Lindsey

I have 15 minutes to finish getting ready and head downstairs to the car that 'guy from work' sent for me. At least, that's what Liam thinks. Chase and I didn't want to send my brother to an early grave by telling him the truth- that we were sneaking around behind his back and going on a date with each other tonight.

I have a strong feeling that would go over horribly. He never wanted me to date any of his hockey friends back in high school and college, and he's made it abundantly clear how he feels about me dating a pro athlete. In his words, hell would freeze over before he'd let that happen.

Taylor says he's just being overprotective and thinks he's saving her from heartbreak at the hands of one of his womanizing teammates. But not all of the guys are like that, according to Taylor, Liam and Chase in particular. She tells me Chase has changed, and he is sincere about his feelings for me. And I've decided I'm not going to hold his past against him, so tonight, I'm taking a leap and hoping I don't fall flat on my face when all is said and done.

He's been nothing but good to me so far, and I want to see where things can go between us. I'm ignoring that voice of doubt in the back of my mind that keeps telling me to be careful. I'm tired of being careful. I want to be daring, and serving my heart on a platter for Chase may be reckless, but I'm going to go for it. Whatever consequences come from it, I'll just have to deal.

Taylor helps me put the finishing touches on my look for tonight and smiles as she tells me to spin around and take a look in the mirror. My eyes widen as I look at my reflection. I look hot!

The dress Taylor helped me pick out looks amazing. It's black with long sleeves made of lace and a moderate v neck that shows just enough cleavage, and it stops just below my mid-thigh. I've paired the dress with new black pumps that make my legs look stunning. My hair is loose and falls in waves down my back, and my makeup is subtle with a nice smokey eye to complete the look.

Taylor is beaming at me in the mirror. "Girl! You look so hot! Your hot date won't be able to keep his paws off you."

I turn around to face her. "You think so?"

"I know so." She hands me my coat and clutch and starts shooing me toward the door. "Now, let's get you out of here so you can get this date going."

I step out of the bedroom and wave bye to Liam as I pass him in the living room.

He grunts at me then does a double-take when he sees what I'm wearing. "Uh, Lins, where's the rest of your dress?"

I roll my eyes and ignore him. He goes to stand up to try to stop me from leaving, but Taylor steps in and pushes him back with a hand to his chest and a stern glare.

"Liam, the dress is fine." She looks over her shoulder at me. "Have a great time, Lins. Don't do anything I wouldn't do." She sends me off with a wink as she keeps my brother from launching himself between me and my exit.

I make my way to the elevator and try to steady my heart as I get closer and closer to the first floor. I'm so nervous about tonight. Everything has been going so great with Chase. I guess I just don't want anything to mess it up.

*Ding*

I look up as the elevator doors open. Taking one more steadying breath, I walk out into the lobby and head for the doors. The car Chase is in is parked right out front.

Okay, girl, you got this. Tonight is going to be spectacular.

I feel the cold night air kiss my skin as I take a few steps outside. Looking straight ahead, I come closer to the car. A few more steps, and I'll be inside with Chase. The driver comes around and opens the door for me, and I make my way inside.

Chase is staring at me slack-jawed with eyes wide as saucers. I smile at him and tuck a stray hair behind my ear. He regains his composure and briefly shakes his head.

"Lindsey, you look incredible." His words come out barely louder than a whisper, and he slides close to me in the seat.

"You're not too bad yourself." He's dressed in black slacks with a matching jacket and has a white button-up underneath with the top couple of buttons left undone, teasing me with a tiny peek at his perfect chest.

I want to run my hands over that chest right now, feel him against my skin, but he planned this whole night out for us. He said he had something special set up for us after dinner. So, I have to reign myself in for now. Otherwise, we probably won't make it to dinner, let alone whatever he has planned for later.

One of his hands is resting softly on my exposed knee and his other arm is wrapped around my shoulders. He leans in and nuzzles my neck for a moment before lifting his lips up to meet my own. The kiss is slow and gentle like we don't have a care in the world, and there's nowhere we have to be. We stay like this, wrapped up in one another for the rest of the ride to the restaurant.

......

Chase had the restaurant set us up a quiet secluded section so no one will spy us together and we can enjoy our dinner in peace and quiet. Our waiter gets us started with drinks and takes our order once we've had a chance to look over the menu. Everything sounds so delicious, but I end up deciding on salmon in white wine sauce, and Chase ordered a large surf and turf dinner.

As we enjoy our meal, we catch up on everything that happened last week when the team was away. I tell him how things are progressing at work and how I like everyone I work with so far. He tells me about the cities they visited and what the guys did in their off time. Talking with him is just so easy. It's comfortable in a way I never thought possible when I first met him.

I never expected to be sitting here sharing a meal with my very own Adonis while we swap stories about our lives. He tells me about his family and his life in Dallas before he went pro and came to New York. I tell him about my life Upstate and how I wound up in the city.

It feels nice, normal to be doing so, and I feel myself daring to open up to Chase a bit more. When the opportunity presents itself, I start telling him about why exactly I left. He listens patiently as I begin to tell him part of my history with Lucas and Nadia and how they broke me down.

I don't know what compelled me to do it. Telling him just felt like the right thing to do. I want him to know things about me. And I want to know things about him, everything about him. So, here I am, bearing my deepest darkest story to the guy I'm hoping will be a big part of my future here in New York.

I see him tense when I explain how shitty Lucas was to me and how he'd put me down and call me selfish when I tried to talk about my dreams that didn't revolve around him. And his eyes harden as I explain how I found out my best friend and boyfriend were screwing around behind my back for years.

When I finish my story, Chase is fixing me with an indecipherable look. After a few minutes of looking at me like that, he finally finds his voice. "That dumbass had no idea what he was throwing away."

His eyes soften, and he moves closer to me, pulling me into a tight embrace. "He's such an idiot, Lins. He didn't deserve you, but as shitty as that is...his loss is my gain. And it may sound bad, but I'm kind of glad he screwed up because now I have a shot with you." He tilts my chin up, so I'm looking into his eyes. "And I don't plan on screwing this up."

He leans down and kisses me. This kiss is somehow different than the others we've shared. It's almost timid, nervous like he is afraid I'll bolt at any second. I try to soothe his worries by deepening the kiss as I wrap my arms around his neck, not caring if anyone is watching.

We stay wrapped up in one another like that for a long time before the server comes by and politely interrupts to ask if we need anything else for the evening. We bashfully break apart, and Chase asks for the bill. The server quickly brings the bill back, and Chase slips a few large bills in the folder before helping me with my coat and guiding me back to the car.

......

The car starts to slow down as we approach location number two for the night. Chase turns to me and says he really wants the second part of the date to be a surprise. He pulls out a tie from his jacket pocket, holding it up and looking at me with the unspoken question hanging between us.

He wants to blindfold me?

I'm not normally into that kind of thing, but with Chase, I can't help but feel a lot turned on. I look to the tie and back up at him as I nod my head. He slowly guides the tie around my eyes and fastens it gently behind my head. I feel the car come to a stop, and my heart starts beating erratically.

The door opens, and Chase takes my hand and guides me across a sidewalk, into a building, and into what I'm guessing is an elevator. I hear the sound of heavy doors closing in front of me and feel the warmth of Chase's hand as he holds mine tight. The anticipation of what's to come is killing me.

I hear the doors slide open. Chase moves an arm around me and guides me forward. I can smell the crisp air mixed with something very warm and familiar. I just can't put my finger on what exactly it is. We continue moving forward, and I no longer feel the chill of the night air. I feel warm and cozy, like a fire is blazing somewhere close by. As I feel my entire body become wrapped up in the warm and comfy feeling, Chase pulls us to a stop and slowly unties the silk fabric that was used as my blindfold.

He removes the tie and leans down to whisper in my ear that I can open my eyes. I blink several times as the view in front of me transforms from a messy blur to something magical. If I had any doubt before, it is gone now.

Tonight, I'm going to give Chase something he'll never forget.