***

  She’d been home less than ten minutes when the phone rang. Char expected it might be Jessica, ready to grill her about Casey. No, she was probably still with Ryder, so that would have to wait until morning. Instead, the call was from Casey.

  “Hey,” she greeted as she answered. “What’s up?”

  “You said to call tomorrow, but I didn’t want to wait,” Casey said. “I’m home now. Alone. Watching the weather.”

  Char laughed. “Sounds fascinating.”

  “For sure,” Casey said. “Do you want me to prove what I’m doing?”

  Was he serious? Char settled back onto the couch. It was late, and she should go to bed, but she was still too wound up to sleep. “It’s not necessary. I trust you.” And oddly enough, she did. “How did you plan on proving it, though? Just out of curiosity.”

  “Like this.” The line went quiet for a minute, and then Char heard the sound of a television blaring at maximum volume. Yes, it sounded like a weather report. It lasted long enough to get the forecast—seventy two degrees—then Casey was back on the line. “Did you hear that?”

  “I did, yes. Sounds like tomorrow’s going to be a beautiful day.”

  “I know. Hard to believe it’s December. What are you doing tomorrow?”

  “Working,” Char said. “Same ole, same ole.”

  “Can you take any time off? Like in the afternoon?”

  Char mentally reviewed her schedule. She didn’t have any appointments scheduled for the next day, and she’d been putting in a lot of long hours leading up to the toy drive. Maybe she should take an afternoon off. “I suppose. Why?”

  “Because I want to see you,” Casey said. “Is that a good enough reason?”

  “It works, yeah.”

  “Great. I’ve got an optional skate in the morning, but I’m going to it. Then it’s a free day. How about noon? I can come to your office.”

  Char hesitated. Was it a good idea for him to come to her office, or would it start rumors? And if it did, was she prepared to handle it? “Can I meet you somewhere?”

  “No,” Casey said. “I’m not sure where we’re going yet, and I want to see what you do. I told you I want to get to know you better.”

  He had, yes, and he seemed genuine about it. Maybe it was time to bury her skepticism and go along for the ride. “Okay,” Char said. “Come to my office. I’ll see you then.”

  “Thanks. Good night, sexy. Sweet dreams.”

  “You too, Hat Trick.” Char smiled as she ended the call. Yes, she’d have very sweet dreams, indeed.

  Chapter Ten

  After a hard-fought victory, the team’s morning skate wasn’t mandatory. Casey never skipped optional skates, but for the first time he considered it, if it would mean he could spend the entire day with Char. He was superstitious, though, and didn’t want to do anything to change his routine, especially when he was on such a scoring streak. As a result, he was at the rink bright and early. Not surprisingly, the ultra-competitive Ryder was already there. He never missed a skate, either, unless he was injured.

  “Question for you,” Casey said as he put on his gear. “How well do you know Char?”

  Ryder smirked. “Not as well as you do, obviously.”

  “Oh, you’re funny,” Casey said, but didn’t laugh.

  “Why? Is something wrong? I thought things were getting pretty hot and heavy between the two of you.”

  “Maybe, sort of,” Casey said. “I mean, there’s a connection, for sure. But I’d like more, and she seems, I don’t know, reluctant or something. Like she doesn’t believe I’m serious, or she doesn’t quite trust me. I wondered if you knew anything.”

  “You mean like her relationship history?”

  Casey nodded. “Yes, that.”

  Ryder frowned. “Hmm. I don’t know. I think Jess said something about her being married once, a long time ago, but I don’t know any details.”

  “Hmm.” Casey thought about it. “So she’s divorced. That might explain it.”

  “Explain what?”

  “Why she seems skeptical of relationships.”

  “Maybe,” Ryder said. “But if you have considered another reason? Like perhaps you’re the problem?”

  “Gee, thanks.” Casey glared at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Do you even have to ask? Um, let’s see. How do I put this delicately, since you seem to be easily offended this morning?” Ryder put a finger to his chin. “You don’t exactly have a history of being, well, monogamous.”

  Casey slumped into his seat. “Fair enough, but I’ve never had a good reason why I’d want to be.” Maybe it was shallow, or selfish, or whatever, but it was the truth. He was young, rich, and successful. He liked women, and women liked him. Why shouldn’t he be allowed to play the field? At least it seemed like a good enough philosophy a week ago.

  “Are you saying you do now?” Ryder’s expression was dubious. “That you’re done banging anything in a skirt, no matter how cheap and sleazy they are, and you’re ready to be with only one woman, and you want that woman to be Char?”

  Was that what he was saying? Casey thought about the scene at the bar a few nights ago. Wynter, with her cheap perfume that didn’t mask the odor of cigarettes and whiskey, rubbing against him, her intentions obvious. And instead of getting aroused and wanting to find the nearest surface to screw her on, he wanted to get away from her and go home. Alone. Where he’d spent a restless night thinking about Char. “Yeah.” Casey stood up and raked a hand through his hair. “That’s what I’m saying. I just need to find a way to convince Char and everyone else that I’m serious, and that maybe this is real.”

  ***

  Since she committed herself to taking the afternoon off, Char went to the office bright and early, ready to pore through the latest donation reports. She was a third of the way through them when Jessica called.

  “Good morning, sunshine,” Char greeted her.

  “Wow. You sound like you’re in a good mood this morning.”

  Char leaned back in her chair and sipped coffee from her favorite Generals mug. “As a matter of fact, I am. We’ve had a record setting December, and that doesn’t even include the donations from last night. And we still have two more games of the toy drive,” she added with a satisfied smile.

  “Congratulations,” Jessica said. “Here I thought your cheerfulness might be the result of how you spent your night.”

  “Oh, such a comedian. For your information, I spent the night alone.”

  “Really?” Jessica’s tone changed. “Did something happen after you and Casey left the restaurant? Because you seemed to be having a good time.”

  “We had a great time,” Char said. “It could’ve been even better, but I decided to think with my brain, so I sent Casey home alone.” She took another drink of coffee. “He wants me, there’s not doubt about that, and it’s a very nice feeling. I want to make him work for it a little, though.”

  “Good for you,” Jessica said. “I have to admit you’re kind of cute together, and it’s nice to see you smiling and laughing, but...” Her voice trailed off.

  “But what?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe I’m cynical, but in twenty years, you’ll be—”

  “Sixty,” Char said, flinching slightly. Good grief. She’d barely adjusted to forty, and here Jess was trying to push sixty on her. “And Casey will be forty-four. I aced math and I work with numbers every day. I got it.”

  “Sorry,” Jessica said.”I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “I’m not upset, and I know you mean well,” Char said. “I get that the numbers are ugly.”

  “But at the moment, you don’t care.”

  That was it. In a nutshell. “Yep. Bingo. He persuaded me to take this afternoon off. I have no idea yet where we’re going, and I don’t care about that, either.”

  “I’m glad,” Jessica said. “You work too hard.”

  “That I do. Thirteen hours yesterday, counting the game. But you know what? Today I’m giving myself permission to have fun.” Char looked at her watch. “In about three hours.”

  Jessica laughed. “Then I’ll let you go. And Char?”

  “Yes, sunshine?”

  “I meant what I said. I think you and Casey are cute together. Don’t let my skepticism make you think otherwise.”

  “Oh, don’t worry. I wouldn’t. I think we’re pretty cute together myself.” Char smiled. Pretty cute, indeed. “I’ll talk to you later, okay?” She added before ending the call.

  She worked the rest of the morning without a break, until her assistant knocked on her door and came in.

  “Casey Denault is here to see you,” Leah announced. “From the team.”

  Char almost laughed at the needless clarification. “Yes, I know who he is.” I know very well.

  Leah nodded. “He says you have an appointment, and you’re going to tell him more about the work we do here.”

  Good, job, Casey. Char nodded. “Yes, that’s right. Send him in.”

  A moment later, Casey walked in, dressed in jeans and an untucked blue button down shirt, and looking impossibly gorgeous. Also very, very young. It was pretty hard to get past that.

  “Hey.” Casey walked toward her, then turned back around. Satisfied that the door was closed and they didn’t have an audience, he put his arms around her and pulled her into a kiss. “Are you ready to go, or would you rather I just have my way with you right here on your desk?”

  His gray-blue eyes twinkled in amusement, letting Char know he kidded her. The offer intrigued her, though.

  “You do know how to tempt me. We better get out of here before I decide to take you up on that.” Char rounded her desk and picked up her purse from underneath it, swinging it over her shoulder. “Leah says you told her you’re here to learn more about the Foundation’s work. That’s pretty clever.”

  Casey gave a shrug, then placed an arm around Char’s shoulder. “I try. And if anyone asks, we’ll say it was a working lunch.”

  “Perfect,” Char said, but as she nestled her body against his, Casey’s arm moved lower, until it was no longer around her shoulder, but rather his hand had found the back pocket of her jeans. Yeah. Working lunch, my ass.

  ***

  Although he would’ve much preferred to have his way with Char right there in her office, on her desk, Casey was happy to settle for a not-so-subtle grope of her ass as they walked to the elevator. That she allowed him that much was affirmation to Casey that he was making headway. But how much?

  “I thought of something as I got here. You’re not forbidden from dating me, are you?” He didn’t know why the question occurred to him. Maybe it was the team name and logo on the sig and doors.

  Char looked up at him, her expression amused. “Is that what I’m doing now? Dating you?”

  “Well, aren’t you?” That she even questioned n didn’t quite sit well with Casey. “I think we can safely say we’ve moved past the ‘just a one-night stand’ thing by this point.” If she was wearing his jersey, and he was refraining from picking up other women, that better count for something.

  “Yes,” Char admitted. “I guess that means I can’t call you my boy toy anymore.” A smile tugged at her lips,

  “Is that what you’ve been calling me?” Casey didn’t know whether to be flattered or offended, so he straddled the line between both.

  “Not me, so much. It was more Jessica’s word for you,” Char said. “She was teasing.”

  “Oh.” Casey couldn’t stop his mind from wondering what Char might have said about him to her best friend. “That’s okay. I’m cool with being your boy toy, if that’s how you want it. I aspire to more, though.” They stopped beside his car, but he made no move to open it

  “Good.” Char chuckled. “I like a man with ambition. And to answer your question, no I’m not prohibited from dating you.” She stood on her toes and gave him a kiss. “I just couldn’t bid on a date with you at the charity auction, because it was a Foundation-sponsored event.”

  Casey nodded. “That makes sense,” he said. “Though I wish you would’ve.” Instead, he knew Char had used her money to set Jessica up with Ryder. Meanwhile, his date from the auction had been a disaster. “It’s nice to know you wanted to bid on me.”

  “Who said that? I kind of had my heart set on Trenton,” Char deadpanned.

  “Oh, you slay me.” Casey put a hand to his chest. “I don’t know if I can recover from these wounds.”

  “Dramatic much?” Char rolled her eyes. “Tell me if this helps,” she said, and kissed him again.”

  It helped, all right, and much like the first time when they’s shared a kiss, Casey didn’t want it to end. He pulled away with reluctance. “That’s a very good start, and I fully intend to come back to it later,” he said. “But I have other things planned first.” He pressed the key fob to unlock his car, then walked around to open the passenger door for Char. “Your chariot awaits. I hope this isn’t too much of a letdown from that machine you drive.”

  “I think this’ll do just fine,” she said, running a hand along door before getting in. “You haven’t said where you’re taking me, though.”

  “Oh, that.” Casey grinned. “Six Flags Fiesta Texas.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Char figured her jaw dropped when Casey said they were going to the amusement park. It was the last thing she expected, but she was game. No way did she want him thinking she lacked a spirit of adventure.

  Before Six Flags, though, they stopped for lunch at a street vendor specializing in Chicago style hot dogs.

  “I hope this is okay,” Casey said. “There was a place like this not too far from where I lived when I played for the Blackhawks.”

  “It’s fine.” Char laughed. “I think we already established that I love my food.” She decided against the traditional Chicago style, though, and instead ordered hers loaded up with chili, cheese, and jalapeño peppers.

  “Oh, hot food for a hot girl, huh?” Casey said, a smile playing at his lips.

  “Yep. I like things spicy, and I’m not talking only about food.” She gave him a wink as she bit into the hot dog. It tasted delicious, and she washed it down with a swallow of Dr. Pepper. “You can’t live in San Antonio for your entire life and not develop a taste for the spicier side of life.”

  “I suppose. I’m still working on that.” Casey opted for the true Chicago style, with mustard, sweet green pickle relish, onions, a dill pickle spear, tomato wedges, two sport peppers, and celery salt, all on a poppy-seed bun.

  Char had never eaten a hot dog like that, and doubted she’d like it, but to each their own. “You haven’t been here long, so you might still acquire a taste for the hot stuff,” she said. “Do you miss Chicago?”

  Casey shrugged. “Maybe a little, but I only played there for a year,” he said. “I like San Antonio a lot. You can’t beat sitting outside getting food from a street vendor a few days before Christmas.”

  “True. I bet it’s completely different from Canada.” Char licked chili from her lip. “Ottawa’s home, right?”

  He nodded. “Yep. Do you know where all of us are from, or am I just special?”

  “Oh, you’re definitely special, Casey,” Char said. “I’ve tried to learn as much about all of you guys as I can. It helps me think up new projects. I’m working my dream job, and I want to do it right.”

  “So what did you do before the Generals? Have you always been a hockey fan?”

  Char shook her head. “No. Hockey is new, but I’m a fast learner, and it’s consumed me.” She’d gone from knowing nothing about the sport to practically obsessing over it, and if this thing with Casey continued, she’d probably be even more obsessed. “Let’s see. I worked for the United Way when I first got out of college, then I took a position with the WNBA team here. That’s what got me into the sports side of things, and I realized that’s where I want to be, so when the Generals came to town, I applied.” She took another drink of her Dr. Pepper. “And here I am.”

  “Well, I can’t speak for anyone else, but I for one am glad of that.” Casey finished the last bite of his hot dog and wiped his mouth. “I’m very glad I met you, Char Simmons.”

  He leaned over and kissed her, and Char tasted a hint of relish and onions. Even that was appealing on him. “I’m glad I met you, too, Casey Denault. I have no idea where this is going, but I sure am enjoying the ride.”

  ***

  It occurred to Casey that perhaps he should’ve asked first whether Char was up for a visit to Fiesta Texas. Not everyone liked amusement parks. What if she didn’t, and he’d made a huge mistake? He chalked it all up to his lack of experience with the dating thing. When all he was interested in was getting a woman into his bed, he never paid any attention to compatibility or common interests, or anything like that. Sex was enough of a common interest, and he never had to work very hard to get a woman to sleep with him. Hell, who was he kidding? He didn’t have to work at all.

  Now Char made him work for things, and Casey realized he liked it. He liked the challenge, and he wanted to find new ways to show her a good time. But as he paid the admission at the amusement park, Casey began to second guess his choices for the day.

  Hot dogs and theme parks? Char was a mature, classy, sophisticated woman. Was he only highlighting his youth and immaturity in bringing her here? Maybe he should’ve asked one the older guys on the team, or better yet, their wives, for dating advice.

  “Are you sure this is okay with you?” he asked. “Because if it’s not, we can always go somewhere else.”

  “After you’ve already paid?” Char shook her head. “No, Casey, this is fine. Perfect, really. I’ve been too on edge lately, first with the stupid birthday and now all of my end of year projects. I need to relax and put it all out of my head, and this should do the trick,” she said. “In fact, I want you to take me on the scariest, most jaw-dropping ride in the park. Can you do that?”

 

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