Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 83355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
I’d thought things were cool until the guys started bantering in the car. Neither guessed that I had a romantic interest in Willa and Rafferty was the first to burst the bubble. “Is it just me or is Willa smoking hot?”
“Totally hot,” North agreed with a nod. “You going to ask her out?”
“Maybe,” Rafferty mused. “I mean… she’s in a different class of women than I normally date.”
“You mean the type you bang and sneak out of their beds before the sun rises?” I asked.
“Exactly,” he replied with a smirk. “I’m not sure Willa’s that type of woman.”
“She’s not,” I said, and the snappish tone had Rafferty turning narrowed eyes on me. I hadn’t told either of them that I’d already asked her out and she’d accepted. As far as they knew, I was only helping her coach the Ice Pups.
“That sounded like you have insider knowledge,” he mused.
“Of course I do,” I replied nonchalantly. “We coach a team together. I’ve gotten to know her.”
“It sounded jealous,” North pointed out from the driver’s seat.
“I’m not jealous,” I scoffed.
“Sounded jealous,” Rafferty agreed. “You got something for her?”
“No.” My denial was swift and sure.
“Good,” Rafferty said with a laugh. “Then I’m going for it.”
“The fuck you are,” I snarled, and both men guffawed.
“I knew it.” Rafferty chuckled as his gaze flicked between me and the road. “You really like her. I said you were smitten when you first mentioned her to me, didn’t I?”
I could have denied it, taken more of their shit, and basically told them to mind their own business, but I wasn’t about to let Rafferty call Willa and ask her for a date. She might just say yes, and since he’s twenty-seven, it puts him closer to her age. She might find that more amenable.
So I ended up telling them the truth… that we were going out on a date. I still had to listen to their shit, but it was more of them being awestruck than anything since I’ve never really shown an interest in women when we’ve all hung out.
It was a lot of good-natured ribbing after that and neither one of them said anything about the age difference. Not that they know Willa’s exact age, but they learned enough about her to know she’s an established doctor and would be a bit older than me. The fact that they didn’t give me shit about it means it’s not a big deal, just the way I told Willa it wouldn’t be.
When I pull into the parking lot of our destination, Willa frowns as she sees the sign, reading it aloud. “Steel City Ice Arena. Are we… going skating?” she asks, a hint of bewilderment in her tone.
I park the car and turn off the engine, then look at her with a mischievous smile. “Something like that.”
“Is this place even open?” she asks as she grabs her door handle.
I can see why she’d ask. There’s only one other car in the lot besides mine. “It’s open.”
“Not a very popular place,” she murmurs as we exit the car. I walk to the back hatch and Willa meets me there. When I pop it open, she gasps when she sees her skates beside a picnic basket. My skates are in a dark duffel bag and I unzip it to grab them.
Eyes wide with surprise, she asks, “How did you get my skates?”
I chuckle as I pick them up and hand them to her before nabbing the picnic basket. “I made arrangements with your sister before I left your house yesterday. She snuck them into my car last night so it would be a surprise.” I grab my own skates with my other hand and hit the button for the hatch to close.
Willa’s expression is slightly bewildered. “This might be the sweetest, most original idea for a date I’ve ever heard of. And so sweet you got Brittany to grab my skates.”
“I know I’ve only got this one shot to convince you to go on another date. I remember you said at dinner on Monday that you still get out on the ice sometimes. I want to see what you’ve got.”
She laughs, shaking her head as we walk to the building. “I haven’t skated seriously in years.”
“But you still have it in you,” I say confidently, using my hand holding the skates to open the glass door for her to enter. “Come on, let’s go.”
We walk inside, and everything is dark except for spinning colored lights above the ice. Willa’s eyes widen again as she takes in the sight. “Where is everyone?” She looks around, awestruck, and then pieces it together. “Did you rent out this entire place for us?”
I grin, feeling a bit proud. “Being a Titan has its perks. We have the rink to ourselves for two hours. There’s a manager lurking around somewhere, controlling the lights and music.”