Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 109176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Can’t this girl just stop with the bullshit? Is she trying to push me overboard?
Yes . . . yes, she is. She’s tempting me on purpose.
“What are you doing?”
The question comes out harsh, and I immediately regret it when I get close enough to see her face. There’s no mischief there. None of the typical bullshit she’s been pulling to seduce me.
No. She looks almost . . . sad.
“I’ve never been on the ice before. I was just waiting until everyone was gone to get closer.”
My mouth drops open. “What do you mean you’ve never been on a hockey rink?”
“I’ve never been on the ice.” She lifts her hands and gestures around. “Any ice.”
“How is that possible? Your father is one of the best NHL coaches in the world. Surely, you grew up on the ice.”
She stiffens, not answering me, but fuck is my mind going crazy.
“Didn’t your father—” I start, and she lets out a dry laugh.
“No.” She shakes her head. “That would imply I knew my father before I came to work here.”
I widen my eyes, and the ground beneath me feels like it’s quaking. Did she just say what I think she did? Little puzzle pieces start to fit together and make a pattern.
“You didn’t know your dad?”
“Nope.”
She tries to make it sound like that doesn’t bother her, but I know better. I can see the sadness in her eyes. I know that look all too well. I’ve seen it too many times on Molly not to recognize it for what it is.
“So, how did you end up here?”
“Isn’t that the question we all want to know?” Her voice sounds stranded, and I take her in. Really take her in.
Her hands are by her side, digging into her leggings, and her features seem strained and tight.
There’s no way she’s going to tell me anything right now, and the truth is, I’m not even sure she knows.
She looks heartbroken, and usually, from past experience, it means you have too many questions and not enough answers.
“Come on.” I extend my hand.
Her brow rises. “What?”
I wiggle my fingers. “Give me your hand.”
Her eyes narrow in on first my hand and then my face. “Why?”
I roll my eyes with a sigh. “Do you ever stop asking questions, Hellfire?”
“Nope. And I don’t think you would like me as much if I did.”
“You think I like you?” I tilt my head down and smirk.
“You must, or you would have told me to fuck off.”
I throw my head back and laugh, shaking my head. “The night is still young.”
“That’s true,” she says.
“I won’t be getting any younger if you make me wait,” I grind out, trying to put as much irritation into my words as possible, but it doesn’t land.
“Wait for what?”
I lower my arm and lift it once more for effect. “Again . . . give me your hand.”
She grins, clearly enjoying the moment between us. Finally, after a few more seconds, she reaches out, and I take both her hands in mine.
“You don’t have skates, but you don’t need them today.”
“Today?”
I pull her forward out onto the ice. She starts to slip, but I wrap my hand higher up her arm and grip her around the waist with my other hand.
“Next time, I’ll come prepared and give you your first lesson, but for now, I’ll do it this way.”
I start to slowly push her backward and watch as her eyes widen. Is that fear I see?
She quickly clamps her lips together and straightens a little, but it throws off her balance, and she starts to slip. The silence of the rink reminds me that we are alone together, so I pull her closer, my eyes locking with hers.
Her breath hitches, and I wonder what she sees at this moment. What is she thinking?
She’s fucking gorgeous. Quiet and timid on the ice. It’s the first time I’ve seen her this vulnerable, and something about it is so damn endearing.
The need to protect is so strong, and I can’t understand it.
I let her go for a second, reaching my hand out to gently brush a stray strand of hair from her face. Beneath my other hand, I feel her shiver, but I know it’s not from the cold.
I move closer, tempting fate.
She’s close enough now that our faces are almost touching.
“Hellfire, what are you doing to me?”
“I don't know,” she whispers, her cold breath caressing my lips.
Just as we are about to kiss, a loud sound thunders through the space.
Probably a blessing. I skate us back to the edge of the ice, dropping her waist and helping her out.
“Oh, good, I was looking for you.” Laurie stands just off the ice, looking right at me, not seeming to be fazed by the current situation.
“Well, you got me,” I say, lifting both hands. “I was just showing Josephine the ice because she’s never been on it before. I caught her trying to head out there on her own.”