Page 9

I can’t remember the last time I had to chase a woman. Even my ex hounded me for months until I agreed to go on a date with her. Being famous is hard work, but it has a lot of perks. Perks, I will admit, I have taken advantage of on several occasions.
But right now, I need help.
“Okay. Let’s say I agree to do this, and I’m not saying I’m going to, but if I do, what is it going to take?”
Steve gawks at me. “This isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation, Ryan. There’s no answer that fits into one sentence.”
“Besides, you’re talking about women,” John adds. “They all want different things.”
“Or the same woman wants different things on different days,” Steve laughs.
“Right,” John laughs with him.
“This is not helping,” I say, not joining in with the joke.
“Have you tried not being a jerk?” Steve quips, giving me a knowing look. “That’s a good place to start.”
I roll my eyes at my best friend.
“Listen, Ryan,” John says. “I know you don’t live in the real world like the rest of us, but if you’re going to do this, you’re going to have to try.”
“Course I live in the real world,” I counter.
“Really?” John says, his eyebrows high on his shaved head. “Okay. How did you get here last night?”
“By car.”
“What kinda car?” he says again.
I know where he’s going with this, but I answer anyway. “A chauffeur-driven Lincoln.”
“When’s the last time you went grocery shopping for yourself?”
I have to think about that one, but after a minute, I shake my head. “Can’t remember.”
“What about normal shopping? Clothes, running shoes, a jacket?”
Again, I struggle to recall the last time I didn’t have an assistant do that stuff for me, and again, I shake my head.
“See what I mean?” John concludes.
“You know I’m rich, right?” I counter. “I can’t remember a time I didn’t have someone do something for me.”
“Sure,” Steve jumps in, “but being famous only makes it ten times worse.”
The guys have my back against the wall, and I can’t argue, even if I wanted to.
“Fine,” I huff. “Tell me what I have to do.”
4
Emma
When I get intothe clinic the next day, I still can’t shift Ryan’s visit from my mind. It’s not just that I’m clearly still holding on to something I should have let go of long ago. It’s also the fact that he was so arrogant—expecting me to drop everything because he’s some big star on the ice.
My life is easy. I’m happy. I have my practice and good friends, and I live in a lovely little town where everyone knows you by name. But his arrival seems to have shaken something in me. Which is surprising, given that I’m a pretty put-together and successful woman.
“Are you okay?” Sharon asks when I walk in.