Page 40 of Expose on the Ice

I try deflecting. "Speaking of details, what’s with the outfit? Did you raid a stripper’s closet on your way here?"

Jess glances down at her barely there ensemble and grins. "Don’t change the subject. Spill."

I sigh, knowing I will not win this battle. "Fine. But can we at least get moving? I need a shower and about twelve days of sleep."

Jess starts the car, but her eyes keep darting to me as she pulls out of the parking lot. "So…?" she prompts.

"It’s complicated," I repeat, then find myself spilling everything.

The plan to go around Carter and get close to his teammates…

What I’d seen at his mom’s house…

The conversation with Isla…

"Ooh, family drama and secret meetings?" Jess grins. "Juicy!"

I roll my eyes. "I think… he’s hiding something big."

"In his pants?" Jess presses. "I don’t doubt it…"

I hesitate, then blurt out, "We kissed, Jess."

Jess slams on the brakes, earning a chorus of honks. "You what?!"

"Jesus!" I yelp, gripping the dashboard. "Are you trying to get us killed?"

She waves off my concern. "Never mind that. You kissed Carter Knox?"

I feel my cheeks flush as I recount the late-night practice session, the conversation on the ice, and the moment everything changed. The kiss. The roaming hands…

"That’s… wow," Jess breathes. "I bet he’s a great kisser. All that pent-up brooding energy…"

"Jess!" I groan, burying my face in my hands.

"What?" She pauses, studying my face. "Wait a minute. You’re actually upset about this, aren’t you?"

I nod miserably. "Jess. I screwed up. I’m a joke to my profession, and now Carter’s shut down. I’ve ruined any chance I had of getting him to trust me and give me a story, and for what? A moment of titillation?"

"Butwhata moment…" Jess gives a teasing smile, then realizes the tone is wrong. "It’s not the end of the world, Lil. It happens."

"Not to journalists who are supposed to be objective," I mutter.

"Look," Jess says, her tone uncharacteristically serious. "You’re a brilliant reporter, Lil. One kiss doesn’t change that. And maybe… maybe this will help you understand Carter better. You know, get past that tough guy exterior and to the soft mushy center."

I snort. "Yeah, right. You saw him today. He couldn’t get away from me fast enough."

Jess purses her lips, thinking. "Well, then you’ll just have to find another way in. You’re resourceful, babe. You’ll figure it out."

I sink into silence for the rest of the ride home, grateful for Jess’s company but needing a moment. The events of the past few weeks swirl in my head like a tornado, and I can’t seem to grab onto a single coherent thought.

As soon as we get to our apartment, I mumble a quick "thanks" to Jess and retreat to my room, locking the door behind me. I need space, time to process everything that had happened.

The kiss with Carter, the family drama I’d witnessed, the walls he’d built back up… it’s all too much. And, worse than all that, the looming deadline, tick-tick-tick…

I flop onto my bed, burying my face in my pillow. Just as I’m contemplating the merits of screaming into the fabric, my phone buzzes. I groan, fumbling for it without lifting my head.

"Hello?" I mumble, my voice muffled by the pillow.

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