Ravishing Rebounds: A Slapshot Novella (Slapshot Series Book 10) Page 2

  "I know," he replied.

  "What time," she began as he continued to kiss her. It wasn't long before she was lying down and he was on top of her. His fingers tugged at the hemline of her shirt. "What time are we supposed to get the kids today?"

  "Don't worry about the kids," Dimitri insisted. "They aren't coming until after the game tomorrow night. I want you here with me until then. I know you have your lease until the end of June, correct?"

  "What does my lease have anything to do with this?" she asked as he trailed his lips across her collarbone.

  Slowly, he pulled away, but only because he wanted to look her in the eye. "I want you to meet my children," he told her. "This weekend. I want them to know you. Because I want you to move in with me when your lease is up. I know we've talked about it before, but I'm ready, and I hope you are too."

  Amanda didn't respond. Instead, she leaned forward and took Dimitri's face in her hands and pulled him into a deep kiss. Dimitri chuckled and tightened his grip on her.

  "Is that a yes?" he asked.

  Amanda nodded, looking up at him with a shy sparkle in her brown eyes. "Definitely," she said.

  4

  The discussion with Madison Montgomery, Amanda's roommate and best friend, didn't go exactly as planned. Then again, Madison had her own share of drama, what with her secret boyfriend, Alec Schumacher, being accused of rape. However, she tried not to let it get to her. She had been honest with Madison—about Dimitri, about her feelings for him, about everything—and that was all she could do.

  She glanced at the cat clock hanging in her room. She knew she should probably go for a jog or do something to keep her mind off of Dimitri, but it was the hook of new love that caused everything else to drop away, unimportant and unwanted.

  "Hey," Madison called, a few hours later. "I'm going out to get ice cream. This whole thing with Alec and then the drama with my parents...." She shook her head and offered a smile. "Want to come? I feel like we haven't seen each other much in the last week or so and I know I'm partly to blame for that."

  Amanda sat up, her red hair tumbling over her shoulder, and her lips curved up. "Ice cream sounds wonderful," she said. "Would this require me to change my clothes?" She glanced down at the oversized Dimitri Petrov shirt—his name and number on the back, the Gulls logo on the front—and leggings she had worn since yesterday.

  "Maybe run a brush through your hair, but it doesn't matter," Madison said with a shrug.

  Amanda forced herself to stand and stretched. To have an excuse to get out of bed was something she desperately needed. She was grateful for Madison's consideration and hoped that this was one step toward making things less awkward between them.

  By the time both women had reached Amanda's car, Amanda was ready to eat. Ice cream sounded perfect for the warm April night, and, after leaving Dimitri's when she really wanted to stay, was a good excuse to indulge in something sweet.

  "Please don't tell me we're going to the Spectrum," Amanda said as she started the car. "I am not in the mood to deal with middle school kids, dressed in Abercrombie and walking around judging people. They think they're so cool because they're allowed to go to the mall by themselves."

  "Wow," Madison said as she buckled herself in. She laughed. "No, I don't want to deal with that place either. I was planning on Coldstone at Metro Pointe. It's more of a drive but I like it better than Creamistry. And since I'm paying...."

  "That's fine with me," Amanda said. She needed the distraction.

  If she didn't have it, she would constantly be thinking about Dimitri and wondering what a proper timeline for their relationship might be. When would she meet his kids? His ex-wife? The problem was, Amanda had met Rita before, but not as Dimitri's girlfriend. Because Amanda was an Ice Princess, she attended the majority of public events the Gulls put on, usually to raise money for charity. Dimitri, of course, brought his wife. From what Amanda remembered, Rita was beautiful, warm, and supportive. How that changed, how Rita went from that to cheating bitch, Amanda had no idea. But she did know Dimitri didn't deserve it.

  Parking at Metro Pointe wasn't bad, and they made their way across the parking lot, past a Boudin, a shoe store, an empty building that used to be a Barnes & Noble, to a Coldstone Ice Cream stand, right next to a Subway. Both women ordered their ice cream and waited as their attendants mixed everything together and presented them with their food. After Madison paid, they walked outside and sat down at a small table, enjoying the warmth even as the sun slowly started its descent.

  "How are you?" Madison asked after taking a bite of her chocolate and vanilla ice cream laced with Reese Peanut Buttercups and caramel. How she could eat that and still be so slender, Amanda had no idea. "You've been quiet the past day or so."

  "I just have a lot on my mind," Amanda replied before taking a bite of her strawberry ice cream. "I feel like I could seriously fall for Dimitri, and it scares me because he brings a lot of baggage to the table. Kids, an ex-wife who is probably going to flip when she finds out about me."

  "What makes you say that?" Madison asked. She slipped her index finger in her mouth to lick off a drop of stray ice cream. "Do you really think his wife is like that?"

  "Ex-wife," Amanda said automatically. "And honestly, I don't know, but whenever we talk about her, I feel like Dimitri walks on eggshells around the subject. Almost like he's afraid she can listen in on our conversation. And when he does that, I get frustrated because, to me, it seems like he wants to baby her, you know? Make everything easy. And then I start to question if this is even worth it in the first place." Amanda shook her head and took a bite of ice cream, this time getting some graham cracker and white chocolate chips. "Sorry, you're going through way worse. I didn't mean to make it all about me and my issues. How's Alec holding up?"

  "Good," Madison said with a nod. "I guess Seraphina has a PI looking into everything. Her name's Chloe, I think. Anyway, we should have news in a couple of days, but you know Alec; he holds everything inside. He seems like he's not affected but he is. We're kind of in a fight right now about everything but it's fine." She shook her head, picking her eyes off the table. "I think we're both caught in our own relationship drama when we really should be spending more time with each other. The stuff that we're going through will blow over. This whole thing with Dimitri—I know I haven't really come around with him, but I think he's amazing. And I think you should give him the benefit of the doubt. Dimitri isn't an idiot. He knows what he has and I highly doubt he'd risk losing you over anything."

  Amanda felt herself smile. "Okay," she said. "No more guy talk. Tell me what's going on with your family."

  5

  When Dimitri heard Amanda walk through the door, he had to restrain himself from immediately running to her, sweeping her up, and pulling her in his arms. He knew she was going through a lot by supporting Madison with everything Alec Schumacher was going through, and did not want to overwhelm her. She had enough on her plate as it was and he didn't need to add to it.

  Instead, he waited into the living room, his ankles resting on the edge of the coffee table, a book on his lap. The television was off so the room was silent, which was nice. He liked the peace. However, if it meant retaining full custody of his kids, he would choose the chaos every time. Of course, he knew that such a thing would be impossible with his hockey schedule, which was why he opted for joint custody rather than full. He could always find peace on the road. He did not need it all the time.

  He looked up when Amanda came in, dropping her purse by the couch, and crawling into his lap. He lived for moments like this. Rita had never been overly affectionate. She had always been restrained when it came to her emotions, her desires. It was nice when they were in public because she controlled herself well, but there were times Dimitri wished she would be more passionate behind closed doors. Many times, he wondered if she was even attracted to him since she rarely, if ever, initiated physical contact, whether it was a light brush of skin or sex.

  A
manda, on the other hand, had no problem being affectionate at home. She would grab his hand, sit on his lap, kiss him when he was in the middle of saying something. There were times she could not keep her hands off of him, which made him feel good. Like he was desired. Like he was back in high school.

  "How are you, my darling?" he asked her as she took his face between her palms and rested her forehead against his.

  "Tired," she admitted. "Kat has us skating three times a week now, what with the fact that we're nearly a playoff team. Which is awesome but also time-consuming. Plus, Madison is in her own world with everything that's going on with Alec."

  "It's a travesty, what's happened to him," Dimitri said. "I cannot imagine what he's going through."

  "I'm sure it'll work out," Amanda said. "From what I hear, Seraphina has a PI on it, so there's that. I'm just glad she didn't automatically fire him or suspend him. She's backing her player until evidence has come out, proving his innocence. I think it's remarkable, considering many people are pressured to act now, as if he's guilty, and think later."

  "I agree." His hands began to rub her back up and down. She sighed through his caresses, closing her hands. "How are you?"

  "Good," she said. She tilted her head to the side, so her long red hair spilled over one shoulder. "Enjoying this moment before the kids come home and I head back to my dorm."

  Dimitri tensed slightly underneath her. He stopped his caresses and waited for Amanda to open her eyes to look at him.

  "What's wrong?" she asked after doing just that. He knew her so well, he could predict her actions. He hid the smile that resulted from the thought.

  "I actually wanted to talk to you about that." He moved his hands from her back to her hair as she straightened her back. Without thinking, he began to separate the hair into three sections and slowly braided it. "Before you make any decisions, I want you to hear me out. Is that okay?"

  Amanda furrowed her brow and Dimitri had to swallow a grin. She looked beautiful when she was hesitant. She looked beautiful when any emotion crossed her face. He felt her body tense at his question, which he did expect. Finally, she nodded her head, albeit slowly.

  He grinned. "I think with the divorce proceeding the way it is, everything should be over by summer," he said. "During the summer, my family and I typically head home for a couple of weeks before we pick a country to travel to. If the Gulls win the Cup, I promised them Hawaii. And I would like you to come with us."

  "Hawaii?" Her eyes got wide—always a good sign. "I've never been to Hawaii. I would love—wait. Your family? As in, you'd be taking the kids as well?" There was no judgment in her voice. It sounded as though she was simply looking for clarification. Another good sign. She had not completely written it off just yet. It was one of the many things he loved about her. She never completely shut herself off from a suggestion. She teased it out, considered it, before making a final decision.

  Dimitri felt his heart pound against his chest. He did not know why he was nervous. Probably because she could say no. Even though he didn't want to even think it, there was that possibility that Amanda didn't want to get serious just yet. Regardless, he still thought it was worth asking.

  "Yes," he said, nodding once. "Exactly. Amanda, I think it would be amazing if we took our relationship to the next level." He began to rub her bare arms up and down with his palms. "I think it's the right time. I want you to meet my children."

  6

  Amanda wasn't sure how to feel. Meet his kids? It was something she had been hoping for, for a while now. They had been together for a few months, and she completely understood why Dimitri hesitated to introduce her to his kids just yet. He was going through a divorce and Amanda was substantially younger than he was. It made sense. There was also the logical connection that typically stemmed from situations like these: Amanda did not want to be known as a homewrecker. She wanted to keep their relationship fun and not serious for as long as possible. One of her friends started dating a guy with kids when she was twenty-two, and even though he ended up being the love of her life, the minute she met his kids, their relationship went from fun and just about them to being about the kids as well. And Amanda wasn't sure she was ready to share Dimitri just yet. She was sure his kids would feel the same way.

  More than that, once she was introduced to the kids, she didn't know what that meant, exactly. Was she like a step-mom? Did she have some kind of authority over his children? Or was she more like a friend? But if she was a friend and she needed to discipline his kids, would they even take her seriously? Would she even want to discipline his kids?

  Amanda didn't know. She didn't know what the rules were for dating someone with kids because she had never done it before.

  "You seem pensive," he said. He had finished braiding her hair and was now combing the braid out, almost like he was going to start all over and do it again. Amanda didn't mind. She loved when he played with her hair.

  "I'm just thinking," she said.

  "Thinking is not a great sign after I ask you to meet my children," he stated. Though his voice was normal, there was a strange inflection in it. Like a hint at something. What that was, Amanda didn't know, but she could feel the tension. "I would expect the appropriate response would be yes."

  Amanda pulled away from him so she could roll her shoulders back and sit up straight. "Yeah, but I don't know if I'm ready to meet them just yet, Dimitri," she said. She tried to keep the edge out of her voice to ensure that he didn't think she was being defensive, but the truth was, she was defensive. How could she not be? "This is a big step, and while I appreciate your trust and the time it took to make this decision, I don't know if I'm ready for it."

  "When we talk of the future, you always make sure to include my children." He dropped his hands to his side.

  "Yes, out of respect for you," Amanda explained. "I'm not going to talk about our future without mentioning your children. That would be disrespectful and selfish. I know I'm not your first priority."

  "You come just after them."

  "I come just after hockey," she corrected. "And that's fine. I knew what I was getting into when we started to date, but that doesn't mean I know how to be what you need me to be."

  "You're overcomplicating things, darling," Dimitri said. "You meeting my children is something I've been waiting for. I'm excited to see them interact with you. They are the most important things in my life, as are you. And for both of those things to finally meet, for us all to be together rather than separate...I am very excited about this. It means we could spend more time together."

  "Right, but I don't think you realize that everything changes once I meet your kids." She crawled off of his lap so she could sit next to him, running her fingers through her hair. "Dimitri, when I meet your kids, I go from being someone you're seeing to serious girlfriend. I go from being someone who could be their friend to being a potential new mother to them. No matter what you say or how you explain our relationship, they're going to look at me as the reason why you and their mother are not together, even though you didn't cheat."

  "I promise you, I will handle everything," he insisted. "They will not think that way about you."

  "You don't know what they're going to think." Amanda stood, her hands at her sides, balled into loose fists. She wasn't angry, per se, but she was frustrated that he wouldn't stop and listen to what she had to say. "And it's not fair that you're just writing off my concerns. I don't have kids. I don't know what being a parent is like. I'm twenty-four. I haven't really thought about it. But once you introduce kids, we go from being fun and casual to serious. There's no progression where it happens naturally. Kids force it to be serious fast."

  "Is there truly a problem, if that is the case?" Dimitri asked. There was genuine concern in his voice. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and letting his hands dangle in the space between. "Do you not want to be in a serious relationship with me?"

  "God, Dimitri." Amanda stopped pacing and turned her body
so she could face him. "I don't think you realize how much I love you. But once I meet the kids, what if they tell their mom about me? What if they tell anyone? It's not fair to tell them to keep a secret, but if Seraphina or Kat or anyone in the Gulls organization found out about me, I could be fired. You know that, right?"

  "They won't say anything," he said. "I promise." His brown eyes filled hers up and she could not look away from them, even though she wanted to. "Please, Amanda. I love you. I want you to be part of all areas of my life. I want you to be there when I hoist the Cup over my head. I want to kiss you with confetti flying and people cheering. And I can't do any of that if you don't meet my kids now."

  Amanda felt her heart get heavy at his words. She hugged herself, ripping her eyes away. "I need to think about it," she told him. "I'm going to stay at my place tonight and we can talk tomorrow."

  7

  Dimitri wasn't exactly sure what just happened. One minute, Amanda was on his lap and everything was fine. The next, she had her purse slung over her shoulder and she was walking out of the door. She hadn't even given him a kiss on the cheek or told him goodbye.

  He didn't understand. From what he knew of women, asking them to meet his children indicated that he was serious about their relationship. If he was serious about their relationship and wanted to move forward, wanted to involve her in more aspects of his life, including being involved with his children, shouldn't that have been a good thing? Shouldn't she have reacted by jumping in his arms and kissing his face and hugging him tightly to her? It made no sense that she all but stormed off.