Roman (Cold Fury Hockey #7)(67)
Yup, they’re over, and I’m not missing them at all, even with what’s in front of me right now. In fact, the only thing I can think about is getting this over with so I can get up to my room and call Lexi. She’s working tonight and will be closing up The Grind right around the time I’ll be calling.
“Roman, can we get an autograph and some pictures?” one of the women asks.
“Sure,” I say with a tired smile, and reach out to take the black marker she’s holding. “What would you like me to sign?”
“My jersey,” she says breathlessly.
Now, most fans when they ask you to sign their jersey’s will want it on the back, on one of the smooth fabric numbers that makes for easier signing and a clear autograph. But this woman steps forward, sticks her chest out, and with the tips of her fingers, pulls the tight material over her breasts even tighter.
“If you could sign right here,” she purrs, then nods down to her left breast.
I freeze, not knowing what to do. I’d suspected these ladies might hit on me and I’d graciously slip away from them claiming to be tired or something, but I didn’t figure I’d get slapped with this overt request right in the hotel lobby.
And because I’m so shocked, I can’t even think of how to decline her request, and I lamely mumble, “Okay…sure.”
She scoots closer to me, puffs her chest out more, and looks at me with hot eyes, which makes me feel very uncomfortable. Not because I can’t handle a woman doing this, but because I’m pretty damn sure Lexi would not take kindly to this kind of attention.
Resolved to get this awkwardness over, I uncap the pen and manage to scrawl my signature quickly on the material of her jersey, as high up on her chest as I can. The marker is awkward in my hand, as I’m holding it up high so as not to touch her with anything but the felt tip.
Just as I finish and move my hand away, I look up and past her shoulder to see Gray and Ryker standing across the lobby and staring directly at me. Ryker has an amused look on his face, while Gray is shooting daggers at me, her face a mask of disgust and fury.
The timing of this could not be worse, particularly since Brian Brannon just made a public announcement about Lexi. Until now, I have not been in the media circus, as no one really knows I’m seeing Lexi. But once that gets out, I’m going to be hounded, as will she, and shit like this could blow up into a mess.
Shit, I’m stupid.
Shit, shit, shit.
Another sigh, this one not so quiet, and I cap the marker with a heavy feeling on me. I hand it back to the woman, mumble some shit about I need to get going, and then turn away from her. Instead of heading toward the elevators, which would take me right by Gray and Ryker, I move in the opposite direction to the open bar area of the lobby.
I take a seat at the mostly deserted bar, order a beer, and then pull my phone out of my pocket. While the bartender pours my draft, I type a text to Lexi.
Just had some woman ask me to sign her jersey. On her chest. I freaked, blanked, and then did it because I didn’t know what to say. Gray saw me. She looks pissed. Figured you might hear from her about it so wanted to give you a heads-up. Now in the bar and having a quick beer. Will call you soon.
I hit Send and set the phone down on the bar. The bartender slides my beer to me, I fish a ten-dollar bill out of my wallet and hand it to him.
Just as I finish my first sip, I see Lexi’s return text pop up. Picking up my phone, I smile as I read her response.
Poor baby. Must be hard to be so sought after by the ladies. Enjoy your beer. Talk soon. XOXO
Damn, she’s like the fucking perfect woman and I’m not sure what I did to deserve her. I’ve not had the best track record when it comes to treating women right, so karma seems a little out of whack in my opinion, but I’m not going to turn my nose up at the gift of Lexi that’s been given to me.
“Well, that was an awkward moment,” I hear from behind me. I don’t turn around because I recognize Ryker’s voice.
He takes a seat on the stool next to me and the bartender approaches. Ryker waves him off and says, “I’m not staying.”
I take another sip of beer, this one bigger, and stare down into the amber liquid, hoping that maybe Ryker will just go away.
It’s not that I don’t like him, because I really, really do. He’s one of the all-time greatest goalies, and his performance is one of the major things that helped us secure the Stanley Cup last year. He’s a seasoned veteran with a good head on his shoulders. Nice guy too. All the guys look up to him.
About the only thing I might question is his sanity in getting involved with Gray Brannon, because she’s a woman that I just don’t understand or connect with, but whatever…to each his own.
“Sucks, buddy,” Ryker says, and even claps his hand on my shoulder. This causes me to turn my head to glare at him, but he just grins at me. “Having women throw themselves at you, even though you’re securely off the market.”
“What makes you think I’m off the market?” I growl at him, hoping he gets offended by my failure to reassure him that I’d never cheat on Lexi.
That just makes him laugh. “You’re off the market because guys who give their girls pink teddy bears wouldn’t consider dipping their wicks into some strange.”
“Would you speak English for fuck’s sake,” I grumble again, but I have to take another sip of my beer because I almost chuckled at his attempts to lighten the mood.