Six to nothing. They didn’t just win that night, but the shutout was beautiful and Kane “Hat-trick” Hatcher lived up to his nickname, scoring three goals. The team’s young Finnish player, Mikka, scored two, and Jake scored the last one. Laurel didn’t dare presume it had anything to do with her odd practice session the day before or her ridiculous standoff with Matt earlier in the day, but whatever it was, it was an amazing feeling. If nothing else, she’d be able to say she’d coached a winning NHL game. Maybe that wouldn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things, but it did to her. It was an accomplishment, something personal and noteworthy, even if no one else thought so.
She spoke to the press, gave a short, private pep talk to the team, and then made her escape. Rose told her Gage had been called away to a business meeting but had sent the limo for her and she was grateful not to have to worry about driving or finding her way around after such a long day. She stepped out of her low-heeled pumps the moment she got inside the mansion, sighing with relief after being in them all day.
“Miss Laurel.” Wenda came around the corner with a smile.
“You’re still here?”
“It’s a game day and Mr. Caldwell said you might be hungry.”
“What I really want is a long, hot bubble bath. Maybe a cup of herbal tea.”
“I’ll run the bath for you. Mr. Caldwell mentioned you’re fond of baths and he has a huge jacuzzi tub you’re welcome to use. While it’s running, I’ll make you some tea and bring it up. How does that sound?”
“Heavenly.” Laurel paused in front of a set of double doors. She hadn’t had time to look around since she’d arrived. “Is this his library?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I’m going to see about finding a book and then I’ll be up.”
“You know which room is his?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Very well.” Wenda turned and headed up the stairs while Laurel walked into the large but cozy room.
She hadn’t been surprised when she’d first arrived at the mansion. He was a billionaire, after all, so the elegant furnishings, flooring and lighting were exactly what she’d been expecting. Especially since this had been Uncle Malcolm’s home first. What she hadn’t been expecting was the lack of personal touches. It looked more like a museum than a home. There were no photographs, only expensive art. Nothing looked touched, everything in its place, as if no one lived there. The formal living room was more of a great room, with beautifully tiled floors, crystal-laden chandeliers, and huge windows. The furniture was baroque-style, something she knew he didn’t like and she couldn’t help but wonder why he didn’t hire someone to redecorate. This was nothing like the home they’d shared all those years ago.
The library was different, though, and she was immediately enchanted. This room was more like Gage, with expensive but comfortable furniture, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves on three walls and a bay window with a reading nook. There was soft lighting and more books than she’d ever seen outside a library, drawing her toward them. The fireplace wasn’t lit but she could only imagine how cozy it would be when it was.
She walked toward the bookshelves, sighing with pleasure as she skimmed the titles. He had all the classics: Tolstoy, Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde. He also had contemporary titles like Tom Clancy and Michael Crichton, all the Harry Potter books, and, to her surprise, the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy as well. Since when did Gage read romance? Well, he was pretty dominant in the bedroom, so it kind of made sense. She’d just never imagined him reading those kinds of books. There were probably a lot of things she didn’t know about him anymore.
With a fond smile, she plucked a copy of a Sherlock Holmes collection from the shelf and made her way up to his bedroom. She hadn’t been inside it yet, though she knew where it was because he’d shown her. It was much more welcoming than the rest of the house, other than the library, with a huge California king bed covered in a burgundy comforter with navy and white accent pillows. The room was decorated in navy and burgundy, with a recliner by a massive set of windows and rich mahogany furniture. It was very Gage, masculine and expensive but completely comfortable.
“The water should be ready,” Wenda said, coming in. “I put some bubbles in it but not a lot since I didn’t know if you wanted to be covered in them.”
“Actually, yes.”
“Then I’ll add more and you can fix your tea the way you like.” Wenda put down the tray she was carrying.
“Thank you.” Laurel added a little honey to what appeared to be chamomile tea and stirred it gingerly. Today had been rough and she wasn’t too proud to accept a little pampering, especially since it was only going to be for a couple more weeks.
“All set.” Wenda came out and smiled. “There’s a bathrobe, slippers, and towels. If you need anything else, just buzz the intercom. I’ll be in the kitchen until Mr. Caldwell gets home.”
“Did he say when he’s expected?”
“No. He gets called to Juneau and Fairbanks fairly often, and it’s usually late by the time he gets home.”
“Thanks again.” Laurel shut the bathroom door, shed her clothes and sank into the massive tub. The water was glorious and she took a moment to pin up her hair before sliding down until she was covered up to her neck. It had been a long time since she’d been in a tub this size and it was absolutely heavenly. She’d laid the book on a towel, hoping to protect it from the water, but she was too relaxed to even read. What a day. She didn’t want to think about Matt or that ridiculous scene on the ice, so she focused on the win tonight, how it felt to watch them working together, playing like a tight-knit group.
Not having Matt on the bench tonight had been enlightening. It was like he somehow darkened the mood and without him everything fell into place. She wondered how many games she could bench him and vowed to work on that in the morning.
She jumped when someone knocked on the door, realizing she’d dozed off and the water was cool now.
“Laurel? Are you okay?” Gage’s voice brought her awake quickly.
“Oh, yes, sorry. I fell asleep.”
“I’ve been home for a few but didn’t hear anything so I thought I’d check on you.”
“I’ll be right out.” She quickly got up and pulled on the bathrobe. She hadn’t even drunk her tea and she stared at it regretfully.
Sliding her feet into the slippers and grabbing her things, she stepped out into Gage’s room. Whatever she was going to say froze in her throat as she took in his half-naked body. Standing in nothing but low-slung sweats, he was still the same chiseled perfection he’d always been, but now covered in tattoos and…a handful of scars she didn’t remember. Everything about him that was so familiar was oddly new too. He was still as handsome as ever, but the lines on his face hadn’t been there last time she’d seen him, and she nearly reached out to touch them. Him. She had no earthly idea why but the desire was almost palpable.
For the first time in a long time, she really looked at him. He looked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, and that wasn’t the man she knew, the man she’d fallen in love with so many years ago. They’d both changed so much but somehow, he was still Gage. It made no sense, which frustrated her. Standing here in nothing but a bathrobe, she felt oddly exposed, as if he could see right through it. And her. As if he could see how much she still wanted him.
“You look tired,” he said, watching her as she watched him, the look on his face inscrutable.
“I guess I am. I’ve never fallen asleep in the tub before.” She shivered slightly, fatigue suddenly overwhelming her.
“You should go to bed,” he suggested softly, his eyes never leaving hers.
“Why do you always look at me like you can see right through me?”
“Because I can. A piece of paper that says we’re divorced doesn’t change the fact that your soul is part of mine.”
“Dammit, Gage. Don’t say things like that.”
“Why? It’s true.” He reached out his hand and gently ran his knuckles across her cheek. “I know I’m not the man you need, but you’ll always be the only woman for me.”
She swallowed, battling a thousand different emotions. “I, um…goodnight, Gage. Thanks for letting me use your tub. It was wonderful.”
“Any time.” He paused. “Congratulations on the win, by the way. I’m sorry I missed it.”
“It felt good. Thank you.” She nodded and hurried out of the room, anxious to get as far away from him as possible when she was feeling so vulnerable. She absolutely could not end up in bed with him again. No matter how much she wanted to. No matter how inevitable it was.