Parental Guidance (Ice Knights #1)(9)


“Sure. Whatever you want.” Ice Knights season tickets? He’d make that happen. A photo op with her dad’s favorite player? Done. Whatever it took, he’d do it.

“This isn’t a real or fake relationship, it’s a temporary alliance,” she said without an ounce of humor in her tone. “I’m not pretending to be your girlfriend or the random chick you’re banging this week.”

“Agreed.” All of that sounded like it would cause more problems than it would solve anyway. “I’ve got a condition. Dressing up is not required. I’m not putting on a suit.”

The best thing about the off-season was not having to strangle himself with a tie multiple times a week just for a bus ride to the rink or a plane trip to another city. Coach Peppers was old-fashioned about doing things the original way.

“Fine.” Zara held up three fingers. “The third stipulation is that I’m not putting on a good attitude. If it’s been a crappy day, I don’t have to pretend to be a manic pixie dream girl.”

He snorted. “No one who’s met you would believe that. You’re a little salty.” That was putting it mildly based on her attitude when she showed up for their date.

“I have my reasons.” She added another finger, so she was holding up four. “Oh, and no making love. Sex?” She paused and looked him over quickly. “Maybe. Emotional, heartfelt, staring-each-other-in-the-eyes making love? Not gonna happen. No offense, but you’re not my type.”

What the hell? Not her type? He was a professional athlete making millions. He’d been led to believe he was everyone’s type.

“Not a problem, since I don’t think we could see eye to eye while having sex unless you magically grew a foot,” he said.

“You’re not into being creative?” Zara rolled her eyes. “I guess that’s expected for someone who has probably had women throwing themselves at him for years. You haven’t ever had to work for it.”

Caleb had no idea what to say to that. He’d been punched square in the face by the most feared goons in hockey and it hadn’t knocked him as senseless as this little five-foot-nothing of a snarky woman had done with a few choice words.

“I have one more rule,” she said, reaching for another roll. “Five dates and we’re done. Period. Do we have a deal?”





Chapter Three


Zara’s stomach was folding in on itself she was so hungry. She really had to set alarms or something so she’d remember to eat instead of getting lost in work and missing out on lunch. Her low blood sugar was probably the only reason why she was agreeing to this madness. Hangry plus not wanting to be on this date had combined to make bad decisions sound like good ideas.

The waiter returned with her milkshake and Caleb’s water. “Are you folks ready to order?”

“Absolutely.” She was half a second from marrying the waiter, she was that grateful. “I’ll go with a cheeseburger and seasoned waffle fries, please.”

“Which vegetable option would you like?” he asked.

“Can I go with a side order of the mashed potatoes instead of a veggie?” Yes, she was having the dinner of a ten-year-old out without parental supervision, but she was stress eating thanks to this date, and when it came to that, no veggies needed to apply.

“Of course,” the waiter said before turning to Caleb. “And you, sir?”

“I’ll go with the spiced grilled chicken and a triple order of steamed mixed vegetables.” He handed his menu to the waiter. “You can hold the side order of mashed potatoes that comes with it, thanks.”

Zara tried to wrap her brain around the whole no-mashed-potatoes thing while the waiter took her menu and then headed off to the kitchen. No potatoes? That was just wrong.

“Who turns down mashed potatoes?” she asked.

“Who ignores the fact that food is fuel and says ‘no thank you’ to vegetables?”

“The woman who barely had time for breakfast and totally missed lunch. You’re lucking I’m just eating the rolls right now and not the bread basket itself,” she said, a little zip of a thrill skimming across her skin at the prospect of debating someone other than Anchovy. A bit of fussy give-and-take always got her blood pumping. “Anyway, don’t you burn a million calories a day, so you can eat whatever you want? What’s a few carbs to someone like you?”

“Four thousand calories in doughnuts has a totally different impact on how well I do my job compared to a healthy diet of chicken and veggies. Playing well isn’t a joke to me. I have to do whatever it takes to play at the top of my game or someone else will take me out.” Caleb shrugged as he rolled up the sleeves of his button-up shirt, seemingly slowing down and drawing the process out the longer and harder she watched. “It’s not like mashed potatoes are really all that good for you.”

Oh, he was good, but that wasn’t how this was going to work. She was made of sterner stuff than to back down at the flash of some drool-worthy arm porn.

“You’re kidding, right?” Her gaze dipped down to his muscular forearms, not because she was checking him out but because of the movement. Really. And the fact that her heart started to beat a little faster with each sinewy inch he revealed? Totally an accident. “It is the creamiest, yummiest, best food ever.”

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