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Chapter Twenty-Two

Trent

W hen Jemma opens the door, my jaw practically unhinges at the sight of her in a short black dress that rides up her killer legs. She’s wearing red heels that match the color of her plump lips I want to kiss.

I’m a lucky man .

Her green eyes widen as she rakes over my body. “Well, don’t you look handsome?”

I wear an Armani suit, a white Oxford, and black wingtips. I even stayed my hair with gel for the occasion.

I offer her a bouquet of red roses. “You look beautiful.”

Why am I so nervous?

I’m so afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing with her. I can’t blow my shot. Well, I didn’t do anything wrong last time. But still…

Jemma fills a vase with water and arranges the bouquet on the table, and then we’re on our way. I lead her out of Penn Hall and through the Quad, where students gawk at us. We look damn good, all dressed up.

“What do you have up your sleeve tonight?” Jemma asks.

“You’ll see,” I tease. “Have patience, gorgeous.”

She shoots me a curious expression when I stop in front of the stretch limo waiting for us at the curb. The driver opens the door for Jemma.

“Good evening, Miss Walcott,” he says.

Jemma smiles and says hello. She glances over her shoulder at me, shock scrolling across her beautiful face.

I place my hand on her shoulder. “Ladies first.”

Jemma shakes her head, a smile tugging at her mouth. “You’re up to something, Trenton Kane.”

I laugh at her use of my full name. “Just making up for lost time.”

I’m not one to half-ass things. Tonight has to be perfect—like Jemma and her fine ass in this dress. I close my hand into a fist and bite down on it, my eyes focusing on Jemma as she climbs into the limo. It’s hard not to think of the dirty things I want to do with her.

Once inside the limo, I slide across the leather bench. Our thighs touch, the heat from her body warming mine. Jemma folds her hands on her lap, staring at the mini bar with a bottle of champagne chilling on ice.

I grab the bottle and two glasses from the granite top. “Want a drink?”

“Yes, please.”

I fill two glasses of champagne for us and hand one to Jemma, who clutches the stem with a shaky hand. At least we’re both nervous. Now, I feel like less of a loser for being so damn freaked out over this date.

“I have to say something.” I turn to Jemma, and she sips from her glass. “I want you to have fun tonight. There’s no pressure. I want to show you a good time, and then I’ll walk you to your door. I don’t expect anything more.”

“What about a goodnight kiss?”

“I guess it depends on how you feel about me when I take you home.”

“A date usually ends with a kiss,” she whispers.

Only a few inches separate us, our mouths so close together now I can feel her breath on my lips. The air hums with an electric sensation that spreads up my arms, heat warming my face.

“It’s a good thing I plan to make this the best date you’ve ever had.”

She winks. “So far, so good.”

T en minutes later, we park at the Wells Fargo Center, where the Philadelphia Flyers play hockey. I begged my dad to help me with my date. Since he’s the Flyers general manager, getting a few hours alone was easy. And he always has good ideas when it comes to unique dates.

Jemma glances out the window, her mouth opens in shock. “What are we doing here? Are we seeing a show?”

“It’s a surprise.”

I lead Jemma toward the side entrance. Murph, a man in his late seventies, waits for us. He’s worked at the Wells Fargo Center since my father played for the Flyers.

Since I’ve never been on an actual date, I asked Mr. Romance, aka my dad, to give me a few pointers. He’s always doing something special for my mom, something way over the top, so I knew he would have a plan for me to impress Jemma.

“Mr. Kane,” Murph says as he ushers us inside. He looks at Jemma and gives her a quick smile. “And who is this beauty?”

She blushes, holding out her hand for him to shake. “Hi, I’m Jemma.”

“Stop hitting on my girl, Murph.”

I laugh, and so does he. The old man is like a grandfather to me.

Jemma raises her eyebrows. “I’m your girl? How presumptuous.”

“By the end of the night, you will be.”

She chuckles. “Such an arrogant ass.”

“It’s part of the Kane charm.”

Murph escorts us through the halls until we reach our destination, and then he mutters good luck under his breath. I remove a silk scarf from my pocket. It’s red to match the color of Jemma’s hair. As I slip it over Jemma’s eyes, she reaches for the fabric.

“What are you doing, Trent?”

“Do you trust me?”

Jemma bites her lip. “Um… In theory, I guess.”

“You’ll love it,” I promise. “Just go with the flow.”

She gulps. “Okay.”

Jemma allows me to tie the scarf over her eyes, and then I take her hand, leading her to the main floor, right at the ice’s edge.

The Flyers played at home last night. My dad convinced the crew to leave the synthetic ice for a few more hours before switching to the hardwood for the Sixers game tomorrow night.

Jemma rubs her hands down her arms, a shiver running through her. “Why is it so cold in here?”

I’m used to the cold. I could sit here in a pair of shorts and think nothing of it.

“Okay, so don’t freak out,” I whisper in her ear. “We’re about to step onto the ice.”

“Ice?” Jemma screams and attempts to pry the scarf from her eyes. “What are you talking about?”

I squeeze her shoulders to calm her down, and she leans back against my chest. I wrap one arm around her waist and rip the scarf away from her eyes. Her eyes widen as she searches the large, open room with seating for twenty-five thousand people. And we have it all to ourselves.

She gasps at the candlelit table at center ice. “Trent, you shouldn’t have. Wow! This is incredible.”

I owe this to her after the twin mixup before Thanksgiving break. Jemma deserves a thousand dates like this one.

Her mouth opens, but the words seem to fail her. Even I’m surprised by how well this turned out. My dad told me to leave everything to him, and he exceeded my expectations.

I lift Jemma into my arms because I can’t risk her falling on her face in those heels.

She tilts her head back, holding my gaze, and smiles. “I had no idea you could be so…”

“Romantic,” I say as I walk to the table. “I can’t take all the credit. My dad helped me plan this for you.”

“You’re changing my mind about you. I had you pegged for a player. I guess I was wrong.”

“Oh, I’m a player, all right. Except now, I have a reason to be… something more.”

“I like this side to you.”

She nestles her face in the crook of my neck, her lips softly brushing against my skin. My pulse races, the simple sensation creating a brush of heat along my skin.

I set Jemma on the ice next to the table, grabbing her by the hips as she regains her balance.

I push her chair into the table before taking my place beside her. “I hope you like Italian food.”

“I’ll eat just about anything.”

She stares into the stands. “I still can’t believe you did this for me.”

“I’m hoping you’ll give me another chance.”

Her cheeks redden, the corners of her mouth turning into a grin. “I’d like that.”

Oh, thank God.

Our server pours glasses of water and wine before setting salads and bread before us.

“This is so good,” Jemma says, clutching her fork between her fingers. “I never knew a salad could be so delicious.”

I laugh between bites. “Dolce is one of my favorite restaurants. We should go for our second date, but I already have something else planned.”

“Is that so?” Jemma speaks between bites. “Where do you plan to take me next time?”

I set my fork at the edge of my plate and sit back in my chair.

“If I’d told you where we were going tonight, it would have ruined the surprise.

The look on your face when you saw the ice was priceless.

You’ve never looked more beautiful. So, I think I’ll keep my ideas for our second date to myself. At least for now.”

She’s glowing, her face illuminated. “I’m glad I was wrong about you.”

“And I’m glad you bid on me at the auction.”

“You looked so sad on the stage with no one bidding on you. I couldn’t help myself.”

“Perfect,” I huff. “A pity date.”

She knows I’m kidding and laughs. “It’s not a pity date. But I saved you from embarrassment.”

“Yeah, that was weird. I’ve never had girls not bid on me at the auction.”

“Sorry about that. I suspect my sisters had a hand in your lack of interest.”

“Way to bruise a man’s ego,” I quip. “What did I ever do to any of the Kappa Delta girls?”

She shrugs. “Abby isn’t your biggest fan, and my Big Sister, Shannon, warned me to stay away. So, I don’t know, you tell me.”

“Nothing I can think of. Shannon is dating Jamie. She spends a lot of time at our house. She’s never acted weird with me. Jamie told her some stories, and now she has it in her head that I’m not good enough for her Little Sister.”

“I think Jordan and Abby made it happen. A few days before the auction, I told my sister I wanted to be with you. But I wasn’t ready to tell you. I suppose she was giving me the push I needed.”

“I guess I owe her one.”

Our dinner arrives, cutting off our conversation. Jemma moans when she sinks her teeth into the delicious gnocchi served in a creamy Gorgonzola sauce. My taste buds awaken with each bite of the cheesy potato dumplings.

With her mouth full of food, she points her fork at the plate. “This is so good. Oh my God… it’s better than sex.”

I laugh. “Not better than sex with me.”

She shakes her head. “You’re so cocky.”

“Nah, just confident. Tell me I’m wrong?”

She blushes. “Sex with you is better.”

We fill our bellies with so much food my side hurts when we finish with dessert. I don’t usually make a habit of stuffing my face before ice skating, but we only have an hour left until we have to clear the floor.

I slide my chair out from the table. “Do you know how to skate?”

She stares into the expanse of the arena. “I don’t know. I’ve never done it before.”

“It’s like roller skating, but on blades instead of wheels.”

“I never roller skated.”

I stand, my hand outstretched to her. “Just hold on to me, and I’ll do all the work.”

“What if I fall?” Jemma scans the rink with a worried expression on her face. “Looks like it will hurt.”

“I won’t let you fall.”

Peeking up at me beneath her long lashes, she places her hand in mine, the trust between us slowly rebuilding. I help her across the ice and to the penalty box, where my dad said he would leave our skates.

“I guessed your size.”

We sit on the bench, and I hand her a pair of skates.

“I hope they fit.”

I lace up my skates and bend down on one knee in front of her to slide a sock onto her foot.

“I feel like Cinderella right now.” Her beautiful laughter fills the air. “Except instead of a glass slipper, you’re fitting me for skates.”

Laughing, I slip another sock onto her foot. She squirms as my fingers brush her skin. I help her into her skates and lace them up.

I look into her eyes and smile. “Perfect fit.”

“You guessed right.”

“I had Jamie do some recon for me. Shannon checked your shoe size. I didn’t want to ruin the surprise by asking you.” I push myself up from the floor and extend my hand to her.

She slips her fingers between mine, clinging to my side as we step onto the ice. Her fear shakes me, and I try to steady her nerves.

“I can’t believe you’ve never skated before,” I say as we glide down the ice. “I would have thought everyone from Pennsylvania has done at least once.”

“When I was a kid, the creek in the woods behind my family’s farm would ice over. I would glide with my friends from one side to the other, but I never did it wearing skates.”

“The city must shock you after growing up on a farm.”

“It was at first. I’m getting used to it now. Sometimes, I miss the comforts of home and knowing where everything is. But I like city life.”

“What made you transfer to Strick U?”

She clutches my hand tighter. “My ex. He asked me to marry him this summer. We’ve been friends since we were kids and started dating in high school. But I wasn’t ready to settle down and have a family with him.”

“I don’t blame you. Who’s ready for that at our age?”

“Exactly. I think he proposed because he figured it was the next logical step.”

“If he’d waited until after you finished college, would you have said yes?”

“No, it wouldn’t have made a difference. I felt like I hadn’t experienced life outside of Lancaster and apart from Corey. When he got down on one knee, I thought he was kidding around… until he showed me the ring.”

“There’s no way to say this without sounding like a selfish bastard, but I’m happy you walked away.”

She smiles. “Me, too.”

We make a few more revolutions around the rink before I spot Murph, who flags me down.

Our time is up.

After I lead Jemma off the ice, she moves her palms to my chest and kisses my cheek. “Thank you, Trent. This was perfect.”