Page 59 of Ice Block

“But…there was nothing in it. No milk. No sugar. No pumpkin spice.”

“What you describe is not coffee—that’s a cup of sugar. Pure coffee is the lifeblood of champions. Whatyoudrink is merely processed syrups and milk with a splash of coffee.”

“Have youhadprocessed syrups? They are fucking delicious, and you can pry them from my cold, dead hands,” she says.

I snort as we approach the vehicle.What have I gotten myself into?I am annoyed, yet I love it at the same time. That is, until she drops my hand and picks up her pace toward the driver’s side.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

She looks back at me, grinning from ear to ear. “I’m driving the next leg of the tour.”

A quiet annoyance races through me, the blood draining from my face. “No. Absolutely not.”

“Why? Do you think I’m a bad driver?”

I narrow my brows at her obvious attempt to goad me. “That isnotwhat I said. I like to look out for you, and I prefer to do that from the driver’s seat to ensure your safety.”

She folds her arms over her chest and sticks out her lower lip in a pathetic-looking pout. “Sooo…you’re saying you’re a safer driver than me?”

I throw my hand over my face in defeat, hiding the frustrated grin breaking through. Magdalina pouting was not something I expected, and yet she’s somehow bewitched me, and I can’t disappoint her. “I’m not going to win this argument, am I?”

She smiles, her eyes gleam, knowing she has manipulated me into this. “Nope! Keys?” She holds her hand out.

I let out a long sigh, my mind whirling in wonder of exactly what I’m getting myself into. “Do not make me regret this.”

The mischievous look on her face has me instantly regretting handing her the keys. “Buckle up, Wolfie! We’re going on an adventure.”

Fifteen minutes later, my hand hurts from gripping the side of the doorframe, and my jaw aches from clenching my teeth. I take pucks at ninety-plus miles an hour to the face, but this woman driving is one of the scariest things I’ve ever experienced. She tailgated the buggy in front of us, slammed the breaks multiple times, making me extremely grateful for my seatbelt, and jerked the steering wheel a few times just to scare the shit out of me. It worked.Thank God this is the shortest leg of the tour.

“Oh, come on! It wasn’t that bad,” she whines as we finally come to a stop, and I pry my numb fingers from the frame. “You’re overreacting.”

I slowly turn my head to glare at her. “Yes, Magdalina. I wasclearlyoverreacting while you were screaming, ‘I feel the need forspeed’ while passing the buggy in front of us, which the tour guideexplicitlytold us not to do.”

“Such a rule follower. You’re worse than Olivia! Don’t be such a party pooper, Vladi,” she says over her shoulder as we both step out of the vehicle.

I take a moment to steady myself, sucking in a deep, calming breath as I crack my neck after that ride from hell.I stalk around the front of the vehicle, pulling her in close, her body a warm reassurance that we did, in fact, survive. Despite my heart having just calmed down, with her lips just a breath away, my pulse quickens once more.I wonder if we could survive more than just today.

She smiles at me through her long lashes with her fiery look that drives me mad. “You had fun and you know it.”

“I’m not sure clinging to the side of the car for dear life is my idea of fun,” I place a brief kiss on her lips, my mind wandering, drawn to thoughts of how this kiss, this week, hell—everythingismore fun with her. And even more than that, everything feels right.

37

maggie

Never in my wildest dreams did I think the crabbiest goalie in the NHL would be scared, his voice breaking into a high-pitched scream, as I raced down the muddy roads. The rush of adrenaline wasn’t one I was expecting, but it buzzed through me, making me drive a little faster and cut the turns a little sharper.He’s always so damn serious.Sure, I’ve seen him come undone in the bedroom, but watching him come apart in the passenger seat, cursing between his screams, wasexhilarating.My cheeks are actuallysorefrom smiling. Finding ways to get this broody goalie to let loose is my new pet project.

After pulling me in for a kiss, one I think he may have needed to regain his sanity, we walk hand-in-hand, catching up to the rest of our group in the water cave. It’s hotter than balls outside, but as soon as we step inside, the cool air instantly soothes the heat. Another reminder of the hot and cold that’s been the Grand Canyon-sized divide between us these past several months. My stomach flips wondering if we’ve finally found enough band-aidsand common ground to fill that damn crater. Because today has been…perfect.

“God, I could live in here.” Vladi’s moan echoes throughout the cavernous space as he steps into the sparkling blue water, a full body shudder making the muscles in his back flex before he turns back to help me in behind him.

“That’s because it’s freezing. I’m curious what your body temperature is because I’m beginning to think you are actually made of ice.”

“I do wonder sometimes if that’s true,” he huffs with a laugh. “Come, I’ll keep you warm.”

He pulls me to a somewhat secluded spot, sitting on a partially submerged rock and relaxing into the comfort of the water. I don’t waste the opportunity to climb onto his lap, straddling him and looping my arms around his neck. By the hardness I’m feeling, he’s notthatupset about my driving. Shockingly, my mind is not on being physical with him. Today is just about…us.

I smile at him through my lashes. “Today’s been fun, Wolfie.”

---