Playing for Hearts (45 page)

“Excuse me. How long is this going to take?” A man spoke behind him.

“It'll just be a minute.” He winked at the man's wife and lifted his chin at the man in a silent plea for a few minutes of patience before turning back to Diana. “Have dinner with me.”

She shook her head, stepped over to the printer, and slapped the paper down on the counter. “Sign.”

He scribbled his name. “What time do you get off work?”

“I'm not going out to eat with you.” She snatched the registration papers from him and tossed the key toward him.

“Chinese? Mexican?”

“Go away,” she said.

“We'll order in, and — ”

“No.” She clamped her mouth shut, and peeked at the guests waiting their turn. “Don't you have a game to play?”

He grinned, because she was so damn cute when she tried to change the subject. “Suspended.”

“That's not funny.” She frowned. “What is wrong with you?”

“For once … nothing.” He leaned over and braced his elbows on the counter. “Come closer to me.”

“Why?” She shifted her gaze away from him.

He crooked his finger. “Come here.”

She rolled her eyes and stepped toward the counter. “What?”

“A little bit closer,” he whispered.

“Dom, this is ridiculous — ” she leaned over the counter “ — and not at all appropriate while I'm working.”

“Who cares,” he murmured, right before he kissed her.

For all his nonchalance and kidding, he went from slow to deep in a snap. All he could do was hold onto the counter to keep from hurdling over the top and showing her how damn much he missed her.

She met his tongue with her own. He deepened the kiss, excitement building in his chest until he felt like he could take on the whole Rangers team by himself in an away game. He slid his hand around her neck, keeping her from going away again. She stared into his eyes, questioning him without a word spoken.

“We need to talk,” he whispered.

She rubbed her lips together. “No, we don't.”

“Dinner? Please?”

“I'll be working through dinner,” she said. “Leave a message on my phone if you want to talk to me.”

“It's too important to tell you over the phone.” He kissed her once more, fast and hard. “Dinner tonight. I'm not taking no for an answer. We'll talk, and then you'll understand.”

He turned around. From behind him, she called, “Understand what?”

He waved over his shoulder, smiling. “You'll see, sweetcheeks.”

Then not giving her a chance to deny him his wish, he strolled through the double doors and stepped out onto the sidewalk. He had no idea if she'd noticed the change in him or not but by tonight, she'd finally learn the truth.

Diana paced the small sitting area in her hotel room. It was seven o'clock. Dominic wasn't coming.

She'd ignored her excitement all day over seeing him again and soon learning why he'd come to Cottage Grove. When she wasn't glancing at the clock or peeking out the front door of the hotel, she beat herself up for how easily she fell back into thinking Dominic was her world. How could she expect him to be satisfied with a woman like her?

She'd failed in advancing her career when she missed purchasing the Ferriday house. He played professional hockey and traveled the world. She was stuck working for Mr. Dogger until she could make enough money to have a brand new bed & breakfast built. It'd take her years to supplement a loan of that size.

The phone rang. She rushed over, came to a careening stop, pressed her hand to her chest, and forced herself to cool down. She answered, calmer than she was feeling. “Hello?”

“Hey,” Shauna said. “Do you have a cold?”

Her shoulders sagged. “No. Why?”

“You sound funny. All airy and depressed … have you been drinking?”

“Of course not.” She rolled her eyes. “I'm fine.”

“Yay. Good.” Shauna laughed. “I'm picking you up in ten minutes. Wear something sexy and cute. Do you still have that pink sweater with the scooped neck you wore during the Valentine's dance at the hotel?”

“Yes, but I'm not — ”

“Perfect! Wear a pair of ass fitting jeans and your black boots. Not too dressy, but casual hot.” Diana's muffled voice came across the phone. “Sorry, Grayson came in the room, and I didn't want him to overhear me or he'd wonder what I was doing.”

“Are you still denying him sex?”

Shauna snorted. “Are you kidding me? Grayson blew it. That man was all over me … but who can blame him, right?”

“Shauna … ” Diana groaned. “Let's not talk about your late-blooming sex life tonight.”

“Okay. Good plan, because tonight is all about you. Get ready, I'll be there soon, and I plan to show you the best time of your life. Whatever you do, don't leave your hotel room until I get there. Pinky swear?”

“Um, tonight isn't a good night, babe.” She sank down in the chair. “That's what I've been trying to tell you. I've decided to stay in, take a bath, and … and do laundry.”

Silence came over the line. Shauna cleared her throat. “I know Dominic's in town. He and Grayson are up to something, and I'm not going to let you keep beating yourself up over him. So get off your ass, get dressed, and be ready. No excuses.”

The phone disconnected. Diana groaned and closed her eyes, clutching the phone to her chest. Dominic probably wanted to tell her he was in town to visit Grayson, and his being here had nothing to do with her. He didn't even show up after making a fool of her downstairs. She touched her lips.
Damn him.

A voicemail would do for whatever he had to tell her. He didn't have to kiss her.

She opened her eyes and pulled herself out of the chair. Knowing Shauna, she'd be here before her ten minutes expired. She walked to the bedroom, dressed in the outfit Shauna picked out for her, and even put on her makeup.

By the time she pulled on her boots and decided she looked okay for whatever they were going to do, she'd worked up enough anger over Dominic not showing up, all she wanted to do was get out of the hotel and go somewhere to forget she ever fell in love with the big, sexy, Russian.

Knock, knock, knock.

She hurried into the sitting area, grabbed her purse, and opened the door. Shauna eyed her up and down, nodded, and pulled her out of the room. Diana locked the door, and, linking her arm through Shauna's, left the hotel.

A quarter a mile away, Shauna drove past Quayside Lounge. Diana frowned. “I thought you were taking me out for a drink.”

“Change of plans,” Shauna muttered.

She shifted in the passenger seat. “What are we doing?”

“You'll see,” Shauna said.

“You're getting freaky again. The last time you acted secretive, I knew to expect a load of trouble coming your way.” Diana nudged Shauna's arm. “I thought you said everything was okay between you and Grayson.”

“Yeah. We're great.” Shauna jolted. “Oh, turn the radio up. I love this song.”

Diana shook her head, but turned the music louder. For the next mile, she let herself listen to the lyrics, wondering what Shauna heard in a song about breaking up when she had the ultimate love life. She, on the other hand, sunk further into a funk.

The car slowed down. She raised her gaze and frowned. “What are you doing here?”

“Don't ask.” Shauna pulled into the driveway of the Ferriday house and came to a complete stop. “You know I love you, babe, but you need to get out of my car.”

“W-what?” Her jaw dropped before anger consumed her. “I can't believe you,” she whispered.

“Diana, I — ”

She raised her hand. “Stop. You knew I lost my big chance, and you still brought me here. Why? I can't — ” She clamped her lips shut and muffled her scream. “Never mind. I'll get out of the car, because I'll walk back to the hotel by myself.”

“Diana!”

She slammed the car door. Behind her, she heard Shauna yell she was sorry. She whirled around and pointed. “Go!”

Standing in the driveway of someone else's pride and joy, and her broken dream, she watched Shauna back the car down the driveway and leave her behind. What in the world was Shauna thinking?

Never, in all the years they'd been friends, had Shauna been cruel or insensitive to her feelings. She kicked at the gravel on the driveway. There was no excuse for dumping her here. Even if she won the lottery, the house would still be unattainable to her. Gone. Never to be hers.

A hammering
bang, bang, bang
went off behind her. She whirled around. Shocked that someone would be out here at this time of night, she ducked behind the fence.

The windows on the bottom level of the Ferriday House were lit up and the noise came from inside. She brushed the tears from her eyes. All the times she'd walked through the house, she'd never viewed the house with the power on. For the first time in years, the place looked alive.

The serenity and majestic lay of the grand house took her breath away. How many times had she stood on the porch, looking out across the large span of yard and dreamed about turning the place into the best bed and breakfast in the county?

A shadow walked by the window. She crept closer, being quiet in case whoever was inside caught her trespassing. One little peek, that's all, and then she'd leave. She had to see what the inside looked like with all the lights chasing away the dust and cobwebs.

The porch step creaked when she took her first step. She froze, watching the door. In the night, she could've sworn the sound echoed.

Before she could advance to the window, the door opened. A large darkened form filled the doorway, the inside lights casting his face in shadows. She gasped. Only one man could make that big of a silhouette.

“What are you doing here?” She stepped up on the porch.

Dominic moved back inside in the light. “I want to show you something. Come in.”

In one day, he'd changed from his slacks and a dress shirt from this morning into an old pair of jeans with a frayed rip on the thigh, faded spots on his knees, and a worn T-shirt. His mussed hair held up a pair of safety goggles. Her gaze went back down his body to the tool belt buckled low on his hips. She blinked at the hammer in his hand.

“Oh my freaking God. Are you crazy?” She stomped into the house. “You can't break into this house. Someone bought it.”

“I know,” he said. “I'm only tearing something apart.”

She threw her hands up to her sides. “You are — ” She clamped her lips together and shook her head. “So freaking in trouble. Stop doing whatever you are doing and get out of here.”

She hated the way her voice broke and the way she showed how much seeing him here hurt. Sure, he was Dominic Chekovsky, famous hockey player, but he couldn't do whatever he wanted. Cottage Grove police would throw him in jail for breaking and entering. Not to mention destroying a perfectly spectacular historical home.

“Follow me.” He motioned with his hand and walked into the kitchen.

She didn't want to. She wanted to get out of here before someone caught them. But she couldn't stop herself from absorbing everything about the entryway with the old chandelier glowing. The crown molding, a highlight of the original woodwork, only needed sanding and polishing.

In the living room, she scanned the long sectional wooden floor. She'd always assumed she'd need to have a new floor built, but the wood planks were gorgeous. She ran her hand across her cheek. God, she would've loved to varnish the floors to a shine. The history they told with their age would attract all the guests' attention during their stay.

She stepped into the kitchen and her heart dropped. “Oh my God, what have you done?”

“I ripped out the old stove and cabinet. It's in the backyard.” He moved over to the fireplace. “Did you know the chimney's still intact and seems in good condition?”

Of course she did. She'd dug up every piece of information she could find on the house. She'd spent numerous hours being nosey, scouring the property, doing research in the library. She knew the cellar door on the outside remained broken, and the foundation on the east corner needed fixing, but the beams under the house were solid and in good condition. At one time, there was a winery in the backyard, but had since been torn down. Nothing he told her now would surprise her.

Except why he was standing in the house pretending he had permission to rip apart the kitchen.

“Dom … you're killing me,” she whispered.

He approached her and took her hands in his. “We need to talk.”

“There's nothing to say. I did my part for you. Someone else bought this house. I'm working at the hotel until I can make other plans.” She lifted her gaze. “And you have a hockey career you must take seriously. If you are caught vandalizing this house, you can kiss everything goodbye. We need to leave. Now.”

He shook his head. “I have a bigger problem.”

Despite telling herself he was none of her business, she asked, “What?”

“You failed to do what I hired you for.” He lifted her hands and kissed her knuckles.

She cringed. “The women are bothering you again?”

“No.” He chuckled. “They ignore me.”

She tugged on her hands, but he refused to let her go. “Well, I'm sorry that disappoints you. I'm sure you can do whatever you do and have them back.”

“I don't want them,” he whispered. “I want you. You see, I realized that having you around all the time wasn't what made them stay away from me. I didn't need your protection.”

Kill me now.
She glared. “Fine. I guess you're here to ask for your money back. You're too late. I tore the check in half and mailed it to your house already. I don't want your money, and seeing how you don't think I did my job, we can both be happy.”