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1
"Everything okay, Wilkes?"
Eli pressed the "P" button for the parking garage after they entered one of the Palisades Hotel & Casino elevators. He'd never seen Holly so lost in thought. Though after what had just happened, he wasn't surprised. Until last night, it had been seven long years since they'd slept together.
"What? Oh. Yeah, I guess." Her gaze flicked in his direction. "I'm fine."
She'd walked back into his life last year, and their encounters had been adversarial at best, mixed with underlying, simmering sexual tension. Her anger at him was justified, however. He'd destroyed their budding relationship in college by sleeping with her, then blowing her off.
It had been his worst mistake.
Holly stared at the lighted number above the door as they moved between floors, her teeth digging into her plump lower lip.
Fuck, he loved those lips.
The doors slid open to the garage, and they walked in silence toward his black luxury sedan. When he opened the passenger door for her, she glanced up at him, one perfectly sculpted, dark eyebrow raised.
"What's with the look? Professional hockey players can be gentlemanly," he teased.
"Uh-huh." She rolled her eyes and climbed into the car.
Pulling out his keys, he walked around the front of the sedan. This awkwardness between them needed to be addressed. Hell, he'd beeninsideof her barely an hour ago.
Though after running off at the mouth about his feelings for her, he'd probably freaked her out. It had been a rookie move, but as he'd told her earlier, he wasn't taking any of it back. He'd wanted her to know where he stood.
Eli climbed behind the wheel and shifted in the leather seat, turning toward her. "Holly, look at me."
A wary look lit her pretty hazel eyes. "What?"
"I meant what I said back in that room.EverythingI said." He ran a hand down over his beard. "Nothing's changed just because our night together is over. I'm done with other women, Wilkes. Done with that whole puck bunny, Vegas nightlife scene. I can walk away from anyone else, but Ican'twalk away from you."
"Eli—"
"I know what you're going to say," he said, cutting her off. "You don't trust me. But I will earn your trust."
Holly leaned her head back against the plush headrest and blew a lock of purple and black hair away from her face. "I know you meant it." She sighed and glanced over at him. "I can't handle all of this right now, okay? You're the one who made the arrangement with my boss for me to write this feature about you. And I meant what I said—I need us to remain professional over the next thirty days. That means you concentrate on the playoffs and winning the Cup with the Kingsnakes, and I will write your feature."
"And I agreed to it," he countered. "But after that..."
"We aren't discussing anything regarding the future yet. We went from enemies to..." Holly waved her hand around. "Whateverthis is, in the span of a few hours. Until I'm done with this feature, this discussion and everything it entails is shelved."
He brushed the pad of his thumb along the textured steering wheel, wishing he could do the same to her cheek. But that wouldn't be welcomed by her, especially now.
"You were never my enemy, Holly. Never."
She swallowed. "Well, we definitely weren't friends."
"And now?"
The corner of her mouth quirked up, and the tightness in his chest eased slightly.
"We're definitely not enemies."
He flashed her a grin as he started the car. "So, rocking your world helped my cause?"
Holly snorted with laughter and gave him a genuine smile, followed by a coy look. "Didn't hurt."
This time, it was his turn to laugh. "Good to hear."
