Page 27 of The Game Plan

12

SEPTEMBER

Sienna

Random New Life

It’s my first day of work so I’ve been up since 5 a.m. I’ve been for a run and stretch – which reminded me that I need to ask Jax how to access the onsite gym – I’m dressed to impress in a royal-blue pant suit and I’m making a green smoothie for the ride.

I’m an early riser and I always dress professionally but today, I have an icky feeling in my stomach and I can’t decide if it’s positive nervous-excitement, or if my subconscious is telling my nervous system that this feels like a backward life-step. Until a couple of weeks ago, I was running a business that I helped build from the ground up. Now, I’m in temporary employment, I have a boss again, and I’ve married a guy who naps in the day.

“Speak of the devil,” I mutter to myself as he rounds the corner into the kitchen. I try not to notice the way his shirt rides up, displaying deliciously smooth abs above the waistband of his sweats as he stretches.

Last night, I had the weirdest thought, blurry like a dream but vivid like a memory, right before I went to sleep – that I’d seen those abs somewhere else. That I’d unclipped his minion coveralls and rolled a yellow checked shirt up over all ten of the muscles, pressing my mouth to them as I did. I hate that I’m shallow enough for Jax’s body to be speaking to my thighs. Or maybe it’s my body’s natural reaction, saying clench those thighs together, lady, because this is going nowhere.

“Why are you awake?” I ask, tearing my focus away from the manliest thing about my husband, back to the drink I’m decanting into my reusable mug. “It’s before noon.”

“Morning skate,” he says, coming to inspect what I’m doing. He wipes a finger around the rim of the juicer and I swear my panties twist as he sucks off the smoothie. I’d also bet money on him knowing that.

Damn it, not protective at all.

Okay, it’s easy to see why girls, any girl, or woman, would find Jax attractive. He is theoretically an attractive prospect. Until you get to know him.

“That’s nice,” he says. “Surprisingly sweet.”

“What, for a girl like me?”

“Because it’s green.”

I watch him with curiosity as he swipes another finger of my shake. “You don’t seem grouchy,” I tell him. “Weird.”

“No one is grouchy when they’re heading onto the ice.”

That’s actually how I feel all the time about my job. “It’s a blessing doing something you love as work,” I tell him. “Speaking of which, I need to get going. First day and all.”

“I’m ready when you are,” he says.

“What do you mean?”

“Since you don’t have a car, I’m assuming I’m driving us to the arena.”

I stare at him, perplexed. “You want to go together?”

He chuckles. “You are supposed to be my wife, Sienna. If we’re both going to the same place, won’t it look suspect if we don’t ride together?”

“I hadn’t thought about it. But, yeah, okay, I guess. Thanks.”

He places his hands on my shoulders and waits for our eyes to connect. Damn, he has scarily beautiful dark eyes. Chocolate – milk, dark, hazelnut laced. They almost look sincere.

“It’s a ride to work, babe, I’m not trying to steal your hamster.”

I scowl, shrugging out of his hold. “Get your things, I don’t want to be late.”

He holds out his arms. “I am my things. Everything else is sorted for me by the kit manager.”

“It’s no wonder you behave like an entitled juvenile when everything is done for you.”

“The perk of being talented and rich.”