Hockey Tales: Enforcer

Chapter 2

OK so I know I said I wanted votes and comments to continue on posting the chapters but I just wanted to post anyway. You guys can read it and post or vote if you want to. Also I'm looking for a new title and cover  art. Too busy to make my own. Send me a message if you come up with an idea for either. I'm more then willing to look at them.

Chapter 2

As I sat in my studio looking out the wall of windows, I couldn't help but think what I had gotten myself into. I wasn't as drunk as Ryan thought I was last night. I was just pretending so it would be easier to explain to everyone. Letting Ryan think he pulled a fast one over me worked to my advantage. At least until he agreed to my idea. He wouldn't be fooled long though.

After he told me about moving in next door, my mind wondered to all the things that could go wrong. The fact that I could no longer hide from what that night a year and a half ago did to me. The things it made me feel. I had tried to hide from them and the two people that noticed. But for a year, I've been miserable. Maybe I should have let him explain his sudden disappearance in the morning. But I had been too hurt at the thought of being a one night stand to someone I saw myself falling in love with.

I had hoped Danny would step in and help me, but he said no. I had been upset until he took me out on the dance floor and explained things to me. The guy codes and team codes that effect him. He explained that no one on the team would help me with this problem. Mainly because Reece had told the guys to stay away from me. But Danny has been like my brother since the time I met him in studio art class in college. That year, he was drafted into the NHL and played for a team that I loved. Not even Reece could have stopped him from helping me. But one glance over to the end of the bar and his answer was immediate. When I went to argue, he turned me so fast, I got a little dizzy. He then told me to take a quick glance at Ryan. And as I did, my world started to crumble. There Ryan was, nursing a scotch that he had all night and watching me with a little concern and a whole lot of jealousy. He was keeping sober enough to drive me home even though it was his birthday. And he was jealous that I was dancing with another man.

Danny had turned me back around and nestled his face into the side of mine. “I only have about two minutes because lover boy is going to come steal you away.” he whispered into my ear, “I love you and all but I couldn't fake the emotions that he shows daily. Give him a chance, sweets. He's a good guy even with all his cockiness. And he'll be perfect in helping you out with your problem.” He pulled back and gave me a peck on the forehead before looking over my head and giving someone a nod. Before I knew what was happening, Danny spun me and I ended smacking someone in the chest. Looking up to apologize words had caught in my throat. He was just so gorgeous.

I took a sip of my white chocolate mocha as I watched the city wake up. Dancing with Ryan had been a shock to my system. Feeling the sway of his body against mine. The feel of his breath and lips tickling the back of my neck. His hands resting low on my hips. I shivered remembering the heat that had pooled low in my stomach. Yes, dancing had been a shock. But waking up curled into his side, his arms wrapped around me had been a real life dream. I felt like things were all falling together into all the right places. Like this was how I should have been waking up all my life. The realization set me off balance. I had slipped from the bed without waking him and taken a shower to get the club smell off of me. Throwing on a pair of boy short underwear, a tank top, and one of Ryan's Avalanche hooded sweatshirts, seems as though he brought his things in already, I went about starting my day. And ended up here, in my studio without a thought about work and too many about the mistake I was making.

Last night, with Danny's reassurance and my mind fuzzy from the whiskey, I had entered my own realm of hell. Two or three months with Ryan was torture at its finest. Having to watch him walk around my condo, invading my space was one thing. But Ryan wouldn't stop at that. He would start to invade my heart and soul if I wasn't careful. And now with this new realization in my head, I kjnew it would be even harder to keep my heart whole. Then when the workers were finished, he'd be gone and the pain would be excruciating.