Page 18 of Breakaway (Nashville Knights Hockey #3)

Chapter Eighteen

CHLOE

“ Y ou know, when you suggested a date, this isn’t quite what I had in mind.”

“Want something fancier?” Dax asks.

“No. This is perfect.” The sun is starting to dip closer to the river. People are milling around and heading across the bridge to Broadway. “Absolutely perfect first date.”

I stab my fork into the box of to-go noodles we picked up after the game—a shutout for the Knights at 5-0, with Dax scoring two goals.

“Would we consider this our first date?” Dax asks.

“What else would it be?”

“The sex club.”

“Dax.” I bump his hip with mine. “We cannot tell people our first date was at a sex club!”

“Probably the most unique first date, don’t you think?” He waggles his brows at me.

“I’m making it official. This is our first first date and nothing else. Just you and me and no one else.”

“Okay.” He drapes his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. “And I’m glad it’s officially this as our first date because I don’t want to be around other people tonight.”

The regular season started two weeks ago, and since that day in the park, Dax and I haven’t had as much time together as we would have liked. Grabbing dinner from a food truck and walking along the river after his game? I’ll take whatever I can get. And this is pretty perfect to me.

“Hey, great game, Dax!” someone calls out as we stroll along the river.

He waves in return. “Thanks, man.”

“You know, you did have a really good game tonight.” I wrap my arm around him as we keep walking.

“I could have done more.”

“Stop it. You’re allowed to give yourself more credit than that, at least with me. I know how hard you’ve been working and it’s showing. Two goals and an assist in the third period? That’s incredible.”

Pink creeps up his cheeks. Even if I tell him to take the credit, it’ll still be hard for him. “That was great teamwork.”

“They’re lucky to have you.” I spot an empty bench ahead. “Want to sit?”

“Sure.”

He drops a kiss on my cheek before I bound over to take a seat. Dax pulls me in close to him, every inch of his side touching mine. He wolfed down his own dinner before we even made it to the river—no doubt because of the game—and I relish being wrapped up in his arms like this.

It’s the most innocent of touches, but it makes me feel alive. I can’t remember the last time I felt something so good. So right.

Being with Dax just makes sense.

He heaves out a sigh, fingers trailing a warm path up and down my arm. Goose bumps break out in his wake. I really could get used to his touch.

“About the gala tomorrow night…” Dax asks, breaking me from my thoughts.

“You’re not uninviting me, are you?” I ask, wiping my hands and resting the empty container next to me.

“No, but I did hear that Genevieve might perform.”

My eyes go wide. “Wait, really? I love her new song.”

“Which one is that?” Dax asks. “You know I don’t listen to her.”

“It’s ‘Wildflower in the Weeds.’ You know, I'm a wildflower, blowing with the wind, never knowing where I’ll be, take me as I am, a wildflower in the weeds? That one.” I sing the first few lines for him.

A knowing smile slides into place. “I know the song. I just wanted to see if you’d sing it for me.”

I grab his shirt and pull him close. “It’s a good thing you’re cute.”

“Only cute?”

“Cute. Hot. Sexy.”

“Better.”

He gives me a featherlight kiss that makes my insides sing with joy. My toes curl. If this is a hint of what’s to come, I can’t wait.

“Back to the gala. What’d you want to tell me?”

“Marcus said Harper and Stevie are going to get ready at the hotel if you want to join them. I figured I could get us a room there together to spend the night.”

A sly smile slips onto my face. “Why does it feel like you’re asking me to prom and then we’re going to have sex?”

Dax bursts out laughing. “Only you, Chloe.”

“What?” I lean back. “That’s what it feels like. I never got the real prom experience. No corsage. Just a drunk guy who picked me up in a limo and then couldn’t dance with me.”

I don’t need to tell Dax who it was. He already knows.

“Well then. I will try to right these wrongs that were done to you back in high school. Give you the true prom experience.”

“Being with you is enough,” I say. “Getting to dress up and be on your arm and maybe listen to my favorite singer? It’ll be the perfect night.”

Dax’s warm hand cups my cheek. His brown eyes are soft as a small smile curls his mouth.

How could I have been so oblivious to how this man looks at me? Maybe I didn’t want to believe it, but now that we’re here, I don’t know how I missed it.

The tender way Dax always looks at me makes me feel seen. This is what I’ve been missing for so many years. To sit with someone and know I’m cared for.

I never had that with Duncan. With Dax I’ve felt it every day we’ve been together, even the days we’re apart.

I close the distance between the two of us, sealing my mouth over his. It’s the sweetest kiss. One full of promise but also need. A hunger for this man that starts low in my belly and keeps growing as Dax deepens the kiss.

Each swipe of his tongue strikes the match that burns the fire inside of me. I lean into his touch. Craving more. My fingers play with the soft hairs at the nape of his neck. His thumb presses into the throbbing pulse of my neck.

“Dax.” I pull away, breathless. “We can’t do this here.”

Lust fills his eyes. “You’re saying I can’t kiss you, Sunshine?”

“You better kiss me, Dax. All I want is for you to kiss me. But if we keep going…”

“Right. We can save it for tomorrow.”

“It might be my favorite part. ”

Dax narrows his eyes at me. “Might be? What else could be your favorite?”

“Do I have to tell you?” I snicker.

“By not telling me, you did,” he groans.

“Maybe if you can introduce me to Genevieve if she does perform, you’ll be my favorite part.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”