Page 8 of Game Changer (Wynn Hockey #5)

“That’s right. We can let you know if we have a cancellation, though.”

Molly’s hovering beside me anxiously. “I’m sorry,” she whispers. “It’s a big resort, I didn’t think it would be all booked. I can go somewhere else.”

There isn’t anywhere close by. The resort is on a large property on the coast. I sigh. “We’ll just share a room. Something will open up after the conference, I’m sure.”

Molly bites her lip. “Well, okay.”

I finish checking in, and we go to our room on the fourth floor.

“Ocean view!” Molly whisks straight to the big window and draws back the curtains. “Oh, this is beautiful!”

The resort sits atop a bluff next to the ocean, so the view is panoramic. The sun hangs low over the Pacific, gilding the blue with glints of silver and gold. It really is nice, but I almost enjoy Molly’s delight more than the view.

She unlocks the sliding door and opens it to step out onto the balcony. I follow and inhale the soft, fresh air. A couple of wicker chairs and a small table sit in the corner.

“Did you know the Pacific Ocean is the biggest ocean in the world?”

I grin. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I did know that. Also the deepest.”

“Yes. The Mariana Trench is the deepest ocean trench, deeper than the height of Mount Everest.”

“Which is…?”

She turns to me. “The height of Mount Everest?”

“Yeah.”

“Twenty-nine thousand, twenty-nine feet.” She rolls her eyes. “I can’t wait to get my feet wet in the ocean.” Eyes warm and soft, she adds, “Thank you for letting me come with you. For a while, I forgot about what a mess my life is.”

My heart softens. “Your life isn’t a mess. But good, I’m glad we’ve taken your mind off things. Now, we need to get ready for the party.”

“Oh! Are people going to be dressed up?” She sinks her teeth into her plump bottom lip, a small divot appearing between her eyebrows.

“Nah. Well, Chelsea will.”

Her eyebrows shoot up.

“I don’t mean that in a negative way. That’s just her.”

“Okay. I guess I can wear that sundress I bought earlier.”

“That’ll be fine.” Except the idea of her changing into a sundress in the room we’re sharing has every nerve ending in my body on alert. What the hell was I thinking?

Molly turns back to the room. “The room is lovely too.”

This resort is five stars, so yeah, it’s pretty nice. I picked it because it’s close to Dad’s place and to Matthew and Aline’s home where the party is tonight.

The king-size bed takes up a lot of space.

One bed.

What the hell are we going to do about that? There’s a sort of couch—a chaise, I think it’s called—but there’s no way in hell I’ll fit on that. But I’d feel guilty making Molly sleep there.

Again, what the hell was I thinking?

Well, we’ll worry about that later. “I’d like a shower,” I say. “Traveling makes me feel gross.”

“Go right ahead. I’m going to call my parents and let them know I’m okay. And Grace.”

I find my toiletry bag and lock myself in the huge bathroom, all marble and stone tiles. The shower is fantastic. I could stand under there for an hour, but there’s someone else who might want to use it.

My mind drifts to Molly in the shower…

Shit! What am I doing? She’s Chucky’s fiancée. Ex. But no matter. She’s still not someone I can be having wet, soapy fantasies about. Ever. We’re friends.

As I dry off, I realize I should have grabbed a change of clothes. I wrap a towel around my waist so I’m decent and open the door to release a cloud of steam.

“Next,” I announce, stepping into the room.

Molly’s already changed into her dress and is brushing her hair in front of the dresser mirror. Her eyes shift to me and widen, then blink rapidly. “Um…”

Her gaze tracks over my chest, the towel, then back up. I swipe at a water trickling down my shoulder.

“Right,” she says breathlessly.

Damn. I’m having shower fantasies about her, and she’s ogling me. This is a disaster in the making. I’m going to have to be on my best behavior. Not something I’m good at when it comes to women.

But this is Molly.

She looks so pretty in that dress—a flowery print in shades of orange and gold, a fitted top with tiny straps and a ruffled skirt.

She picks up the pink makeup bag she purchased earlier and disappears into the bathroom.

I dress at rapid speed in case she emerges from the bathroom, but she’s in there for a while.

I unpack a few things into the drawers Molly has left empty for me.

She’s filled a few with lacy lingerie I’m tempted to snoop through.

I was a gentleman and left her alone in the lingerie department at Target, but now I’m curious what she bought.

Jesus! Here I go again, thinking about Molly’s underwear.

I rub my face and check out the mini bar. I better not drink anything though; we had a few on the plane, and I’m driving the rental car we picked up at LAX.

Finally, she reappears, her hair in messy waves that look casually stylish, and makeup on her eyes again. And lips. They shine with a soft peachy gloss.

“I’m ready.”

“You look…great.” I attempt a casual compliment. She smells good too, like pink grapefruit.

“Thanks. You too.” She smiles at my khaki pants and navy shirt I left loose, sleeves rolled up.

“Okay. Let’s roll.”

She picks up her purse and a sweater. “Let’s make like a rock.”

I frown, holding the key to the car. “What?”

“Let’s make like a rock and roll.”

I drop my head forward in amusement. “Right, right. Sorry.”

She smacks my shoulder. “Keep up, Wynn.”

I grin, a sense of fun fizzing in my chest. I’m not even dreading seeing the family, which I should be.

It’s been a year, other than a few quick meetups when playing against the Golden Eagles when I can see my dad and play against my cousin JP, or when we play the Condors and I see my my other cousin Théo, who’s the manager of the Condors.

One thing I didn’t tell Molly about was the tense relationship I have with my dad.

My parents divorced when I was fifteen. It was a brutal time.

I blamed my dad for it. It had to be so hard for Mom.

I know the fact that I hated Dad really bothered her, but she never once criticized him.

To my face, anyway. She was a single mom, and a hockey mom for both Riley and me, which is extra hard.

As a teenager, I didn’t appreciate how difficult it had to be for her, and I probably still don’t because I’ve never been through that. And I never will.

So on top of seeing Grandpa, seeing Dad tonight isn’t something I’m all that stoked about either.

But Molly’s happy anticipation of this party where she knows no one is infectious.

Not sure how I’ll explain who she is and why she’s with me. Could be awkward, but we’ll figure it out.

The twenty-minute drive to Uncle Matt’s place in Rolling Hills is scenic, almost rural, winding through palm trees and scrubby hills with the odd mansion tucked into them, then through a more residential neighborhood.

I pull up in the big stone driveway of the house, a low ranch-style, which is full of cars, but I slip the rental car in behind a Beemer and turn off the engine. “We’re here.”

Molly slides out before I can open her door, but I close it for her, lock the doors with the fob, and lead the way through the white picket fence and up the paved sidewalk to the front door.

I take a breath. “Okay, if this gets too much for you, just let me know.”

Molly regards me skeptically. “You mean if it gets too much for you .”

“Ha. Maybe.”

Unexpectedly, she reaches for my hand and squeezes it. “It’ll be fine.”

“Famous last words.” I ring the doorbell.

A moment later, it opens. Aunt Aline peers out, her expression first blank, then her mouth opens into an O and she stares. “ Oh mon dieu! Jackson!” She opens her arms for a hug.

“What?” I hear my sister’s voice from inside. “Jackson?”

“Come in,” Aline says, stepping aside. “What a surprise!”

I motion Molly inside first, catching Aline’s curious look at her, then lead the way to the entrance to the big living room.

Riley rushes across the room toward me. I grin and hold my arms wide. “Surprise!”

Riley throws herself at me, and I wrap her up in a big hug. “Oh my God! I can’t believe you’re here!”

I squeeze her, affection swelling in my chest. “Hey, little sis.”

I lift my head. Jesus, the room is full. The family seems to have grown.

Dad makes his way across the room toward me, smiling. “Holy shit! What are you doing here, son?”

My gut clenches, but I shrug casually as I release Riley. “Thought I’d surprise you all by showing up a little sooner than I planned. Uh…” I glance over my shoulder, turn and gently draw Molly forward. “Hey everyone, this is Molly.”

The room goes silent, staring at her. Of course they think we’re “together.”

Molly lifts a hand, beaming. “Hi, Wynn family. Nice to meet you all.”