Page 24 of Make Me Yours (Chicago Railers Hockey #1)

STEELE

I ’m adjusting my cuff links when the sharp click of heels striking the wood floor catches my attention. I turn, ready to throw out some smart-ass comment about how she always takes too damn long to get ready, when I catch my first glimpse.

That’s the exact moment everything inside me goes silent.

Lilah stands in the doorway, wrapped in the silver dress that was delivered earlier this afternoon. It’s sleek, hugging every curve like it was made for her. The fabric dips low in the front, showing just enough cleavage to make my fingers twitch with the need to touch.

Her hair is pinned up with a few loose tendrils left to frame her face, and her makeup is subtle yet flawless, her lips painted a pale pink.

The woman is a fucking knockout.

Something tightens inside me, making it hard to speak. “Jesus, lucky charm.”

With a tilt of her head, her lips curve into a smirk. “Does it look as good as you remembered?”

My feet are on the move before my brain can catch up. Once I’ve closed the space between us, my hand finds the small of her back.

“Even better.”

She stills, her gaze dropping to my lips.

It’s so damn tempting to lean in and kiss her. But I’m trying to give her time to figure out what she wants.

I close the distance between us just enough for my lips to brush against the shell of her ear. “You have to be the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” My voice drops, turning rougher. “I’m proud to have you on my arm tonight.”

I’m standing close enough to feel the shiver slide through her body.

“Thank you,” she says.

“Ready to go?”

“Yes.” There’s a pause before she adds, “Thanks again for the dress. You didn’t need to have it sent over.”

I pop a brow. “After seeing you in it at the photo shoot? Like hell I didn’t. It was made for you.”

“I appreciate it.”

Even though her voice is steady, her fingers tighten around her clutch.

Good.

I want her to be just as affected as I am.

The way I’ve always been where she’s concerned.

I grab my jacket from the hook near the door before placing a hand on her lower back as we walk to the private elevator. Every step we take, the slit in her dress parts just enough to catch a glimpse of her thigh.

The elevator doors glide open and she steps in first before I follow, hitting the button for the underground garage.

The second they slide shut, the small space amplifies the crackling tension between us.

The scent of her perfume hits me. It’s citrusy with a hint of vanilla.

I swear it’s something that’s been burned into my memory .

She doesn’t look at me, but her body is angled just enough that her bare shoulder brushes against my arm. The contact is light, barely there, but it short-circuits something in me.

It’s taking everything I have not to pull her into my arms and kiss her the way I’ve imagined for years.

But I don’t.

Because she’s not ready.

And once I lay my hands on her, there’s no going back.

“Steele?”

“Yeah?” I say, keeping my tone steady even as my pulse kicks up a notch.

She finally glances at me, and the tenderness in her eyes catches me off guard.

“Thank you,” she says. “For everything. Not just the dress, but for letting me stay with you and giving me a job. You’re always there when I need someone.”

I reach for her without thinking, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her gently into my side before dropping a kiss on the top of her head.

“I’ll always be there for you, Lilah. Always.”

She leans into me for just a second, and it sends a crack right through my resolve.

The elevator chimes, and the doors slide open with a quiet whoosh, spilling us into the cool, echoing space of the underground parking garage.

I click the fob for the Lamborghini, and the headlights blink. We walk side by side, our steps echoing on the concrete. Once we reach the car, I open the passenger door.

“Chivalry?” she teases, sliding onto the seat, her dress riding higher on her thigh as she settles on the buttery leather.

With my gaze locked on hers, I lean in. “You’re damn right. Only the best for my lucky charm.”

Even though she rolls her eyes, her smile lingers as I close the door and walk around to the driver’s side. The second I slide in, the scent of her perfume wraps around me again.

The engine purrs to life, and we ease out of the garage, merging onto Lake Shore Drive with the skyline glittering beside us. The lake reflects the lights of the city in fractured, shimmering ribbons.

The radio hums in the background, filling the space.

“We don’t have to stay for more than an hour or so,” I say, my hand resting on the gearshift close to her thigh.

She glances at me. “I’m sure there’ll be lots of people who want to meet you.”

“Maybe. Doesn’t change the fact that you’re the only one I want to talk to.”

Her lips curve as she rests her head against the cushion. “Rina isn’t about to let that happen.”

“You’re probably right about that.” I flick a glance her way. “Guess we’ll just have to avoid her for the night.”

We’re less than five minutes away from arriving at a charity event full of cameras, reporters, and half of the city’s most influential movers and shakers.

Right now, all I want is more time with Lilah in this car to pretend the rest of the world doesn’t exist. She looks so damn good, I just want to keep her all to myself.

As soon as I pull up to the front entrance of the building, a valet rushes around to open my door as another one helps Lilah out of the vehicle. The second we step onto the red carpet, cameras go off like fireworks.

Reporters shout my name, tossing out questions, trying to pull my attention to them, but I don’t give a damn about the press. My focus is entirely centered on Lilah. It’s on the way her fingers tighten around my arm and the way she stays close as the crowd surges forward.

Even though she’s been to a few events with me when she’s in between boyfriends, she’s not used to this kind of rabid attention.

I lean down, my lips brushing against her ear. “You okay?”

She nods, but I feel the tension in her body, in the way she grips my sleeve just a little too tightly. I do the only thing I can and make sure she knows she’s not alone. My hand slides from her waist to the small of her back, pulling her in closer.

The cameras eat it up as reporters ask if we’re together.

It’s tempting to tell them we are, but I keep my mouth closed. The last thing I want to do is scare Lilah away.

Let them talk and speculate.

I don’t give a shit.

Just as we’re finishing up, Zane and his reality star girlfriend arrive in a sleek black limo. The press surges toward them, screaming both of their names, hurtling too many questions for them to possibly answer.

Zane struts in wearing a fur coat and oversized, blinged-out sunglasses. Thick gold chains glint around his neck under the burst of camera flashes. Beside him, his girlfriend wears a sheer dress that leaves absolutely nothing to the imagination.

If their intention was to make a spectacle of themselves, they’ve succeeded. With a shake of my head, I steer Lilah inside the building.

The venue is all crystal chandeliers and flickering candlelight, a live band playing something slow and smooth in the background.

I scan the room, and spot Rina at the far end talking with Oliver.

Although, it looks more like she’s reading him the riot act.

No surprise there. I’m pretty sure my teammate exists solely to drive our PR manager insane.

You’d think by now Oliver would’ve figured out that life would be a hell of a lot easier if he just did what she wanted.

“I don’t think we’ll have to worry about Rina tonight.” I point to where they’re standing. “Looks like she already has her hands full.”

“Actually, she looks ready to strangle him.”

“What else is new?”

A smile quirks Lilah’s lips as her blue eyes settle on me. “It’s okay if you need to circulate. There are a lot of important people here.”

“Nah.”

Maybe.

All right, fine. I should probably say hello to Hugh, and network with a few of the high-profile sponsors. Otherwise, I’ll be the one who gets an earful from Rina in the morning.

And that’s never a fun experience.

Been there.

Done that.

I’m about to suggest Lilah come with me, when I catch sight of the dance floor and a different idea takes form.

I lean down, my voice low against her ear. “Come dance with me.”

She pulls back in surprise. “I’m sorry, since when do you do that?”

“Since I have a beautiful woman on my arm.” Already, I’m leading her toward the space set aside for music and movement.

Lilah’s hand fits perfectly in mine as I guide her toward the edge of the floor. The low thrum of music pulses through the ballroom, softened by the ambient lighting and the warm glow from the crystal chandeliers overhead. The hum of laughter and conversation surrounds us.

Once I carve out a space, I pull her into my arms until her body fits perfectly against mine. One hand finds her waist while the other threads through her fingers.

A faint exhale escapes her as she rests her cheek against my chest .

Her silver dress clings to every curve, the fabric brushing lightly against my suit with each sway.

But it’s not just the way she feels pressed against me that unravels me.

It’s the way she tilts her head back, eyes locking on mine like I’m the only person in the room.

Like I’m the only one who’s ever mattered.

My movements are smooth and easy. I might not like to dance, but my mother made sure I learned when I was in high school.

Don’t think I didn’t hear a lot of shit talk from my teammates when they found out.

There’s something about holding her in my arms that feels different tonight.

Like maybe, for the first time, she could really be mine.

All the patience, all the years of waiting, has finally led here.

To her .

Right where I always hoped we’d be.

I tighten my grip as my thumb brushes over her hip.

“Did I mention earlier that you look pretty handsome?” she murmurs with a half-smile.

“I think we both know I’m not a fan of tuxes,” I say, pulling her a little closer. “But for you? In that dress? Totally worth it.”

She laughs. The sound is delicate and unsure, but it dies on her lips as my gaze drops to her mouth, and for a beat, everything else falls away. The air thickens as her expression shifts. A flicker of something raw flashes across her face.

As if she’s finally starting to feel the pull between us too.

The gravity that’s been dragging us closer with every heartbeat.

My hand tightens at the small of her back as I lean in. That’s all it takes for her to falter, her lips to part, and?—

“Steele.”

I blink as Rina’s voice cuts through the moment like a burst of cold air. I turn to find her standing at the edge of the floor, tablet in hand, her expression apologetic.

“Hugh is looking for you.” Her red lips curve as she glances between me and Lilah. “There are a few donors he wants you to meet.”

My hand stays anchored to the small of Lilah’s back, my body angled toward hers. “Does it have to be right now?”

Rina lifts a brow in amusement. “Unless you want to field a strongly worded text from Evelyn in shouty caps… yeah. Now.”

I glance down at Lilah to find her gaze fixed on my chest, as if she can’t quite bring herself to meet my eyes. When she finally does, her smile is cautious.

“I’ll grab a drink,” she murmurs. “You go charm the big shots.”

The casual tone doesn’t fool me. Not when there are questions written in her eyes that she’s not quite ready to ask out loud.

I lean down, brushing a kiss against her cheek, my lips lingering for just a second longer than appropriate. “I’ll find you as soon as I’m done.”

She nods, eyes darting away. “Okay.”

I hate that I have to let her go, even for a second.

Before I can say anything more, Rina links her arm through Lilah’s and guides her away. “Come on. You owe me a few answers.”

Lilah groans. “Rina.”

As they disappear into the crowd, Lilah tosses an unsteady look at me over her shoulder, as if she’s feeling the shift too, and isn’t sure what to do about it.

But that’s okay.

Because I am.

And I’ll make damn sure she never has to doubt it.