as for wanting to see me when he gets back? As a friend at the most. After all, he’s new here. It’s probably nice to have someone to grab drinks with.

  It doesn’t mean he’s interested.

  And obviously he’s not.

  I force myself to look down at the papers in front of me, but it’s hard to concentrate. I should be elated, because in an hour Wyatt will be here and my career will begin.

  But instead my elation is tempered by the realization that Niko and I will only be friends.

  Ugh. I finally meet someone who is special and kind and smart. Who shares my interests. And to top that all off, a man who is sexy as hell and that I’m insanely attracted to.

  But we’re going to be coworkers.

  Nothing more.

  I’ll have to learn to deal with it.

  I lift my head and take another breath of air. Then I glance to my right and notice the name on the frosted glass panel next to the office door.

  Niko Xenakis, Producer.

  My stomach rolls over.

  Apparently I’m supposed to forget all about him with him working no less than fifteen feet away from me.

  And I don’t know how on earth I’m going to do it.

  Chapter 11

  The One Online Dating Service Profile Question: What is the theme song to your dating life?

  My write-in answer: Suddenly “You Belong With Me” by Taylor Swift is heart-achingly appropriate . . .

  I twist my hair into a sleek ponytail, wrapping some of my long auburn strands around the rubber band for an extra finishing touch. I swallow hard as I gaze at my reflection in the mirror. Hair is stylish yet casual. I’m wearing my usual neutral makeup, but adding a pop of color with my Bite lip pencil in Rhubarb. I give my neck a spritz of Jo Malone’s Wood Sage and Sea Salt perfume, inhaling the earthy scent as the spray lands
on my skin.

  I step back so I can see my full outfit. I’m wearing my black and white plaid wool mini skirt, black leather riding boots, a crisp white dress shirt with a black cashmere sweater layered over the top.

  So I’m perfectly dressed for a casual Saturday brunch in Uptown.

  With my good friend Niko.

  I flip off the lights and stride into my bedroom, grabbing my purse. Niko got back with the team late last night, but he had texted me on Friday asking if I would like to join him for brunch today.

  And I’m tortured by my answer of yes.

  I mean, I’m setting myself up for emotional disaster here. I head out the front door and lock it behind me. I should have simply thanked him for the gloves and the best wishes for my first day and claimed I was busy working on stuff for my banking job.

  Which I should be doing anyway.

  But I know I need to be a mature adult about this. Just because Niko wants to be friends and I want more than that should I shun him? Avoid him? Decline all invitations simply because he doesn’t see me the way I want him to?

  I get on the elevator and punch the level for my spot in the parking garage. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. No, I think. Niko has already done so many things for me, it wouldn’t be right.

  And the truth is, I enjoy his company. I like our conversations. I love hearing him laugh. I like how we’re continuing to discover each other, even if it’s going to lead to nowhere for me.

  I open my eyes as the elevator chimes on my level. And I know with each brunch, each run in at work, each time we talk, I’m falling harder for him.

  Which makes this such a slippery slope I’m on.

  Yet, while my heart knows the danger, it can’t say no.

  I can’t say no.

  Gah. Life was a lot easier when I met idiots on The One Online Dating Service and was thankful when the date ended.

  I get into my car and make the short drive to café, which is one of my favorites in Dallas. I told Niko I’d meet him here at eleven, and I’m five minutes early.