Page 5

Chapter Three

Scarlett - Two Weeks Later

Sweat poured from my brow as I ran down the side street near the water. I loved my morning runs, and it made it even better to have the beautiful scenery of this new city.

I was on my last leg. Only one more street to go, I thought as I stopped at the traffic light, jogging in place until the light turned. The moment I had permission to cross, I proceeded, heading up the street, and I slowed my pace as I approached the building.

The tall thirty-story condo was my new home.

One I loved. I’d even met some nice people since moving in, especially my neighbour Mrs. Fletcher, a sixty-five-year-old recently widowed lady who lived in the unit across the hall from me.

Just as I made it to the base of the walkway, I looked up to see her leaving the building.

“Morning, Scarlett. How was your run, dear?” she greeted.

“Good, as always. It’s a beautiful day too, so that didn’t hurt,” I said, smiling.

“One of the last few I take it. It will turn cold soon.”

“I know. Good thing I’m used to harsh winters.” I smiled. “You off to your card game?” I asked, stretching out my calf muscle.

I’d lived here less than three weeks and already knew her schedule—probably better than she did.

She not only played cards three mornings a week with the gin club, but she also worked as a nanny to one tenant in the building.

Five years ago, she’d lost her husband of thirty years to a massive stroke.

It was that story that had intrigued me.

We’d shared dinner, and that was when I’d told her about Duncan.

She listened quietly and then grabbed hold of my hand and told me I had a whole life ahead of me, that I needed to work through his loss, pack up that sorrow and find myself one of the eligible bachelors in the building. I only smiled, then laughed, telling her I was ready to date again.

“You know it, dear. Those buggers stole sixty from me last week in what I like to call a fake hand, so I’m going in guns blazing and get my money back.”

“You get them.” I laughed.

“Plan on it. Oh, and have you, by chance, run into any of the eligible bachelors we talked about?”

I smiled and shook my head. “Not yet. My co-worker has decided I should try a blind date with her friend first. Then I promise I’ll look.”

“You make sure you do if the blind date doesn’t work out.

There are some very well-off ones in this building, not to mention some very attractive ones too,” she said, waving her hand in front of her face.

“There is even one of the hockey players from the Dominators in the building. I know him very well, so, if you’d like an introduction, all you need to do is ask.

He’s a lovely young man, by the way, and his daughter is a special little something. ”

My body flooded with heat at the mention of the team. There was no doubt they were all attractive, but one hockey player in my lifetime was probably enough, I thought to myself.

“I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks.” I smiled as a cab pulled up.

“Alright, dear, wish me luck.”

“Good luck,” I said, waving, and made my way into the building and over to the elevator where I pushed the button and then leaned against the wall.

My watch vibrated, notifying me of an email.

I quickly navigated to see who it was from and was surprised to see my boss, Carol, had messaged me about our Monday morning meeting.

As I read through the email, excitement built in me.

She wanted to see me alone after the usual team meeting Monday morning.

I pushed myself off the wall and made my way over to the mailboxes, checking to see if I had any mail while I was down here. I pulled the small stack of envelopes from the tiny box and turned back around, coming face to chest with someone.

“Oh my, I’m sorry, I didn’t…” I stopped speaking when I looked up to see who was standing before me.

“Scarlett?” What are you…” Levi muttered, his hands full of grocery bags.

“Levi, funny meeting you here,” I said.

“Not really, since I live here.”

My heart raced as I stared back at him. It didn’t matter how much time had passed. He still did that to me, making my heart race. It was beating out of my chest the other night when I ran into him at the arena too, actually causing me to become lightheaded for a few seconds after we parted ways.

As we stood there looking at one another, I had a sudden urge to pour my heart out to him, to tell him everything that had happened since we’d split, and how I regretted my choice more than he’d ever know, but there was no way I could give in that easily.

“I live here too,” I mumbled.

Levi looked at me, then swallowed hard before he nodded. “I see. Well, I guess welcome to the building,” he said, looking anywhere but my eyes.

My stomach tightened while I thought about the pair of us living in the same building. I’d worried when Mrs. Fletcher mentioned that a Dominator lived in the building with his daughter that it might be Levi but quickly passed it off. I figured there was no way it would be him.

“Thanks. I think.”

Our eyes locked as we stood there, neither of us saying anything. Was this how it was going to be between us forever? Were we even capable of going back to how things had once been between us?

“Well, it was nice seeing you. I have to get these groceries upstairs. Ice-cream you know,” he said, lifting the bags. “See you around,” he muttered, heading to the now open elevator doors. “Are you coming?”

I shook my head. “No, I think I’m going to head back out and do another run,” I lied.

“Alright, suit yourself,” he said.

The moment those doors closed, I let out the breath I’d been holding and leaned up against the wall again. Out of all the places in Vancouver, how the hell had I picked the building he lived in?

I swallowed hard, moved to the elevator, and hit the button again, once again waiting for it to arrive.

I covered my mouth and yawned as I listened while Carol handed out our assignments. I took a sip of my coffee, praying for the caffeine to give me a boost. After all, I was going on less than five hours of sleep a night again for the third week in a row.

“Are we keeping you awake, Scarlett?” Carol asked, looking in my direction.

“Sorry, I guess I’ve been burning the candle at both ends.”

She said nothing and turned her attention back to the team. Once she handed out all the assignments and dismissed everyone, she turned to me.

“Scarlett, I’d like to talk to you before you start your day. Do you have a couple of minutes?”

I straightened and nodded. “Of course,” I said, taking a seat at the large boardroom table.

“Scarlett, this article on the Dominators’ games last week couldn’t have been more perfect. In fact, you captured the excitement from the team so perfectly, better than any other articles I’ve read.”

“Thanks, I did the best I could.”

“It shows, and with that comes rewards. I’ve decided that I want you in charge of their specific division on the Insiders’ publication. You will cover every game, be it here or away.”

“Wow, really? Thank you, I’m beyond excited.” I said, perking up.

“I’m glad. Now, that means that for each game here in the city starting in two weeks, you will have front row access. You will also travel, so get ready for a busy season.”

“I’ll be traveling?”

“Yes, now it won’t be to every away game, but for the bigger games, you will definitely be on the road.”

“I see.” I swallowed hard.

How the hell was I going to explain this to Levi? He’d think I was stalking him. In fact, it would look that way to anyone who knew we’d had a history.

My heart sped up as I watched her pull out a folder and shuffle through the papers inside. She set a pile off to the side, shuffled through a few more, setting more in another pile, and then stopped and looked down at the two papers left in her hand.

“I am sure you’re wondering what I was doing there,” she said, resting her chin on her hands.

“Perhaps,” I said, swallowing hard as I placed my pen down on my notebook.

“You’re going to want that.” She nodded at the pen.

Immediately, I grabbed it and got ready to write what she was going to say. For some reason, I had an icky feeling in the pit of my stomach from the look on her face. I twirled my pen as I sat there waiting for her to start.

“As I am sure you are probably aware, there are two players who are rather new to the Dominators, only having completed playing half a season with the team. Colton Fox and Levi Anderson.”

I lifted my head and looked at Carol, who sat there staring at me as she shoved the biographies of both the players toward me. I picked up the papers, looked at them, and nodded.

“Yes, both players were transferred at the middle to end of the season last year. Traded to the team.”

“Correct, however, I’m not sure that you’ve noticed, but most of the Dominators players, especially the starting lineup, are always in the news.

Dylan Hayes, Knox Evans, Lucas Clark, and Clay Harris are all rather outgoing in the media and take part in many social programs. While Clay doesn’t provide many interviews, Levi Anderson and Colton Fox take hardly any. ”

“Well, that could be for many reasons,” I said, but Carol held her hand up to stop me.

“Colton Fox has a reputation. I’d hedge a guess that is why he’s been off-limits to many personal and private interviews. However, he often appears in the news regarding whatever latest scandal he is involved with.”

“I can see what I can do about getting an interview with him if you’d like,” I offered, hoping to avoid the Levi situation.

Carol smiled and then shook her head.

“I’d love a personal and private interview with each of the players, but to be honest, Clay and Colton are not the ones I’m interested in.”

“They aren’t?”

“No. What I am interested in is Levi.”

“Levi?” I repeated.

“Yes. The others have given personal interviews—few, but they still give them—but Levi has never.”