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Grant’s face splits into a smile as he gives the man a hard pat on the back, neither one of them pulling away quickly.
“Good to see you brother.”
“You too, Beckett.”
The men begin to make small talk and I can feel Grant’s eyes darting to me every now and again. They’re not ignoring me but the new guy, Beckett, has launched into a story about some game and I lost interest quickly. I push one of the flat boxes of donuts with my nail, edging it further on to the table, feeling awkward.
I should leave. There’s nothing else for me to do here but I wait to see if Grant will excuse himself and finish what we started. He actually makes a motion towards me when a hard grip encircles my arm and yanks me out of the room.
“What the hell are you doing delivery girl? Get out of here. You’re done.”
“Oh, umm, I was just waiting for Grant.”
One of her perfectly waxed brows arches and her red lips curl up. “Oh sweetie,” her voice has taken on sugary-sweet condescending tone, “do you actually think you have a shot at a man like that? That’s adorable. Do you know who he is?”
“Of course I do. That’s Grant. He works here.” Maybe. I’m actually not sure of that but I say it with confidence.
Bitchy Barbie laughs, but it’s not a real laugh. It’s more a non-verbal slap in the face. I know I’m not going to like what she says next, but I try and school my features. Her eyes are sparkling with glee as she gives me a sneering smile. “That’s Grant Helms.”
“Okay,” I say. Not learning anything I didn’t already know. I could tell Barbie wasn’t happy with me not having a dramatic breakdown at learning Grant’s full name.
Rolling her eyes with an irritated sigh, she punctuates her next words. “Grant Helms. The new Captain on the Toronto Sixers and Team Canada.”
“So he plays…sports?”
“Hockey, you idiot. He’s one of the highest paid NHL players in the league.”
“Oh.”
Ohhh. That changes things. At the realization that I had been trapped with, and joking about donuts, with a sports celebrity, ice fills my veins. I don’t look at Barbie, it would only make my embarrassment worse to see her gloating face, but I do glace at the doorway where Grant is. I can’t see him, but I could hear the low timber of his voice.
That’s why he acted so withdrawn when we first met, giving me one-syllable answers and shifty eyes. He was waiting for me to recognize him and go all fan girl on him. Even now, after learning who he is, I’m not upset over him keeping his identity a secret. I understand why he’d do that. I’m more upset because I know this is the last time I’ll see him. Our silly flirting was just that – silly. Nothing could come of it. We were worlds apart.
A minimum wage part-time bakery employee slash temp and an NHL hockey celebrity? Yeah right. Only in the movies could things like that work out.
With one last long look at the doorway, I nod my head, it’s time to go. Turning on the balls of my feet, I make my way to the elevator. As the down button light blinks off and the doors open, I don’t think about being trapped again or the long decent to the lobby. My attention is on my feet and the hallow pit that has formed in my stomach.
It’s better this way I keep telling myself. This is for the best.
If only I believed that.
CHAPTER FOUR
Dairy-Free Temptation
Grant
I’m trying to be respectful and listen to Beckett, but my attention keeps drifting to the hallway. Where Lexi is. I’m here today to find out more about the campaign I signed on for with my friend and now endorsement manager so I should care more about what he’s saying.
What a strange and exciting woman she is. She’s a little out there with her big personality, loud laugh, and bright purple hair but I’m drawn to it. Drawn to her. There’s this shine about her, this aura of light that I can’t seem to look away from.
I’m confused by the pull I feel when she’s near. I’d felt it last night too at the gym but thought that was only because she didn’t know who I was. It was a refreshing change. Usually my head is on straight, in the game and laser focused. But since meeting Lexi she’s been taking up space in my mind and mixing up my priorities.
“Hey. Grant? You okay man?”
“No.” I say to Beckett as my eyes once again drift to the door. “I need to handle something quick before our meeting starts. Be right back.” I’m already at the door by the time I finish my sentence. Just as I cross into the main hallway, I see Lexi in the elevator. She looks…sad? No, that can’t be right. My pixie is never sad.
My pixie?
