Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
“And three. And four,” I promised, wrapping my arm around her back.
Delight shimmered in those beautiful brown depths. “I can go for that. We can sleep on the plane.”
“The plane is for round five.” I kissed her and then made very good on my promise.
10
DAISY
Don’t freak out.
Seriously, don’t freak out.
Don’t—
“Ohmigod!” I squealed, unable to listen to my own warnings as Asher held the door open for me to his private box in Reaper Arena.
Pretty sure my mouth fully dropped as I took in the luxurious space designed for watching the games in ultimate comfort. Rich, cream leather chairs and small couches lined the room, positioned before tables piled with food and drinks. A giant photograph of the Reapers mid-game decorated the back wall, one that focused on Maxim Zolotov and Brogan Grant mid-skate.
There were four different flatscreens hanging on the side walls, showing different stats and angles, and of course, the focal wall was made entirely of glass, looking out over the arena below. Thin black tables and barstool height chairs lined the glass, and I headed straight for those.
“Did you just walk past the food?” Asher asked, a tease in his voice as he followed me.
“They’re being announced on the ice!” I said, bouncing in the chair as I watched the Reapers take the ice in the first preseason game.
Asher pulled the chair out next to me, tugging on my Greene jersey with a frown. “How many of these do you have?” he asked, a slight grumble in his voice.
I tore my eyes away from the ice, arching a brow at him. “Several,” I said. “I’ve been a fan since the Reapers arrived in Charleston.” I nudged his shoulder. “If you want to get me an owner’s jersey, I’ll gladly wear it.”
“Don’t tempt me,” he said, sitting next to me.
“Aww,” I teased. “I kind of like it when you’re possessive.”
“I know you do,” he said, lowering his voice as he leaned closer to me, his lips right at my ear. “Especially in bed.”
Lava shot through my veins, drawing up memories of what Asher had done to me since that first night at the poker retreat. We’d barely been able to keep our hands off each other since, but we still hadn’t defined anything, not that I was complaining. Whatever we were, I was happy, and I didn’t really need to see past that.
I turned enough that our lips almost brushed, but Asher didn’t kiss me, he held me there in the sweetest anticipation—
“Hi!” a bubbly feminine voice called from the box’s entryway, causing Asher to back away from me a few inches. “What did I miss?”
The woman was beautiful, with long brown hair that hung to her mid-back, and gorgeous hazel eyes that were super familiar.
“They just took the ice, sis,” Asher said, and my brows raised.
“You’re Harper,” I said, standing up to greet her. “Asher has told me all about you. You’re the genius behind the Reapers’ safety gear.”
Harper smiled at me, then Asher, and waved me off. “Genius is a little strong, but yes, the safety line design is my baby. And my brother is the force behind it.” She gave him a squeeze, then glanced from him to me and back again.
“I’m Daisy,” I said after the silence approached the awkward line. A little sting pricked my chest when there was absolutely no recognition in Harper’s eyes, but I ignored it. Maybe he hadn’t got a chance to tell her about me yet, or maybe he simply didn’t want to.
“Nice to meet you,” she said, taking a seat on the other side of me as we all sat back down. She wore a Noble jersey, and I smiled, remembering Asher mentioning his sister was attached to one of his players.
“You too,” I said, focusing on the game that was now in full swing.
We engaged in small talk while watching and made several runs to the snack tables too. Harper was a delight, totally easygoing and fun. I could easily see her fitting in with Fiona and Maddison on a girls’ night.
And watching Asher watch his team? It was enough to give me butterflies. The man had a passion for the game and his players that was evident in the way his eyes lit up when he tracked a play or the way he leapt out of his chair when we scored a goal. He was relaxed yet energized in a way I never saw at the office or during one of his regimented scheduled meetings, and it was probably my favorite look on him—besides the one where he was above me in the bedroom.
“So,” Harper said after we’d scored another goal. “How did you two meet?”
“Um…” I fumbled with my words as I glanced at Asher.
Asher opened and shut his mouth a few times before shrugging. “We worked on a project together.”