Page 35

CASH: Please.

She sends me the info and then I put my phone down.

Looks like the date is happening.

Now I’m debating whether I bring her flowers or just keep it simple? Flowers imply romance, and I don’t want to go there yet. I need to figure out who she really is. I did a little digging online and it turns out she’s incredibly successful. She designed the costumes for a sci-fi blockbuster that won an Oscar. She won an Oscar. At just twenty-four years old.

Honestly, I’m almost intimidated.

Almost.

Shandy is very successful and that wound up blowing up in my face.

But Maya isn’t Shandy. I know that instinctively. She’s cut from a different cloth, and from the little bit we’ve talked, it seems as though we’re both somewhat gun-shy. I like that about her. It’s nice to meet a woman who doesn’t want to ask me a billion questions about hockey.

She most likely knows the ins and outs because of her brother, so that makes it easier. The weird thing is—if we don’t talk about hockey, I’m not sure what we’ll talk about. We won’t be drinking or dancing with loud music playing, so we’re going to have to have a real conversation. With depth. I’ll have to ask her about her life, which is something I haven’t done in a long time. Not since I met Shandy.

In fact, I can’t remember the last real date I went on where the sole purpose wasn’t sex—and I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.

* * *

I pull into Reid’s driveway at 6:27. I opted not to get flowers or anything and to keep the first date simple.

The first date?

I’m already thinking in terms of more, which needs to stop immediately.

I like her.

It would be stupid to pretend I don’t want to sleep with her again.

That’s not all of it, though.

We had a great time that night in New York, and even though I had a feeling I was going to get lucky, I would have been okay if we hadn’t. Being around her was refreshing. She’s gorgeous and independent, a woman with her own mind who didn’t hesitate to have fun. I enjoyed the hell out of just being in her orbit.

Tonight I need to find out why.

Whether it’s loneliness or getting back on the dating horse or something else—it’s been a long time since someone got this far under my skin.

“Hey, man.” Reid opens the door with a friendly smile. “Maya’s in the guest room. Upstairs, second door on the right.”

“Oh, uh, thanks.”

I don’t know what, exactly, I was expecting, but it wasn’t for Reid to send me up to her room.

I walk through the living room and recognize one of the team trainers as well as Blaze and another younger guy on the team, Mason. I wave and then take the stairs two at a time.

Maya’s door is closed, but I hear her in there—she’s singing a song that seems familiar.

I pause for a second, listening. She’s belting out one of Onyx Knight’s biggest hits and seems to be in her own little world. I knock lightly, but she probably doesn’t hear me, so I knock again, a little louder this time.

The music turns off and she opens the door with a big smile. “Hi! Sorry about that. Onyx Knight is my jam.”

I grin. “I’m a big fan too.”

“Look at us—we already have something in common.”

“I guess we do. Just let me put on some lipstick and my shoes.”