Breakout (A Dallas Demons Hockey Romance) (13 page)

“Matt?” Kenley corrects. “Do you mean Matt Rhinelander?”

Holly bursts out laughing. “Oh God,
no
, he doesn’t. He was being nice because he knows me since he’s come into the league and has played with Nate the entire time.”

“I think he does,” CiCi declares.

“No. He likes girls like Kimberlee,” Holly says firmly. “Fake boobs. Short dresses. No brains.”

“Nope,” CiCi declares. “I can feel it.”

I glance across the table to Kenley, who has a perfect view of Niko over my shoulder. “What’s he doing?” I ask anxiously.

“Staring at you with a really pissed-off expression on his face.”

“Do you think he’s pissed at me?” I ask, panicking.

“No. At himself for being an idiot,” Amanda declares.

“Who’s an idiot and what are you all up to?” Ryan asks as he joins the group, staring at us with a suspicious eye.

Gah!

“Nothing,” Amanda says smoothly. “Let’s go check out the dessert tables Kenley arranged,” she says, referring to Kenley’s company providing all the desserts for the event. “Did I see macaroons?”

“Yes. Come on, I’ll explain them all,” Kenley says, helping Amanda distract Ryan.

“Oh! JP is coming!” Holly whispers excitedly.

“What the hell do I say to him?” I blurt out.

CiCi waves a hand dismissively in the air. “Nice to meet you, compliment him on whatever the hell he does with a hockey stick, shake his hand, look dreamily at him. Mission accomplished.”

Peter Deveraux’s assistant approaches our table with JP at her side.

“Hi, I understand Peter wanted you ladies to meet JP,” she says, smiling. “I’m Gloria, and this is JP Rochat.”

I study JP for a moment. If this were a month ago, I’d be awestruck by meeting him. He’s tall, with thick dark-brown hair and gorgeous hazel eyes, and has a French accent to die for.

But that was before Niko
.

Now JP is handsome, as anyone would attest to. But that’s it.

And nobody I’d ever be interested in now that Niko is a part of my life.

“Hello, JP,” CiCi says, extending her hand to him. “I’m CiCi. My daughter is dating Nate Johansson.”

I smile at the pride I hear in CiCi’s voice. When Nate and Kenley first started dating, she feared he’d hurt Kenley. But now she sees that Nate is completely in love with her daughter, and CiCi knows there is no one else on this earth that he is going to love.

“Oh, Nate,” JP says, flashing a perfect smile at CiCi. “You’re Kenley’s mother.”

“Yes. And this is Nate’s sister, Holly,” she says, smiling.

“Nice to meet you,” Holly says, shaking his hand.

“Likewise,” he says. Then he turns to me.

“And this young lady is practically my child,” CiCi says. “JP, this is Lexi Stewart.”

CiCi then looks at me expectantly, as if to say, FOLLOW THE SCRIPT.

I smile and shake his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m psyched the Demons have a two-way defensive player in the top D-line now.”

JP flashes me a smile. “You’re a hockey fan, aren’t you?”

“I am,” I say, nodding. “And we’re so happy to have you on the Demons. I hope you find Dallas well so far.”

“The weather is definitely nicer.” JP laughs. “Buffalo was so cold. And the fans here have been very welcoming. It’s also great to play on a championship team. I’m excited about it.”

“Holly, darling, would you mind coming with me to check out the silent auction items?” CiCi says. “I want to keep track on the spa package I bid on.”

They excuse themselves, leaving me with JP. We chat for a few minutes, and once again I think of how surreal my life is at the moment. My roommate is in love with Nate Johansson and is going to marry him someday. CiCi is flirting with the owner of the Dallas Demons. And I’m standing here talking with one of the hottest players in the game, but I couldn’t care less.

Because all I want is Niko Xenakis
.

I excuse myself after a few more minutes of small talk. Just as CiCi instructed, I move through the crowd, heading toward the auction boards. But my mind is racing the entire time. What if Niko doesn’t come after me? What if he’s truly hurt by what I did and won’t give me a chance to explain? What if I’ve further pissed him off with this
Gossip Girl-
type plan CiCi has cooked up?

I head over to the auction sign up table and get my number for the bidding. Then I force myself to stand in front of the DEMONS BACHELORS board and act like I’m truly considering bidding on JP.

As I blankly stare at JP’s smiling face, I realize Niko isn’t coming. I glance over my shoulder, through the crowd, and he’s nowhere in sight.

I swallow hard. I scan the whole ballroom, and I don’t see him.

It didn’t work
.

Niko isn’t going to act on his feelings.

My stomach turns into a frozen knot. Tears prick my eyes. I blew it, and even if he thinks I look beautiful tonight, he wants no part of me.

I need to get out of here. I can’t breathe. And I’m on the verge of bursting into tears.

I hurry through the throng of people, out of the ballroom. I make it to the hallway, and I head down the huge staircase to the next level of the hotel. I hit the landing, but I hear footsteps behind me.

I turn around.

It’s Niko.

I gasp as he flies down the steps toward me. He grabs my hand, and before I can even say a word, he leads me to the doors to the terrace, where the infinity pool is.

Niko angrily bangs open the doors, pulls me behind him, and strides right over to the edge of the pool that overlooks the city of Dallas, which is sparkling all around us in the velvety-black sky.

“Niko, I—”

“You aren’t going out with JP,” he snaps, his voice shaking with anger as he releases my hand. “There’s no fucking way you’re going out with him. I’ve waited far too long for my chance with you, and he’s not taking it away from me.”

I can’t breathe. My heart is pounding furiously inside my chest.

“Do you want me?” I whisper into the chilly air between us.

“I’m done being tortured,” Niko snaps. “I’m tortured every time I talk to you, every time I sit next to you, every time I’m with you and I can’t touch you. I can’t take it anymore. I want the scent of your skin on mine. I want your beautiful body in my arms. I want to know what your lips taste like. JP isn’t getting that. I am.”

And then Niko’s mouth is on mine, claiming it with his own.

Chapter 17

The One Online Dating Service Profile Question:
What is your ideal time for a first kiss? At the end of the first date?

My write-in answer:
RIGHT NOW.

The second Niko’s lips touch mine, my entire body responds with need. He wastes no time, and neither do I. He parts my lips with his, taking what he’s wanted for so long now and will no longer be denied. His kiss is desperate and heat-filled, hot and sexy.

I match him in intensity, eagerly tasting gin on his tongue and inhaling the sensual scent of cedar and spice on his skin. His stubble burns against my face, my hands are in his hair, and his hands are moving all over my body, tangling with the fringe of my dress as he explores me with this scorching kiss.

Abruptly he stops, and I gasp in protest. I grab his face and draw him back to my hungry lips, kissing him with a ferocity I’ve never felt before. Niko moans against my mouth in response, which only feeds my desire for him.

Niko’s hands move to my hair, and I feel my chignon loosening as he urgently rakes his fingers through my locks. My hair falls free, and Niko slides his hand up the nape of my neck, to the back of my head, and kisses me harder.

Niko breaks the kiss, and we’re both struggling to get our breath. Nothing is said between us for a moment, but Niko’s hands are all over my face, caressing it in a way the exact opposite of the kiss we shared, showing me he can be both passionate and gentle at the same time. I wind my arms around his back and rest my head against his solid chest.

“Baby,” Niko finally whispers, pressing his lips against the top of my head, “I know you can have any man you want. A guy like JP.”

I step back from him, confused. “Why would you say that?”

Niko lets go of my face for a second, and I immediately hate the fact that he’s not touching me.

He draws a breath before speaking, as if he’s gathering up his courage. “Lexi, I’m still that kid from the bakery. I’ll never have the kind of money that guys like Nate and JP have. I know you could have a man like that if you wanted one. One who could give you everything you could ever want. Seeing you with JP made me realize that.”

Tears fill my eyes. Niko’s revealing so much to me in what he said. He’s strong enough to be vulnerable to me right now, to admit he fears he’s not enough for me. And to admit that after kissing me with such want and desire, to push that aside to make sure I’m thinking about what I need and want. I’ve never had any man care about me so much.

And as I stand here with Niko, in the shadow of the skyscrapers of Dallas on this December night, I know I love him. I know it with all my heart, all my soul, that this man will love me and be everything I need him to be in a boyfriend.

And I will do the same for him. I will be the woman who adds to his life, who values him, who will let him know he’s enough for me, the way he is.

“I want you,” I whisper over the lump in my throat. “Only you.”

“Lexi, are you s—”

I cut him off by pressing my lips sweetly against his. This time we kiss gently and sweetly. Niko wraps his strong arms around me, and I happily melt into him, savoring the moment I fell in love with him.

Niko breaks the kiss and takes off his jacket, draping it around me. Now he’s standing before me in his vest and white dress shirt, the fabric stretching against his muscular, boxer body. He has the sleeves rolled up on the shirt, and my pulse races at the sight of his sexy tattoo in full view.

I put my hands on his chest and gaze up at him. “I’m so sorry about what happened with Kimberlee. I . . . I thought you had asked her out. That’s what she led me to believe. And it made sense to me, since every guy tends to see me as the friend, or the nice girl next door until a beautiful woman comes along an—”

Niko immediately cups my face in his strong hands. “Stop right there. There has been no woman I’ve wanted since the day I saw
you
walk into the practice rink.”

I furrow my brow, trying to grasp his words. “Wait. Walk in? You noticed me before the puck incident?”

Niko begins stroking my face in that sensual way of his. “I saw you come in, this girl with the shiny red hair. I watched you sit down in front of me, taking out your stuff, pushing the sleeves up on those big sweaters you seem to love. I thought man, that girl is
gorgeous.
And she’s into
hockey.
Then I shoved you into a bleacher—”

I can’t help it. A giggle escapes my throat, and Niko grins in response.

“. . . and you’ve had me ever since, Lexi. It’s
you,
Lexi. You’re the one I want.”

Niko’s mouth finds mine again, and I eagerly pour my heart into that kiss, knowing this man finds me beautiful and sexy and no other woman exists to him.

Niko breaks the kiss and studies me. “What did Kimberlee say?”

I groan. “That you asked her out to dinner.”

“Come again?”

“You asked her out, and you were taking her out somewhere fabulous.”

Niko’s eyes flash angrily. “
ότι η σκύλα!
That bitch!”

“What?”

“I did
not
ask her out,” he spits.

“I know, Niko,” I say, stroking his face and trying to calm him down. “I know that.”

“And guess where we ate?” he snaps, still angry. “At a fucking pizza place. And we split the tab!”

I burst out laughing. “Oh my God, she must have
died.
”

I see Niko’s expression shift from mad to amused. “Well, Kimberlee did seem shocked when I suggested we split the bill.”

Then we both burst out laughing.

“She’s not getting away with this,” Niko declares.

“It doesn’t matter,” I insist. “I know you want to be with me, that’s all I care about.”

“I do want to be with you, baby,” he whispers. “I’ve waited for this since the day we met.”

Niko takes my hand and leads me over to one of the lounge chairs. He sits down, then takes my hand and pulls me down next to him. Niko draws me to him as we lay back in the chaise, with him cradling me protectively in his arms. The city of Dallas lights the sky around us, and I hear the water lapping in the pool, and the moment is perfect.

“One perk of being my girl is we can do stuff like this in public and nobody gives a shit,” he says, grinning at me. “We can spend all night making out under the stars and nobody will notice us.”

He caresses the side of my face with his hand and leans down to kiss me again.

“I’m so happy,” I murmur.

“Me, too,” Niko whispers back, kissing me again.

His hand gently covers the side of my face in a protective way as we kiss. Niko’s hand slides underneath the suit jacket, finding the curve in my waist, and strokes me gently as we continue our exploring kisses. God, I want this man so much. Heat and desire rage through me, and I’m ready for more than kissing him.

I want to make love to him.

“I’ve wanted this for so long,” I admit, breaking the kiss. I reach up and stroke his face, relishing the feel of his sexy stubble against my skin. “And I’m ready for more.”

Niko cocks an eyebrow. “Like?”

I feel my face grow hot as Niko toys with me. “You know what.”

“On a chaise lounge in public?” Niko grins. “Well, aren’t you the little exhibitionist?”

Now my face is flaming. “No, not here. But I want to be with you.”

Niko bends down and presses a sweet kiss on my lips. “Don’t worry, baby, we have plenty of time for that. I need to at least take you to dinner first.”

I laugh and stroke his face. “You don’t have to take me to dinner. I know I’m not a hook-up.”

“Don’t tempt me. I’m trying to be a gentleman here.”

I love him even more for being such a good man.

I lace my fingers through his and gaze up at him. “So when are you taking me to dinner, Niko Xenakis?”

Niko gazes down at me through his long eyelashes, and my breath catches in my throat. “Tomorrow night, Lexi. I want to be with you tomorrow night. Anything else is way too long.”

Butterflies shift in my stomach at the desire in his eyes. And as we seal the deal with a kiss, I know tomorrow night is the first time I’ll ever make love to a man I
love
.

And I can’t wait to show Niko how much I love him.

I somehow manage to get a few hours of sleep before waking up in a state of complete excitement. I’ve got a date with
Niko
tonight. A shiver of anticipation races down my spine. We’re going to have dinner first, and then we’re going to walk around Highland Park Village and look at all the Christmas lights.

And, of course, the evening will end up with us in his bed.

I sit up, happiness radiating through every inch of me as I recall how we sat outside for hours last night by the pool. I spent the rest of the night curled up in his arms, being kissed and touched and whispered to under the shadow of glittering skyscrapers.

It was the most romantic night of my life.

Until tonight
.

I reach for my phone on the nightstand. And my heart leaps with joy when I see I already have a text message from Niko:

Wake up, baby. I miss you
.

Ooooooh! That’s the sweetest thing any man has ever said to me.

And I’m beyond ecstatic that the man who said it was
Niko
.

I smile and happily text him back:

I’m awake and miss you, too.

I wait for a moment, and he replies:

We should switch our date for breakfast.

I laugh and respond:

I have to do some shopping before our date tonight.

Namely, shopping for some new sexy lingerie from Nordstrom. He instantly texts back:

I could help you. Like hold your purse. That’s what boyfriends do, you know.

Oh, I do love how he called himself my boyfriend.

And if he knew
what
I was shopping for, Niko would totally be on board for helping me, I think slyly.

Nope, it’s a surprise. It will be worth waiting to see me for I promise.

He responds:

No lie, I can’t wait to see you tonight. Surprise or not.

My heart melts even more from his sweet words. Words I know he
means
. I finish our conversation by telling him I’ll be ready by seven o’clock and put the phone down.

Gah, I’ve never been so eager for a date in all my life. And for once my Sunday won’t be spent eating all of Kenley’s test confections and reading the latest Amelia Thorne novel on my Kindle.

And as much as I
love
Kenley’s desserts and Amelia’s books, I’ve never been happier to have a change in my routine.

I spray my Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt perfume and walk into it, letting the earthy-scented mist fall all over me. I set the bottle back on the marble vanity top and check my appearance one more time before Niko is here to pick me up for dinner.

I’m wearing a long-sleeved silk black V-neck blouse, my Seven black-coated skinny jeans, and a tight slim-fitting black leather jacket thrown over the top. I’ve looped my classic Burberry plaid scarf around my neck, and I’ve selected my silver monogram necklace as my jewelry, the one that has
LSN
for Lexi Nicole Stewart.

But my favorite part of my outfit is my over-the-knee-Stuart Weitzman boots, a prized find from a HauteLook.com sale. These are
sexy
, no doubt about it. My long red hair is swept back into a stylish twisted, bohemian side braid. I open my drawer and find my NARS Dolce Vita lipstick and swipe it across my lips.

Perfect
, I think as I press my lips together.
I’m ready
.

I continue to hum along to the music I have playing from my iPhone, feeling that same ‘it’s Friday night vibe’ Kenley and I used to get when getting ready to go out at TCU.

Except this is much, much better than going to a bar or fraternity party.

Suddenly the doorbell rings, and butterflies shift excitedly in my stomach.

He’s here
.

I draw an eager breath of air to try and calm my nerves. I head to the front door and glance through the peephole.

Oh my God
.

It’s Niko, and he’s dressed up for me. I don’t waste a second and open the door, as I need to see my sexy man, right now.

I flip the lock and pull the door open. And my pulse burns the second I lay eyes on him.

He’s wearing a charcoal wool blazer over a navy crew neck sweater, dark-wash jeans, and dark-brown leather driving shoes.
Shit
. He’s totally refined yet rugged and sexy.

Niko stands still, his eyes flickering over me. And as they do, I feel myself grow hot with desire.

“Lexi,” he breathes, “you look
gorgeous.
”

“Thank you,” I say softly. “You look so handsome, Niko. Come on in.”

I let him inside, and Niko walks through the doorway, and the scent of his spicy, cedar cologne wraps around me as he does.