Page 16 of Snowed In With the PUCK

I can’t help the small smile that tugs at my lips. She’s so cute thinking about her job like this after we literally just got naked together and had sex. “Good. We’ll leave right after lunch.”

The heavy energy between us seems to ease slightly, and I take that as a win. Maybe getting out of the house, getting back to hockey, will help clear the air between us. After everything that happened today—everything we’re both avoiding—it feels like this is a step in the right direction.

***

The drive to the arena is surprisingly comfortable. The snow has picked up, thick flakes falling steadily against the windshield, but the roads are clear enough. Jessica and I make small talk, and for the first time since yesterday’s moment of intimacy, it doesn’t feel forced.

I don’t know why, but a small part of me thought last night that we’d find our way together again, having sex and easing into a physical connection. But it didn’t happen. Jessica is her usual self, but a bit more reserved. I wonder if she regrets what we did.

“So,” I ask, glancing over at her as I merge onto the highway, “you ever been to a hockey game before?”

She smiles, her eyes focused on the road ahead, but she shakes her head at me. “What kind of sports attorney would I be if I didn’t go to any hockey games in my life? My God, Eric.”

I laugh as she lectures me.

“But yes, I’ve been to a few. My dad’s firm used to represent a couple of players, so I went to a few games in LA when I was younger.”

I raise an eyebrow in approval. “So, you’re not completely new to this world?”

“Not completely,” she says with a smirk. “But I’m still learning. Hockey was never my thing growing up.”

I chuckle. “Well, I’ll try not to take that personally.”

She laughs, and the sound is warm and genuine. It feels good to hear her laugh like that, like maybe we’re finally getting past the line we crossed.

When we pull up to the arena, it’s already alive with activity. The holiday charity games throughout the league always draw big crowds, and here today, the energy is infectious. The lights are bright, and the cold air bites at my skin as we step out of the car.

We use the players’ private entrance, but I don’t want to just send her up to the players’ friends and family suite. Instead, I use some back hallways I know of and walk her there myself, stopping to smile and acknowledge the staff of the arena also using the back hallways.

Inside the suite, I see some of the families and wives of my new teammates, already there getting food from the buffet or drinks from the in-suite bar.

“This way—best view in the house,” I murmur, keeping my eyes on her.

She swats at my arm and laughs, following me to the balcony that overlooks the rows and rows of seats below. We can see down onto the empty ice. The atmosphere is even more electric out here. Soon, the sounds of skates on ice, the sharp clang of pucks hitting the boards, the murmur of the crowd will fill this space.

This is where I belong now, in Denver on the Avalanche, and for the first time in a while, I feel a sense of peace settle over me.

I check the time. I should get going down to the locker room and get ready. It’s just a charity game, so I didn’t have to be here too early today.

As soon as we step back inside the suite, I can feel the eyes on us. A few of the wives and girlfriends glance our way, their expressions curious, probably wondering who Jessica is and why she’s with me.

I ignore the looks and guide Jessica to a spot near the front where she can see the ice. “This is where you’ll be watching from,” I say, trying to resist the urge to push a strand of her hair away from her pretty face. “Best seat in the house.”

She nods, her eyes scanning the rink below. “I’m glad I came, Eric. It’s exciting.”

I grin. “Wait until the game starts.”

I turn to go and my hand brushes against hers accidentally. It throws her off balance and without thinking, I reach out and pull her to me. It’s an overreaction on my part, but it feels good to feel her pressed against me. The hug is brief, but it’s enough to make us pause. It takes a moment before she pulls back, and when she does, I see the cutest flush turn her cheeks pink. Her eyes hold my gaze, making my heart constrict from their intensity.

It makes me feel like there’s more between us that we’re not saying. More that we’re running away from. We both know that we’re not just roommates anymore. But where do we go from here?

That’s the question I keep asking myself as I walk to the elevator and go down to the bottom level of the arena.

Chapter eight

Jessica

As I drive throughthe streets of downtown Denver, my phone lights up with another missed call from my dad. His name flashing across the screen makes my shoulders tense.

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