Caged (Gold Hockey #11) - Elise Faber Page 0,59

outside her office and had taken her to meet his parents.

A high that was so intoxicating it was certainly the reason for him missing what he really should have seen. Something he didn’t recognize until later. Until it was too late to fix.

Until everything had changed.

“And who’s this?” his dad asked.

Ethan turned and slipped an arm around Dani’s waist, tugging her forward. “This is Dani.”

His mom grinned, her brown curls a cloud around her head. “Hi, Dani, I’m Constance, and this is my husband, Brian.” She stuck out a hand for Dani to shake. “It’s so lovely to meet you. I feel like Ethan has been telling me about you for years.”

Dani’s lips parted, wide eyes coming to his.

He brushed his thumb over her cheek. “Someone might say that I’ve been a bit obsessed with you.”

“For years?” she breathed.

A nod.

“Wow.” She shifted closer, murmured, “Me, too.”

And they’d wasted how much time circling each other? God, he should have made his move much sooner.

But his regret was something that would have to wait.

“I-it’s nice to meet you,” Dani stammered, and he watched her shake his mom’s then his dad’s hand. It was strange to hear the quiet voice, the shy taking over. She’d been so relaxed with him, so much Dani that he’d almost forgotten about the shy side of her.

He squeezed her waist. “Should we go to dinner?”

His dad nodded, eyes going from Dani to Ethan. “Yes, let’s head out. We have reservations.” He swept forward, wove his arm through Dani’s, tugged her away from Ethan. “Is my son treating you well?”

“I—um—”

“Yes,” his mom said, closing ranks on her other side. “Give me all the gory details. Has he brought you flowers? What about chocolates? Jewelry?”

“Those are all too cliché.”

A scoff. “They may be cliché, but they’re still beacons of romance.”

“Cliché romance,” he said, coming up behind them.

“Tell me, honey,” his father murmured, “do I need to have a talk with my son about the merits of flowers and chocolates?”

Dani tossed a glance over her shoulder, fear in her expression.

He stepped forward, ready to move between them, to be a barrier between his parents and her discomfort, to shield her until she was prepared to speak.

But then her face changed, determination pushing out the fear.

“No,” she murmured. “You don’t have to have a talk with him.”

“You sure?” his mom asked.

“I’m sure.” Another glance, this one filled with warmth. “He bought me my favorite body wash.” She leaned closer. “And then he planned a candlelight dinner for me at Red Rocks.”

The first had drawn his mom’s gaze to his, her brows arched fiercely. The second had made her face soften.

“That’s my boy,” she mouthed as his dad took over the conversation, saying something that had Dani laughing out loud, the lovely, ringing sound filling the hall.

And his heart.

And Ethan knew this was going to be the best night ever.

Chapter Twenty-One

Dani

She’d thought she was doing well, thought she’d managed to get past her insecurities because she was meeting people who loved Ethan.

And because she loved Ethan.

Dinner had gone well.

She’d started off a little slow, a bit stuttering, but once she really started listening, Constance had reminded her of her own mom. A force to be reckoned with, whip smart and funny, with plenty of pushy thrown in.

Then they’d dropped her and Ethan off at the hotel.

Or the initial plan was dropping them off, because they’d ended up staying for a drink in the bar, and that one drink had turned into three.

Dani had peeled off to use the bathroom, a little buzzed, more than a little high on life. She’d done her business in the single stall, had washed her hands, reached for the doorknob.

And then she’d heard it.

Well, them.

Voices in the hall, undoing everything she’d spent the last few weeks building up.

She recognized Brian’s voice even through the door. “You’ve got a good one there, Eth.”

Footsteps coming closer, their words rising in volume.

“I know I do.”

The doorknob jiggled, making Dani jump, her hand clamping to her chest. The footsteps moved on, voices dimming, but not enough for her to miss hearing, “I love her, Dad. So fucking much.”

“Oh shit,” she whispered.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Her knees gave way, and she sank to the floor, her ass hitting the cold tile. She should be happy. Thrilled even. She was helplessly in love with Ethan, had been for a while, even if she was good at pretending she wasn’t.

Except . . . he loved her.

Fuck.

Her throat seized, spots flashing behind her lids, and her lungs