Page 1 of Ice Daddy
Chapter 1
Paige McMillan
Two Years Ago
Nashville, Tennessee
Paige's best friend, Emily, jabbed her with an elbow and quietly whispered,“Pst.Paige. There's a really cute guy in a suit across the bar. And he'stotallychecking you out.”
Paige didn't look. She didn't care how cute the guy might be; her wounds were too fresh, too raw.
“If I'd known you were going to point out every hot guy that walks by, I think I would've stayed home instead,” the Vanderbilt University junior muttered.
Emily groaned. “You've been cooped up in your apartment for amonth, Paige. I know you're hurting, but that's why it's good to remember that there's plenty of other fish in the sea.” She made a subtle gesture across the bar. “He's seriouslyhot,Paige.”
“If he's so hot, why don't you talk to him?”
“Because I have a boyfriend. And he's not looking at me, he's looking atyou.”
Paige frowned. “So? Sleeping with some random guy really won'thelp me feel any better. It'll only make things worse.”
“How would you know?” Emily asked with a defiant shrug of her shoulder. “You've never evenhada one-night stand.”
The idea made Paige snicker. “Some things you don't have to try. You just know.”
“I'm not asking you tomarrythe damned guy and have his babies,” Emily griped. “I'm just asking you tolookat him.”
A tinge of guilt settled in Paige's belly. Emily was only trying to help, yet Paige was being needlessly stubborn. She let out a small breath of surrender. “Fine. I'll look.”
Slowly, and with an air of disinterest, Paige turned her head. Across the bar, she saw there wasn't just one guy in a suit—there was an entire raucous group of them. But instantly, she knew exactly which one Emily had meant. He had clean-cut hair and a day's worth of blond stubble that perfected his wholesome, All-American-Man look. And, most tellingly, he didn't shy away from her gaze. Instead, he seemed to be waiting for her with a glint in his eye and a smile on his lips. He gave a slight nod of his head, as if to say,I'm your man.
Careful not to send any unwanted signals, Paige broke eye contact with the guy in the suit before he could get any ideas.
“So? What do you think?” Emily asked.
“I see what you mean. He's handsome.” She was almost surprised to hear herself admit it.
Emily beamed. “Told you. Man, all that trouble just to get you to lookat a hot guy …”
“But you have to understand, Em, it's justsosoon. I still can't get over what Adam did—”
Emily was quick to cut her off. “We're not talking about that idiot tonight, remember?”
“My point is, objectively speaking, yes, the guy in the suit over there is super hot. ButI'm really not in the frame of mind to meet anyone right now.”
Emily gestured in the guy's direction. “Him and his friends—they're all in suits. Think they came from a wedding? God, I'd happily marry any one of them … they're all so hunky andbig.”
Paige peeked over again. Emily was right; the guy and all his friends were tall and statuesque and healthy looking. Enormous men, really.
“Maybe,” she said. “Who knows?”
The All-American said something to his friends. They laughed, shoved him, and clapped him on the back. He downed the rest of his glass and pushed his way past his friends.
Startled, Paige quickly looked away and shielded her face. “Oh God, is he coming over here?”
Emily's eyes grew wider as he neared. “Yes. Yes, he absolutely is.”
Paige didn't dare look to confirm it for herself. She couldn't believe this was happening. She didn't want this—and if this guy hadanyidea what a hotmessshe was right now, he'd probably go running for the hills. Poor guy had no idea what he was getting himself into.
