AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“He’s volunteering at my mom’s animal shelter so he doesn’t get sent to jail.”
“Willa! That’s …” She grimaced in the ladies’ direction, only to find them grinning broadly. “Private,” she added quietly.
“Nice to see people in these seats at last,” Casey said cryptically.
“You’re married to Erik Jorgenson!” Willa turned back to Ashley. “He’s the goalie, Mom. From Sweden.”
Casey chuckled. “I am.” Seeming to realize that Ashley might not be aware of all the connections, she gestured to the strawberry-blonde beside her. “And this is Sadie Yates?—”
“She’s married to Gunnar Bond, Mom!”
Sadie smiled. “I am. Wow, you know your Rebels, young lady.”
“I’ve heard of Sadie,” Ashley said. “I love your dresses.” Sadie Yates was famous for designing gorgeous dresses for full-figured women. Today she was wearing something with Outlander-meets-Malibu vibes.
“Thanks so much. And I love that top you’re wearing. It’s so cute.”
“Oh, thanks.” Before Ashley could speak further, she was distracted by all the people to her right exiting the row to allow the entrance of a glamorous blonde sporting very high heels.
“Thank you, thank you, thanks soooo much!” She sat down beside Ashley and let out a deep breath. “Wow, those steps are steeper than I expected. I’d better text the General and let him know I made it.” With nimble fingers, she whipped off a quick text that was more emoji than alphabet, then turned to Ashley with an outstretched hand.
“Hi, I’m Tara! You must be Ashley.”
Tara Fitzpatrick, wife of the general manager and Dex’s former fiancée. Ashley took her hand and shook firmly.
“I am. Nice to meet you.”
Tara looked past her to Willa, who was busy chatting with the women behind them. “Your daughter’s adorable. I have that same Taylor Swift crossbody—love it. So are you looking forward to the game?”
“Definitely, though I’m not much of a hockey fan. I like the atmosphere, though, and Willa loves all things hockey.”
“Oh, I’m with you there. I barely knew a thing about it when I started watching but I learned fast. How’s Dex doing at the shelter? Any more accidents?”
Ashley swallowed, feeling a touch protective of Dex’s time there.
“Great! He’s a natural with the animals, really sweet with them.”
Tara leaned in, sending a waft of expensive perfume up Ashley’s nose. “Yeah, I don’t think people see just how sweet Dex is. Have the Rebels PR people been out to take photos?”
Ashley wasn’t sure how to respond to that. She thought Dex was very sweet, but also incredibly sexy, a combination that was rather hazardous to her mental well-being.
“Not yet. But I’ve taken a few.”
Tara’s eyes went as round as pucks. “Show me!”
“Um, okay.” She took out her phone and backed up to the relevant photos.
“May I?” Tara took the phone before Ashley could voice her assent. “These are so good. Aw, look at him with the kitten.”
Mittens was quite the scene-stealer, but then so was Dex.
“Would you mind sending me a few?”
“Sure.”
“I’ll pop my number in here and … there we go!” She looked at the photos adoringly, so much so that Ashley wondered if she might still have a thing for Dex.
The text message came through on Tara’s phone, where the screensaver was a picture of Tara with her husband and a baby.
