Page 48 of Head Over Skates

“Great.”

“Wonderful.”

Several beats pass and I feel like this ceasefire is about to expire. I either want to throw her over my shoulder and spank her, or kiss her stupid until Sunday. All I know is I’ve never wanted to put my hands on a woman more in my life than I do now. Not in a creepy way. More in a… oh, never mind.

“Just to be clear though,” she says, as if reading my thoughts. “This doesn’t make us friends.” She pokes me in the ribs. “I still don’t trust you.”

I smirk, grabbing her hand and holding it against my chest. “Duly noted.”

We remain like this for a charged moment, eyes locked like we’re in a hot staring contest. I don’t dare blink or look at anything else, but I still notice as she bites her lower lip. Heaven help me. That alone almost makes me come undone.

I need another taste of those lips. I need to know… does she always taste the way she did that one night? A little bit minty, a little bit sugary. Because that’s my new favorite flavor now.

To my chagrin, she breaks whatever spell this is between us and yanks her hand back to turn towards the benches. Leaning on the boards, I watch her every movement as she puts her blade guards on. How she bends and twists to perform such a simple act. How she blows from the side of her mouth when tendrils of her hair fall into her face. She’s so small, and yet so strong.

When she makes to leave, I call out, “Hey, Kitty Cat. When you pack your bags for Quebec, bring your skates. Just in case.”

She whirls around, giving me one of her sassy looks.

“What makes you think I’m going to Quebec with you?”

A deliciously slow grin spreads its way across my face. “Because. I already bought your ticket.”

16

EMILY

Ican't believe I let Owen talk me into this little "investigation trip" to Quebec City.

He somehow convinced Coach Knight I was his good luck charm so I can tag along. Truth be told, I think the only reason the powers-that-be let me come is because I work for the team, technically. But here I am, pretending to be the smitten girlfriend.

As we leave the hotel for the Nordiques' arena, Le Colisée, Owen's typical cocky grin is plastered across his face. I want to slap it right off. Or kiss it off. Either of those options would be extremely satisfying.

"Excited for our romantic getaway, babe?" he asks loudly for his teammates to hear, with an exaggerated wink.

“Romantic getaway?” Griffin McGregor, one of our goaltenders, pulls a face. “Is that what you’re calling it? Bro, you need to step it up before Emily comes to her senses.”

“If you must know… we’re staying in Quebec for some alone time after the game,” Owen says. “Just me and my lady.”

I roll my eyes and sneer through my teeth. "Let's just find this trophy so I can get back to my normal life."

Owen slings an arm around my shoulder, bending to mumble deeply in my ear. "OhOh, come on, you know you love playing Scooby Doo with me."

“Are you Shaggy? Or the dog?”

“I’m the dog, of course. Kitten. Maybe later you can give me a Scooby Snack.”

“Dream on, puck boy. I’m just here for the story.”

"Whatever you need to tell yourself."

Owen’s hand falls from my shoulder, tracing a slow trail down until it lands on the small of my back so he can guide me toward the waiting SUV. I glare at him, but he just winks. He's clearly enjoying this fake relationship too much.

When we arrive at the arena, a flood of memories rush back to me. This is where I competed at the National Junior Figure Skating Championships as a teenager, and where I first met Pierre LaMontagne. He was even more arrogant and cocky than Owen, if you can believe it. The coaches fawned over him, praising him as the next big thing in the men's program. He was used to skating solo and being the star. A year or so later, we were paired together, and I was expected to be his equal on the ice. We clashed horribly at first. But over time, I found myself bending to his ridiculously giant ego. I’ll never bend for anyone ever again—certainly not Owen. Wait. That didn’t come out right.

Moving on…

Eventually,Pierre and I became Team Canada’s dynamic duo, hopefuls for Olympic gold. Until it all came crashing down in Beijing.

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