"Sure."
They moved to the far end of the bar, away from the eyes and ears of their friends. Aside from the end of game interview, he hadn't seen her since leaving the ice cream shop four days earlier. "You know, Dylan and I are buddies now."
"I saw that during the game, and afterward when he made his announcement. Apparently you and Rod are buddies now too?" She tilted her head back to keep her gaze connected to his. "I know he hasn't been super friendly, but he seems to be better now."
"It was a slow thaw, but tonight we bonded a little." He moved closer, drawn by her nearness. "And you and I are friends too. Anyone who watched Kelsey's Corner tonight knows it, thanks to Dylan."
"I think that part was settled after we went to Duff's. Of course, we're friends."
He couldn't resist playing with the ends of her hair. "Good friends?"
She swallowed and then nodded. "Special, even."
The bartender arrived and Kelsey ordered a shot. She downed it like a pro but her hand faltered when she returned the glass to the bar.
He didn't like that tremor or the slight tension in her shoulders. Watching her eyes, he bent down and rested his hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry. I know I said I'd wait for your decision."
With a slight shake of her head, she leaned into his touch. "It's not that. For tomorrow's outdoor game, I thought I would be doing my usual Kelsey's Corner interviews. But I just found out on the way here that one of the regular commentators can't make it tomorrow, so they're adding my segments to the national TV broadcast."
"That's great." But he frowned. Why wasn't she smiling?
"It is great. Ever since I started doing the media spots, I've been hoping for a chance like this. I just want a little time to prepare. I don't want to mess up. It's not just me; it's the Fraser name. I've worked twice as hard on everything I've ever done for the Bedlam, wanting to prove I got my promotions and achievements despite my name, not because of it."
He pushed his need to the back burner. Soothing nerves was something he could do. "I could tell you not to worry and that everything is going to be fine. But while I do believe that because you're amazing at what you do, I'm extending an offer to help if things go wrong."
A tiny line formed between her brows. "Help how?"
"If you do mess up tomorrow, just throw in a reminder about me and why I'm on the team. Or, I'm sure I can convince Rod to check me into the boards for you. He and I could stage another fight on the ice, too. A goalie fighting is always a big deal. Add in that it's two teammates brawling, and you've got yourself a story."
Finally, her smile bloomed. "I'll let you know. Thanks."
Soft fingers brushed against his. Unable to resist the contact, he linked their fingers, binding them together. "Anything for you."
When she smiled, the urge to kiss her was overwhelming. He cleared his throat and forced himself to take a step back. "We can go back to the table and work on a strategy now. Dylan and Rod and the other guys can help."
Her soft lips pressed together and she closed the distance between them. "Tonight is about celebrating Dylan's return. I'll tell my brothers about my broadcast news tomorrow morning. Before we head back to the table, come with me."
He followed her through the crush of bodies and into a darkened alcove. Rays of light filtered in from the main area, enough that he could see her features in the shadows.
She tugged on their joined hands until he stood only a step away. "I've been thinking a lot about you and me. I don't see that hit anymore when I look at you. I just see you. And I want more. With you. I can't deny that we share a connection. It's too strong to ignore."
It was time to lay his cards on the table. "All my life, if I've wanted something, I've gone after it. So I'll be honest. I'm thirty-six. Too old to be playing games. There's something about you, something that I haven't felt before. It's magnetic. I don't want to ignore this."
"I'm twenty-seven, and I've never played games. This isn't a game, Leo. I don't know what this is." Her tongue darted out to moisten her lips. "But I think we should explore it."
Relief, excitement, and desire swelled to overwhelm him and the expanse of warmth radiated from his chest to every atom in his body. He shifted closer and she sucked in a tiny breath. Gaze locked on hers, he cupped her jaw with his free hand. "I'm going to kiss you."
Kelsey mirrored his movements. "You better."
They moved together. His heart slammed in his chest. All the moments spent thinking about her soft and giving like this, all the time trying to ignore his attraction, all of it pressed upon him. He angled his head, studying her face, how her lips parted and her eyes fluttered closed. Adrenaline and anticipation coursed through his veins. His lips closed over hers and something deep within him shifted.
Her scent and touch overwhelmed him and he couldn't get close enough. Unlinking their fingers, he wrapped his arm around her waist and tightened his hold.
Kelsey's fingers slid into his hair and her other hand grabbed at his shirt.
His hands itched to streak down and claim all of her as quickly as possible but he held back, content to savor the moment now that he finally had her in his arms. On a sigh, she pulled him in tighter and her breasts teased against his chest. Leo clamped a hand on her hip and tugged until they were flush. He backed her up until they met the wall and then used that for leverage.
Her tongue stroked against his, deep and seeking and spiking his blood. He needed more. He needed all.
Kelsey.
Warm.
Sexy.
Here.
From somewhere over his shoulder, a heavy tread of footsteps was followed by the sound of a throat clearing. Reluctantly, Leo eased his head away from Kelsey and glanced behind him.
The bartender motioned to the darkened space. "Sorry, I need to get into the storeroom, and the door is behind you."
"Oh, sorry." Leo shifted away from Kelsey. Smoothing his shirt, he stepped to the side while Kelsey did the same, brushing at her hair and sweater.
Pink blushed into her cheeks as she smiled at the bartender. "We should get back to the table."
Leo slid his arm around her shoulder, dissatisfied that they'd been interrupted, but still high on the fact that she was willing to give them a chance.
Dylan met them as they rounded the bar. He held a fresh pitcher of beer and a plate of wings. "Where'd you guys go?" Then his gaze traveled to Leo's arm around Kelsey and then to the alcove, and his eyebrows rose. "Oh."
Leo inhaled a slow breath. Underneath his arm, Kelsey's shoulders stiffened. He met his captain's unreadable expression. "Is this a problem?"
"No. I'm just surprised, but no problem here." Dylan's seriousness shifted into a smile. "I guess as the older brother I should give the warning that I'll kick your ass if you hurt my sister, but Kelsey's tough. She'll kick your ass on her own."
"Thanks, D." She rolled her eyes, and managed to appear both pleased and exasperated.
"Why are you talking about Kelsey kicking someone's ass?" Rod appeared behind Dylan. He did a double-take of Leo and Kelsey and then his eyes narrowed. "I came to see if Dylan needed help carrying the food. But more important, whose ass do we need to kick?"
Heaving a sigh, Kelsey shook her head. "No one's, Roddy. Dylan was merely saying that I can take care of myself."
"You can. No doubt there." Rod's stare met Leo's. "But if anyone hurts her, they'll answer to Dylan and me anyway."
He nodded and rubbed Kelsey's shoulder. "I'd expect nothing less. You hurt one family member, you hurt them all."
"Exactly." Rod's forehead wrinkled. "So are you two, like, a thing now?"
Closing her eyes, Kelsey leaned her head back on Leo's arm. "Oh my goodness. If I say yes can we please go back to the table? We're blocking access to the bar."
"Sure." Rod took the plate of wings from Dylan. He let Dylan go first, then stepped in front of Leo. "Since we're now friends and you two are doing whatever it is that you're doing, I should warn you that she's n
ot a morning person, and she doesn't like it if you hog the remote."
Kelsey smiled thinly. "Keep talking, Roddy, and I'll dump out your coffee supply."
At that, Rod clamped his mouth shut and mimed that he was zipping it closed. The goalie's love of coffee was known league-wide.
Laughing, Leo kept his hands on Kelsey's shoulders as they made their way back to the table.
More and more, he was convinced that she was something special. A once in a lifetime type of woman. A once in his lifetime type of woman. And that made him rethink everything.
CHAPTER SIX
THE SUN SHINED BRIGHT for her debut on national television, but the chill in the air made for red noses and frosty breaths. Kelsey had been up since dawn, preparing for the game. Getting the opportunity was a big deal. Working for the Bedlam, the team she'd grown up around, was very special, but she was always under the shadow of her dad and Dylan, and now Rod too since he'd joined the team at the beginning of the season. It was time to show the world—or at least the viewing audience—what she could do.
The city had constructed a temporary hockey rink in the middle of the pro football stadium for the outdoor game. With the cold air whipping over the rink and some players donning sunglasses or wearing eye black along with their helmets, and Celek and Vince briefly engaging in a snowball fight with a member of the opposing team, the atmosphere seemed was relaxed than a regular game at the arena.
She skated around the ice during the player warm ups, interviewing as many as she could as time ticked down to the one o'clock start time. Showing off her skating skills hadn't been her idea, but the producer had insisted. Being able to use the regular camera crew that she always used during the Bedlam games helped ease her nerves. They were like family.
Of course, having her real family there helped too. She interviewed Rod and Dylan and waved to her parents in the stands.
For her final interview before the start of the game, she flagged down Leo. "Outdoor games are popular with both the fans and the players. The players because it reminds them of the backyard rinks or pond hockey they grew up playing. Did you have a backyard rink in Philly?"
Smiling, he shook his head. "I wish. Our yard was tiny, maybe ten feet by ten feet." He grabbed Vince's arm before the player could skate past. "But Vince here had a huge rink to practice on."
The defenseman shook his head and laughed. "Just because my dad played for Philly doesn't mean that I got to live at their practice rink." Then he grabbed Dylan. "Back me up, D. You never had free reign over the Bedlam practice facility growing up, did you?"
"No, but Rod, Kelsey, and I were lucky enough to have a backyard rink. Our parents made us a great one." He waved into the camera. "Thanks, Mom and Dad."
"Great, you're making Rod and me look bad." She lightly elbowed him in the stomach. "Don't you have a game to play?"
During the game, she wandered the crowd, interviewing fans. The few hours passed in the blink of seconds, thanks to her adrenaline. At the game's end, she interviewed Dylan again, after he scored the winning goal.
She handed over her mic pack, thanked the producer, and hugged her camera crew, anxious to watch the recording to see how she'd looked and sounded, and how she could improve. But that would have to wait until later.
Once the fans cleared out, the players' families would be invited down to the ice for a family skate. As much as she loved taking part in those, her toes were numb, her stomach was empty, and her throat was sore from so much talking. She pulled out her phone, intending to text her family and beg off, but some of the players were already returning to the ice, with Leo leading the way. And heading right for her.
Her heartbeat quickened and her nerves tingled. "Hi."
"You were great out there." He bent and brushed her hair away from her face and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. "I knew you'd rock it."
Happiness lifted her higher, until she felt like she was floating from the combination of the compliment and Leo's presence. "Thanks."
A gentle vibration shook her phone. She glanced at the new message and grimaced at the sender's name. "Not again."
Leo touched her forearm. "What's wrong?"
"Mitch Michaels keeps bugging me, wanting me to ask you to be on his show. I've told him that I'm not your agent or publicist but he hasn't taken the hint." The sports radio host had somehow decided that she was the best way to get to Leo after contacting the team hadn't worked. It hadn't worked because Mitch was an asshole known for stirring up controversy at the expense of players.
"Why? I'll do it." Leo lifted a brow and shrugged. "The guy has made me public enemy number one ever since Dylan got hurt. He's made it his mission to constantly spew rumors and stoke fans' anger. It would be great to shut him up on his own show."
"I don't know. He's a jerk. It's probably best to ignore the talk radio noise."
"I've been ignoring it and it hasn't gotten any better." He pointed to the press area off to the side of the rink. "Isn't that him right there?"
"Yes." She didn't like the gleam in Leo's eyes.
"Then let's end this right now." Leo crouched and scooped together a snowball, then hurled it at the radio host. It sailed in a straight shot and hit the jerk square in the back. Mitch's head whipped around.
Leo nudged Kelsey and headed in Mitch's direction. "I heard you've been asking about me. You want to get me on your amateur hour or something?"
"Amateur hour? I'm number one on the afternoon drive."
"Then, what do you need me for, if you're the number one ranked?"
"It's not me that wants you on... it's the fans. They wanna hear your side of the story. You can come on and make your case. So, when did you want to do it?" Mitch pulled his phone from his pocket and opened his calendar app. "I broadcast from Tap Out on Tuesdays during happy hour. You can be on from six to seven and take listeners' calls."
Leo turned to Kelsey. "You have your phone on you. Can you check the game schedule?"
She grabbed her phone and searched dates. "With the games and road trips, the best date would be the twenty-seventh. So, a little over two weeks away."
"Why not this Tuesday?" Mitch paused with his finger over the keypad. "You guys don't have a game then."
"I'm not available." Leo folded his arms across his massive chest. A mouth drawn in a line and a gaze like heated daggers dared Mitch to question him further.
"All right. See you on the twenty-seventh then. I can't wait." Mitch smirked at him and then walked away.
Leo watched the retreating man for a few moments, then laid his hand on Kelsey's shoulder. "It looks like I have an obligation to return to the scene of our first kiss in two weeks. Care to be my date?"
Kelsey smiled at the memory of the kiss even as her gut iced over in warning of Mitch. "I'll go, but you need to be careful. He may be a bottom-feeder, but he's still a shark."
"I can handle him."
She liked his confidence as much as everything else she'd learned about him. "I know you guys have the next two days off, but if you haven't made any plans, do you want to go to Niagara Falls tomorrow?"
"I'll be in Philly. I'm flying out tomorrow morning so I'll have most of Monday and almost all of Tuesday there. I fly back late Tuesday night, so I'll be home and well-rested for practice on Wednesday."
"Oh." Disappointment flared but she schooled her features to hide it.
"Why don't you come? We can do the cheesesteaks and art museum steps." He brushed her hair behind her shoulder. "The rest of the schedule is so crazy with the games and road trips, and it's only going to get more intense when we get to the playoffs. Come hang out with me. It's one of the last chances to relax before the post-season."
Jumping from a first kiss to flying off with him to spend a couple of days in another city was a whirlwind. Even so, she didn't care. What they had was so new, she didn't want to miss any time with him. Thoughts jumping from what to pack to what she needed to wrap up before the next day, she tapped her finger against the back
of her phone. "I'm sure my parents or Rod and Dylan could watch Icing."
He grinned and his smile was as bright as the sun. "So you'll come?"
"But it's your time to spend with your family."
"It won't be non-stop with them. The guys have to work on Monday, so we'll have a lot of time to ourselves. I was planning on staying with Ryan but we can get a hotel."
"No. Stay with your brother. I know how important family is and I'm sure he's looking forward to your visit. Are you sure he won't mind me tagging along?"
"He won't mind. Ryan's going to love you."
She couldn't wait to meet him and the rest of the Brennan clan, to see where Leo had come from, and to learn as much about Leo as she could. "Well, in that case, I guess we'd better finish up here so I can book my flight and pack."
KELSEY SET HER OVERNIGHT bag on the floor of the guest room. Like the rest of the well-maintained brick row home, its pale gray walls, dark wood furniture, and a painting on the far wall of a watercolor skyline of the city made an inviting space. "This is really nice."
Leo opened the curtains and light streamed into the room. "When I come home in the off season, I stay here. Ry doesn't mind that I basically move in with him for a few months and it gives us a chance to spend time together."
"Do you think you'll do that this summer too?"
"Probably." His gaze shifted to the open door and the hallway. "I'm not making any assumptions here. Ryan's office has a pull-out couch. I can stay there if you want this room."
As attracted to him as she was, she couldn't have sex in his brother's house. The home wasn't that big and it wasn't respectful, plus, she wasn't sure she was ready. But passing up the opportunity to be close with Leo wasn't something she wanted to do either. Kelsey took his bag from his shoulder and set it next to hers. "It would be nice to have someone warm to cuddle up with tonight."
"I'm happy to be your own personal furnace." His fingers dove into her hair, angling her head to meet his waiting lips. Kelsey breathed in his familiar scent and dug her fingers into his shirt. Surrounded by his strength and heat, she shivered as a delicious thrill raced down her spine.
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