Marek (Cold Fury Hockey #11)(61)
It seemed as if Marek was drinking in my face for a moment before he smiled. “Just wanted to check in to see how you’re doing.”
“We’re doing great. Lilly misses you.”
“Do you miss me?” he’d asked, and the mischievous tone in his voice told me that he expected me to say yes.
And because I did miss him, I was truthful. “Of course I do.”
“That’s my girl,” he replied.
My heart swelled over the possessive tone in his voice and the husky richness that caused my belly to flutter.
Then the moment was ruined when Holt’s face came back into view. He saw it was me and said, “Hey, Gracen. Let your man go. We’ve got places to go and people to see.”
I made my smile brighter and even laughed. “Sure thing. You guys have fun tonight.”
“Oh, we will,” Holt said before disappearing from the screen. I could hear his voice, though. “Come on, Marek.”
Marek glanced over his shoulder then back to me. He gave me a sheepish smile and a shrug. “We’re going to go grab some dinner and drinks.”
“Have fun,” I’d told him, hoping my voice sounded as earnest as I wanted my heart to feel. I never want to hold him back.
“I will,” he’d said back. Not in a gloating way, but in a way that told me all the same that he loved this partially nomadic life.
It was a reminder to me to keep my heart shielded and to shelve expectations.
Yet a small part of me held out hope.
Still holds out hope.
There have been good things. Really good things, sometimes reminiscent of the younger Marek I fell in love with years ago. One day he brought me home a jersey. A Fabritis jersey to match the one he’d given Lilly. He had me come watch another night game, and afterward we didn’t go out but came back to the house and made love all night long.
He’s been openly affectionate to me. In front of Lilly, who thinks nothing of it, and in front of his parents, who raised their eyebrows the first time he came up behind me and kissed me on the neck while they watched.
And every night when he’s in Raleigh, I’m in his bed. Sure, he hasn’t said anything about moving my clothes down from the guest room upstairs. And he hasn’t asked me to come watch every game. I mean, I know I’ll never get an invitation to travel on the road with him, because that would probably impinge on the freedom he probably still craves. I won’t be a part of that inside club within the franchise.
I take a deep breath, resolving to focus on the good things, but to keep my expectations realistic. That’s about the best I can do.
“Mommy.” I hear Lilly’s voice and look down to find her tugging on my shorts. She holds the phone up to me. “G-Pa wants to talk to you.”
I smile at her and take the phone, turning the screen to me. My mom is gone and it’s just my dad’s face.
“Hey,” I say sweetly in my daddy’s-girl voice that I can’t seem to get rid of despite the fact I’m an adult.
Dad chuckles. “Seems like Lilly’s turned into a hockey nut.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Yeah…she’s really taken to the sport now that she knows that’s her daddy’s job.”
“Listen,” my dad says in a swift change of subject. “I just wanted to let you know I got a call from Mr. Waller a few days ago.”
“Owen’s dad?” I ask in shock, even though I know it can’t be anyone else.
My dad nods. “He said he was extending the loan for six months.”
“Just like that?” I ask suspiciously.
“Just like that,” my dad confirms. “The attorney we hired is guiding us through the negotiations with the gas company that wants to purchase our property. It will probably take a few months to get it all done, but well before the six months is up. I just wanted you to know, honey, that we’re okay and you don’t need to worry about us.”
The smile that comes to my face feels good. Not forced, the way I had to do with Marek the other night, but genuinely warm and gracious. “I’m glad. That’s one stress off my plate.”
Of course, that leads to my father wanting to know all about my stresses. That leads to mom coming back onto the screen, both of them grilling me on how things are going with my job and between Marek and me. I give them the details on the job, but play it vague with Marek, telling them only what I’d just resolved myself to do.
I’ll focus on the good things we have, but keep my expectations for anything more to a realistic minimum. That should keep me safe.
Chapter 25
Marek
I keep my hand on Gracen’s back as we trail the ma?tre d’ through the restaurant. As requested when I’d made the reservation the other day, the put us near the back in a semisecluded round booth. Gracen slides in and I follow her.
Gracen takes off a sparkly black shawl she’d been wearing over her bare arms as I accept the menus from the ma?tre d’ and nod my understanding when he says our waiter will be with us soon.
I sit close enough to Gracen to feel her body heat, but with enough space I can turn to look at her during conversation. I hand the menu to her and she smiles.
Tonight is going perfectly. While my time during the season is limited, I’ve been working hard these last few weeks to spend some quality time with Gracen. Between work and Lilly and coming to my home games, she doesn’t have much time left to herself. The fact that she would choose to spend that free time with me doesn’t go unappreciated.