Score On Me

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 3

Kat froze in her seat as Kris Lafleur approached the counter. She did her best not to stare, yet she was failing miserably. She couldn’t look away, she couldn’t move, and the hockey hunk was walking her way.

All she could focus on was the six-foot hockey god, who was standing right in front of her. She nervously played with her hair as her heart raced. Warmth flooded her face as the blood rushed to her cheeks. She must’ve been turning some crazy shade of red. Her heart pounded so loud that it was deafening.

Her hands began to shake. Grabbing her coffee cup with both hands she hoped to steady them or at least to hide the trembling. She knew he was a big guy, but damn, he towered over her. She saw his lips move. He was talking to her, but she couldn’t hear anything over the pounding of her own heart.

He paused, watching her. Then he spoke again. “I said, nice sweater.” The way his French accent mixed with his English made Kat melt. He chuckled softly, seemingly amused with her.

Kat realized he was referring to her Lafleur jersey. Her face had to be red; it felt on fire.

“Mind if I sit with you?”

She blinked numerous times, convinced she was seeing things. She thought for sure when she opened her eyes there would be no one standing there. But there he was.

Struggling to find her voice, she tried not to let him see her tremble. She shifted in her seat.

“Sure. Have a seat, Kris Lafleur…” She pointed to the empty chair. Her voice shook and she smiled uncontrollably. She was pretty sure that she looked like a fool. Maybe a circus clown. All she could do was stare into those amazing chocolate-brown eyes.

“Kris. Please, just call me Kris,” he said with a smirk. He sat down and mussed his damp hair, pushing it to one side.

Kat sighed longingly, wishing she could run her fingers through that hair.

“Wow, you are really decked out in fifty-eight stuff.”

If she wasn’t beat red before, then she was sure that she was now.

He looked like he hadn’t shaved in a day or so. His beard and mustache were starting to fill in, just enough to frame his face. She liked the stubble; it was sexy. He smiled when he noticed her staring, and he rubbed at his facial hair. She had seen him do that in interviews and always wondered if it was a nervous habit.

“I’m Kat,” she said. Her heart skipped a beat as he tried to tuck his hair behind his ear and it flopped back down to his face again.

“Nice to meet you, Kat.” Reaching over the table he shook her hand. “Kat… I like that. Is that short for anything? Katrina? Or maybe Katherine?”

“Um, thanks…” Kat tripped over her words. “Yes. It’s short for Katherine. No one ever calls me Katherine though. I’ve just always been Kat.” She smiled and shrugged. Only her mother ever called her Katherine.

For a few moments they sat in silence, just sipping their coffee.

Speak up, girl, Kat told herself. She hesitated and watched Kris sip his coffee. He had glanced away and she couldn’t help herself from staring. He had on a light gray striped suit with a light pink colored shirt. Before she could tear her eyes away, he looked up, catching her watching. He simply smiled, giving her butterflies, and making her lady parts tingle.

Girl, just speak up and stop staring! You’re acting like a freak.

“That was a really great game, Kris,” she said, finally breaking the silence. Her hands were still shaking, and she felt tongue-tied. She couldn’t think of anything else to say.

“Thanks,” Kris said as he ran his fingers through that sexy dark hair again. “Exhausting.” He chuckled. “But nothing some caffeine can’t cure. Right?”

“Caffeine, right.” She scrambled for something else interesting to talk about. “This place has the best coffee.” Obviously, he would know that, duh, she thought. Tossing her hair off her shoulder, she smoothed a piece behind her ear. She crossed her legs, letting them peek out from under the table. She was never great at flirting, but he was hot, and she had his attention, so why not?

She saw his eyes wander away from her face and down to her legs. She had on tight jeans and black high heel boots.

She was doing her best to play it cool as she sat with him. She really didn’t want to act like a crazy fangirl. Thankfully she hadn’t made one of those ‘Marry Me Kris’ signs. How embarrassing would that have been?

He cleared his throat and brought his gaze back to the table. This is fun, but I’m sure he has a gorgeous Barbie doll blonde waiting for him at home, she thought. She fumbled with her coffee as he leaned forward in his chair, both elbows on the table. He grinned and looked interested in what she had to say.

“Obviously you’re a big hockey fan,” he said, motioning to her jersey.

“Obviously.” She giggled and lifted her cup to take a sip. Shaking it she realized it was almost empty. She drank what little was left and then set the cup back down on the table.

“Do you need another one?” Reaching over he shook her cup to see if it was empty. Electricity shot through her when his hand brushed against hers. His arm muscles flexed and bulged against his suit jacket. Everything seemed to freeze for a second.

Then they both pulled away slowly and exchanged nervous smiles. She paused to compose herself, then noticed he was staring at her.

****

Kris could not take his eyes off her; she was beautiful. Her crystal eyes sparkled, her silken hair sat softly on her shoulder and she flirtingly flipped it around. The way she sipped her coffee then slowly licked her lips attracted him. He wanted to kiss those delicious lips. Never had he been so completely fascinated with a girl before. He didn’t even know her yet; but he wanted to.

When it came to relationships, he thought he’d been ruined. He was sure his ex, Anna, had accomplished that before she left. Since her, he hadn’t trusted anyone enough to give them his love. Keeping his distance had served him best. But the way his pulse raced every time he looked at this girl made him think she might just change that.

His body reacted as he watched her lick her lips before she spoke. She had stunning, full lips. She intrigued him. This girl already had him sporting a nice hard-on. Observing the way her lips moved as she spoke only made his pants tighter. She made him nervous, but he had to know more about her. He’d like to know what she looked like under that jersey.

It was cute how she was nervous and bashful. The way her hands shook uncontrollably, and her cheeks turned pink every time he smiled at her. When his hand brushed against her soft skin his whole body tingled. He wasn’t used to girls making him nervous. He was usually the confident one making the girls squirm. But she was different. He couldn’t put his finger on why, but he knew she was.

Smiling shyly, her eyes were bright. She had his brain all scrambled. He scratched at his facial hair; it had become a nervous habit of his.

“So have you always been a hockey fan?” he asked.

“Yeah, as long as I can remember. When I was little I even insisted on learning how to ice skate.” She giggled, covering her mouth with her hand.

“So did I.” He teased. “Do you work?”

“I do, actually. I’m a reporter for the local paper, a sports reporter. I like it fine, except I’m fairly new, so I don’t get the big gigs like Renegades stuff. I get assignments like pee-wee hockey tournaments or high school. But it’s still fun.”

“That’s really cool. Maybe someday you’ll work with the Renegades.”

She shook her head and laughed. “No, I highly doubt that!” She waved off his suggestion. “I’m not going to hold my breath.”

A young clerk from behind the counter approached their table. “Um…” She hesitated, looking at Kris timidly. “Mr. Lafleur, I’m sorry, but it’s late and we need to close up. The arena is already closed.” She shifted her feet and anxiously played with her hair.

“No worries.” Kris smiled at her and checked her nametag. “Kimmy. Hey, thanks for letting us stay so long. We’ll get our things together and get out of your way.” With a relieved look on her face, the young girl walked back to the counter.

Kris noticed the empty cafe and chuckled. “You would think I would know when this place closes! Oh well. Hey, uh, I know a cafe that has even better coffee than this place.” Tripping over his words he continued. “Would you… like to join me?” Tucking some of his hair behind his ear, he stood and pulled out her chair for her as she stood too. “I’ll be right back.”

While waiting on her answer, he walked to the register. He smiled at Kimmy and pulled a twenty dollar bill out of his wallet and tucked it into the tip jar.

“Thanks guys! Have a good night!” Kimmy called.

Walking back to Kat he asked, “So? What do you think?”