Page 25 of The Rebel (Looking to Score 1)
When I reach the floor to her office, Eden’s assistant is seated at a glass desk just outside her door. Her name plate reads ASPEN FORD.
“Hello.” I pause in front of her.
She looks up at me and pulls a pencil from her mouth, then blinks at me twice. “Holt, right?”
“That’s me.”
Her mouth curls into a slow smile, and I wonder what Eden’s told her about me. About us.
Probably nothing. Because there is no “us.”
“Great. Eden and Les are inside. They’re expecting you. Go on in.”
I nod and then let myself inside Eden’s office, pushing open the heavy frosted-glass door. They’re already seated at the conference table, and Eden’s gaze lifts to mine the second she spots me.
“Morning,” I say.
Her full mouth lifts in a smile. “Good morning. You’re right on time. Coffee?”
Today Eden’s dressed in a pair of black pants, glittery ballet flats, and a pale pink blouse. It’s decidedly feminine, and I love that she’s confident enough to be herself. She doesn’t try to mold herself to the standards of what others might say is needed for the leader of a sports franchise.
I shake my head. “Not a coffee guy. Thanks, though.”
“Tea?” She pulls in a breath, drawing my gaze to the delicate gold necklace resting between her breasts.
My heart hammering, I force my eyes to meet hers. “I’m good, but thanks for the offer.”
“I couldn’t live without my morning joe,” Les says.
Jeez. For a second, I forgot he was even here. It’s easy to get wrapped up in Eden. She’s striking and poised and so fucking tempting . . .
Stop, Holt.
Giving myself a mental shake, I take a seat in the same chair as last time so I have a view of both Eden and the door to her office.
“So, should we get down to business?” she asks, tapping her pen on the table beside a black leather planner embossed with her initials, EMW.
It occurs to me that I don’t know her middle name. Marie, maybe? Michelle? Mary?
“The travel schedule is the first thing we should discuss,” Les says, looking between Eden and me with a frown.
If he’s worried I’m going to blow off traveling with the team, he’s wrong. I take my role seriously. Even if that means flying to Saskatoon in the middle of January, I’ll be there. I’ll need to buy a new parka, but I’ll be there.
“Whatever you need.” I dig my smartphone from my pocket and pull up my calendar.
Eden smiles. “There’s a home game this Thursday, and then we leave Friday midday for a game on Saturday in Detroit, and stick around the Midwest for a game in Ohio on Monday. We’re back late Monday night. Probably not until midnight or so.”
After jotting the dates and locations down in my calendar, I nod to Eden. “Sounds fine. No issues here.”
“I hope you don’t have any pets.” Eden’s watching me from over the rim of her coffee mug.
Just like her outfit, her mug is unapologetic, sporting the phrase Let’s Keep the Dumbfuckery to a Minimum Today written in fancy cursive writing. I have to squint to make out the words, and when I do, my mouth twitches.
“No pets,” I say.
Her eyes lift to mine. “Not even a goldfish?”
For a second, I’m speechless, transported back in time.
It was something we talked about that night we spent together. Eden admitted that growing up as an only child, she was often lonely. She said she’d always wanted a pet, but her parents never allowed it. I stupidly suggested she get a goldfish. She teased me, saying fish were a big commitment, and she didn’t know if she had the time.
“Haven’t made the commitment yet. You?” I manage to say, my voice raspy.
With a laugh, she shakes her head, and Les watches us like we’re insane.
Maybe we are.
“No pets,” I say firmly. “No girlfriend. Just me.”
Her gaze lingers on mine for a minute longer. “Still, I know it’s a lot to drop everything and travel. So, thank you.”
“You’re more than welcome.”
As Eden presses on with the fall’s remaining trips and events, Les’s cell phone begins vibrating on the table.
“Excuse me for just a minute,” he says, standing and frowning down at the thing.
“Take your time,” Eden says, enjoying another sip of her coffee as Les exits her office, closing the door behind him.
Now that we’re alone, she turns her attention back to me. “Why aren’t you dating anyone?”
The girl I once knew wasn’t always so bold around me. I remember Eden as being sort of shy that night. Ducking her chin when I asked her a question, fidgeting and tucking her hair behind her ear. Ready to flee from my bed at any moment. That’s the way I remember her.
But then something shifted. She let her walls down and got comfortable. She opened up to me. We lay down together, and she rested her head on my chest. I liked that part. Never been much of a cuddling type of guy, but I enjoyed it that night with her. Hell, I enjoyed everything that night with Eden.
