Empty Net (4 page)

Tate smacked his pads again with his stick, taking in another cleansing breath. He had a game to win. He would figure out the rest later.

After the game he sat by his locker, his head between his knees. How he ever ended up winning would always be a mystery to him. He was a mess between those steel pipes, and he didn’t know if he could be the goalie the Assassins needed. At one point he had completely blacked out from all the adrenaline coursing through his system. Finally he got his head in the game and nothing else mattered. Not the thousands of people watching or even the Brunette Beauty from two days ago.

But she was heavy on his mind as he took in deep, shuddering breaths. All he could see was the worried lines between her eyes as she looked for her clothes. She was in such a hurry to leave. It was as if she couldn’t get away from him fast enough. He could have sworn they’d had a good time. He knew he had taken exceptional care of her in bed. He’d been an eager lover and, man, she’d been right there with him!

He still wasn’t breathing right after the ways she’d worked him. She had pushed all his buttons while begging for more. And he was still hot for her. Burned for her. But he hadn’t gotten her number, or hell, even her name. How was he supposed to find a woman who apparently didn’t want to be found?

“Goldie! What the hell is wrong with you?”

Tate looked up to see Lucas Brooks standing in front of him, already dressed and ready to go. Tate sat in his gear, still sweaty. As he looked around the locker room, he saw that he was the last one still in gear. Not that it mattered; the team couldn’t leave without him. He looked back up into Lucas’s eyes and shrugged his shoulders.

“Nothing, just thinking.”

“Are you still thinking of the runaway lay?” Lucas scoffed. “Let her go, she obviously wasn’t worth your time.”

Tate shook his head. “She was amazing.”

Lucas laughed. “Dude, she’s the first girl in months. You’ll find another.”

Tate ran his hands through his short hair. He hated his new haircut. He liked his blond hair long, but the guys had made fun of him, calling him Goldilocks, so he went ahead and cut it. Now he was regretting it more and more each day. He should have known better. Matilda, his sister, had always told him never to cut it. He should have listened.

Tate looked up at Lucas and shrugged again.

“You are probably right. It just bothers me.”

Lucas nodded. “It would bother me too, but don’t worry. You’ll find someone. I’ll see you on the bus.”

Tate nodded as Lucas walked off. Little did Lucas know that his confidence was blown to bits. It had taken a lot for him to walk up to the beauty and hit on her. Rejection scared him shitless, and watching her run out of that hotel room bothered him more than he cared to admit. Even to himself.

Tate knew he was good-looking. He shouldn’t have any problem finding someone, but it still bothered him. He wanted a relationship like his parents had. He wanted to find that special person, the same special person his dad had in his mom. He wanted to find her like his dad had when they were young. He wanted to love only her for the rest of his life. He wanted to have a son, so he could teach him how to play hockey. Tate wanted everything while he was young, just like his parents. Was it too much to ask?

Apparently it was in Nashville. The women he met were either not interested in him or too independent to actually want anything more than a one-night stand.

Just like the Brunette Beauty.

Even though he knew he should just let her go, he wished he could see her again. She was definitely attracted to him. She had made it obvious many times throughout the night. But what if it was the alcohol that fueled the attraction? Or maybe she was embarrassed because she didn’t have one-night stands? Whatever it was, he would make it right if he had the chance. He had even asked the woman at the hotel’s front desk if they would tell him her name. She wouldn’t divulge that, of course; she probably thought he was a stalker.

Tate shook his head. He had to straighten out or he would drive himself insane.

He had to.

Audrey was beginning to hate Ann Frances Bridal Boutique. She had been there nine times in the past week, and Fallon still hadn’t made a decision. It was driving Audrey insane. How hard was it to pick a dress when Fallon basically looked great in anything? Plus, Lucas didn’t care. He just wanted to be married to her, so why was Fallon putting them through this?

Audrey leaned back into the plush chair and let out an aggravated sigh. Not only was she in a pissy mood about dress shopping, but she hadn’t heard from Levi in six days. She was really starting to believe that she never would, and she wanted him back.

She was lonely.

But was that the only reason she wanted him back? Was it because she was lonely or because she really did miss
him
? Yeah, she had thought about Levi often, but that was when something of his was missing or when she knew he was supposed to be there. If she were honest with herself, she’d admit that she hadn’t really missed him, as a person, but missed his presence. She missed the feel of strong arms wrapped around her in bed. She missed making dinner and eating together. She missed watching TV with him, or talking on the phone. She missed those things, the relationship aspect of it all, but she didn’t miss Levi. It was weird because before, she’d always missed him when he left her. But this time the person she really missed was Blondie.

Oh, how he stayed on her mind. The night they shared was on replay 24/7. It was hot and perfect. He took such care, such time with her. His lips were soft and warm along her skin. There was so much of him for her to play with. He was so big. Everywhere. The feel of his rough hands
along her smooth skin had her fanning herself as she sat up straighter in the chair.

Man, he was smoking. Her panties were getting wet just thinking about him.

Luckily, to take her mind off Blondie, Fallon came out in one of the dresses she was deciding between. Audrey moved her hair behind her ear as she watched her sister step up on the dressing room platform and look at herself in the mirror. The dress was a masterpiece. It was Audrey’s favorite of the two. Made completely of lace, it fit Fallon like a glove. It was tight at the bodice and around her hips before it widened into a full skirt. The bodice came around her neck as a halter, but the underpiece went right above Fallon’s breasts, still giving her a little bit of cleavage. But it was the back that made the dress for Audrey. It dipped all the way down to the top of her bottom, and showed the whole of her back. Plus, the bridesmaid’s dress they chose to go with it was gorgeous.

“I like it,” Fallon said with her hands on her hips.

“But …?” Audrey supplied.

“But I don’t know if I want to go with the innocent, sweet lace thing. It’s not really me, ya know?”

Audrey knew; they’d had this conversation at least a hundred times. “Yes, Fallon, but you look hot. It shows a lot more skin than the mermaid-style dress. That one is just tight, this one shows boobs and lower back. I mean, what more do you need?”

Fallon nodded, as she always did, then went back to the dressing room to put on the other dress. They had done this so many times, Audrey should know the exact moment Fallon would come out again. Audrey wasn’t paying attention, though, because she was too busy playing on her phone. She knew she had to keep busy, because if she didn’t, she would think about Blondie.

Thankfully, just then Fallon came back out in the second dress. It was an off-white
strapless dress that hugged her curves until right below her knees. Then it went into a big puffy mess. It was pretty, especially the champagne sash that wrapped around her waist, but it did nothing for Audrey. Or Fallon. It was hot, but it wasn’t something that she thought Fallon would be proud of in thirty years when she looked back at the wedding pictures.

“I like the way this one looks on my hips,” Fallon started as she cocked her head to the side, looking herself over.

“But …?” Audrey repeated.

Fallon shot her a grin before saying, “But I don’t like the way it makes my boobs look like they are nonexistent.”

“You can get a push-up bra,” Audrey said, playing along. But her heart wasn’t in it.

“What’s wrong with you?” her sister asked, shooting her a concerned look.

“Fallon, we must’ve done this a hundred times this week. I’m over it. Pick a dress. You’re gonna look hot in anything.”

Fallon narrowed her eyes as she slowly shook her head. “No, something is wrong, what is it?”

“Nothing.”

“Liar, it’s something. Tell me.”

Audrey shook her head. “No, I’m good, just pick a dress.”

Fallon eyed her before saying, “I’ll pick a dress if you tell me.”

Audrey perked up. “Really? And I’ll never have to come back?”

Fallon giggled. “Not until we come for your wedding dress.”

As if.

Audrey pushed that thought away. She didn’t want to tell Fallon that she and Levi had
broken up. Again. She knew Fallon was going to be ecstatic. It was bad enough that Levi was probably happy he left; she didn’t need to see the happiness on her sister’s face.

But then again, she really was beginning to hate this store.

“Okay. Levi left me.”

Fallon’s eyes went wide as her mouth fell open. Her eyes filled with excitement as she started to bounce a little. A bright grin came across her face and she came toward Audrey, then wrapped her up in her arms.

“Don’t look too excited, Fal,” Audrey muttered against her shoulder. Fallon pulled back, a bright smile still on her face. Audrey looked down and started picking at the rip in her jeans.

“Oh, sorry.”

She looked up to see Fallon had dropped her grin, but not the smile in her eyes. “You still look happy.”

Her sister giggled. “Oh, I am. This is better than picking a dress, honestly.”

Audrey rolled her eyes. “I did love him, you know.”

“Ah, whatever, he was the king of all douches. No big loss … on to bigger and better things.”

Audrey let out a frustrated breath. “I don’t agree, but that’s beside the point—pick a dress.”

Fallon did a little hop. “In a minute! When can I start fixing you up? You need a date for the wedding!”

“No, I don’t, Aiden is my date,” Audrey said. She loved her nephew like he was hers, and he would be the best date ever. They used to be best friends, but then Lucas came into their lives. For as much as Lucas had taken from Audrey, one would think she would hate him, but she
didn’t. She couldn’t because he was the best.

“Oh well, you’ll need adult action at my wedding,” Fallon gushed, clapping her hands. She could barely move in the dress she had on. Another reason she should pick the lace one, Audrey thought. “Let me hook you up with Phillip Anderson. Number thirteen, total hottie. Bright blue eyes, dirty blond hair, total hunk.”

Audrey raised an eyebrow. “I don’t know, Levi just left.”

“Which is why you should hook up with Phillip. He’s a good guy.”

Audrey shrugged a shoulder. “I don’t know.”

“Well, think about it, but think quick, ’cause I’ll need to have Lucas ask him.”

“Yeah, yeah, come on, pick a dress.”

Fallon placed a finger to her chin, still thinking. Audrey rolled her eyes at her as Fallon said, “I know for a fact that if he were older, you would love him.”

“Who?” Audrey asked.

“Tate, your neighbor.”

“Ah, the infamous neighbor whom I have yet to meet. That dude is like a ninja. I only see his truck leave and hear him playing his piano.”

Fallon smiled. “He’s a super great guy. You should go over and introduce yourself.”

“Maybe, but like you said, he’s too young.”

“Yeah,” Fallon said with a shake of her head.

“Well, enough of that, what dress?” Audrey asked, not only annoyed that her sister hadn’t picked a dress but that she hadn’t met her neighbor. Lucas and Fallon talked so highly of him, and it had been almost a month and a half since he moved in. More than enough time to run into each other. He was a goalie, so when she went to games it was hard to tell what he looked like
through all his gear, and they rarely interviewed him after the game, or if they did, she’d missed it. It was frustrating because she heard he was gorgeous. She once thought about Googling him, but come on, that was just weird, desperate and stalkery. Considering he was her next-door neighbor, she should be able to go over and see him, for goodness sakes!

When Fallon flashed her a winning smile, distracting her from an overactive brain, Audrey smiled back. “The lace one,” Fallon said then. “This one is tight as hell.”

Thank God. She never had to come back to this store again! Well, maybe to try on her dress, unless she could do that today? As Fallon changed back into her clothes, Audrey checked her Facebook while the workers moved around her. She made sure things were good, that no one was dying, before closing the app.

“I picked my dress!” Fallon gushed when she returned from the fitting room. She wore her tight black skirt again, having left work to come to the dress shop in her regular work wear. Audrey knew that since opening her wine cellar in the Assassins arena, Fallon had been insanely busy—not only with her own business, but also with the operations at Rocky Top Wines, their family’s wine company. Her sister needed a break, and she was beyond excited that Fallon would be leaving for a week after the wedding.

Putting a fake smile on her face, Audrey said, “You did! Yay! With only a day to spare!”

Fallon laughed, a dreamy look on her face, and took Audrey’s hand in hers. “You think Lucas will love it?”

Audrey smiled reassuringly. “He’s gonna flip at your gorgeousness, Fal. You’re stunning, babe.”

Fallon squeezed her hand, then left the room again. Audrey sat in the plush chair, wondering where she’d gone. Her sister returned with two dress shop clerks, each holding a
different dress.

“What’s this?” Audrey asked.

Fallon gave her a sneaky grin. “The two dresses I picked to go with mine.”

Audrey eyed both of them before shaking her head. “Um, no, ma’am. Neither one of those is the dress I picked out.”