Page 3 of Crossing the Red Line (Vancouver Dominators)

Ella

I climbed out of the hot water and wrapped myself in one of the large plush towels, then grabbed another and wrapped it around my head. I felt a million times better and way more relaxed after that bath—and the rest of my glass of wine.

I glanced at myself in the mirror, taking in the worry on my face.

What was I worried about? Perhaps it would have helped me to have more of a backstory.

Maybe what was really bothering me was the fact I had jumped into this with my eyes closed, like I had done with everything in my life since Lucas and I had ended.

That was probably why I was still single.

I’d made one poor decision after the next in my love life and personal life.

For some strange reason, when Lucas suggested this idea, I didn’t want to let him down.

I knew exactly what this sort of pressure from family felt like.

My father was the same, always throwing in his two cents about the fact all my friends were getting married, and then there was me.

I let out a sigh; I felt almost sick with nerves. I inhaled deeply, taking in the powerful scent of the lavender oil I’d used in my tub, exhaling slowly, trying to calm myself a little. I guess if Lucas was okay with things the way they were, then I should just relax and go with the flow.

I squeezed some moisturizer into my hands and was about to rub it on my legs when my phone pinged.

I opened up my messages to see that Aurora had posted in our group chat with Lorelai.

They’d welcomed me into their group with open arms after one of the Dominators’ functions at the beginning of the season.

While I was hesitant at first to befriend anyone who worked with the team because of who my father was and, of course, my past with Lucas, the girls were persistent.

Once I learned Lorelai was the little sister to Phil, and that both the girls were dating two of the players on the team, Dylan Hayes and Knox Evans, I decided it might not be so bad.

I hadn’t told them about my past with Lucas, mainly because I didn’t want to hear that I should give him a second chance. I’d heard that enough from my other friends. Lately, I’d heard it from my father as well, which had shocked me after he’d been so angry from the initial incident.

As I read the message, I realized that this weekend the three of us had planned on shopping, dinner, and then going to the movies since the team was on a set of away games.

I knew Aurora had been looking forward to getting out. Her morning sickness had been so bad she’d basically been bedridden, and since she had finally started feeling better, she had been looking forward to dinner out at The Lighthouse.

I let out a sigh. I really had messed this up, hadn’t I. I’d snuck off without so much as a word to anyone, and now I would have no choice but to explain to them where I was—and with who.

Quickly, I hit respond and explained I was feeling under the weather, wondering if we could plan to go on Monday instead. Almost immediately, they both understood, agreed to the date change, and wished me well.

“You just about ready?” I heard Lucas question outside the bathroom door.

I glanced at myself in the bathroom mirror. “Give me half an hour.”

I heard him mutter something about this being one reason we’d ended and why he wasn’t in a relationship as he walked away. I just rolled my eyes.

Twenty minutes later, my hair dried and styled, I slipped into the green dress I’d brought for tonight and then took a moment to look at myself in the mirror, smoothing out the material.

Then I slipped my feet into the black heels I’d brought, grabbed my clutch, and took off toward the common area of the suite.

Lucas lay on the couch watching the hockey game, wearing dress pants and a shirt, and just as I entered, he shouted at the TV as he glanced quickly in my direction. He was about to look back at the TV, but stopped and took a second look at me, his eyes skimming my body.

“Holy shit, Larson, you clean up pretty good,” he said, sitting up and shutting the TV off, his eyes still glued to me.

“Thank you, but you know that already. I figured I’d better look good. After all, it is the first time seeing your mother again after we’ve gotten back together.” I winked.

Lucas chuckled as he stood up and grabbed the key card off the table, shoving it into his suit jacket.

“Alright, I’m glad to see you are on board with everything.”

“I’m just trying to have fun and get in the game.”

“Great. It will make it more believable that way.” He grabbed my ass as he went to open the door, causing me to jump.

Lucas broke out in laughter as I turned and glared at him. Then he shrugged his shoulders and winked at me. “Remember, believable, and if you were mine again, my hands would be glued to you every chance I got.”

“Too bad they weren’t the first time,” I said, feeling my cheeks heat at his comment.

“Not going to let my want to follow my dreams go, are you?” he asked.

“Want to follow your dream? Please, you were going to the NHL regardless, and you knew it. You just made me feel second place is all, but I’m over it. Now, let’s go meet your mother.”

Neither of us said a word to one another in the elevator. Lucas stood there looking forward, and I stood there feeling awful about what I’d said. We had both been to blame for our breakup. I had no reason to be a bitch to him, yet I hadn’t been able to help myself.

When we stepped off the elevator, each of us looked in the opposite direction to find the restaurant. There was nothing but stores in the direction I was looking, and when I went to tell Lucas that, I felt him take my hand in his.

“This way.”

We made our way through the restaurant, Lucas leading the way. Finally, he paused and glanced over his shoulder at me.

“You ready?”

I smiled, hoping this wasn’t a huge mistake, and nodded as he pulled me up beside him. There in front of us sat his mother and sisters, all of them staring at us in shock.

“Mom, you remember Ella,” Lucas said, his hand resting on the small of my back. “Ella, you remember my mother, Dorothy, and my sisters, Janice and Corinne?” He nodded toward the two girls who sat there looking dumbfounded.

“Ella, it’s wonderful to see you, darling,” Lucas’s mother said, taking hold of my hand and then pulling me in for a hug.

“You as well,” I said, feeling my body tense as she hugged me.

His mother had barely let me go when I faced his first sister, Janice. She gave me a questioning look as she, too, gave me a hug, welcoming me. When she let go, Corinne stepped in front of me. She looked me up and down and then placed her hands on her hips and turned toward Lucas.

“Ella Larson? Your ex-girlfriend from your college days? Guy Larson’s daughter?” She pursed her lips, looking at me.

Alarm bells went off inside me as she turned toward her brother. Corinne had never really liked me, but she acted as if I were a different person just because her brother now played for the team my father owned.

“What?” his mother said, turning back toward us.

I could feel my heart beating so hard I felt as if I were going to faint. Lucas didn’t falter, instead he wrapped his arm around my waist, which I was thankful for, and cleared his throat.

“I know what you all must be thinking. Yes, this is Guy Larson’s daughter. I am dating my boss’s daughter, but remember, I have dated her before,” he said proudly. “Which, to be honest, is why we have kept it so hush-hush. We had to, you know, to keep it out of the media.”

Thank god he’d come up with that because I was just about to blurt out everything to relieve the stress I was feeling.

“Do you really think this is a good idea, Lucas?” Corrine asked. “Things have changed. Ella was once just Ella. Now you are dipping your stick in the—”

“Do you think I care? I can’t help who I fall in love with,” he blurted, cutting her off.

“It’s your career. You should fucking care. You worked hard to get to where you are and have been with the Dominators for your entire career. I don’t think the owner would be happy to know you are scre—”

“Whoa, Corinne, that is enough,” Lucas’s mother said, stepping in. “Ella, darling, why don’t you come and sit with me?” she said, guiding me over to an empty chair, while Lucas slipped into the one beside mine.

Lucas’s mother asked us some questions while we looked over the menu and finally placed an order. I answered each question but could still feel Corinne staring at me with questioning eyes.

The moment the table quieted, she looked at her brother and I and cleared her throat. “So, what do the guys on the team think about you doing the owner’s daughter? That must cause some tension in the locker room,” she said, resting her chin on her palm.

“Not really. That is why we’ve kept it so hush-hush,” Lucas said.

It was then I placed my hand on his forearm.

“Yes, it was my idea, to be honest. I see how Lucas is with his teammates, and I really didn’t want any tension between them.

As for my father, he approved of Lucas when I was younger.

I can’t imagine his thoughts would have changed over the years.

Remember, he isn’t only Lucas’s boss but mine as well, and my father cares more about the team than anything.

A player like Lucas is an asset. We haven’t told my father we are back together yet and probably won’t until the end of the season.

I don’t want to disrupt the team’s winning streak either. ”

“Is that because you care more about your father than my brother?” Corrine asked, tapping her fingers on the table.

“Not at all. Lucas cares about the team and the playoffs, and he has asked me if it’s okay for us to wait to share about our coming back together. Since it’s important to him, I want to respect his wishes.”

“Oh, please,” Corinne mumbled, rolling her eyes.

“Corinne, that is enough,” Dorothy barked.

“Ella, that shows me you care about my son very much. When my daughters started dating their significant others, they both wanted the entire world to know. There was no keeping them quiet about it. I can see you aren’t the same as my daughters.

I really admire that you will keep the news about your relationship with Lucas quiet, even though I’m sure in the hockey circles it’s an enormous deal.

You want to let other women know he’s taken.

However, the fact that you care more about him and his love for the game and his relationships with his teammates than sharing the news that you two are together tells me you are one special girl, and I hope my Lucas knows that. ”

“Of course I know that, Mom,” Lucas chimed in.

I turned to him, gently smiled, and was about to say something to his mother when the servers arrived with our food.

Within minutes, everyone was eating, and wine had been poured.

I worked hard to reconnect with his sisters, and shortly after dessert had been served, Janice and even Corinne came around and started sharing pictures of their kids with me.

I don’t know how it happened but before long, I had agreed to an invitation to spend Christmas and New Year’s with Lucas and his family.

I was having such a good time that it made me sad when Lucas tapped me on the shoulder and leaned into me, letting me know the time. I glanced down at my watch to see it was almost nine thirty.

“You’re dragging her away?” Corinne questioned, looking up at her brother.

“I am. It’s not too often we get to spend the nights together, if you catch my drift.” He winked.

“Ugh, please, I don’t want to know anything about your sex life,” Janice said, holding up her hand, causing me and Corinne to laugh.

“That’s good, because I wasn’t sharing,” he answered.

“Okay, so we will see you guys at Christmas then,” Janice and Corinne said at the same time.

I smiled and nodded, but out of the corner of my eye, I caught the look on Lucas’s face. In my heart I felt bad, because I knew this was all fake, and I had always really liked his sisters and his mother.

“Actually, we should get together tomorrow and do some shopping,” Corinne said, looking at her mother and sister.

“That is a great idea,” Lucas’s mom said, looking at the pair of us.

I looked up at Lucas and waited for his lead before I agreed to go. He paused for a moment, almost like a deer in headlights. I was certain he had figured tonight would be fine and then tomorrow we would just go back to being Lucas and Ella. He nodded and then smiled down at me.

“Lucas, you better be there tomorrow,” Janice said, standing up to give her brother a hug.

I watched as Lucas hugged Janice, then Corinne, and then his mother. It warmed my heart knowing he had such a caring family, something I wished I had. My father had always supported me, but if my mother had stuck around, perhaps he wouldn’t have become so bitter.

“Ella, darling, I’m happy to see you are back in Lucas’s life. He missed you, and I know you are the right choice for him, even if he didn’t see it the first time,” Dorothy said, pulling me in for another hug.