Page 12 of Breakaway (Nashville Knights Hockey #3)

Chapter Twelve

CHLOE

I don’t know why everything has to be perfect tonight, but it has to be perfect. I check the oven one more time to make sure the lasagna is cooking at the right temperature. The salads are ready and perfectly dressed. All that needs to go in is the garlic bread in a few minutes.

I sip on wine, cooling my simmering nerves. Why am I nervous having Dax over for dinner? He’s my best friend. I wanted to do something for him after everything he’s done for me this summer. Especially after he went zip-lining with me when he hates heights.

It’s weird how you can learn something new about your best friend after you’ve known them for more than half your life. But zip-lining with Dax? It was the most fun I’ve had in a long time. Everything lately has felt heavy. Weighted.

That day was fun. I haven’t laughed so much…since I can’t remember when.

Maybe a little too much fun. Because I enjoyed being in Dax’s arms. It’s a thought I’ve had to shake several times this past week while I’ve been working. I enjoyed the feel of his fingers digging into my sides. The way his thighs wrapped around me.

Nope. Not going there. Not at all.

I push the thoughts away.

Dax is my best friend. Hell, I ran away from his brother. It’s not like the two of us could ever be together.

There’s a knock at my door and I smile.

Right on time. Just like he always is. Setting my drink down on the counter, I cross the short distance to answer it.

And wow.

Dax is wearing a pair of jeans and a short-sleeved, black patterned button-down shirt that clings to his biceps. It’s subtly sexy.

Wait, what?

I’ve never had that thought about Dax in my life.

Dax is sexy? I can’t be thinking that. I’m not allowed to think Dax is sexy. He’s off-limits. He’s my ex-fiancé’s brother.

He is in the no-go zone.

“Are you going to let me in?”

“Hi. Sorry.” I shake myself out of my stupor and open the door for him.

He passes by in a whiff of soap and fresh laundry detergent.

“These are for you.”

He pulls a bouquet of daisies out from behind his back.

“You know, you didn’t have to bring me anything. This was a thank you for you.” A dopey grin spreads across my face.

He gives me that charming smile of his, the easy grin that helps set anyone at ease.

“I can never come empty-handed. Besides, you could use some flowers around here.”

“Are you saying my place is drab? ”

I take the bouquet and head into the kitchen. Seeing as how I have no vases—not enough room to store them—I grab one of my Knights cups and fill it with water.

“No. I know you like daisies, so I wanted to bring you some.”

“Thanks, Dax.” I set them on the counter. “They look great.”

“And it smells even better in here.”

“I hope lasagna is good for you. I have that, salad, and garlic bread.”

He grins at me, rubbing his hands together with an excited look on his face. “Perfect meal before the season starts.”

“Want a drink?” I ask, grabbing a glass.

“Sure. I’ll have what you’re having.”

“Are you excited for the start of the season?” I pour him a glass and pass it over.

“It feels like just yesterday…”

“That you were out of the playoffs and I was running out on my wedding?”

“We’re at the point of joking about it now?” he asks, taking a sip.

“I would say yes. I’m sixty percent past it at this point.”

“I'm glad you can move on because I’ll only worry about you during forty percent of the season, Sunshine.”

“Why are you going to worry about me?”

I pull the garlic bread out of the freezer and pop it onto a tray. Taking the lasagna out to let it cool, I put the bread in the oven.

“I was worried about you getting back on your feet this summer.” Dax looks around.

“I couldn’t have done it without you.” I walk around the counter. “Do you want to see what I’ve been working on this week? ”

“Show me.”

A small, velvet tray sits on the coffee table in the living room. There are only four rings, but they are perfect. All made of silver, a different colored gemstone sits on the tops in various shapes.

“It took me a while to figure out how to get the gems to stay, but I like how they turned out.”

Dax studies them, picking each one up and rubbing his finger over the metal. “These are really good, Chloe. You’ve done a great job.”

“You mean that?”

He nods. “You know I’ve always liked what you make.”

“I know you do.”

The silver of his necklace glints in the light.

“I don’t know how long these took you to make, but I’m proud of you.”

Dax turns his sweet brown eyes on me and passes the ring over. I suck in a breath as his fingers brush against mine.

It’s the softest, briefest of touches. But it sets off a torrent of emotions inside of me.

It sends me right back to the moment in his arms when we were zip-lining.

How good it felt. If he hadn’t come with me, I wouldn’t be sitting here thinking about how much I want to feel his hands in other places.

Stop. It.

Dax is your best friend. You don’t want to mess things up with him.

“Have you started selling them online?” Dax asks, breaking me out of my thoughts.

“One ring at a time.”

“Do you think you’ll venture outside of rings?”

I laugh. “Eventually. I need to get rings down first and maybe make more than two a day. ”

The oven timer dings and we head back into the kitchen. “How can I help?”

“Want to grab the salads and take them over to the table?”

“Sure.”

My eyes watch Dax as he gets everything sorted on the card table. I tried to dress it up, but I didn’t have much to use aside from throwing a floral tea towel over it.

As I scoop out two steaming pieces of lasagna onto our plates, my eyes track Dax. He’s so at ease here. I’ve never noticed how efficiently or smoothly he moves in my space.

I like having him here. With the season getting ready to start, my time with him is going to be cut in half.

“Thanks for making dinner,” Dax says as we both sit down.

“Here’s to a great season.” I hold up my glass in cheers and we clink. “I’m going to miss you once the season starts.”

“You’ll be too busy building your empire to miss me. You’ll be all Dax who ?”

The corner of his mouth quirks up in an easy smile before he digs into his dinner.

Butterflies flutter low in my belly.

Okay, that is new. I have never reacted this way to Dax. He’s always been able to put me at ease.

“Me? Please. You’ll be too busy being the best player on the ice.”

“I like that you think that, Sunshine, but I don’t think I will be. There are a lot of players better than I am.”

“You’re too humble,” I say, cutting off a small bite of the casserole and savoring the garlic and tomato flavors.

“Honest. But I’m trying to improve.”

“You’re my favorite player if that means anything. ”

He smiles, starting the butterflies again. “You’re biased.”

“Biased or not, the Knights are lucky to have you.”

“Let’s not talk about me. What’s next on your list you want to accomplish?”

I don’t know why, but I don’t want to talk about the next thing. The sex club. It feels weird now. I bypass it entirely.

“I’m thinking of roller derby next. Maybe writing a poem.”

“Want me to try my hand at composing a poem right now?” Dax laughs.

“Think you can do it?” I set my fork down and lean back in my rickety chair.

“I remember how to write haiku.”

“Go for it.”

He looks around with an inquisitive look on his face before it lights up as it lands on me.

“This lasagna rules. The salad’s really good too. I love garlic bread.”

“Oh my God.” I choke on my laughter. “Dax. I can’t.”

“That was solid gold. It would break the world record on your list for best haiku ever written.”

I pat his hand. “Whatever you say, Dax.”

“You write me one then.”

“I do not write poems on demand.” I point a finger at him. “If I’m going to write something, I need time.”

“You’re worried it’s not going to live up to mine. It’s okay to admit it, Chloe.”

“Maybe I’ll write one about the Knights.”

Dax points his fork at me. “That one will take you time to perfect.”

“I’ll hit you with it when you least expect.”

We spend the rest of dinner talking about the upcoming season and how to expand my business.

This is what I love about Dax. He doesn’t tell me what I want to hear, but helps me with different ideas that can help.

I’ve watched him play since we became friends, so I know some about the game, but mostly it’s me encouraging him.

Sometimes as friends, that’s all we can do.

That and sending him home with leftovers so I know he’s fed.

“Are you sure you don’t want to keep these?”

I push the Tupperware dish into his hands. “Positive. I can’t eat all of that. I made it for you.”

“Thanks, Chloe.” He grabs the doorknob, ready to leave.

“See you later, Dax.”

I watch him walk to his car, not wanting him to go. I want to call him back and have him stay. Create silly poems with him. Talk jewelry and business. Nothing and everything.

As he pulls away and I close the door to my small apartment, it feels too big. Too quiet. Like it needs someone else in here with me.

Not someone.

Dax.