Page 8 of Breaking the Ice

“Hey, Ellie,” Troy greets. “How’s it going? The kids look like they’re having a blast.”

“Thanks to you and Kelly,” I tell him. “These girls wouldn’t be skating without you.”

Troy passes off the compliment in that aw-shucks self-deprecating manner of his. “Sure they would. They’d just have to wait until the ponds froze up in the winter.” He reaches an arm out toward his brother. “Zach came a day early. I hope that won’t be a problem.” Before I can answer, he adds, “Zach, this is Ellie Butler.”

I shift my attention in the billionaire’s direction, with every intention of giving him a piece of my mind. But as soon as our eyes meet, my throat constricts, making coherent verbal communication impossible—on my part anyway.

Zach is way hotter than he looks in the tabloids and on TV. He also possesses a magnetic aura that’s drawing me in—like I inexplicably want to jump into his arms. How is that even possible since I fervently loathe him?

Mr. Smug extends his hand to shake mine. “I wanted to get here ahead of the press.”

My eyes drop to the offered hand and bounce back to stare at his—dang it—handsome face. Keeping both of my arms at my sides, I tell him, “The cottage won’t be ready until tomorrow.”

“I was worried it wouldn’t,” Troy says. “But that’s no problem. Zach can stay with us for the night. The boys can’t wait to see him.”

Zach has other ideas. “I don’t mind if it isn’t perfect.” He continues, “I’m going to need a quiet place to work, and my nephews are anything but quiet.”

“Then you should stay at the lodge,” I tell him, unwilling to budge on his occupation date.

“That won’t work for me.”

“Why?” I demand incredulously. Does this guy really think the entire world is at his beck and call?

“Because the team arrives tomorrow, and the press will be on site. I don’t want to be anywhere near them until I’m ready.”

I unconsciously look at his fingernails and wonder if he gets manicures. Sure enough, there are no cuticles, and his nails look shiny and buffed.

“Afraid they’ll make you look bad?” My sarcasm is heavy.

Zach’s shoulders square off like he’s turned to stone. “Excuse me?” He’s clearly not used to anyone standing up to him.

“The cottage will be ready tomorrow after three,” I tell him firmly. “The key will be waiting for you in the office.” I glance at Troy to make sure I haven’t made him angry, but he looks nothing short of amused.

“I need to stay there tonight,” Zach says more firmly than he should for a man with no control over the situation.

“Good luck with that.” I know I’m taking things too far, but I can’t seem to stop myself.

Richie Rich runs a hand through his hair like he’s going to rip it out. “Ellie, is it?” He knows darn well that’s my name, so I don’t respond. “What is it going to take for me to get into your mother’s cottage right now?”

I motion toward my class before telling him, “A genie in a lamp. You got one of those?” I don’t wait for him to answer. “I’m in class right now, and there’s no way I can leave the rink for at least another forty minutes.”

Troy’s phone rings but he doesn’t bother to answer it. Instead, without even looking down, he pushes the button to send the call to voicemail. His gaze continues to bounce between me and his brother, obviously enjoying our heated exchange.

“I can wait forty minutes,” Zach says.

“Or, you could wait until tomorrow after three.” There’s no way he can expect to check into a hotel early. Although maybe he would.

“Ellie.” Zach inhales deeply before slowly releasing the pent-up breath. “I need to get settled in the cottage today, and I need you to tell me what you require to make that happen.”

This guy isn’t going to give it a rest, so I say the most ridiculous thing that comes to mind. “You’ll need to roll up your sleeves and help me finish cleaning it.” A man like him would never go for that in a million years.

Before I can celebrate my win, he says, “Fine. I’ll wait for your class to end and then you can take me to my new home.”

What? “I’m putting you in charge of all the windows, inside and out,” I threaten. He’s sure to back off now.

“No problem.”

I suddenly feel like I’m living a fever dream. “Cleaning windows in the woods is a dirty job. It takes a lot of time and elbow grease.”

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