Page 2 of Melt My Heart: Denver Warlords

My jaw clenched. Of course Logan was involved. My older brother, the golden boy of the McKenzie family, newly appointed head coach of the Denver Warlords, always managing to complicate my life even when he was trying to help.

"It's going to affect my training schedule," I protested.

"I've already worked it in. Two hours a day with Hayes, five with me. The exhibition is in four weeks. Barely a blip in your calendar."

Fifty-six hours of my life wasted on a publicity stunt with a man who'd once been penalized for skating so recklessly he'd crashed into a referee.Perfect.

"I don't have a choice, do I?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"No." Vivian's expression softened fractionally. "But this isn't just for show, Starla. The Olympic committee members will be attending. It's a chance to showcase your versatility, to prove you can adapt to different styles. That matters to them."

I sighed, knowing when I was beaten. "Fine. When do I meet him?"

"Tomorrow, 8 am, at the Denver Ice Arena. I've already booked the ice time."

Of course she had. Vivian never left anything to chance, a trait I'd inherited from years under her tutelage. I'd built myentire life around control, precision, and meticulous planning. Now I was supposed to share the ice with Gunnar "Blaze" Hayes, a man whose entire reputation was built on doing the exact opposite.

I'd seen him compete once, during last year's World Championships. While most speed skaters calculated every move, conserving energy for strategic moments, Hayes skated like a force of nature—wild, untamed, pushing boundaries that shouldn't be pushed. He'd won gold, but his method was chaotic, almost violent. The antithesis of everything I stood for on the ice.

"It's one month," Vivian reminded me as I slipped my blade guards on. "Think of it as an exercise in adaptability."

I forced a tight smile. "Right…Adaptability."

After gathering my things, I headed for the locker room to change. My phone buzzed in my bag just as I was pulling off my skates—Logan calling. Speak of the devil.

"Let me guess," I answered, "you already know about the charity event."

Logan's deep chuckle came through the speaker. "Good morning to you too, sis. And yes, I might have put in a good word for you with the organizers."

"Did you also suggest pairing me with Blaze Hayes?" I asked accusingly.

"Actually, no. That was their idea. But it's brilliant, isn't it? Fire and ice."

I rolled my eyes. "Spare me the marketing taglines."

"Come on, Star, it'll be good for you. Break up the monotony of your training a bit."

"I like monotony," I insisted. "Monotony means consistency. Consistency means gold medals."

"It also means you haven't had a social life since you were fifteen," he pointed out. "When was the last time you went on a date? Or even had a conversation with someone who doesn't skate?"

I ignored the question. "Does Emberleigh know you're calling to lecture me about my social life?"

"She's actually the one who reminded me to call. She's covering the charity event for her network. Thought you might want a heads-up."

Great. Not only would I be forced to skate with a human tornado, but my brother's girlfriend would be documenting the whole disaster on camera. Emberleigh Quinn was one of the best sports reporters in Denver—professional, insightful, and unfortunately for me, dating my brother and therefore privy to all the McKenzie family drama.

"Remind her no backstage interviews," I said firmly.

"I'll try, but you know Em. When she's on the job, she's relentless." The pride in his voice was unmistakable. Logan had fallen hard for Emberleigh, and I had to admit, they were good together. She'd brought out a softer side of my brother I hadn't seen since before his injury had ended his hockey career.

"Fine. I'll deal with it." I sighed, standing to pull on my leggings. "But seriously, Logan, this Hayes guy isn't just unconventional. He's practically feral on the ice. How am I supposed to create a coherent program with someone who probably doesn't even know what a choreography plan is?"

"Maybe that's the point," Logan said thoughtfully. "You're all about control and precision. He's all instinct and power. You might learn something from each other."

"The only thing I'm going to learn is patience," I muttered. "Lots and lots of patience."

Logan laughed again. "That's the spirit. Listen, I've gotta run…team meeting in five. Just give him a chance, okay…For me?"

---