Page 20 of Offside Attraction

After freshening up, she pulled on her clothes from the night before—they still smelled like warm spice—and shuffled out to the kitchen, where the scent of eggs and greens greeted her. Penny was at the stove, a spatula in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other.

“There’s our little warrior,” Penny grinned, eyeing Rhonda over her cup. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I got hit by a truck.” Rhonda slid onto one of the stools at the counter. “Did I—at one point was I talking about Jord—my nurse’s shoulders?”

Penny laughed and took the pan off the heat. “Yeah. You were pretty hopped up on the Dryl.” She poured a fresh cup of coffee, then plated up a serving of food on a modern white plate and slid it across the counter. “I checked on you a couple of times during the night just to make sure you were still breathing. You’re welcome.”

“So you’re the person I can blame when I have recurring nightmares about a break-in.”

Penny tipped her proverbial hat. “What are the chances that Jordan Wheatfill would be your nurse?”

“Yeah. Wild.” Rhonda took a drink of her coffee, hoping her cheeks weren’t betraying her. She should’ve left the subject alone, but her curiosity got the better of her. “Anne filled me in on him when he showed up at the Dusty Rose that one time in the summer. I didn’t know he was one of your patients.”

Penny settled into her right hip and scoffed. “That was well before I had anything to do with the Snowballs. I was renting that extra room at Brett’s, and he was kind enough to hook me up with Elite League players while I was scrambling for a job.”

Rhonda nodded, working to keep her next question casual. “So Brett didn’t care?”

Penny scoffed. “Oh, he definitely cared. The first session I had with Jordan—I was using the detached garage for my studio—Brett came out pretending he had to look for a lamp or something. He had his chest all puffed out, all hot and bothered.” Her eyes flicked up. “It was super hot.”

Rhonda laughed, her fork hovering over the eggs. “So he was mad because he wanted you. Thought Jordan was going to swoop in.” She took a bite, savouring the warmth and flavour.

“I don’t know. I didn’t realize how much history there was there. Did you know one of the Pucks Deep players put Fly—do you know him? Old captain of the Snowballs, before Sean—anyway, one of them put him in the hospital. After the game, came at him in the parking lot and left him with two cracked ribs.”

Holy shit.“This was a long time ago?” Rhonda didn’t know why she was asking. It didn’t matter. She’d seen the animosity between the players in person and between the fans in the stands.

Penny shrugged. “Fly only left the team a couple of years ago when he aged out, so not that long. There are a hundred other stories, and it’s not just the other players. Jordan’s one of the worst.” She cupped her coffee mug with both hands. “I don’t know. He was fine when I worked with him.”

“Right.” Rhonda’s heart pounded in her ears.He was fine when she’d worked with him, too.More than fine. She’d been with men who made it obvious from the first kiss that they were only in it for themselves. Jordan had been the complete opposite. It was why she’d cruised past the caution tape that night in Okotoks.

Every moment with him in Medicine Hat was seamless. As a perfect stranger, he’d made her feel safe, and given her long list of neuroses, that wasn’t a simple task. Instead of treating her like a brand new toy he got to play with, she’d felt like a gift he was unwrapping. It sounded cheesy, but there it was. Even in the cramped backseat of his truck, he’d found a way to admire her.

Rhonda swallowed hard, the dark intensity of his eyes startlingly clear through her antihistamine-hazed brain from the night before.I guess you know where to find me.

“. . . I thought I would find him on the couch this morning.”

Rhonda’s eyes snapped up. “Who, Jordan?”

Penny frowned. “No, Aaron.” She took another sip of her coffee. “He was so worried about you.”

Rhonda blinked. Right. She’d been on a date last night.And hadn’t thought about him once since she’d woken up.“That’s sweet.”

“I texted him this morning. He didn’t have your number, but I told him you were fine and I’d pass his along to you.”

“Mmm. Thanks.” Rhonda took her last bite of eggs and carried her plate to the sink, her pulse racing when one other detail snapped against her mind like an elastic.Jordan’s number.Probably still plastered to her hip on that thin strip of napkin at the bottom of her pocket. “Thank you so much for breakfast. Text it to me?”

Penny nodded and checked the clock on the stove. She blew out a breath. “I have to get going. But no rush. You can stay as long as you need.”

“I’ll clear out—I need to prep for some appointments tomorrow.”

Penny rinsed out her mug. “You heard that Jordan works at Rocky Ridge, right?”

Rhonda feigned sudden remembrance. “Oh, yeah. He mentioned that last night.”

“Probably not an option. Now that he knows you’re with the Snowballs, but . . ." She exhaled. “I’m not offering this lightly because Brett would not be thrilled with this plan, but they do have an Elite League message board. I could have him reach out if you’re desperate.”

Rhonda’s heart twinged. With guilt or gratitude, she wasn’t quite sure. “No, it’s fine. I don’t want to rock the boat. I’ll figure something else out.”

Penny grinned. “Kay. Just go out the garage when you leave. I’ll text you the code.” She rounded the counter and wrapped her in a hug. “And never scare me like that again.”

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