Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 83355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
I step back and watch Rafferty complete a set of eight. He struggles on the last few but gets them done.
When he drops the weights, I say as I step up to the barbell, “Better watch out. Next thing you know, she’ll be hiding in your locker at the rink.”
Rafferty snorts.
I take a deep breath, latch my belt and proceed to knock out my set of eight.
“Nice job,” Rafferty says, and we bump knuckles. “Ready for the sauna?”
“Yup,” I reply, looking forward to the cleansing heat.
Once we’re wrapped in towels and settled onto the benches, hot steam wafting around us, Rafferty leans back and closes his eyes.
“So… I met a woman day before yesterday,” I say.
His eyes pop open and he straightens, obvious interest on his face. “Like a woman you’d go out with?”
I shrug. “Not sure. She was coaching a peewee hockey team. I went there with Drake to watch his kids, and she was the opposing coach.”
“Whoa,” Rafferty says. “A woman who knows hockey. Is she hot?”
I think about Willa Montreaux, and there’s no denying she’s stunningly beautiful with those storm-cloud eyes that looked ready to unleash lightning on that douche berating his son.
“She doesn’t know hockey.” I smile as I think about her undertaking the challenge of teaching a bunch of little kids a sport she doesn’t know. I heard him call her a figure skater hack and she had the lithe build of an ice dancer for sure. “But you should have seen the way she handled this belligerent dad who was being a total ass to his son and then to her when she tried to intervene. She was magnificent.”
“Get the fuck out of town,” Rafferty murmurs in awe.
“What?”
“You’ve got a crush,” he says accusingly.
“I do not,” I say with great offense. But I am intrigued by her. In just that short time, I saw a woman with courage and determination, unwilling to back down to protect a child. I had noticed her before that though, charmingly yelling words of encouragement but not one single helpful bit of coaching advice. She was out of her depth and the fact that she was doing it anyway lent a certain authenticity that you don’t find in many people. “It’s not like that. She’s just… different.”
Rafferty leans toward me, grinning. “Different how? You never show interest in women. You always blow them off.”
I think about that for only a second. “She’s genuine. She stepped up to coach a kids’ hockey team even though she knows nothing about hockey. She’s… real. Has substance.”
“Sounds like someone’s smitten,” Rafferty teases.
“I’m not smitten,” I protest. “I just… I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her.”
“Smitten,” he echoes. “But she’s hot, right?”
So fucking hot but I also could see she’s older than me. Not sure by how much but the fact she’s a doctor means she’s got at least a few years on me, maybe more.
An age gap isn’t a problem but she’s obviously very accomplished and independent because she didn’t want my help. God help me, that makes her even more attractive.
“She’s a total hag, I take it,” Rafferty says.
I blink at him in confusion. “What? No. Willa’s very beautiful.”
“Did you get her number?”
“Sort of. I mean I have it, but not because I intend to ask her on a date. I offered to help her coach the team.”
“Very slick,” Rafferty says, leaning back with his arms spread out on the bench behind him.
“It was a genuine offer,” I say. “She declined, but I exchanged numbers with her in case she changes her mind.”
“And you haven’t heard from her?”
“Crickets,” I say somewhat dejectedly.
“So call her. Reiterate your offer to help coach the team. And if she declines again, ask her on a date.”
I tilt my head, pondering that. “Just ask her on a date?”
“You do know that’s how these things work, right? If you’re interested in a woman, you have to let her know. What’s the worst that could happen? She shoots you down on both.”
I hate to admit it, but he’s got a point. Rejection is the worst that could happen, and if I don’t call her, it will be worse to never know. “All right. I’ll give her a call.”
“That’s my boy,” Rafferty says, tapping his knee against mine.
After our sauna, we shower and get dressed. We part ways in the players’ parking lot and once I’m in my car and the Bluetooth connects, I call Willa.
Frankly, I don’t expect her to answer because it’s a workday for her, being a doctor and all. My intent is to leave a message that will entice her to call me back, but to my shock, she answers on the third ring. “Dr. Montreaux.”
“Willa… hi. It’s Jack Kingston. King.” Christ, you sound like a moron.
“Oh,” she says, clear surprise in her voice, but it instantly warms. “How are you?”