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  She scooped a few pieces on to her plate. He dug his spoon into the lobster macaroni and cheese. She tried not to giggle at the huge bite he took, smearing a bit of cheese sauce on his lips.

  "Mac-n-cheese, huh? I didn't think you would eat that? Aren't there too many carbs in that?" Grinning at him before she took a bite herself.

  Kris just smirked. "This is actually my favorite cheat food; the lobster really makes it decadent. I don't eat it often, but it is my favorite."

  They sat in silence for a little while, eating and exchanging glances. "After we are done," Kris started, "would you like to stop for drinks? There is this place not far from here that Matt was telling me about. Maybe check out their dessert menu also. Interested?"

  "Yeah, let's go check it out." She was still in the mindset that she shouldn't eat dessert, especially in front of Kris, but she was trying hard to change that attitude. She loved dessert, so why not?

  They were done with their meal and paid the bill. On their way out of the restaurant a little boy wearing a Renegades jersey approached Kris. His mother frantically tried to stop him with a horrified look on her face as the child approached Kris.

  "Excuse me, Mr. Lafleur?" The little boy looked up at Kris with big blue eyes. "Would it be okay if I got a picture with you?"

  "Oh, Mr. Lafleur, I am so sorry! Honey, let's not bother Mr. Lafleur, he is here for dinner just like us." The mother must have known people tended to like their privacy here, but Kris really didn't seem to mind. It was the same boy Kat had seen sitting with his family when they walked in.

  "Please, it's fine, I would love to take a picture with this little guy! What's your name, buddy?" Kris was smiling brightly as he talked to the little boy.

  "Maxwell." The little boy said, beaming. Maxwell's mother stopped looking so worried that they bothered Kris, and a smile crept over her face as he talked with the young boy.

  "How old are you, Maxwell?" Kris asked.

  "Seven." Maxwell answered.

  "Alright, Maxwell, hey, you look nice all dressed up for dinner. And thanks for asking for a picture." Maxwell looked over at his mom grinning like crazy, motioning for her to come over.

  The little guy could hardly stand still he was so excited. So cute, Kat thought.

  "Thank you so very much." His mom said to Kris, taking a photo of him and Maxwell with her cell phone.

  "Hey, buddy," Kris said to Maxwell, "here." He took a clean napkin off of the boy's table and signed it, to Maxwell all my best, Kris Lafleur. He then asked Maxwell's mom to take a photo of him kneeling next to Maxwell holding the autograph. Maxwell was so excited he couldn't stop smiling. His mom thanked Kris again.

  "Now, that was cute," Kat said to Kris on their way out.

  "Things like that really make your day."

  "You like kids?" She asked, not really meaning anything by it.

  Kris looked over at her, wide-eyed but smiling, "Why? You offering?" He laughed. "Yeah, I love kids. Wouldn't mind a few of my own someday."

  She sighed for a moment, thinking that man was going to make beautiful children with someone someday. She left that topic at that.

  They drove to the place Matt had told them about, Ice. There was a huge crowd outside. Kat thought it looked like a red carpet. "There is another entrance we can go in and avoid the craziness." Kris drove around to the other side, it had a security gate and guards, no fans were allowed. Little trees lined the private parking lot, decorated with white holiday lights.

  Inside the lights were dim, and strings of white holiday lights lined the walls and booths, candles decorated each high top table. Booths sat along the walls, as well as tables in the middle of the restaurant. There was a huge bar at the end of the room, it was a half circle facing a wall of televisions.

  "Well, this is nice," Kat commented softly, looking around in wonder.

  "Yeah, I like this place. Maybe we should come here more often," Kris suggested.

  They went over to sit at the bar and ordered their drinks. Kat ordered a Cosmopolitan, Kris ordered a beer.

  Just then a couple came up behind them, it was Matt Jasper, a left winger on the team. "Fancy meeting you folks here!"

  "Hey guys! Kat, this is Matt Jasper and his girlfriend, Lindsey," Kris said. "Guys, this is Kat."

  Kat waved at them and flashed a small bashful smile. Kris slid his arm around her waist. She immediately relaxed at his soft touch.

  "Very nice to meet you, Kat," Lindsey said, reaching out to shake Kat's hand.

  "I've heard a lot about you, Kat. It's nice to finally meet you! Would you guys want to get a table? Or are we interrupting?" Matt asked.

  "No it's fine. Kat?" Kris looked to her.

  "We'd love to get a table," she said softly.

  They sat together at one of the curved booths. The waitress came over and took Matt and Lindsey's drink orders. Matt started to tell some wild stories about the road, a few even made Kris blush. It was funny to see him embarrassed.

  "Yeah, some of the guys are really wild. You have to walk that fine line with Coach, he doesn't stand for us getting too out of hand," Matt said.

  "Not me, I like to hang in the back and watch the madness from a distance." Kris laughed shaking his head. "No need to get all mixed up in that. Matt, on the other hand is always acting out!"

  "So Kat, you think you can hang with the crazy Renegades schedule?" Lindsey asked.

  "Linds, don't scare the girl." Matt chuckled. "Don't listen to her, Kat! She deals with it just fine; and she doesn't mind all the gifts either," he joked.

  Kat wasn't sure what Lindsey was talking about. She hadn't been with Kris long enough to really know about the crazy schedule.

  "I'm just kidding, Kat. It's not that bad." Lindsey seemed very friendly. "It's been two years for me. It never gets easier, but it certainly is well worth it." She smiled at Matt.

  "Of course I'm worth it!" Matt teased. "No, but seriously, Kris is a good guy, Kat."

  They talked for a few hours, drinking, laughing and exchanging stories. Kat really liked Lindsey. Lindsey and Kat exchanged phone numbers, promising to text. They said their goodbyes. It was getting late, and they wanted to head back to Kat's apartment.

  "Well, that was fun!" Kris said as he drove home.

  "Yeah, that was. We really need to go back there." Kat really enjoyed herself tonight. Kris was so handsome tonight. "Thanks for such a nice night, Kris," she smiled.

  ****

  The Renegades had been on a three game road trip. It started in Carolina, went to Columbus and wrapped up in New Jersey. They won two out of the three games. Kat had kept busy making sure to meet her latest deadline, and was currently engrossed in a new romance novel that she bought online. She hadn't gotten much sleep last night because she couldn't put it down; she read until two in the morning before finally crashing on the couch.

  She was anxiously waiting for Kris to call. He said he would once he was home. She sat staring at her tablet, trying to read as she waited, but it was no use. She couldn't concentrate. She missed him more that she thought possible, she really was falling for him. Shaking her head, she put down the tablet, and decided to go get ready.

  She wanted to make sure she looked super cute for Kris. She tried on at least three outfits before finding one that she liked. Pausing to admire herself in the mirror, looking sexy in a pair of too tight blue jeans, and a designer baby tee. Kris had a nice effect on her, she wasn't being so harsh on herself lately. She smiled at the thought of him. She liked how the jeans hugged her curves, and for the first time in a long time, she decided her opinion was all that mattered.

  She headed to the kitchen and brewed herself an iced coffee while she waited. Dropping a few ice cubes in the mug before pouring the freshly brewed vanilla latte, she spied her tablet on the dining room table. She thought about the book she was reading. She couldn't get the male character out of her mind, he was strong and handsome, and such a romantic. Kat had always been a fan of romance novels, ever since she was
a teen. She liked how they always had a happily ever after. Love was so easy in her fiction books. It was a feeling she hadn't ever experienced until now.

  She never dreamed she would find a happily ever after of her own. After all, Prince Charming didn't exist in real life, not that she ever knew. But since meeting Kris she was starting to think differently about all that. Was he her Prince Charming?

  Her cell phone ringtone echoed through her apartment. Seeing it was Kris, she quickly picked it up.

  "Hey! You're finally home?" she asked excitedly.

  "Finally, yes." He let out a heavy breath. "You wanna come over? I could always come get you if you want."

  "Nope, I will be over!" She was getting ready to hang up as he called her name.

  "Kat," he paused for a second. "Bring an overnight bag."

  ****

  Kat awoke to the sound of the shower. Sunlight poured in through the breaks in the curtains; she pulled the covers over her face to block it out. It felt early, too early to want to get up. The bathroom door opened, steam flowed out into the bedroom. Kris stepped out of the bathroom in only a towel with his hair still wet and pushed back out of his face. Water droplets dripped from the ends of his hair, onto his shoulders and rolled down his skin…Damn, what a way to wake up.

  Kris noticed that she was awake. "Hey, beautiful, good morning."

  "Yes it is…" She replied, smiling at the site in front of her.

  "So," he curled up next to her, hugging her body with his. "I wanted to talk to you." Kris flipped her over onto her back, so she lay looking up at him.

  Kat worried for a second, but the look on his face did not show concern or upset, his eyes were heavy and dark, but with anticipation. She took a deep breath as he ran his fingertips up and down her bare arm. He placed a few soft kisses on her shoulder before moving to her neck.

  She giggled and pushed him away. "I thought you wanted to talk?"

  "Okay, okay." He sat back on his elbow. "Kat, I want you to stay."

  "Okay, you want me to stay the night again? I have to work in the morning, but–"

  "No," he interrupted her. "I want you to move in with me."

  She stared at him blankly, not saying a word. What? Move in with him?

  "Kat, I don't know how or why I feel so strongly towards you, but I like it. You bring out feelings in me that I didn't know existed, and I don't want this feeling to stop. I want you next to me, no, I need you next to me."

  "But–" Kat wasn't even sure what argument she was going to use; what girl in their right mind would not want to move in with him? Before she could form any more words, he put his index finger to her lips.

  "Shh," he said, smiling. "I'm not done. You said yourself this was a nice way to wake up. I know that I'd like to wake up next to you every day." His eyes were darker than their normal shade of brown, he licked his lips as if his mouth were dry. He looked away, rubbing his jawline, scratching the scruff of his unshaven face. After what felt like forever, he looked back up at her. "Kat, I love you. Please say you'll move in with me?"

  He loves me? Kat hoped her face did not show the shock that she was feeling, and it must not have because he didn't react. Her lips curved into a anxious smile.

  "Look, don't answer me right now." Kris pulled away, his face growing uneasy again.

  Walking to his closet and grabbing a t-shirt and pair of jeans, he dropped the towel and started to get dressed. Kat's eyes wandered over his hard body, she couldn't help it really. The man was a work of art, every inch chiseled to perfection. She knew it wasn't from lack of hard work though. The gym was his second home. She stared at his perfect physique. He grinned as she watched his every movement.

  "I want you to take my credit card and go do some shopping, buy some clothes, have fun, get your nails done, whatever you want. I will be at practice until probably noon. We can order Chinese for dinner later, and you can give me your answer then." He pointed to a key on the dresser, sitting with his credit card. "There's a key to the house, it's yours now. Do you have to do any work today?"

  Her head was spinning. She sat up, leaning back against the pillows, taking care to keep herself covered. "No, I can't use your credit card..."

  "Yes you can, it's a treat from me, go enjoy."

  She shook her head. "Um, yeah. I just have to proofread my article before I send it to the editor."

  "Good," he nodded as he walked over to the bed, kissing her on her forehead before leaning in and placing his lips on hers. "I'll see you after practice. Go and enjoy yourself." He paused for a moment before leaving, flashing her a smile.

  Kat laid back down in the comfy bed, wrapping herself up in his scent and the soft blankets. He loved her. She sighed and shook her head. Move in with him? This really had to be a dream. No one man is that, well, that perfect.

  ****

  Freshly showered and her belly full, Kat drove her Mustang to the shopping area, there was a strip of shops on the main road. She pulled in the shopping center, noticing a coffee shop on the end. "Oh it has a drive thru!" she cooed. First stop, coffee. Her vice.

  After getting a Café Mocha from the drive thru, she drove along the store fronts. There was a candy shop, a pizza place and a bakery. "This is my kind of shopping center!" she laughed. Sipping her hot coffee, she noticed at the other end of the building what looked like clothing stores.

  There were two shops at the end, one was a high-end boutique, well, it looked like that anyways, and one was an accessories store, handbags, purses, shoes, things like that. She parked her Mustang and sipped her coffee, waiting for the stores to open.

  The lights in the boutique and the accessory store slowly came on.

  After locking up her Mustang she entered the boutique. She wasn't sure this was her kind of store. She felt out of sorts in her sweats, especially looking at some of the price tags. An older lady greeted her, and Kat noticed her giving her the once over. She held tight to the credit card Kris gave her. She didn't want to use his money, but he wouldn't take no for an answer.

  She shopped around the store with the woman's glare hot on her back. Some of the outfits were a little too plain for her, but then she noticed an one-piece black halter pant suit, it was cute. She was sure she could find somewhere to wear that. The legs flared from the hips to the ankle, that would look hot with sandals or pumps, she thought. She kept it in mind as she saw a pink/blue chiffon halter jumpsuit.

  Both outfits were reasonably priced. She grabbed her size in each of them, then moved on to a white dress shirt, it had wide cuffs, and a wide collar. She assumed it was made to sit open and show off cleavage. She grabbed one of those too, it was paired with black dress slacks that were form fitting at the hips, and sat low. "I have to have these," she whispered to herself. Grabbing one more outfit, a dress, before going to try everything on.

  Taking the outfits to the fitting room the sales lady was still eyeing her like she didn't belong. Who was she to judge Kat on her appearance? She tried each outfit on, and surprisingly, every one looked amazing on her. Glancing at the hefty price tags, she thought, I could get these, not sure if I should….I guess I could take them back if I change my mind… She thought about the credit card Kris gave her, he did tell her to use it on anything she wanted.

  Valentine's Day was coming up, she assumed Kris would ask her out. If he did, one of these outfits would work perfectly.

  Looking at herself in the slacks and dress shirt, she ran her hand along her stomach and hips. This outfit made her feel good, she liked what she saw. Against her better judgment, she decided she would get them all. She grabbed a pair of jeans and a designer tee on her way to the cash register.

  The sales lady half smiled and greeted her, glaring at her sweats. "Are you sure you have places to wear all of these, dear?" The lady asked her as she laid them on the checkout counter. Kat cringed, but had no intention of letting this woman make her feel bad.

  Seriously? What a bitch! She thought. "Yes, actually, I do. Thanks for asking." The to
tal wasn't bad for all the outfits, and she handed her the credit card. She decided to be nice to the lady today, and come back another day with Kris, maybe she would get treated a bit better.

  "I'm new to the area, is this a chain store? It's really nice." Kat asked.

  "No!" The lady scoffed. "This is my store. I opened up five years ago." Before Kat could say anything else, she added, "and no, we are not looking for help."

  Wow…yeah, I'm not looking for a job, bitch, trust me! Kat thought as she took her receipt and left. She stopped in the accessory store just to look. As she walked in the door, a young blonde girl bounced over to her and greeted her with a huge smile. She noticed the bag in Kat's hand from the boutique.

  "I don't mean to be rude, but she actually let you shop over there in sweats? Which by the way are super cute! I am a huge Renegades fan!" The young girl was bursting with bubbly.

  "Um, thanks. Yeah, I was in there. She is…uh…" Kat didn't know what to say about the boutique owner exactly, she didn't want to be mean.

  "She's my aunt, she owns this store too, but she is an old cranky puss." The girl laughed. "You were in her store in sweats, she probably was about to have a coronary! She thinks us young people don't dress nice enough anymore." The girl was really getting a kick out of it.

  They had some really cute shoes in the store. She spotted a pair of high heeled sandals in the corner, and knew they would look awesome with the black romper she just bought. "How much are these?" She asked as she walked towards the pair with the young girl trailing behind her.

  "Oh those? They are new, let me see," The girl checked her book behind the counter, then came back over to Kat, "They are forty. They are super cute, aren't they?"

  Kat really had to have these, they were black open-toed stiletto pumps, they had a thin strap around the ankle, with a double chain hanging around it, she picked up her size and charged them to the credit card as well. She was almost positive Kris wouldn't mind her buying these, they were hot! After the girl handed her the bag, Kat called, "I will definitely be back! Thanks!"