Page 73 of Snowflakes and Ice Skates

“How are you still smiling?” Dani groaned and fell into a chair at the table I was finishing. The party was just hours away, and our vision was coming together. Twenty-four stations were set up with the players, Coach Rust and Romney’s favorite things along with the perimeter of the banquet hall with tables surrounding a dance floor.

“She’s been smiling for a week. I’m pretty sure it doesn’t even go away when she sleeps.” Chloe moved the centerpiece vase two inches to the left.

“It’s because she’s in L-O-V-E,” Taylor added helpfully.

“I am not,” I argued. Love was far off on the horizon. Maybe in a few months, we’d get there, but not yet. “I’m just having fun.”

“Oh, please. You’re smitten,” Dani said with a laugh. “But so is he.”

“That’s true,” Amelia, one of the team trainers and Derek’s girlfriend, called from the next table. “You’re all he talks about.”

“That’s an exaggeration.” It had to be. We hadn’t been on another date since neither of us had time. There wasn’t much for him to tell.

“Like what?” Chloe leaned against the table and crossed her arms.

“How beautiful and sweet she is, and how grateful he is that she gave him a chance.” Amelia winked at me.

I ducked my head while pretending spreading paper snowflakes on the table was the most engaging task.

“Of course, he’s saying that. She made him work for it,” Dani said with a chuckle.

“Good for you,” Madi said as she walked by with a box in her arms. “These guys think they don’t have to try at all when it comes to getting the women they want. It’s best to keep them on their toes.”

Did every woman from the Pride know about me and Lance? It shouldn’t have surprised me, but I’d never been the topic of discussion.

“Okay, I’m calling it. We all need to head home and get ready,” Dani said with a clap as she stood.

I scanned the room and agreed. We were finished. The remaining tasks would be done by the vendors, not us, so it was time to go.

“Sounds good. I’ll see you all later!” Taylor called as she picked up her purse.

“Call me if anything comes up,” I told Dani. I walked by the displays and made sure the non-perishable items were all set up. A few of the players listed food or drinks as their favorite things, but most thought differently. We had ten TVs set up with different video games ready for the attendants to play. I was surprised how popular those responses were, but I was more surprised by Coach Romney’s request to have a golf simulator brought in. He and Coach Rust agreed to share theirs, so we found a way to make it happen. The most surprising were Nikolai’s chess set and Brandon’s model airplanes.

The dinner was sure to impress our more traditional donors that might not appreciate the displays, but I was proud of how our idea turned out. The younger audience would likely enjoy the effort, and as long as they remembered to open their wallets at the end of the night, that was what mattered. I wanted to be able to hand over a huge check for the children’s hospital at the end of the night.

By the time I got to my apartment, I had two hours to shower and get dressed. It wasn’t a formal event, so I picked out an emerald green sweater and dark jeans. I curled my hair into loose waves and put on a bit more makeup than I normally wear. I felt pretty when I was done and couldn’t wait for Lance to arrive.

A knock sounded right on time. I picked up my coat and purse and swung the door open. He beamed back at me, looking far too handsome in a cream sweater with green reindeer prancing across his wide chest.

“Hi,” He bent down and kissed my cheek, a habit he picked up over the week. It was the furthest we’ve gone, and although I appreciated him taking things slow, it was frustrating. I wanted him to kiss me properly. I wanted to know what it would feel like. If it was half as amazing as I thought it would be.

“Hey.” I gazed up at his blue eyes and nearly sighed. How had this man gone from someone that drove me a bit crazy with his mere presence to someone I found myself missing.

“You look absolutely beautiful.” His voice was just above a whisper, and I felt a tingle from my head to my toes.

“Thank you.” I slipped my hand into his and closed the door behind me. Thankfully, the women prepared me for the red carpet that led into the event. When I reserved it, I thought it was just a fun holiday detail to make the guests feel special. Oh no. It was a red carpet for the press to get pictures of the players and elite guests as they arrived.

“I think I’m going to slip in through one of the side entrances,” I mentioned as casually as possible when we were a few blocks away.

He glanced at me, “What do you mean?”

“I don’t need to walk the carpet.” Nor did I want to.

“You don’t want to be pictured with me?” He tried to make it sound like a joke, but I could tell he was actually bothered.

“It’s just that we aren’t like an official couple or anything. I didn’t think you would want to be photographed with me.” That was the truth. I didn’t want the rejection, so I decided to remove the possibility.

“What if I do?” His voice was quiet.