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Chapter Twenty-Five

PAYTON

The arena is packed with fans and children milling about.

Thanks to Sophie’s connections in Sarabella, this fundraiser looks to be our best to date.

Along with the usual concessions, the concourse is filled with game booths promising prizes and treats—all covered by our team owner.

Sophie even acquired donations from various businesses in town for a silent auction arranged in the main lobby.

The blokes and I set up a miniature hockey rink on one side of the ice, run by Coach Markelson and his wife.

At the other end, several of us are giving skating lessons.

I dare say, the woman Wade’s teaching appears more interested in his romantic talents than his skating abilities.

Must be his cowboy charm. And Elias and Mathéo have their hands full with a set of five-year-old twins.

The WAGs did a smashing job, making the place feel like a carnival without having to leave the cool indoors.

When I told Emalia about it, she was so impressed she insisted on helping and sent a very generous—and anonymous—donation.

I thought about telling her about my feelings for Lily but feel that would put Lily’s potential position with my sister at risk if things don’t work out between us.

As much as I want Lily to stay, if she decides to return to England, I have to prepare myself to let her go.

Speaking of whom, any moment now, Lily will appear with her rental skates so I can teach her how to skate.

More opportunity to be in close proximity to her, though I confess, the anticipation has me wound tighter than a spring.

I don’t know how much longer I have before she finds out the truth.

Or figures it out that I know she knows how I feel about her.

So, I’ve decided that’s my strategy today. To behave as if I’m in love with Lily and act accordingly. In other words, the truth. This isn’t a game for me anymore. I don’t believe it ever was.

I catch sight of Lily just as she glides out onto the ice toward me. Bloody hell, if the woman didn’t surprise me again by pretending she didn’t know how to lace her skates. Or even ice skate. She makes a circle around me and even snows my skates when she comes to a stop in front of me.

“You’ve clearly skated before, you little minx.” I grin at her, enjoying yet another facet of this intriguing woman.

Her mysterious expression compliments the rosiness of her cheeks from being on the ice. “One of my assignments required it.”

I watch for the hint of a joke and see none. “You’re not kidding, are you?”

She shakes her head. “Let’s just say that, on occasion, Olympic athletes need bodyguards, too.”

I spin around so I’m skating next to her and take her hand. Warm sparks shoot up my arm as she twines our fingers together. I tighten my hold, then lift her hand to my mouth for a kiss. “If I signed one of your NDAs, would you be able to tell me who?”

“Nope.” She gives me a cheeky grin, reigniting the embers simmering in my chest, waiting for another chance to kiss her lush lips. Especially as our embrace last evening has run on replay in my head ever since.

I tug her closer to me so I can whisper in her ear. “Then, by royal order?”

“He wasn’t British.”

A ‘he’? Hmm, and an athlete. I do hope she doesn’t have a type. “Bugger. Call me disappointed, then.”

She stops us on the ice, then lifts herself up on the toe picks of her skates and hovers her lips near mine. “Everyone’s watching us, so we’d better give them a show.”

Her words stop me from leaning in and tasting those soft lips again.

The team mingles all around us as they play their various roles, and she’s acting her part as my wife brilliantly.

But that’s just it. She’s playing a role—her silly little game.

But I don’t want to pretend. I want the real thing with this woman in the worst way.

She’s right there, waiting for me to follow through, so I give her a tender kiss—one I hope conveys some of what I’m feeling for her. “How’s that?”

Confusion dances in her eyes again, as if she’s unsure of her next move. “Payton, I?—”

Before she can continue, Luke skates over to us. “Soph says to keep it G-rated, since there are children around.”

I offer a sheepish grin. “Of course. I wouldn’t dream of doing anything inappropriate.”

Luke grunts, and then his face takes on that look I’ve only ever seen on the ice when he’s about to drop gloves and start swinging.

Lily inserts herself between us. “Tell Sophie she has nothing to worry about.”

His expression softens as he checks with her. “Nothing?”

“Absolutely.” She smiles, then nods as if she’s trying to reassure him.

Luke visibly relaxes. “Glad to hear that. She will be, too.” He pats me on the shoulder. “ We’re good, man.”

Then he skates off, leaving me utterly confused. “What was that about?”

“Nothing that concerns you. Just girl stuff.” That wild gleam returns to her eyes. I think I like this version of Lily best of all. She’s bold, challenging, and quite the temptress.

I take her hand and pull her back onto the ice. “Have any other tidbits you care to share about your mysterious life?”

She hums as she thinks. “I once stole a car.”

“No doubt out of necessity, right?”

“Oh, totally. It was that, or my principal would’ve gotten shot.”

I’m so flabbergasted, I skate to the boards and wrap my arms around her. Just the thought of her in danger throws my pulse into a fit. “Please tell me you don’t do these kinds of things all the time.”

She tilts her head up to look at me. “Not often, but it’s part of the job, Payton. It’s what I do.”

I brush my nose against hers, pleased she doesn’t stop me since no one’s paying attention to us at this point.

Somehow, we’ve wound up behind the Zamboni parked on the side for rides later.

It’s the perfect cover, and I’m tempted to kiss her properly, but instead, I press my lips against her temple, inhaling her sweet scent.

“What if you could choose to do something else? What would you do?”

She lifts one shoulder. “I don’t know. Never thought about it.”

I lean back so I can see her face. “What about the future? Do you ever think about settling down? Maybe getting married, having kids? You can’t very well be a mum and put yourself in danger like that?”

Her stricken expression slams me in the chest like an errant puck. I wish I could undo those last words, but it’s too late. She’s pulling away from me, and I’m the git who messed up our moment .

“We’d better go back to the group so we can keep up appearances.” Her tone is guarded and professional again.

Everything in me slumps. “Right.”

She skates away, leaving me to wonder if I’ve been a fool to think things could work between us. Maybe our worlds and what we want are too different after all.