Page 2 of Cold As Ice

Until he did.

I’d gotten over their relationship for the most part. She was happy, and she deserved it; she did. But I couldn’t deny it still stung a little, watching them together.

When it came down to it, Noah had chosen her over his friendship with me.

A commotion over by the door drew my attention, and I watched a group of girls stumble into the bar, singing and laughing. They didn’t look like the usual puck bunny crowd, but it didn’t stop me from pulling my ball cap lower over my face. I wasn’t in the mood for company tonight, and I certainly wasn’t in the mood to deal with a group of bunnies hoping to score with the Lakers goalie.

If I had been, I would have gone to The Penalty Box since that’s where the team usually hung out.

No, tonight I wanted to be alone.

It had been happening more and more lately. But I guess that’s what happened when your friends all fell in love and moved on with their lives.

You got left behind.

Something that bothered me more than it should.

More than I wanted it to.

I turned my attention back to my beer, watching the NHL highlights on the small television screen hanging behind the bar. There had been a time when all I wanted was to play for a pro team. I’d had more than one team interested in me during high school. But I’d been a handful back then. Too pissed at the world and everyone in it to worry about the future. So much so that I’d arrived at LU with no contract, and then one year passed and another, and before I knew it, my eligibility for the draft had passed me by.

I guess you could say I wanted it; I just didn’t want it enough.

My fist curled against my thigh. If only I’d had a guiding hand back then. Someone to kick me up the ass and—

“Hey.” A pretty blonde draped herself on the bar beside me. “So me and my girlfriends were wondering—”

“Not interested,” I grumbled, barely acknowledging her.

“Oh, come on, my girlfriends are trying to cheer me up. It’s been a shitty few weeks.”

“You a student at LU?” I asked, still not fully looking at her.

“No, but I have friends that go there. Let me guess… you’re either a football player or—”

“Hockey.” I finally looked at her. “I play hockey.”

My head knew she spelled trouble, but my eyes were having a really hard time looking away.

She was gorgeous. Glossy blonde hair tumbled over her shoulders like spun gold, with long bangs framing her face. And her eyes, her eyes were the most intense shade of blue I’d ever seen.

I swallowed thickly, caught off guard by my instant attraction to my unwanted visitor.

“Can’t say I’m much of a hockey fan, I’m afraid.” She gave me a sloppy grin, confirming what I already suspected.

She was drunk.

“I’m Madison. But my friends call me Madi.”

“Austin.”

“Well, Austin, be a doll and play along, will you.” Leaning closer, she twisted her fingers into my hoodie without hesitation. “My friends think it’s time I get back on the horse if you know what I mean.”

“They do, huh? And what do you think?” I humored her because, despite what most people thought about me, I wasn’t a total asshole.

It had nothing to do with the fact her voice sounded like pure sex.

Nothing at all.

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