Page 11 of Offside and Off-Limits (Love in Maple Falls #2)

CLARA

I lean back against the seat of my car in the parking lot outside the arena, mid conversation, waiting for the rain that’s teeming outside in the dim early morning light to let up before I make my way into the office.

Tell me more about this new job of yours.

Me:

I thought we agreed not to share specifics?

ChronicWarrior88:

You’re right. You don’t need to give me details. I just want to know how you spend your days so I can picture you.

I smile at my phone. Chatting with Warrior has been the highlight of my day for months now and I love the way he shows concern for me, no matter whether it's to do with the kids or something going on in the town or, more recently, my new job. He's so different from the guys I meet who love to talk about themselves the whole time, telling me how awesome they are at whatever it is they’re bragging about—and in a small town like Maple Falls, it’s either hunting or fishing or hiking, or a combination of all three.

It's not like that with Warrior. He’s not once mentioned hunting or how big a fish he can catch when he's out with his buddies, or even how far he can hike.

All things guys seem to think we women are looking for in a relationship.

Instead, he's nothing but sweet and thoughtful and the best listener I know.

Me:

Since you asked, I spend my days getting content for social media, working out marketing strategies with my boss, and then posting a bunch of stuff and holding my breath, hoping it’ll hit with the fans.

ChronicWarrior88:

I bet you get a bunch of likes and comments, just like you do with your @CFSMomLife

My mind instantly turns to the huge number of likes and comments the accidental livestream involving me falling into Cade Lennox’s arms garnered. Not only were there many, almost too many to count, but from what I read, most of them weren’t about hockey or even dancing.

They were about me and Cade.

I refocus on my conversation.

Me:

Are you charming me again?

ChronicWarrior88:

You tell me.

He adds a heart emoji, and warmth spreads through my chest.

Me:

I couldn't possibly say.

ChronicWarrior88:

I'm going to take that as a yes and keep on charming you.

Me:

Ready when you are. To be charmed, that is.

ChronicWarrior88:

Talk about putting a guy on the spot. I'm out of touch. I don't go around charming women all that much these days.

Me:

I bet you do and you're just being modest. I bet you have them lining up.

ChronicWarrior88:

Is it conceited of me to admit that I used to before I got sick?

Me:

Honesty is always the best policy.

ChronicWarrior88:

I couldn't agree more. So yeah, I wasn't short on female interest, but these days, you’re the only woman I'm interested in charming.

A smile busts across my face.

Me:

See? Totally charming.

ChronicWarrior88:

I’m only being real, but thanks for noticing.

He adds a winking emoji, and I reply with a simple heart.

ChronicWarrior88:

I'm sorry to cut this short, but I need to head to bed. I'm super low on energy today.

Me:

I totally get it. I've been there myself. Sleep is key in your recovery.

ChronicWarrior88:

You're so wise. I wish you were in my life for real.

I bite down on my lip, my heart doing weird things in my chest.

Me:

I wish you were in my life for real, too.

ChronicWarrior88:

One day…

The words hang in the air between us.

Me:

One day.

Me:

Hey, I’ve got to get into work now. Talk tonight?

ChronicWarrior88:

Of course. Bye, beautiful

Me:

Bye

I click off my phone and let out a contented sigh. My chats with Warrior are precious. We may not have met in the flesh, but I know what I have with Warrior is as real as the day is long.

So why does guilt prick at me every time Warrior calls me beautiful? Why do I feel like I'm betraying him when my mind wanders to someone else entirely?

And that person is Cade Lennox.

Cade and his flirty comments and heated looks. Cade and his shirtless-ness with all those dang muscles of his.

My phone beeps again, and I see Bailey’s name.

Bailey:

Just catching up on your livestream. Girl, that man caught you like a romcom hero.

I press my lips together as my insides do an involuntary somersault, and against my will—and my better judgment—my thoughts drift to our last encounter.

The embarrassment I felt rolls over me once again, the moment when Cade pulled his front door open and I saw him standing there in all his bare-chested glory, sweat glistening on his muscular body, that ever-present flirty grin of his in place.

He knows I find him attractive. It's as obvious as a figure skating costume on an otter.

And try as I might—and I really, really tried—it was impossible not to let my gaze drop to those impressive pecs of his, those ridiculously wide shoulders, those shapely arms. This time, unlike when he strutted into the locker room wearing just a towel and a smile, he was only three feet away.

Really, there was nowhere else to look.

Okay, not nowhere else to look exactly, but it was hard not to notice, particularly when the feeling of being held in those big, muscular arms of his was so fresh in my memory.

And he’s so dang flirty! The looks he throws me, the way he called me Triple Threat, the things he says. I mean, of course I knew that about him before I even met the guy. He has a reputation. He's a flirt and a partier and a total womanizer. It's all over the media.

I couldn’t not know it.

And the way he looks at me, all smirky and sexy, with more eye contact than an interrogation expert? It just proves the fact that his reputation is spot on.

Which is precisely why I'm never going to act on my attraction to him. He's a red flag. No, scratch that. He’s a flashing red neon sign that says Bad Idea in 10-feet tall letters.

Me:

Talk about embarrassing. Never happening again.

Bailey:

The fans loved it.

Me:

That’s its one saving grace.

I pull up the Ice Breakers social media account and search for the livestream video, skimming the list of comments.

The GRIP he had on her waist? I need to lie down.

I don't even like hockey, but I've watched this 47 times. For the…err, skating technique.

OMG did anyone else see the way he looked at her when he caught her???

I twist my mouth and scroll on .

Me: I don't believe in love at first sight. Also me: watches this video again and again.

I let out a snort so loud it echoes off my car walls.

Love at first sight? Please . The only thing I fell for in this video was gravity, and let me tell you, gravity has zero romantic potential.

Of course it wasn't love at first sight, and not just because I'd already met Cade before this mortifying moment, which means technically it wasn't first sight at all.

And yes, I know I'm being pedantic.

Let’s be real here. I sure as heck wasn't gazing up at Cade Lennox with hearts in my eyes. I was looking at him with shock…and…and with gratitude. Yes, that’s what it was: gratitude. Gratitude for the simple fact that he intervened between me and the cold, hard reality of butt meeting ice.

And as for Cade, he didn't look at me with anything resembling love in his eyes. More like the same look I bet he gives every woman he encounters, aka the calculating gaze of a man who’s mentally filing away another conquest for his little black book.

That's not love, people. That's a predator sizing up his prey, albeit an irritatingly handsome predator who has somehow managed to get right under my skin.

I can do this. I can manage away the inconvenient attraction I have for the guy. I’ll just picture him in his underwear.

No, wait. That’s not helpful.

I’ll picture him as a giant baby in a diaper. Ha! Yes, that’s it. Cade as a giant baby in a diaper.

Done and done.

So, comment away, internet strangers. At the end of the day, Cade and I both know the truth: the only sparks flying were from his skate blades scraping against the ice as he caught me.

I scroll further and notice a comment from an account I recognize.

You've inspired so many of us! Living proof that chronic illness doesn't end your story !

Huh. I wasn't expecting that .

I started @CFSMomLife to document my own wellness journey, to connect with other people who understood the way chronic illness reshapes your life.

Of course falling into Cade's arms on a livestream wasn't exactly planned chronic illness representation, but seeing this comment, seeing that people in my community watched this moment and felt hope?

That's something I hadn't considered, and it hits me right in the heart.

I’m accidentally showing the world that chronic illness warriors can be more than their illness.

I tap out a quick reply.

@CFSMomLife:

You're right. Chronic illness may be part of our stories, but it’s not the end of it. We deserve all the joy and unexpected moments life has to offer.

Even if it’s falling into a known womanizer’s arms on the ice. I don’t type that last part, but I sure as heck think it.

I glance at the time on my phone. I’m due to meet Veronica in less than five minutes. With no let-up in the rain, I open my door, pop up an umbrella, and dash across the parking lot and into the offices, cursing as I step in a puddle, water splashing up my shin.

When I make it into the office, the whole place is abuzz with the news about Alexander MacDonald, the long-lost heir to Maple Falls and its surrounding land.

Since the emergency town meeting, everyone has been throwing ideas around about how to raise the money we need to save this town we love, including the idea of a bachelor auction that I know will be crazy popular.

People will come from all over the state and beyond to get the chance to buy a date with one of the team’s hunky hockey players, even if it is for just forty-five minutes.

These guys are all big stars we’re lucky to have on the newest team in the NHL—which, as it turns out, is the inspiration for my idea.