Page 1

Chapter 1

Gabi

" I can't believe Giovanni didn't faint when you told him about the baby."

My best friend Lexi's voice drifts over the racks of clothes in the boutique we're browsing through.

It's my favorite one in downtown Chicago. Or it used to be, during a time that feels like a lifetime ago.

Half the items in here are now too small for me, and the ones that will fit over my baby bump don't exactly scream 'sexy'.

I sigh in frustration as I scan the racks of chiffon and silk that used to make me feel like a queen.

"I mean, he's great on the ice." She holds up a pair of leggings, her button-nose scrunching just below her green eyes. "But his my-little-sister-is-pregnant face must have been epic."

I chuckle and shake my head, rifling through a rack of blouses, trying to find something that screams "professional PR exec" while still accommodating my expanding belly. "Oh, you should've seen it. He went pale for a moment, then beamed like a proud uncle. Typical Giovanni."

"Look at this one, Gabi,” Lexi suddenly exclaims, holding up a stylish, bodycon dress. "Perfect for your new fancy PR exec position!"

"Um, yeah. I don't think so." I glance at my reflection in the mirror behind her and grimace. "Unless you want me looking like a pork sausage in a casing."

"A sexy pork sausage in a casing."

"Not sure looking like a juicy meat product would be great for my first day as head of PR for the Chicago Blades." I hang the dress back on the rack and sigh again. "I just wish I could find something that makes me feel...confident."

"Confidence would be rocking that tiny baby bump and showing it off," Lexi says, stepping closer. Her phone goes off, but she silences it. "Damn Google alerts. They're driving me crazy today. Ever since it was announced that the Chicago Blades made the playoffs, my phone has been going off non-stop with article alerts." She shakes her head, tucking the device away. "Well, sausage belly or not, you'd have all those hockey heads drooling." She pauses. "And maybe one head in particular."

Even the vague mention of the father of my child sends heat rushing to my cheeks.

"Yeah, let's not go there," I say, throwing the curtain of my dark wavy hair over my shoulder. "Let's allow He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named to remain unnamed." I grab a chic blazer and hold it up to myself, trying to envision wearing it without feeling like a whale. "This could work."

"See? You look amazing," Lexi says, giving me an encouraging smile. "Now let's go find you some shoes that won't make your feet swell up like balloons."

"Okay. Just...let me head to the dressing room first. I want to try the blazer with the pants I have on." I pat my black slacks.

"Sure thing, girl. Take your time. I'll work on finding more casings...I mean, dresses," Lexi says, heading for the shoe section.

As I make my way to the dressing room, I can't help but feel grateful for Lexi's friendship. She always knows how to make me laugh and forget about my worries, even if it's just for a little while.

And right now, with my new job starting in two days and all of the changes coming my way, I could definitely use some distraction.

Starting a new job as head of PR for a professional hockey team while being five months pregnant and single? Yeah, definitely not what I had planned for my life.

I slip on the blazer and button it up, admiring how it cinches in at my waist and accentuates my curves. Looking in the dressing room mirror, I can see a glimmer of excitement in my green eyes.

I've been waiting a long time for this opportunity, and I refuse to let anything stand in my way. Not pregnancy. Or even the one-night stand that led to it.

The name of He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named may never be spoken again, but my mind doesn't seem to know that as it drifts toward a memory I know by heart by now.

A memory of silky sheets and strong hands, of whispered words and low moans.

A memory that both makes my chest squeeze and my cheeks flush.

A knock on the door startles me back to reality. "How's it going in there?" Lexi asks.

I take a deep breath. "It fits perfectly. I think this could work."

Lexi opens the door with a grin. "Told you so. Now let's go pick out some shoes before your feet decide to mutiny against you." Her phone dings again, and this time she groans. "Ugh. These damn alerts keep ruining our shopping trip."

I raise an eyebrow. "What alerts?"

"I don't know. Some kind of sports thing. It's like every time a player sneezes, I get an update." She shakes her head in annoyance, and we both laugh. That is, until she actually reads one of the notifications.

Suddenly, her face falls, her cheeks turning pale.

"Lexi? What's wrong?" I ask, adjusting the blazer.

She hesitates, chewing her lip before shoving her phone in my direction. "You need to see this."

I take the phone, my eyes scanning the screen quickly.

There, plastered all over her phone, are notifications about Jacob “Jackhammer” Walker.

Right winger for the Chicago Glades. My only brother Giovanni's longtime childhood best friend.

The "He" in my “He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named".

The man who I was at that party to forget, not remember.

My child's father.

I feel a knot form in my stomach as I read the headlines about him.

Apparently, he was seen at a party looking a tad too cozy with the Chicago Blades' owner's wife.

There he is, his golden-brown hair and striking blue eyes staring back at me from the screen.

I swallow, other memories I've pushed to the back of my mind starting to fight for room in the front.

And it’s typical. Typical of him, at least.

This isn't the first time Jacob has made headlines for his reckless behavior. He's always been impulsive, living life on the edge with no regard for consequences.

But despite all that, I can't seem to put away the memories of our past together.

Of sneaking around as teenagers, our stolen kisses and whispered promises.

And even though it's been months since I've seen his face, seeing him again in this way brings back all those buried feelings.

"Wow." Lexi breaks the silence. "That's some juicy drama."

I scoff, handing her phone back to her. "Juicy? More like embarrassing and reckless." I shake my head, trying to push down the emotions bubbling up inside of me.

"He always did have a thing for brunettes," Lexi muses, staring at the screen.

I roll my eyes. "I'm sure that wasn't his only motivation.”

But secretly, I wonder if that's why he chose me.

Was I just another conquest for him? Another notch on his belt?

The thought is enough to make me want to punch something. Preferably, him.

But he's not here, and I know I shouldn't let him get to me.

My mind drifts back to that night, when we were both reckless and didn't think about the consequences. And now, here I am, dealing with them on my own while he continues his carefree lifestyle. A lifestyle that has now landed him in the spotlight yet again.

"What are you going to do?" Lexi asks, breaking me out of my thoughts.

I blink at my best friend. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, you're the new PR hire for the Blades, and now the star player's personal life is blowing up. You're going to have to deal with it somehow," she explains.

I inhale deeply, wondering how I'll handle the media attention that will surely come our way. But then a determination sets in.

This is my chance to make a name for myself in the sports industry, and I won't let anyone, especially him, take that away from me.

"I'll take care of it," I say firmly, my voice surprising even me.

Lexi grins at me. "That's the spirit."

"Sure is. Now, can you see if you can find me some 'spirit' in a size eight dress with a stretchy waist for tomorrow's event?"

"Tomorrow's event?" She frowns before realization dawns on her face. "Oh, right, the Blades' charity dinner. You mentioned it." She pauses. "Please tell me that Mr. Can't-Keep-It-In-His-Pants isn't going to be there."

"Unfortunately, he is. But I knew the score when I signed on for this job. I can handle him."

Lexi gives me a pointed look. "Just make sure he doesn't handle you." She looks at my growing baby bump. "We already saw where that got you last time."

"Please, Lex. That ship has sailed, crashed, and sunk to the bottom of the ocean," I retort, heading back to the dressing room. "Besides, this position is just a stepping stone. The next stone is VP of Communications for the entire League."

Lexi follows me, chuckling. "Ambitious much?"

"Hey, aim high. And if I can survive working with the Blades, I can handle anything. I’m actually heading over to the office in a few hours to move in a few of my things.”

"Good," Lexi yells over the divider as I duck behind it. "Because I have too much faith in you to let some jerk ruin your chance at success."

I plaster on a smile, glancing in the mirror and straightening my blazer.

Swiping my hand under my eye to fix my mascara, I take a deep breath and remind myself that keeping the secret about my baby's father is the only way to protect myself and my child.

As far as I'm concerned, Jacob Walker is nothing but a footnote in my life. He may be one of the star players of the Blades, but to me, he's just another name on a list of mistakes.

A mistake I plan on never repeating again.