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“I can read your thoughts on your face, Aurora.” He sets his hand on the table, palm up, and I slip my fingers into his. “And it doesn’t help when you look like something straight out of a fairy tale.”
My stomach flip-flops as he brings my hand to his lips. I love this version of Hollis—intense, seductive, playful, affectionate. In this moment, he feels like mine, and I want to keep him forever.
“I used to love having your undivided attention when I was a teenager.” I love it more now, though.
He tips his head. “How do you mean?”
“Remember that math tutoring session you gave me? After I failed that test in grade nine?”
He gives me a questioning look. “I helped you once, I think, right? Then your dad got you a tutor, but from what I remember it didn’t last long.”
“You’re right, it didn’t.” This time I don’t try to hide my smile. “I was actually pretty good at algebra, but I came up with this plan, thinking you’d be my tutor, but it totally backfired.”
His brow furrows. “But why?”
“I wanted that time with you. I wanted to smell your cologne, and listen to you explain concepts, and daydream about what it would be like to be right here.”
He tips his head. “You had a crush on me?”
“Absolutely, I did. Have you seen you? It was harmless for a lot of years, until it stopped being a crush and became something else.” I drag my fingers along the inside of his palm. “This year everything changed. I knew I was stepping over boundaries and pushing down walls. I started really seeing you, like you saw me. You’re so dedicated to your team and your profession. So committed to being in the best condition you can be on the ice. I see how hard these injuries have been, how you worry about letting your team down. It’s never just about you and what you want; it’s about the impact it has on everyone else, too.”
“That particular trait has been my downfall recently.”
“We’re here, though, Hollis. And that means something. Neither of us is perfect, and obviously we won’t always get it right, but we’re trying on this new us, and I like how we fit.” Again, I want to say the words, tell him how I feel, really and truly, but I need more time.
It’s like he can sense it in me. He reaches across the table, palm up and open. “I was doomed the moment I saw you doing a victory dance down the Terror hall.”
I slip my fingers into his. “What victory dance?”
“When you landed your first promo op.”
My eyes flare. “Back in September?”
He nods and wets his bottom lip. “I didn’t realize it was you at first. Your joy was so huge, it filled the entire space. And you were so fucking beautiful and then you turned around and I knew then that I was a goner. I opened my eyes and saw you, really saw you. Not Roman’s daughter, but you. This glorious, stunning, driven woman who had the world in the palm of your hand. And I just…fell. For every part of you. For your sweetness. For that sassy fucking mouth I love so much. For your strength, and your determination and your gentle, perfect heart. I fell so hard. And I keep falling. Every day without you has been torture and every day with you is the most amazing gift. That I get to love you? There’s no feeling that compares to it, Aurora. To you.” He lifts my hand and presses his lips to the back of it. “And I will tell you this every chance I get, because there has never been anything more real or true for me than you.”
“I didn’t know how much I needed to hear that,” I whisper.
“I have something for you. I was going to wait until after dinner, but I want you to have it now.”
“Because outfitting me for this date wasn’t enough?” I tease.
“Get used to it, Princess. Spoiling you will be one of my favorite pastimes.” He grins as he moves to take the seat beside me. “I know it will take time to earn your heart back. But when I can’t be with you, I want you to have this reminder that you own mine. It’s yours for as long as you’ll have it.” He opens the box. Resting on a blue velvet cushion is a diamond-encrusted heart-shaped pendant intertwined with a rose gold infinity symbol.
“Hollis.” I press my fingers to my lips. “This is beautiful.”
“Just like you. Can I help you put it on?”
I nod and turn, my body breaking into a wave of goose bumps as his fingers brush my skin. He carefully clasps it around my neck. It warms, and I face him. “Thank you.” I slide my arms around his waist, uncaring that we’re in a restaurant as I hug him, my cheek resting against his chest. “For this, for tonight. I needed this with you.” It’s a taste of what it could be like to be his—not hiding behind closed doors, but outside the walls of his penthouse or my apartment—and I’m addicted already.
“I did, too, Princess.” He presses his lips to my forehead.
Soft. Sweet. A promise of what could be if I’m brave enough to let him all the way in.
CHAPTER 45
HAMMER
Over the week that follows, Hollis and I see each other every day. We attempt a coffee date between classes and practices at one of the local shops, but with Toronto in the playoffs, it’s impossible for him to go anywhere without being recognized.
