Maksim Petrov keeps checking me out. The entire party so far, I’ve looked up and he’s been staring at me. Watching me cross the room. And sooner or later, he’s going to approach me again and I fear I don’t have the willpower to say no to him.
“Paisley.” Mr. Gerhardt approaches me. “I’ve barely seen Jana tonight.”
I want to say ‘me too and I’ve been stuck making small talk and dodging one of your hockey guys which is like swimming away from a shark.’
“She’s here somewhere,” I say, looking for my best friend.
“Always worrying about the details.” He tips his drink back. I’ve attended a lot of parties with Mr. Gerhardt and he’s got those glassy eyes on that says he’s had a few drinks already. But he’s a fun drunk and it’s his party, so why shouldn’t he enjoy himself? “Tell me what you are up to now?”
“Not much, I just started a private practice.”
He snaps his fingers. “Really? I thought you were still working toward your doctorate.”
“Nope, finished two years ago.”
He points to me and looks around the room. “Hey, I have a guy here. Aiden Drake.”
“Your center?”
He laughs. “I always forget you watch hockey.”
“You have a great team this year.”
He looks around again. “We just need to get Drake’s game back.”
“He will.”
“That’s where you come in. He needs a shrink,” he says.
I choke on my champagne. “Excuse me?”
“He needs someone to fix his head. I’m going to refer him to you. That should be good for your profession, right? An endorsement by Aiden Drake, center of the Florida Fury?”
“Technically, client and doctor privilege,” I say. “But have you asked him?”
“He’ll do it. He’ll do anything to get his game back at this point,” he says, finishing his drink and a server brings him another one taking the empty like they’ve been waiting in the wings for him to finish. Must be a nice life.
I’ve been best friends with his daughter, Jana, since we were freshmen in high school, and although I attended the same private school, I was on partial scholarship and Jana obviously wasn’t. The Gerhardts have taken me on so many vacations I would have never gone on. They were like my second family, so him throwing me this bone isn’t a surprise.
“I’ll get your number from Jana and give it to Aiden. Expect a call next week.” Mr. Gerhardt leans in, kissing my cheek. “I can’t believe you have a doctorate already. Time flies and I’m getting old.” He laughs and leaves.
Maksim slides into his place. “You know the boss?”
I shake my head and sip my champagne.
“Silent treatment, huh? I should warn you that the harder you try to get away from me, the more I’ll chase. It’s my nature. Let me tell you about when I was eight and this coach said I didn’t have what it takes to be a professional hockey player. And I’m Russian, so you can imagine it was a dagger to the heart.”
“I promise, I’m not playing hard to get. I’m just not interested.”
His eyes fall.
“Yeah, I’m sure you’re not used to being told no.”
“Not when the woman clearly wants me. I’m not asking for forever, I’m asking for a kiss at midnight, that’s all.” He holds up his hands. “You have to kiss someone, I’m not the ugliest guy here.”
I laugh. “You know it’s the truth.”
“I don’t kiss—”
“Hockey players. Maybe we should examine your dislike so much.”
“I was going to say strangers. I have no idea where that tongue has been,” I say.
He inches closer and he smells so delicious. “I never said tongue, but I’m not opposed to it.”
“You just don’t stop.” I finish my champagne and place the glass on the tray of a server.
Other servers are passing out hats and crowns and streamers. Maksim takes a hat that says Happy New Year and he hands me a crown. “You’ve got about five minutes to make your decision.”
“Or you’re going to find someone else?”
“Nah, it’s you or no one.”
“How romantic,” I sarcastically say.
“I’m not a romantic.”
“Which is my point,” I say.
“So, what’s your answer?”
“You’re in such a rush.”
“I’ll put on some Chapstick for you.” He winks and my stomach fills with flutters. Oh dear Jesus, the man is winning me over.
“How sweet. What flavor?”
He pulls out a Chapstick and I giggle like a pre-teen. “Looks like mint.”
Please help me because I’ve lost my mind, but he’s right, one kiss isn’t anything to worry about and he is Maksim Petrov, so can I really argue it?
“One kiss, no tongue.”
He chuckles. “Okay, don’t take advantage of me then.”
Everyone starts counting down and his body moves closer, his arm around me to mold to my hip and I turn to him. His blue eyes electrifying and beautiful. “Nine, eight, seven…” he continues to count, and I’m fixated on his lips. “One,” he whispers.
Cheers erupt and I close my eyes right as his lips land on mine. Damn, I should have known he’d be a great kisser. His lips soft and firm and his hands are loose but tight all in one. I sink into him and he tugs me closer, my neck straining upward to meet his height. He moans when I’m the one who slips my tongue into his mouth because if I’m going to kiss him, I’m going to fully kiss him and regret nothing.
By the time we come up for air, the room is spinning with people wishing everyone Happy New Year, but we’re staring at one another like we’re surprised a kiss could spark like that. He’s about to lean in again and I’m not going to deny him, but Mr. Gerhardt calls my name.
“Paisley!”
Maksim’s hands are off me before I can focus on Mr. Gerhardt.
“Happy New Year, Mr. Gerhardt,” I say, kissing him on the cheek.
“Happy New Year, Paisley. I see you met the big man,” he says, shaking Maksim’s hand and wishing him a Happy New Year. “He can be the first to meet our new team shrink.”
“What?” I ask, clearly hearing him wrong.
“I’m going to hire you to be the team shrink.”
“I thought you were just referring me to Aiden?”
He laughs. “Yeah, but I think all our boys could use a head shrink.”
I don’t correct him about the word shrink because it’s no use. “Seriously?”
“You come into my office in two days and we’ll negotiate.”
I glance at Maksim and he blows out a breath, rolling his eyes.
“Isn’t it great, Maksim?” Mr. Gerhardt is oblivious to Maksim’s true feelings.
“Yeah, I don’t do that shit. I don’t need any help with my head.”
My shoulders sag that he’s undermined my profession. “Really? It doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong.”
He raises his eyebrows. “Maybe for the other guys but you can count me out. Happy New Year.” He walks away and I watch his back until he disappears in the crowd.
“Don’t worry, I’m making it mandatory. If you want to play for the Florida Fury, then you’re seeing the shrink.” He points to me. “You’re the shrink.”
I nod, but I can’t really not take him up on his offer. When I left my other place to open a practice on my own, I never realized how hard it was to get started. The money from the team would help me tremendously.
“Happy New Year, I’ll see you in my office in two days.” He kisses my cheek and I smile at him.
Great, now I just have to act like that kiss with Maksim didn’t make my libido go into overdrive.