Power Play (Nashville Assassins Next Generation 2)

He nods. “Yeah, that’s her excuse. But Wes thinks it’s the fact that this life isn’t for her.”

I press my lips together, nodding in agreement. “It takes a special woman, that’s for sure. I’ve seen wives come and go, being around this sport. Not too many can handle being without their spouse up to ten months out of the year.”

“Yeah, she hated it. She tried to make me choose between my career and her.”

“What the hell?” I said, my brows touching. “That’s shitty. I really don’t understand that. Both of the guys my cousins dated wanted them to give up everything for them, and it drives me wild. We all work so hard for what we want, and then to just completely throw it away for someone is beyond me. I would never ask someone to give up their dreams for me.”

“Agreed,” he says with a long sigh. “It is what it is. I’m happier now.”

I press my nose into his jaw. “It’s because of me.”

He laughs, trapping my head with his arm. “Maybe.” He kisses my nose and then the side of my cheek. “Anyone special, other than fuckface?”

I scoff as he lets me go. “Nope. I’m not joking when I tell you everyone I dated wanted my sister.”

He makes a face. “I don’t understand that. I mean, don’t get me wrong. Shelli is awesome. But if I were attracted to her, I wouldn’t go after her sister. Shelli doesn’t seem like the type to date someone you’d date.”

“She isn’t,” I agree before taking a sip of my sake. “I guess they were dumb.”

“So dumb to want her over you.”

I give him a side-eye. “It’s okay. I know she’s prettier than me.”

He actually whips his head around to me. He looks like a meme, his jaw hanging open and his eyes wide, the whites of his eyes showing. “Are you serious?”

“Yes,” I laugh. “Stop looking at me like that.”

“You seriously think that?”

“I don’t think. I know.”

“That’s the biggest bullshit I’ve ever heard.”

I shrug. “What? It’s true. Shelli is the stunning, curvy one with really pretty eyes. She is insanely talented and so hockey-smart. She’s a showstopper. Everyone loves Shelli.”

He doesn’t say anything at first; he just looks into my eyes. Then he looks away, shaking his head. “I’m speechless.”

“What? Why?”

“Because it’s not true.”

“Yes, it is. She’s amazing—”

He turns to face me again, his eyes capturing mine. “I don’t doubt that. She’s one cool chick. But, Posey, for me, she has nothing on you. You walk with this confidence that I’ve never seen before. You are strong, you are smart, and you don’t give a fuck what anyone thinks. You’re going to do what you want.” He reaches up, taking my jaw in his hand as my heart pounds in my chest. “I have never seen such beautiful blue eyes. Your lips are begging to be kissed all the time. And when you smile…fuck, Posey…I swear, my world stops. On the axis, just stops. You are the most beautiful person—yes, I said person, not woman—I have ever seen, and there is no changing my mind.”

I’m out of breath as he brings me close to him. “Oh.”

“Yeah, and if I have to tell you that every day for you to believe it, I will. I’ll even have shirts made and wear them every day.”

I grin. “You can’t do that.”

“I can and I will, because you are. Now, believe it.”

As I get lost in his hazel eyes, I can’t help but feel it’s gonna be entirely too easy for me to fall in love with Boon.

I just hope I’m enough for him to fall for in return.

Chapter Sixteen

Boon

We stuff our faces with sushi galore and share one sake since I want to be able to get it up once I get her into my bed. I look over at Posey, grinning. This has been one of the most unreal dates I’ve ever been on. I’m unsure if I was dating the wrong women or what, but Posey has my undivided attention. She talks with such passion about everything, but I am noticing that we don’t talk about her. It’s always her family, her friends, cousins. But now she is sharing about her travel team.

“They wanted me to go into the Olympics when I was fifteen, but I didn’t want it.”

“For real? I would have thought you’d have done that.”

She shakes her head, leaning back into the booth. “I love hockey. I love the smell of the ice and the feel of it. I love shooting the shit out of the puck and getting that goal, but I hate skating.”

I pull back in disbelief. “You’re kidding.”

“No. Seriously. I hate it. It hurts my little pinkie toe, and I hate that.”

“That’s like Hockey 101.”

“Exactly, which is how I got obsessed with the non-skating part. The game itself. The different plays. It all excites me. But skating…skating makes me irate.”