Page 29 of Melting the Ice

“But nothing’s actually going to happen. We had one kiss four years ago, and that was all. He’s fun to look at and even more entertaining to tease, but that’s it.”

“I knew it! So, what happened after the kiss?”

“Nothing. Total mistake. He’d just gotten out of a long-term relationship, and we got carried away one night, but it was just a kiss and nothing else,” I said, hoping my voice still sounded neutral. For all my bravado, it still stung that he’d been the one to say it was a mistake, and at this point, I knew I shouldn’t care anymore.

“But you still want him, and I saw the way he looked at you the last time we were at Tipsy. Hell, he even keeps looking at you when he’s on the ice tonight. I bet he wants to stick his tongue down your throat again.” She wiggled her brows.

I laughed. “You’re crazy. And he’s probably just looking at me because he’s annoyed. I totally ruined his pregame routine.”

“You can’t do that on game day. Torture him any other day, Josie,” she admonished, still grinning.

“It wasn’t my fault. He got all flustered over one of my drawings,” I said.

“Drawings?”

I leaned in, dropping my voice. “I’m working on some spicy illustrations for one of my authors. She’s adding in some bonus content for her readers.”

“Ooh. How spicy?”

Then it was my turn to grin. “The heroine might’ve been spread out on the kitchen table while the hero… um…enjoyedher.”

Harper bounced in her seat. “Ooh, I definitely want to see that. And Micah caught a glimpse?”

I chuckled. “He was scandalized. It was hysterical. Made a comment about the table looking like his, and I said I needed inspiration.” I paused, taking another sip of my soda. “Oh, and then I asked him to stand at the kitchen island to see how he might line up for another image I’m working on.”

Harper barked out a laugh. “Oh my god. I knew I’d love you. That’s fucking awesome. No wonder he had trouble getting into the game tonight. I mean, maybe don’t rattle him right before his routine, but that’s fucking amazing. What did he do?”

“Blurted out that he was hungry, made a sandwich, and got the hell out of the kitchen.”

“I bet he was hungry. Probably for you.”

The thought had crossed my mind when I’d teased him, but I’d shoved it away then and did so again now.

The goal horn blared, saving me from responding, and Harper and I jumped out of our seats. The Stampede had scored, and I had no clue who’d gotten the goal. I stared up at that jumbotron and watched Micah passing the puck to Tally, who then shot it just under the goalie’s leg pads to put them up three to two.

“That’s fucking right,” Harper screamed and clapped along with the goal song currently blaring through the sound system. “Your boy’s back in the game now. That pass was sweet.”

“He’s not mine.”

“Sure. Sure, he’s not.” Her grin bordered on devious.

“But I’m glad he’s playing better now. That first period was rough.”

“I bet he’d like to do you rough. Seems like the type. Those quiet ones, you know,” she said as we sat back down.

“Oh my god, Harper,” I scolded.

She shrugged. “You’re thinking it. Your face is pretty pink right now.”

“It’s cold in here.”

“Sure it is,” she teased. “Okay, I’ll stop for now. And you know it’s all in good fun. I think you’d be exactly what he needs, and there’s so much fun you can have already living in his place.”

“You should know,” I said.

“Oh, I do know. So fucking well. But Connor loved me way before I figured it out. I try not to dwell on it, but I hate that we missed so many years of being together like we are now. We’re having fun making up for lost time, though.”

I chuckled. “I bet you are, but we should probably actually watch the game now.”

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