Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 26365 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 132(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26365 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 132(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
I really should be trying to keep this relationship professional since he’s my first and only client, but right now, I don’t care.
That sexy smile is lighting up something inside of me and I don’t want to extinguish it just yet.
I have a big crush on this man and it’s only growing the more I see him.
My phone vibrates against my thigh and I pull it out while the coach is speaking to the team.
LAUREN: He just scored!
NORAH: I know! Thx again for taking my shift <3
I feel horrible. Lauren’s final shift was supposed to be last night, and we made a big thing about it, but she was the only one I could turn to. I had to ask.
Lauren is so amazing that she said yes without hesitation. I had taken a bunch of her shifts last year when her dog needed surgery so she was happy to repay me.
Good friends want you to succeed and she was thrilled that things were finally looking up in both my love life and my work life.
NORAH: I’ll be there as soon as I can!
LAUREN: No rush! I’m deep into a crossword puzzle lol
I only asked her to cover the first couple of hours of my shift so I could go to the game. I couldn’t ask her to stay longer than that, so I’ll be rushing to the pub after the final whistle to work until closing.
The game resumes and Austin is sitting on the bench, taking a break. There’s action happening all around me, but I can’t stop watching him.
He’s so hot.
I never thought I’d be into an athlete, especially a professional one, but I’m so into him it’s crazy. I’m shocked by the intensity of it.
It was so fun hanging out with him today. I couldn’t believe I was at work. He’s cute and funny, and he thinks I’m funny, which is crazy to me. He kept watching me like he couldn’t get enough of the Norah show.
One of the Hyenas players skates to the bench clutching his hand. The coach waves Austin on and he leaps over the boards.
“Yes!!!” I shout so loud the poor guy next to me flinches. I’ve been clinging to him and yelling in his ear all game long. The poor man. I can’t imagine paying top dollar to sit in the front row and then getting stuck beside me.
My eyes never leave number nine as he moves around the rink.
Could he actually become my boyfriend? Could that actually be a thing that happens?
It all seems so unbelievable, but then… That kiss… It was magical.
The Hyenas are in the other team’s zone. Svensson passes the puck to Austin and he lets a hard slap shot loose. It’s a wild shot and bangs into the glass behind the goalie.
“It’s okay!” I shout as I clap my hands together loudly. “You’ll get it next time!”
My neighbor glances at me with a frown.
“That’s my boyfriend,” I tell him. “We kissed this afternoon.”
He looks at me like I’m even crazier than he thought and turns away, giving me his shoulder.
“Yes!!” I shout as Austin bodychecks someone into the boards. I tap my neighbor’s shoulder with a big smile on my face. “That’s my man!!”
I wish I could have stayed to meet Austin after the game, but he had to shower, get dressed, and talk to the media before I could see him.
I couldn’t make Lauren wait that long. She was nice enough to let me go to the game in the first place, I didn’t want to keep her waiting all night.
Besides, I’ll see Austin at the showing tomorrow. No big deal.
But there’s a heaviness in my body as I walk into the pub. I really wanted to stay.
“Thank you so much,” I say to Lauren as I rush over to her. “You have no idea how much that meant to me.”
“No worries,” Lauren says, waving her hand. “How was the game? He looked good out there. A goal and an assist!”
The game was amazing! The Hyenas won three to one. I know I’m going to be waking up with a hoarse voice tomorrow from yelling so loudly.
“And the house?” she asks as she pours a draft beer into a frosted mug. “Do you think he’s going to buy something?”
“Oh. Yeah. Totally.” I had forgotten all about the house.
She knows me too well. Her eyes narrow on me. “You like him.”
“What?!” I say with a shocked laugh. “No.”
She stops the tap and takes another empty mug while shaking her head at me. “Is he cute?”
“Sooo cute,” I say, collapsing onto the bar. “I love him.”
“Do you really want to mix business and pleasure?” she asks as she grabs the two full beers. “This can be a big opportunity for you.”
She walks away and heads toward the tables with the beers. That’s the way conversations go when you work in bars and restaurants. They’re always in fragments. You start talking about something and mid-sentence, the person just walks away to bring a plate, refill a drink, or check on a customer. I know as soon as she returns, I’m going to have to answer.