“Yeah. I have to play somewhere. I can’t do this much longer.”

“But there’s a chance that maybe you can stay?” Looking up at him, hoping for the answer she wanted, she watched as he shook his head.

“Unless the goalie they have now quits or leaves, no, I won’t be staying.”

She took in a shaky breath, staring down at the table again. She couldn’t believe this. She finds the guy that she has been dreaming about and he already has one foot out the damn door.

Shit!

She knew she should chalk this up as a loss and walk away, but when she looked at him, she knew she couldn’t. The same way he couldn’t walk away from her anymore. Maybe they would get lucky and he wouldn’t go. Or maybe, in the short time they had, he’d fall for her like she knew she was falling for him and ask her to go with him. Even though this was her second year at New Life, she knew she would be able to find a job somewhere else, and if this relationship went the way she felt in her heart it would go, then she’d relocate, no problem.

Just to be with him.

“What do you want, Jordan?” she asked quietly before moving her hand into his. “Do you want to keep going with this? Or stop it right now? Because I want to keep going. I’ve never felt like this about anyone, and I’m not ready to let it go.”

He smiled and leaned in closer to her, reaching up to run his thumb along her lips.

“I’ve been so closed off to everyone, but with you it’s different. I like the way I feel around you. Call it crazy, but I like you. A lot. I don’t want to walk away, but I also don’t want to hurt you.”

Her heart skipped a beat. “I like you too, and we’ll just have to remember that we both knew your future plans going into this, and if we make it to the end of the season, we’ll reevaluate everything.”

He nodded and placed a sweet kiss on her lips. Aynslee kissed him back, her heart pounding in her chest, while her brain went crazy. She was worried that she would fall hopelessly for this man and he would hold back because he knew that he was leaving. But when he kissed her and held her, it didn’t feel as if he was holding back. It felt real. It felt like forever.

“You know, too bad hockey isn’t like sex,” she said offhandedly.

He glanced over at her and laughed as he laid his credit card on top of the bill.

“Why’s that?”

She shot him a naughty look before saying, “Because I see no problems with your knee in bed.”

“Oh, is that right?” he asked, leaning toward her again, his hand traveling up her thigh.

“Completely and utterly right. You’re a hundred percent in that bed, and even out of it, Jordan Ryan. Those coaches don’t know what they are missing out on.”

Jordan laughed as he pressed his forehead against hers. “I’m so thankful I met you.”

Aynslee smiled, feeling the exact same way as she cupped his face in her hands.

“So am I.”

Chapter 7

Jordan watched as the Blackhawks’ team rushed the Assassins’ net in the United Center ice arena. He was bored out of his mind. This marked the twenty-first game of him sitting on the bench—his longest streak of not playing since he’d started in the NHL, minus the time he was hurt. Jordan was f**king tired of it. He should’ve pushed for a trade during the season, but he did not want to do that to Elli, the owner of the Assassins; besides, if he had, he would have never met Aynslee. It had been an amazing three weeks since they’d first slept together, and when he was home, they were attached at the hip. Never in his adult life had he called a woman more than once in an hour’s span or spent every waking moment with someone, but he wanted that with Aynslee. He was falling for her, and he was falling hard.

After Leanna broke up with him, Jordan thought he would never open up to another person or even love again, but Aynslee had proved him wrong. She made him laugh to the point of tears and made him harder than a frozen puck with just one of her sexy looks. But time was against them. They were already into April, and playoffs were starting at the end of the month. He would probably leave right after the season. He had things he needed to do in Carolina before camp started in August. He had toyed with the idea of asking her to go with him, but the more he thought about it, the more uncomfortable he felt about it. She had a life here, and he couldn’t ask her to uproot it just for him.

Looking out at the ice, he saw that the clock was winding down. The Assassins were losing. The offense had been off the last couple of games, and even though Tate defended the goal well, the opposition still scored. It was 1–0, Blackhawks, and with only fifty-eight seconds on the clock, Jordan didn’t think they had a chance to win.

He was right.

After the game, Jordan was relaxing in his seat on the team bus to the airport. He pulled out his phone and sent Aynslee a quick text, letting her know he’d call once he got back to Nashville.

Are you coming over?

He smiled as he typed his response.

Is that okay?

Of course. I’ll leave the key under the mat.

See you soon.

Can’t wait.

Jordan shut his phone off, still smiling as he leaned against the seat. He couldn’t wait to have her in his arms again. Looking around, he watched his teammates board the bus and take their seats. When his captain, Shea, entered the bus, he headed straight for Jordan and dropped down into the seat next to him. He moved his bag between his legs and then leaned back, glancing at Jordan.