The problem was, neither could Carolina. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
But Gray was already pulling out his phone. She tried to think of reasons to have Gray stop the call. But apparently Drew had already answered.
“Hey, guess where I am?” He laughed. “No, not at a strip club.”
Evelyn shook her head.
“I’m at Carolina’s apartment in Manhattan.” Gray lifted his gaze to hers. “No, she’s not saying bad things about you. Not yet, anyway. We’re actually talking about her new fashion line and your name came up. She wanted to know if you’d be interested in being a model for her.”
No, she did not want him to be a model for her. Anyone but Drew. In fact, he was the last person she wanted in her head, or to see in person. He’d distract her in so many ways.
“You are? Great. Why don’t you come over?” Gray shot her an innocent smile, then gave Drew Carolina’s address. “We’ll see you soon, buddy.”
He hung up. “He laughed and said he’d model, but only if you promise he doesn’t have to go naked.”
She rolled her eyes and tried not to think about Drew showing up. “How about something to drink?”
She headed to the bar and fixed everyone cocktails. She sure needed one. By the time she served the drinks, her doorbell sounded, so she went over to the door and buzzed Drew up.
When he knocked, she opened the door, abruptly wondering if her hair was combed and how long ago it had been that she’d put her makeup on.
And immediately felt ridiculous for even thinking those things. Why would she even care?
Suddenly, there he was, looking cool and casual in faded jeans that hugged his muscular legs, his light jacket hiding what she knew to be a spectacular torso.
“Hello, Drew.”
He smiled at her. “Hi, gorgeous.” He kissed her cheek before she could create distance. “You look stunning, as always.”
She swallowed, her heart picking up a fast rhythm she had no hope of tamping down. “Thank you. Won’t you come in?”
“Hey,” Gray said as he came into the foyer. “I’m glad we got a chance to meet up before Evelyn and I have to leave the city.”
They shook hands. “Me, too,” Drew said. “Congratulations on the championship. You kicked serious ass, especially on that last race.”
“Thanks.”
Drew took a seat.
“Can I fix you something to drink, Drew?”
He smiled up at Carolina. “A beer would be great, if you have one.”
She went to the bar and grabbed a beer out of the fridge, then brought it back to him.
“Thanks. So tell me about your fashion design. What’s going on?”
She took a seat in the chair across from him. “I left the designer I was working with and I’m starting my own line.”
His brows rose. “Big move for you.”
“Yes. But I felt if I didn’t make the move now, while I had all this inspiration, I might never do it.”
His gaze never wavered from hers. “Yeah? So tell me what’s inspiring you, Lina.”
His nickname for her never failed to make butterflies dance in her stomach. Or infuriate her, reminding her the way that nickname sailed from his lips that one night they’d spent together. That one and only night, before he’d walked out of her life as if she’d never existed. As if what they’d shared had never meant anything.
Because it hadn’t. Not to Drew, anyway.
But that was a long time ago, and she was a lot smarter now. She gave him a cursory overview, telling him much the same thing she’d told Gray and Evelyn.
“So . . . clothes. Sounds fun. And you want me to model some of those for you?”
“Yes. Sort of. But you don’t have to do it if you don’t want to. I’m sure you’re busy with hockey season gearing up. I can find someone else.”
His lips curved into a smile that made her pulse dance. “Trying to get rid of me before we even get started?”
“No. I’m just giving you an out if you want one. Not a lot of sports figures enjoy modeling clothes. And this would require print ads, as well as runway.”
He took a long swallow of beer, then shrugged. “I’m game. I figure I owe you.”
“You don’t owe me a thing, Drew.”
“Then I’ll do it for the fun. And hey, if your fashion stuff is successful, it’ll draw attention to me and to the team, and that’s good for hockey, right?”
“That’s the way I’m looking at it, too,” Gray said.
“Speaking of exposure,” Evelyn said, standing, “the vice president has a meeting I need to be present for. We need to get going.”
Carolina laughed. “Give Dad a hug for me and tell him I’ll see him soon.”
She walked Gray and Evelyn to the door. “Thanks for stopping by. I’m sorry we couldn’t spend more time together.”
“We’ll see you at Christmas, for sure,” Gray said, giving her a pointed look that told her he wouldn’t take no for an answer. “Right?”
“Definitely. I should have a lot more work done by then, and I’ll need to take a breather. I promise not to miss Christmas.”
After hugging them both, she shut the door and headed back into the living room.
“Well, thanks for agreeing to help me out.” She hoped he saw that as a sign that their meeting was over.
Drew stood. “Have you eaten yet?”
“No. I’ve had a busy day.”
“Then let me take you out to eat.”
“I have an even busier night ahead of me. There’s a lot to do to get this line ready, and not nearly enough hours in the day.”
“Then we’ll order pizza. Or Chinese. I’m hungry.”
Obviously, he wasn’t grabbing a clue that she was trying to get rid of him. “Fine. We’ll have something to eat. Then you need to leave.”
“Sure.”
And she’d count every second until Drew was out the door, because having him in her apartment was disconcerting.
She had no idea why she’d allowed this, when he was the one man she didn’t want to see or spend any time with. Instead, he was sprawled on her living room sofa, his long, lean body looking incongruous on her short, white designer sofa.
Taking a deep breath, she grabbed her phone.
“Chinese or pizza?”
“Either one is fine with me. I’m just hungry.”
She punched in the number of her favorite take-out Chinese place and called in an order. They delivered faster than the pizza place, so she’d get Drew out of her apartment that much sooner.
She went back into the living room to find him outside on her balcony. She poured a refill on her wine and wandered out there. It was cool outside, but not unbearable. He was looking out over Central Park.
“Nice place, Lina.”
Cringing at his use of the nickname, she stepped up beside him. “I love it here.”
“I can see why.”
“Where do you live?”
“I’ve got a place over on the Upper West Side.”
She turned to face him. “I didn’t know you lived here.”
He gave her a smile. “I do play here, remember?”
He did. She just tried her best to forget that. “Of course.”
“I only live here during the season. During the off-season I take off and head back home to Oklahoma.”
“That’s nice. Do your parents still live there?”
“Yeah, but it’s not like I live with them. I’m a big boy now, babe.”
Again with an endearment. “I’m not your babe. I never was.”
He laid his beer on the table and turned around. “Still mad at me about that night, Lina?”
“It’s Carolina. And no, I’m not angry at all. I’ve never given it another thought.”
“I’m sure you haven’t. Because that would mean what happened between us mattered. And we both know it didn’t. Right?”