Protecting Her Heart: Indianapolis Eagles Series Book 4 Page 3

  “No problem at all. Did you still need a moment to decide?”

  “Yes, please,” I reply.

  “Can I get you anything else to drink while you make your decisions?” Jeff asks.

  “I’m good, thank you. Laura?”

  “I’ll take a glass of water when you have a minute,” she tells him.

  “I’ll be back in just a few moments.”

  We finally decide on what we want, and Jeff returns to take our order. We fall into a comfortable easy conversation as we get to know each other a little better.

  “So, I’ve been curious. What made you decide to finally say yes to going out with me after all this time?”

  “A few reasons, actually. One, it’s not that I never wanted to tell you yes before, but I needed time to move on from my divorce. I was with Robert for so long that I needed the time to find myself again. I was so lost in our relationship the last couple of years that I needed to take some time for myself. After our quasi-date at the charity event in the spring, I realized that there could potentially be something between the two of us, but it also scared me, and I knew I wasn’t ready to pursue that just yet. And finally, I was ready to celebrate. Today is my birthday, and I figured what better way to celebrate it than with you.”

  “It’s your birthday?!” I ask, a little shocked.

  “That it is. The big three-oh today,” she confirms, picking up her wine glass and taking another drink.

  “Well, happy birthday. I’m honored you’d want to celebrate it with me. We’ll have to make sure to save room for dessert,” I say, winking at her.

  “Maybe,” she says coyly. “So, now that you know today is my birthday, tell me something I don’t know about you and that I can’t find on your Wikipedia page.”

  “Hmmm… when I was nine, I broke my left leg and arm jumping from a tree, just a few weeks before the season started. I missed most of it that year and hated every moment of it. But it also taught me how hard you have to work to come back after an injury, and made me realize that I was miserable without hockey in my life. It was one of the pivotal moments, where I knew I wanted to focus on playing and do everything in my power to make a living from playing.”

  “Have you thought about what you want to do after you retire from playing?”

  “Without a college degree to fall back on, I don’t really know yet. I’ve considered going back to school and getting my degree in something. What I’d major in, I have no idea at this point. Otherwise, something to do with hockey. I’m not sure if I’d be the commentator type, but maybe scouting or assistant coaching.”

  “Do you enjoy having a leadership role on the team? Congratulations, by the way, on being given one of the Assistant Captain positions.”

  “I definitely was honored getting one of the A’s this season. I wasn’t really expecting it, but when I really sit back and think about it, I realized that I’m now a veteran, not only on the team, but just in age and time in the league. This is my eighth season in the league, and I’m starting to feel my age when I really let it sink in how young some of the younger guys are. It seems like they’re getting younger and younger, when in reality, I’m just getting older.”

  “You’re not that old,” she teases.

  “No, but some days, I feel every one of my thirty years. You know how hard on the body playing can be. While I hope that I still have three, five, hell, eight years left in me, I also know that it can be taken away from me at any moment with the wrong injury.”

  “How is everything?” Jeff asks as he approaches the table.

  “It’s wonderful,” Laura tells him. “Thank you for the suggestions.”

  “Can I get either of you anything, a refill on any drinks?”

  I look to Laura, and gesture to her almost empty glass of wine. “I’ll take another beer and she’ll take another glass of wine,” I decide and order for us.

  “Right away,” Jeff says, before stepping away from our table.

  “Thank you,” Laura states.

  “Might as well splurge, it is your birthday, after all.”

  Our conversation continues to flow so easily as we finish eating, sharing the few dishes we ordered.

  “Did either of you save room for dessert?” Jeff asks, when he returns to start removing some of the empty plates.

  “What do you say, birthday girl?” I ask Laura.

  “I don’t know if I’m going to have room,” she tells the two of us.

  “I’ll bring the check then, in just a moment.”

  “Thank you,” I tell Jeff as he leaves our table with the last of our plates.

  I hand Jeff my credit card as soon as he returns, not even taking a moment to look over the bill. I don’t care what tonight cost me, it was worth every penny to be out with Laura. Knowing she picked me to spend her birthday with makes me hopeful that she’ll want to see me again outside of work.

  We collect our things and I escort Laura out of the restaurant. I don’t really want this evening to end, but I also don’t want her to think I expect anything more tonight. Would I turn down the opportunity for more with her? Fuck no, but I also don’t want to rush whatever this is between the two of us, either.

  “Would you be up for a stroll down Mass Ave to take in the art?” I ask, hoping to spend more time with her tonight.

  “Sure.”

  We settle back in my car and I drive us downtown. Our conversation flows, just as it did at dinner, and I can’t take not touching her any longer. I reach over and slide my hand into hers, linking our fingers as our clasped hands rest on her leg.

  Heat radiates up my arm from our clasped hands. I can feel her everywhere, yet so little of our bodies are touching. If this amount of heat is generated from such a small amount of contact, I can’t imagine what kind we’d make if I’m lucky enough to slide inside her body.

  We make it downtown and after circling the block a couple times, I finally find a place for us to park. As soon as I make it onto the sidewalk, I slip my hand back into Laura’s, and we walk hand-in-hand down the street, taking in all the art on display.

  “Ohh, that one is beautiful,” Laura says, pointing to one of the murals along the way. “I love the vibrant colors used.”

  “I agree, just beautiful,” I tell her, not looking at the mural, but at her.

  She turns to look at me and realizes I’m not meaning the painting, but her, and a blush fills her cheeks.

  “Thank you,” she murmurs as she tries to brush off my compliment.

  I pull her to face me, wanting to kiss her so badly. I want to make sure she knows just how beautiful I think she is—the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever laid my eyes on, if I’m being honest.

  “Thank you for spending your birthday with me. I hope it was a good evening. If I’d had known, I would have gotten you a present.” I pull her a little closer to me as I wrap my arms around her, bringing my hands to rest on her lower back.

  Laura takes a small step closer, closing the small gap between us, and rests her hands against my chest. The warmth of her palms against me has my body aching to touch her skin to skin, without the barrier of clothes between the two of us.

  “I’ve had a great time tonight, Mark, thank you.”

  I bring a hand up to cup her cheek. I slide my thumb across her plump bottom lip, wanting nothing more than to feel her lips against my own.

  I tilt her head up, searching her eyes for a sign that she wants me to stop what is about to happen between the two of us. But I don’t see any signs that she wants this to stop, so I slowly bring my lips to hers.

  I start the kiss out gentle, but as soon as our lips collide, I want more. I can’t take much longer of this light and easy kiss, so I tilt her head just a little more and deepen the kiss, sweeping my tongue right past the seam of her lips and taking it to the next level. I press her closer to my body, our fronts as close together as possible with the barrier of our clothing.

  We stand in this public place, and I kiss her senseless as we
stand here devouring each other. The sounds of the city melt away and all I can hear is the thumping of my own heartbeat as the blood pumps through my body and the sound fills my ears.

  I finally break the kiss, sucking in a deep breath, doing my best to calm my heart down as it practically beats out of my chest. I rest my forehead against Laura’s and look into her eyes. The sounds of the city return as my heartbeat starts to return to normal.

  “Happy birthday,” I whisper between us.

  “Thank you. That was one amazing birthday present,” she replies, a satisfied smile filling her face.

  We stand like this for just a few more moments, until a group of people bumps into us on their way by on the sidewalk, breaking the moment between us. We walk a few more blocks, hand in hand, as we take in the art along the way and then return to my car.

  “Are you feeling up to dessert somewhere?”

  “I’m still so full, so I think I need to take a raincheck on that.”

  “No problem, maybe next time we can start with dessert,” I tell her, squeezing her hand slightly before I start the engine and pull out of the parking spot. “Are you coming to the game tomorrow night?”

  “Wouldn’t miss it for anything.”

  “Good,” I say, a smile filling my face at her answer. “Will you be sticking around after?”

  “I always do. I have to wait until I get the all-clear from Coach that he doesn’t need me to file any paperwork on anyone after the game, so I’m usually around until after the press conference.”

  “Can I see you again tomorrow night?”

  “I’m sure we can arrange something,” she says, a small smile cresting her lips, making me want to kiss them again.

  I squeeze her thigh, causing her to squirm under my hand, and a laugh falls from her lips.

  “Don’t tickle me!” she finally says, laughing even more.

  “I wasn’t, I promise,” I tell her, stilling my hand against her leg, turning it over to link our fingers together.

  Chapter Three

  Laura

  Mark pulls into my driveway, shutting off his car before he quickly gets out and walks around to my side. He opens my door, holding out a hand for me to grab as I climb out.

  We walk up to my door, hand in hand, no words being exchanged. Before I can reach into my purse to pull out my keys, he turns me around and presses me against the door, pinning me against it with his body.

  “Thank you for tonight,” he says, his lips hovering just over my own before they press against mine in a searing kiss. The tingles that are pinging throughout my entire body have me strung so tight, I might explode at any second.

  Mark deepens the kiss as he rocks against me. His hardened cock is teasing me just slightly, yet not quite in the spot I’d prefer it to be in, due to our height difference. I moan into his mouth, wanting more contact, yet knowing we need to slow this party down.

  I break the kiss, smacking my head against the door behind me a little harder than I expected to.

  “Fuck,” I mutter.

  “Careful.” Mark brings his hand up to my head to rub the area I just hit. “No hurting yourself on your birthday.”

  I also rub at the back of my head, the pain starting to subside slowly. “I guess I’m getting too clumsy in my old age,” I joke.

  “Not old.” He drops another quick kiss to my lips and then takes a step back. “I’ll see you tomorrow, and thanks for spending your birthday with me,” he says before descending the two steps off my front stoop.

  “Tomorrow,” I confirm, a smile filling my face as I turn to unlock the door and walk inside.

  I stand in my foyer, the door still open, as I watch Mark walk back to his car, get in, and pull out of my driveway. I watch him until I can no longer see the taillights on his car. Tonight was so much more than I expected it to be, and I’m glad I finally gave in to his persistence and went out on an actual date with him.

  My lips are still tingling from his good night kiss. It’s been awhile since I’ve kissed a man other than a kiss to my father or brother’s cheeks, and I’m glad that Mark was the first one since my divorce. I have a few girlfriends who have been divorced that went the “sleep with anything that has a dick” route, where I choose to go the “celibacy” route. Nothing wrong with either one, but sleeping around with random guys just isn’t my thing. Instead, I’ve spent the last couple of years healing myself, focusing on growing as a person, and really assessing my life and what’s important. For now, that’s my family, friends, and the team.

  I make it into the office the next morning, a smile plastered on my face that hasn’t gone away since Mark dropped me at home last night. I get my computer turned on and the coffee going for the rest of the office, who will be in shortly. With it being a game day, the office will be abuzz with game-day paperwork and the normal prep that goes into each and every game. It also means that it will be a long day, as I’ll be here until after the game.

  I buckle down and focus on what I need to get done this morning. I’m so engrossed in my computer, I don’t hear my dad approach my desk.

  “Good morning, Lo.” His deep voice shocks me from my focused state.

  “God, you scared me, Dad!” I place a hand against my chest. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

  He just laughs at my shock. “I realize that. How was your evening? Did you have a good birthday?”

  I grin. “It was perfect,” I tell him, my cheeks hurting for how much I’ve been smiling.

  “I’m glad, baby girl. All I ever want is for you to be happy. What did you do to celebrate?”

  “Mark took me out to dinner, and then we went down to Mass Ave and walked around, looking at the art.”

  “Mark?” he questions, his eyebrows raising almost to his receding hairline. “Mark Lee?”

  “Yes, Dad, Mark. I finally gave in to his persistence and said yes to a date, and I’m glad I did. He was a complete gentleman.”

  “He better have been,” my dad huffs. “If not, I’d hate to have to trade him.”

  “No you wouldn’t. He’s too important to the team, and you know it.”

  “Well, you tell me if that changes,” he says in his gruff, overprotective ‘dad’ voice.

  “You’ve got nothing to worry about, Dad. Mark is a perfect gentleman and not some asshole, like Rob turned out to be.”

  Our conversation is interrupted when a delivery person walks into the offices, a huge flower arrangement in her hands.

  “Good morning, how can I help you?” I ask, standing from my desk and holding out my hands to help take the vase she’s carrying.

  “I’m looking for a Laura Erickson.”

  “Oh, that’s me,” I answer as I set the vase down on my desk.

  “I have one more thing, but I couldn’t carry it in with this,” she says, pointing to the flowers. “I’ll be right back in.” She disappears out the doors and I take the time to grab the envelope, lifting the flap and pulling out the card inside.

  Thank you for last night and for spending your birthday with me. I look forward to seeing you tonight after the game. Be ready for that raincheck on dessert. I plan on collecting on it tonight. ;)

  -M

  I smile at his words as the delivery lady comes back in with a box. “This is also for you,” she says, handing me the wrapped box. “Have a great day!”

  “So, who’s all this from?” my dad asks.

  “Mark,” I tell him, the smile on my face still permanently in place.

  “Well, if he can bring a smile to your face like that, then I guess he can stick around a little longer,” my dad says, trying not to grumble.

  “Thanks, Dad. Just remember, I’m thirty years old. You can’t keep all the boys away from me. Well, actually, please keep the boys away. I just want a man in my life. No boys needed at this point.”

  My dad chuckles, then heads to his office, leaving me to get back to what I was working on.

  Before I jump back into the paperwork, I open the wrapp
ed box, finding a box of luxury chocolates from a local chocolate shop, along with some roasted nuts and other candies from the same shop. I pull out my cell to send Mark a quick text.

  Laura: Thank you for the flowers and other goodies, and for last night. I’ll see you tonight.

  The bubbles pop up almost immediately and sit bouncing as I wait for his reply.

  I set my phone down on my desk after a minute of the bouncing bubbles, wondering what in the world he could be typing out.

  Mark: Glad it all arrived this morning, and you’re more than welcome. Thank you for the great evening. I look forward to seeing you tonight after the game. Pick a place you want to have dessert and we’ll head there after the game.

  * * *

  Laura: Will do. :)

  * * *

  Laura: Are you here yet for morning skate?

  * * *

  Mark: Yes, just about to hit the weight room for a quick session before Coach has us hitting the ice.

  * * *

  Laura: Have a good practice and game tonight.

  I toss my phone back on my desk and do my best to focus on the work I need to finish today, and not think about Mark and what tonight will bring. After kissing him last night, I’m dreaming about the next time I’ll have his lips against my own.

  I slip out of the office late in the afternoon, to get some time away from the office and get a few things done before returning for the game. I sometimes take a few hours away from the office on game days, since the days get long, with games being played in the evenings.

  I stop at my house and change out of my work clothes, into something a little more comfortable to wear to the arena. I slip on a new pair of jeans I picked up last weekend that hug my curves and show off the work I’ve been putting in at the gym, as well as a women’s cut T-shirt with the team’s logo. I freshen up my makeup and style my long hair, so it’s half up and half down.