Page 31 of Forecheck
“Nothing,” Lexie said when I turned in Brent’s arms to face my friends. “Just wondering when you two cheeseballs are going to stop sucking face so we can start drinking.”
It seemed there was an unspoken agreement that we’d been spending the evening with the Warriors, a change of plans I was all too happy to accommodate. I fully planned to be glued to Brent’s warmth until it was time to go home.
Brent simply laughed indulgently, and I pulled away. Before I could follow my friends, Brent tugged me back.
“I have a question for you,” he said, and my hackles rose.
“There’s this party the organization throws every winter. It’s a way for sponsors and donors to rub elbows with us.”
“The Winter Gala,” I said. “I’m familiar with it.”
“Right,” Brent said, offering me a tight smile. Inexplicably, he seemed…nervous, and my palms clammed up in response. “It’s coming up this Saturday. I know that’s only two days away, and it’s really short notice, and I have no idea when you’re leaving for Traverse City, but I was hoping that maybe, if you’re free, you’d want to come with me.”
I blinked, shaking my head a little, then burst out laughing.
“What’s so funny?” he asked, frowning.
“You’re nervous!” I crooned. “That’s so fucking cute.”
“Berkley…” he warned.
“Sorry, sorry,” I said, collecting myself. “You want me to go to the Gala with you. Like, as your date.”
He chuckled, his shoulders relaxing. “Yes, Berkley, as my date. Like I said, I know it’s short notice, but…I’d really love to have you there with me.”
“Are you sure that’s smart?” I blurted, unable to stop myself.
“I think so, yes.”
“What if people get the wrong idea?”
“And what idea would that be?”
“That we’re…together.”
“Didn’t we just have this conversation?” Brent leaned down until his lips brushed the shell of my ear, yet again sending shivers skittering across my skin. “If people think we’re together…they’ve got the right idea.”
A thrill raced down my spine at the thought that this man wanted to be seen in public withme.I supposed if we were doing this, we might as well go full send.
“I’ll go with you,” I agreed at last. “But…that’s about as public as I’m willing to get right now. I still have to live here, you know? Finish law school. And we’re just getting started. So…one thing at a time.”
“One thing at a time,” he agreed, beaming as he kissed me again, both of us smiling against each other’s mouths.
“Come on, lovebirds!” Lexie called.
With a sheepish grin, Brent grabbed my hand and led us from the suite.
Never Getting It Back
I didn’t miss theway my fingers shook as I hooked my cufflinks into the sleeves of my suit jacket. In fact, they trembled so badly that it took me several attempts before I managed to put them in.
Why was I so nervous?
It wasn’t like I’d never attended one of these events before. And, for fuck’s sake, I was a professional hockey player. I got my rocks off skating in front of thousands of people every night.
So no, it wasn’t that.
It was…Berkley.
