Free Breakout (A Dallas Demons Hockey Romance) by Aven Ellis

tomorrow.”
    I smile, reaching for my coat. “It doesn’t matter. Working on the bank website is boring whether I’m wide awake and fully rested or tired.”
    Niko furrows his brow. “Well, hopefully that won’t be for much longer, if I have anything to do with it. I’ve gone to bat for you, Lexi,” he says, his eyes firmly locked on mine, “and I need you as my editor. And I’ll do everything I can to get you on board at TATS.”
    Hope rises within me.
    “I don’t think I can ever repay you for all you have done for me,” I say, sliding into my coat. “There is never enough that I can do for you for even opening this door a crack for me.”
    “Stop it.”
    “No, it’s the truth.”
    “Are we going to argue about this?”
    “We seem to argue a lot,” I tease.
    “Yes, we do.”
    We both laugh and head outside. The temperature has dropped some more, and we walk back toward the arena.
    “Where are you parked?” Niko asks.
    “The P lot,” I say.
    Niko raises his eyebrows. “That super exclusive lot next to the building?”
    “Yep. Kenley gives me the tag from Nate’s tickets when she goes home with him.”
    “Nice.”
    “You park down with the players, right?” I know this from what Ryan told me. That the hockey production team parks down where the players park their cars.
    “Yep,” he says. “I junk up the lot because I’m not driving a Bentley or Maserati.”
    We both laugh. Before I know it, we’re at my Volkswagen CC.
    “This would be mine,” I say, nodding at the silver car next to us. “And yes, it’s a gift from my parents for graduating from TCU. Lord knows I don’t make enough to buy one.”
    “Yet,” Niko adds. “Not yet.”
    I smile at him. “Do you know how much editors make? I’ll be driving that car until it falls apart on Central Expressway.”
    Niko laughs. “Whatever.”
    A silence falls between us. The night is cold and breezy, and a crescent moon shines overhead.
    “Give me your hands,” Niko says.
    My heart pounds inside my chest as I extend my hands to him. Niko takes them and covers them with his own to warm my skin again.
    “You can’t drive home with frozen hands.”
    Crap. If he’s reducing me to a puddle by warming my hands, I can’t imagine what kissing him would be like.
    “I might have to hire you for this service,” I manage to say.
    “I offer it free of charge,” he says, staring down at me.
    Oh I want him to kiss me now. I’ve never wanted a man to kiss me so badly as I want Niko to at this moment.
    “Thank you for tonight,” Niko says.
    “No, thank you. For the wine, the coffee, the conversation,” I say. “I had a lot of fun.”
    “Me, too.”
    Niko continues to rub my hands, and I shiver in response.
    “So I go on the road tomorrow,” Niko says.
    “Right.”
    “It’s a long trip. Up to New York, Boston, and Toronto.”
    I nod. “I know.”
    Silence falls between us.
    “So maybe we could get together when I get back.”
    Ahhhhhh! I’m so happy I could burst at this moment.
    “I’d like that.”
    “Good, me too.”
    Niko releases my hands. I can’t help but notice he looks gorgeous in the moonlight.
    “All right. I’ll let you go, but I’m not leaving until I see you drive off.”
    I smile. “Okay.”
    Niko steps away from me, and I reluctantly open the door. He’s not going to kiss me, but that’s okay. Tonight was perfect exactly the way it was.
    “Night, Lexi. Text me when you get home, okay?”
    My heart melts even more. “I will.”
    I slide behind the wheel of my car. I turn the car on, wave to him, and then drive out of the parking lot.
    I glance in my rearview mirror, and Niko’s still standing there, watching me.
    I watch him, knowing he won’t leave until my car is out of sight.
    And just like that, I know.
    Niko is The One for me.
    And I only have to hope with all my heart that he might come to see me as The One for him, too.

Chapter 10
    The One Online Dating Service Profile Question: If someone has