Crista McHugh - Breakaway Hearts

She yanked her hand back, a cold shell encasing her as she drifted backward, her eyes fixed on the ice. “No, I can’t afford any distractions, especially from you.”

“Why?”

Her blue eyes flashed, and the seething hatred reappeared. “Listen, if you’re looking for a quick fuck, I’m sure the great Ben Kelly should have no trouble finding plenty of bimbos up at the resort to satisfy his needs.”

“I never said I wanted a quick fuck.” He fought to keep his voice low and steady, even though he was inwardly panicking. He’d waited years to have a second chance with her, and it was somehow slipping from his grasp. “I was thinking more along the lines of taking things slowly, getting to know you better.”

“Yeah, well your kiss last night suggests otherwise.”

“And if I remember correctly, you were kissing me back.”

Two blotches of red appeared on her cheeks, but he couldn’t tell if it was from anger or embarrassment. She turned around and went back to her line of pucks. “It’s not happening, Kelly,” she said before firing another missile into the net.

He wanted to run out there on the ice and kiss her until she agreed to give him a second chance, but the wall wasn’t the only thing holding him back. “Not even dinner?”

“Nope.”

Time for a new tactic. “What would I have to do to convince you otherwise?”

She paused, her stick suspended in the air, ready to deliver another slap shot. Then she lowered it and slowly skated back to him. Her lips pressed together in a line of defiance, but her eyes flickered over him with a hint of curiosity. “You’re not going to take no for an answer, are you?”

Hope warmed his blood. He was finally making progress with her. “I’ve waited nine years. What’s a few more days?”

The corner of her mouth rose into the sly grin that carved the dimple into her left cheek. “Very well. I’ll go out to dinner with you after you successfully block a shot from me.”

She held his gaze while she returned to the blue line, her grin widening into that second dimple. Then, as if to prove her point, she took another shot at the cutout. The puck sailed just above the catcher’s mitt.

Ben grimaced and glanced down at the ice as though it were an alligator-infested swamp. He definitely had his work cut out for him if he wanted to accept her offer.

But that didn’t mean he couldn’t try to win her over in other ways.

He forced a smile on his face and waved. “See you around, Hailey.”

Hailey hopped off the Zamboni and grabbed her gear. Her legs wobbled like rubber from running miles of skating drills, but the ache had faded once she got the blood moving again. It had been a good practice session.

Even better, Ben Kelly hadn’t shown up to distract her today. She’d guessed right—he was afraid to step foot on the ice again. His limp had disappeared completely when he’d come down those final stairs to stop her yesterday. He was hiding behind his injury, and she doubted he would overcome his fear to accept her ultimatum. Hopefully, he’d take no for an answer this time and leave town.

A pang of sorrow pierced her chest, though, as she thought of him leaving. He had sounded so earnest, so sincere about wanting a second chance that she’d almost believed him.

Ask him about the letters and find out the truth.

But she was too chicken to do it. To ask him about the letters meant bringing up Zach, and that wound was still too close to the surface.

Besides, she hardly knew anything about Ben other than he was great in bed. And a good hockey player—maybe the best goalie in the NHL. And he really didn’t seem to have a bad rep for fighting or partying. In fact, the only media coverage he got was in highlight reels of his jaw-dropping saves.

In other words, he actually seemed to be a pretty decent guy. Maybe even a little bit romantic, holding on to her letter all these years.

She groaned and banged her head against the back door. Keep thinking like that, and you’ll be back in his bed and knocked up before Sochi.

She fished out her keys to the rink and locked the back door. The summer sun beat down on her back and shoulders, easing the fatigue from them. It was a perfect day to drive up into the hills and enjoy the scenery before going to work.

“How was practice?” a familiar male voice asked from behind her.

Hailey jumped and turned around.

Ben stood a couple of yards away with a bemused smile on his face.

“Don’t you have anything better to do than stalk me?” She marched past him and threw her gear into the back of her truck.

“No, not really. I’m still new in town, after all.” He followed her to the truck. “If I could get someone local to give me a tour and point out some of the things to do, maybe I could find a suitable distraction.”

She braced her outstretched arm on the back of the Jeep. A snort of amusement rose from her chest. “You’re not going to give up, are you?”

“I think you already know the answer to that question.” He was so close, his breath bathed the back of her neck. “Care to show me around?”

She closed her eyes and tried to squelch the reflexive wave of desire that flowed through her veins from being this close to him. The spicy scent of his cologne was both arousing and comforting. It made her want to tuck her head under his chin and press her nose against his neck so she could breathe him in.

He caught her chin on his finger and guided her head around until she faced him. His eyes pleaded with her the same way Zach’s had when he’d wanted something. “Please.”

And just like with her son, she couldn’t say no. “Fine.” She pushed his hand away. “But we’re riding in my car.”

He regarded her beat-up SUV with one squinty eye. “Are you sure that thing is safe?”

“Yes.” She climbed into the driver’s seat and offered a silent prayer he’d back out.

“Are you sure you wouldn’t prefer to take my car?”

She shook her head. “I wouldn’t be comfortable driving a car that costs as much as my home.”

“I could drive, and you just tell me where to go.”

“Like a man would listen to a woman giving directions.”

“I had no problem following your directions before.”

Her cheeks grew warm when she realized he was referring to their one night together. “Listen, Kelly, you wanted a tour, and I’m willing to give it to you, but under my terms. We’re taking my truck because I know it can handle the roads around here. Now get in or let me go.”

She started the engine, and he scrambled around to the passenger side much faster than a man with a bum knee should. Yep, he was definitely hiding behind his injury.

But when he climbed into his seat and took in the worn interior, a new emotion washed through her—embarrassment. She tightened her hold on the steering wheel. “I know it’s not a fancy Land Rover—”

“It’s fine.” He buckled his seatbelt and gave her a half grin. “Like you said, it can handle the roads around here.”

She eased out of the parking lot, the tingle in the base of her spine letting her know she was still very aware of his presence. “You already know where the ice rink is,” she said in her best tour-guide voice as she turned right. “This is the main drag of Cascade. Over there is the grocery store, the hardware store. You already know the Sin Bin. And there’s the medical clinic.”

He nodded as she pointed out all the major businesses along the road. “It’s a pretty small town if you don’t include the resort.”

“Yeah, but I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. It’s like having an extended family.”

“So everyone keeps telling me. I’ve heard more than once that they take care of their own.” He turned to her. “Especially when it comes to you.”