It's Just A Job

Paul held Katherine as tightly as he could. He was afraid to let her go, because if he did, she would be right out the door, down the road and waiting for the team plane to land at the airport. He also knew that if he didn’t defuse the situation, James would be beating on Katherine’s door at three in the morning.

“Just stay here,” Paul asked her. “Just text him and tell him that you are here and that you will see him tomorrow at the meeting.” It was an honest need to have Katherine to himself, if just for a few more hours.

It was the honesty in Paul’s voice that Katherine first found attractive. Paul was a guarded person, but once he finally let his guard down, Katherine couldn’t help but want to know more about the sweet, quiet guy from Minnesota.

Paul took the wine glass from Katherine’s hand and placed on the table next to the door and turned her to face his.

“Just tell him you are with me.”

Katherine saw it in his eyes and heard it in his voice. Tonight, Paul needed her more than James or anyone else in the NHL could ever need her.

Paul took her face in his hands. He brushed back her hair as he tilted her face towards his. Staring deep into her hazel eyes, Paul knew he had to make this right. He knew that she had to know everything that he felt for her. He weaved his fingers through her hair and pulled her closer to him. He brushed his lips to hers and he could taste her lip balm mixing with the wine.

Katherine urged him on by taking a nip at his bottom lip. With one hand on the back of her head and one arm wrapped around her waist, Paul began kissing Katherine. It was sweet and tender at first, but it soon found its way to needing and passionate. Arms wrapped around each other, hands tangled in clothing in a battle to be removed; things were getting heated when Paul and Katherine soon found themselves struggling to keep their vertical balance.

Suddenly, Paul pulled away, hopping on his good foot.

“Shit, I can’t wait to get rid of this stupid thing,” he said in a frustrated tone.

The broken leg, the cast, his spot on Olympic team, Neal’s meltdown on the ice and another injured teammate; everything in Paul’s life at this point was frustrating, everything except for Katherine.

“Well, if I remember correctly, the whole reason for me staying back this game was so I could help you out.”

Katherine’s eyes did a once over Paul’s frame which was being held up by a set of crutches. The sweatpants he was wearing did little to hide the results of their passionate exchange and Paul did little to look embarrassed by it.

“Oh, I could think of numerous ways you could be helping me out right now,” Paul said as he smile and hobbled over towards the hallway that lead to his bedroom.

“You know, it might actually help you too!” he yelled out to Katherine from the hallway.

Katherine grabbed her phone off the table and touched the Text icon.

New Message: James Neal

I know that you will want to talk about what happened and where things will go from here, but I can’t meet with you tonight. Why don’t we grab some coffee tomorrow morning before the meeting. Just text me when you wake up.

Kat

Sending

Message Delivered

Katherine set her phone down and let out a deep sigh. She couldn’t help but think what type of reaction the text was going to pull out James. She reached for the wine glass, took the last sip, and walked to the kitchen to rinse it out. There wasn’t much she could do at this point other than take care of the reason why she stayed in Pittsburgh.



From the moment she knocked on Paul’s front that morning, Katherine wanted the weekend to be special. Ever since Paul had broken his leg, he had been a little out of sync and she was hoping that by picking out a Christmas tree and decorations that despite not being able to play, it would make him happy and help put Paul in better spirits. With an extra bit of Christmas spirit,

Katherine showed up at Paul’s house with a red, fuzzy Santa hat and two Venti cups from Starbucks.

“Happy Christmas tree shopping day,” Katherine said smiling when Paul opened the door.

“Gingerbread latte for you,” Paul took the coffee and in return placed a kiss on Katherine’s lips.

“Is that peppermint I taste?” he said with a smile, his lips still pressed to her lips.

“Of course it is!” “How can you start off a day of Christmas tree shopping without a little peppermint mocha?”

Paul grabbed his coat, Katherine grabbed the coffees and they made their way out to the black Tahoe in Paul’s driveway. Katherine grabbed Paul’s crutches and put them in the back seat, careful not to disturb the IKEA and Target bags of Christmas lights and tree decorations that she had bought the night before, along with her overnight bag.

“Looks like Santa’s helpers were busy.” “What is all this?”

“Lights, ornaments, pj’s, all the good stuff,” Katherine said with a little bounce in her step.

“PJ’s?” “You mean my t-shirts are safe this weekend,” Paul said with a chuckle.

“Shut up Paulie, and let’s get this show on the road.”

They started their adventure out to a tree farm in McDonald with coffee, Christmas music and a little bit of snow starting to fall. A few hours later they found themselves pulling back into Paul’s driveway with a perfect seven-foot Douglas Fir and take- out from Il Pizziola. The rest of the afternoon was spent setting up and decorating the tree and comparing crazy stories of their families and Christmas. When it was time to turn the lights on and inspect all the work they had done, Paul pulled Katherine onto his lap and placed a kiss on her nose. He stared into her eyes and said “thank you”. Her heart was filled.

“Turn on those lights Martin, and let’s see how we did.”

Because of the proximity to the CEC, Paul usually found himself at the townhouse that Katherine had bought in the Southside Heights, but this weekend was different. Katherine staying at his place was a treat for him and Paul was going to show her just how much he appreciated her and everything she did for him. In anticipation of a romantic evening, Paul had set out candles before Katherine picked him up, and now with Katherine on her phone, it gave him time to light each one. The room was glowing with the light from the candles and Paul sat down on the edge of the bed, waiting for Katherine to follow his hobbling lead back into the bedroom.

As Katherine started to walk back the hallway to Paul’s bedrooms, she noticed the soft glow and wondered what he was up to. She knew that this weekend was meant for them to relax, have fun and of course sex would be part of it. She had been anticipating it all day and with their mini make out session they just had, she was more than ready for what Paul had waiting for her in his room.

Paul heard Katherine’s footsteps padding down the hall and he stood up to meet her.

“So, I sent him a text.” Katherine said as she walked through the doorway. “I said that I couldn’t meet him tonight and that he should just call me in the morning.”

“Did you say that you were here?” Paul asked.

“Nope.” “It really isn’t any of his business where I am or who I’m with.”

“I’m here with you and there isn’t any other place in the world that I would want to be.”

Katherine made her way over to the bed where Paul was standing. He reached out to her and she melted into his arms.

Notes