Page 53 of Second Round

I smiled at him. “I’ll have to come and watch a game sometime.” Was that weird? Watching Leo while he worked was a little creepy, even though his job was done in public. But I couldn’t deny I had a certain fascination with him. He was so self-contained that I didn’t understand himatall.

He shook his head. “If you want, but it’s probably the worst way to understand what I do. Besides, I’m pretty busy before and afterwards. I wouldn’t be able to spend any timewithyou.”

“It’s okay. I wasn’t hinting that I wanted a date or anything. As you can see—” I motioned to the remains of our meal. “I’m not afraid to ask if I want toseeyou.”

Leo reached across and took my hand. “We’re just getting to know each other, but I really like you, Jackie. You’re a lot of fun. And you’re very beautiful...andsexy.”

“Thank you.” I tensed. There was something about his tone of voice that made me think I was about to get dumped. Already? We weren’t even anything official yet. Waaaah, I hadn’t had enough orgasms yet. I needed to store them up like a squirrelwithnuts.

“This is me. I have a plan for myself, around my coaching career. The Vice are a big challenge for me, and I like challenges. But obviously, I want to coach in the NHLsomeday.”

I nodded. Where was he was going with all thiscareertalk?

“I’d like to keep seeing you, but I’ll probably get a new job offer at some point. It could take one season, two—who knows? But when that offer comes, I’llbegone.”

“What does that have to dowithme?”

“I’m telling you that I’ll never be the kind of guy who can do a long-term relationship. I have my priorities: Charlotte andmyjob.”

“I still don’t understand. A season is almost a year, right? That’s a long time togoout.”

He nodded. “Yeah. That’s what I think too. But for you, maybe you want someone more serious. Who can give you afuture.”

I didn’t really want a future. I’d been living in the past for too long, and all I wanted was the now. I wanted Leo and more of that amazing sex. “So, what can you do? I mean, in terms ofdating.”

“What we have now. We can go out and see each other when I have time.” He squeezed my hand. “I’m sorry, that sounds arrogant, I know. But I want to be honest at the outset. We can have a good time, but it’s never going to be anything permanent. Is that whatyouwant?”

“Does that mean you’d be seeing otherwomen?”

He snorted. “Hardly. I work seventy hours a week, and I’m on the road half the time. It’ll get better once the season’s over, but Lucky and I have plans to see a bunch of teams during the playoffs, so we’ll be busy until June.” His mouth twisted. “You already know how hard it is to find timetogether.”

I felt a whoosh of relief. “I think what we have now is perfect. My kids are my priority too. After the whole emotional rollercoaster I’ve been on in the past two years, I’m definitely not looking for anythingserious.”

Still he hesitated. “Jacqueline, do you mean that? Because what I am saying—I really mean it. No matter what happens, when the next offer comes, I’m gone.” He squeezed both of my hands in his. “We can date, we can be boyfriend/girlfriend—or whatever you want to call it. But if you want more, it won’t be with me, no matter how longI’mhere.”

I smiled. “Hey, you’re my first guy after the divorce, and everyone knows that neverworksout.”

His expression remained grim though. “Maybe I’m nuts. A beautiful woman tells me that she’s okay with us going out and having sex, but I keep arguing. My first marriage broke up because I had to move. I don’t ever want to have go through thatagain.”

“There are women who would move with you, you know,” Isuggested.

“Well, it wasn’t the only reason. My workaholic tendencies didn’t help.” His brown eyes met mine. “What you said, that’s kind of the problem. I’ve dated women who believe they can change me, but I’m the way I am. I’m good at my job because I have a belief in myself and I’m completely committed to my work. I don’t want tochange.”

“Okay, okay, I get it. Going out with you is like that movie,50 First Dates. No matter how long we date, it’s not going to get deeper. But meantime...” I turned his chair towards me and then straddled his lap. “I get to have these interesting conversations with you and have sex with this amazing body. I think that’s a prettygooddeal.”

Leo leaned back in his chair. He held my face in his hand and stared like he was trying to see right inside me. “Are you sure you’re okaywiththis?”

I nodded. “I’mpositive.”

Finally there was a glimmer of a smile. He put his hands on my hips and let the thumbs caress the tops of my thighs. “Okay. That’s it, then. You’re good andI’mgood.”

“Glad that’s settled.” I leaned forward and put one hand under the hem of his track jacket. I could feel the warm, firm flesh of his stomach. “Now, exactly how long do we have before you have to go backtowork?”

He kissed my neck and nipped at my ear. “We have exactly enough time to make you make that weirdnoise.”

“What weirdnoise?”

“Don’t you know? When you come hard, you make this weird panting noise.” He made a sound that was somewhere between a dirty old man laugh and a catbarfing.

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