Page 60 of Tangled with the Tight End

“Asshole.” He glares before breaking into a smile. “I knew you’d enjoy it.”

He’s right, I did. I watch as the sun jumps over the horizon and bathes us in light. “When I retire, be sure to save me a spot on your coaching staff.”

“You’ve got it.” Marco shoves me as we both go out to the center of the ice to critique what went down in the last set of plays while the boys listen with rapt attention.

When I’d considered retiring before, it had been a big black blob of nothing. I was in a loveless marriage with no real connection to my son and no plans for a career outside of the game.

The thought of giving it up and moving on after playing the sport since I was 5 years old was depressing. But now, I’m excited about the future–Gino, Norah, a restaurant, coaching with my brother. It’s like the mountain air has given me a new life.

thirty-one

NORAH

A Few Days Later

When I arriveat the lodge, I hop out of the van and rush around the front of the vehicle. As usual, it’s colder with a stiff breeze up on the mountain. The first gust of air whips my unbound hair around my face, but the freezing temperatures do nothing to hamper my good mood.

Being with Gabriel makes me want to spin in a circle and sing at the top of my lungs. I choke back a laugh while striding to the side door. Maybe I don’t want to go that far and scare the guests.

An older woman steps out onto the circular drive and shudders against the wind, pulling her coat to her chest. She’s probably in her early 70s with white hair that still holds a hint of the black it likely was in her youth. The wind straightens the ringlets as they billow in the air. Her face is pale as she studies her black boots and the snow-covered parking lot.

“Ma’am?” I rush over to her with my hands outstretched. “I don’t want to alarm you, but if you need help getting to your vehicle, I’d be happy to help you.”

Her gaze jerks to mine, and she smiles in return to my greeting. “That would be so sweet of you. I didn’t realize it hadsnowed overnight. Of course, I saw snow from my window, but without looking down at the road, I didn’t realize there was more.

“It’s no problem.” I stride closer to her with the snow crunching under my boots.

She purses her lips together as she studies the van behind me. “Lips & Hips?”

I laugh at her confused expression. “I own a bistro in town that’s a parent company for the shop at the lodge.”

“Clever.” Her mouth arches into a grin. “I like smart females. There are so few in the world nowadays.” She lifts the hood and pulls the drawstrings tight with her gloved hands.

“Thank you for including me in the small ranks then.” I loop my arm through hers. “Are you in town long?”

“No….” She shakes her head. “I’m only in town for the week. My grandson moved here recently, and I’m visiting him and his wife. My grandson is an ex-football player. Well, actually, my other grandson is also a football player, and he’s also in town for the holidays.”

My heart skips in my chest. Did Gabriel know she was coming to town? “Are you talking about Marco and Gabriel Romano?”

“Yes.” She stops in the middle of the parking lot and studies me. “Do you know them?”

“Marco is married to my best friend.”

“Oh, really? Then you must be Gabriel’s girl.”

Gabriel’s girl. Somehow, that makes my insides warm and fuzzy even if it’s 10 degrees outside. “Yes, I’m dating Gabriel.”

“That’s so sweet. He’s such a good boy.” She frowns and shakes her head. “And that awful ex-wife of his, she’s no good. Called that one right from the start.”

I don’t say anything else. It’s not like I know Sloane, and I’m certainly not unbiased. I’ve heard stories and want nothing to dowith the woman, which might be impossible in the future if Gino stays with her sometimes. But the sounds of how she treated him, that’s the last thing that needs to happen.

As we carefully maneuver across the parking lot, she says, “I love these little towns.” Her face tinges pink as the heat builds under her hood. “Everyone is so nice.”

“That’s what I love about this place myself. That and the view.”

She glances around the lodge. “You’re right. It’s a gorgeous place.”

I retrieve the keys from her after she takes them out of her clutch and unlock the door for her. Once she’s safely inside with the engine running, she grasps my hand. “Thank you for helping an old lady in her time of need. I appreciate it.”

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