Finding Carson Lee (Oh Captan, My Captain #3) (7 page)

“
Y’all know the route as good as I do,” I say, standing up. “Losers cough up a thousand bucks each for the winner. Deal?” Everyone nods at our usual bet. I find the brunette in the crowd and point to her, curling my finger so she’ll come over. “Want to count us off?” She grins, nodding. “Good. I’ll get you off later.” I wink before sitting back down.

The guys laugh and shake their heads, but it stops as the girl starts to count. We take off, heading for the trail we use when we ride. I end up behind Tyler, but am able to gain speed faster than he can after we round a curve to pass him. I keep going full speed until I cross our imaginary finish line first. To celebrate my winning and being $3,000 richer, I do a couple of donuts. When I finally stop, I pull up beside the girl, helping her up behind me.

I glance at the guys. “I’ll collect Monday, boys. See y’all later.”

Then the girl and I ride up to the house, going straight for the bedroom once we get there. Could my birthday get any better?

Kinley

“
How do you talk me into these dates?” I growl at Cassie through my speakerphone.

“
Look, you’re making me go to Utah during one of my busiest months to take pictures of a hockey player, so you’re going out on this date.” She disconnects the call.

I toss my phone on my couch and head to the bedroom. I can’t believe that I’m going on a blind date. I usually don’t do this type of thing, but I haven’t been on a date in almost two months. I flip through my dresses in the closet and try to find something that’s classy and not trashy. It’s not like a have a lot of seductive clothes, but I
may
have a few hiding in the back.

I settle on a light purple wrap dress. It’s cool outside, so I pair it with my black trench coat. My hair is down and I put in a few curls. I even leave my makeup light and roll my eyes because it’s time for me to go.

I didn’t want the guy to know where I lived, so we agreed to meet at the restaurant. All I know about him is his name is Jackson, and he’s a doctor at a local hospital. Cassie said he’s very cute, but we don’t always see eye-to-eye on the definition of ‘cute’.

I fluff my hair as I walk into the bar and grill. I assumed that we would go to a nice eatery, but I guess he likes the more relaxed atmosphere. I look around the room, hoping to see the guy in a black blazer, and of course, there are like twelve guys like that.

I try to remember everything Cassie told me, and I think I see him. I walk up to a guy, but he said he wasn’t him.

“
Kinley?”

I turn at the sound of my name. “Jackson?”

“
Hi.” He sticks out his hand, and I shake it. “I have a table over here.” He leads the way.

Jackson isn’t bad looking. He’s tall, and I can tell he works out, but nothing like Carson.

Carson?

I don’t want to think about him at all.

Jackson pulls the chair out for me, and I remove my coat, taking my seat. He sits across from me and already has a large beer in front of him.

“
Sorry, I wasn’t sure what to order for you.”

I wave my hand as if it isn’t a big deal. “It’s fine.”

He flags the waitress down, and I order a beer too. We are quiet for a moment before I can’t stand another moment of it. “Cassie told me you’re a doctor. What field?”

“
Podiatrist.”

“
Oh, that’s interesting,” I lie. Who would want to touch people’s feet all day?

“
Cassie said you work in retail.”

“
Well, I’m a campaign director for LSMP,” I clarify for him. I don’t just work in retail. Geesh, he acts like I work at the GAP.

“
I’ve heard of them. What are you working on now?” He keeps looking around the room and not at me.

“
Um, nothing huge.” I can tell this date is going to hell. I’m thankful I have a beer in front of me and damn near chug it.

“
Wow, flashback to your sorority days, huh?” Jackson smirks at me.

“
Excuse me?”

He chuckles. “Cassie told me that you two were in a sorority together, and with the way you were drinking, I was wondering if you were having a flashback?”

I smile politely. “No, I was thirsty.”

We talk for a while, but it’s mainly about the weather, celebrities, and the decor of the bar. This date is a total bust, and I make the excuse of an early morning meeting.

“
On a Sunday?”

Crap. “Yep, the clothes business is a twenty-four hour job.” I stand up and he helps me with my coat.

Jackson walks me to the car, and I’m hoping that it will be a simple hug because I don’t want to kiss him. The two beers he bought weren’t worth it.

“
I did have a good time.”

He did? Well, maybe it’s all the girls’ asses he was ogling that made his night.

“
It was a pleasant evening. Bye.” I jump in my car quickly and speed away.

Nope.

No way in hell am I ever talking to him again. I don’t care if he is a doctor. My phone begins to ring, and I hit the button on my steering wheel to answer it.

“
Kinley!” I hear someone scream from the other side.

For the first time tonight, a real smile appears on my face. “Where are my girls?”

I hear a bunch of my sorority sisters yell the bar they’re at, and I turn to the left, heading to them.

Into the wee hours of the night, my sisters and I dance, do shots, and laugh until it hurts. It’s exactly what I need before I have to dive into all the work ahead of me for this campaign.

Let’s not forget that I need to start going to hockey games too.

Carson

My heart has been beating a thousand beats per second it seems all day today. We’re down 3-2 in the first round of the playoffs. We need this win tonight or my season is over. Once that happens, I’m off to Utah apparently. I much rather be here as long as possible, fighting for the best trophy in sports. All we need to do is win this game tonight and then the next one.

During warm-ups, I spot Kinley in the crowd behind the net. Mild surprise runs through me that she’s here before I place all of my focus on the task before our team. I listen to every word Coach says, which boils down to remember the goal here, and then hope like hell we can deliver.

The first period doesn’t go as well as planned. We feel disconnected and have been inconsistent. We’re down 2-0. Everyone tries to rally together for the second before we go back on the ice. We’re tense, but we’re fighters too. It shows because we play in their zone quite a bit but only convert one goal.

2-1 at the end of the second period.

All we have to do is get a lead and hold it. Two goals from us and zero from them. That’s all we want.

But you don’t always get what you want, right? That was like a summary of my life before hockey and even sometimes afterwards. What we want ends up getting reversed and we lose 4-1.

Game over.

Season over.

Another year without even a close chance at winning.

The bar is calling my name, that’s for sure. We’ll have to work harder next season. I don’t even know which guys will stay or who will go. I just hope we can work well together so we win it all. When I get to the bar, I’m actually torn between wanting to sulk or finding a girl to fuck. For some reason, Kinley comes to mind. I pull my cell out and text her.

Me: We lost because of you.

Ten minutes go by before she responds.

Kinley: How so?

Me: You jinxed it with what you said that day. Happy?

Yeah, it’s her fault. If she hadn’t have said what she did, if she hadn’t have jinxed us, then maybe I would be celebrating a win right now. Her reply this time is quick.

Kinley: You’re a dumbass, Carson.

My lips lift in a quirk. That’s a lot nicer than what I was expecting.

Me: And now, I’m officially your dumbass until this clothes shit is over.

Kinley: This clothes shit is helping your career, remember that.

I really don’t see how this is helping my career directly. Public image wise, maybe. As far as my actual job, yeah, it
really
makes a difference.

Me: I can tell. That’s why it’s actually improved my hockey skills already.

Kinley: Yeah right, I really couldn’t tell that on the ice tonight.

If she was sitting in front of me, I would glare at her instead of at my phone.

Me: Ha, ha. Surprised you were even there.

Kinley: I was there for work, not pleasure. I would much rather be home watching a comedy.

Comedy? She likes comedies? Briefly, I wonder if she likes them as much as I do.

Me: You sound like you should do more pleasurable things. Might make you stop being so grumpy and grouchy. And wouldn’t have thought you’d like comedy. Sounds too fun for you.

Kinley: I do pleasurable things all the time. You’re just jealous because it’s not with you. And for your information, I’m a lot of fun.

There are so many things I could say about her doing pleasurable things, but I decide to pass on it.

Me: I don’t do jealously of any kind. I don’t even think I’ve seen you smile! Kind of hard to think you might be fun. Utah could prove me wrong. Maybe.

Kinley: We have a fitting soon, and then we’re Utah bound. I do smile, by the way, just not around you!

Figures. I have been a jerk to her before, so it makes sense. I try to picture what her face would look like smiling. She’d probably look really pretty but kind of hard to be sure when she frowns so often around me. I decide to make her an offer, one that sounds like a win-win for us both. Me to make her smile, her to go to a game.

Me: Well...if I can manage to somehow make you smile twice within the first week, I’ll go to a crummy football game with ya once the new season starts?

Kinley: Ha, you’re not going to ruin football for me! All you would do is bitch and moan. However, let’s modify it a little. If you can’t get me to smile twice in the first week, then you have to do as I say the whole trip. No bullshit or remarks.

That could be hard, but I’m sure I could manage. But what if I
do
get her to smile? I think about it for a bit before replying back to her.

Me: Hmmm. Okay. But if I do, then you have to cook a meal of my choice for me. That work for you?

Kinley: I can’t cook for you. Pick something else.

Surely she can cook. Aren’t all southern women supposed to be able to cook? Maybe she doesn’t like to cook, so she says she can’t.

Me: Nope. That’s the deal. Not changing it.

Kinley: Well, since I’m going to win, you have a deal! Get ready, Hockey Player, I don’t lose.