by Toni Aleo
After another long breath, Tate turned the key and the engine roared to life. Sweat trickled down his neck and he felt like his chest was closing in. Even though a big part of his brain begged him to shut the truck off and run inside the house where he would be safe, the other part was eager to see Audrey.
Tate was sure the only reason he put the truck in reverse and drove off was because he was going to get to spend time with Audrey. Tate found himself looking for reasons to go over to her condo, but found none. When he saw Aiden outside as he pulled up after an afternoon skate, he became overly excited. And when Aiden asked him to go to his game, he couldn’t say ‘yes’ fast enough.
Tate heart picked up in speed at the thought of getting the chance to pick Audrey’s brain, and find out what made her tick. It also encouraged him to get over his anxiety, so that he could get to the arena.
So he could get to Audrey.
The drive was quick, thankfully. After parking, Tate made his way inside. He carried his cupcakes in his hand while tucking his phone and keys in his pocket. When he entered the ice arena, he saw Audrey instantly, even though the arena was full of parents of the kids who were playing. She sat alone at the very top, watching Aiden and his teammates as they warmed up. As Tate made his way towards her, he noticed that she looked so beautiful. Every time he had seen her, she was always so glossed up and beautiful, except for the time she was burning things and when he woke up beside her. Usually he liked it better when his women where natural, but with Audrey, he liked her both ways.
She just did it for him.
Like today, she was wearing an expensive looking blazer that came to the top of her extremely tight jeans. The jeans curved with her amazing body and ended at heels that gave her an extra five inches in height. She had put a knitted teal cap on her head and a bright yellow scarf, tight around her neck. Her cheeks were rosy from the chill in the arena. She looked so classy and so beautiful that Tate found himself walking a little faster, just to get to her.
When he got to the section she was sitting in, he made his way up the stairs, taking three at a time. Audrey glanced up at him just as he reached her, dropping his large body next to hers. She glanced down and saw the cupcakes and then back up at him, a grin tugging at her lips.
“I see you brought game food.”
Tate smiled, “Yup, I have a feeling they will be the best cupcakes ever.”
Audrey giggled as she looked down at the arena. She ran her hands up and down her legs before tucking them in her lap. Since Tate’s hand started to itch from the need to touch her, he opened the box of cupcakes and took one out. He held it out for Audrey, and she took it with a grin. They both were silent, while unwrapping the delectable cupcake as they both watched Aiden skate around the rink, taking shots at the goal. Aiden was Lucas Brooks made over. The kid skated and shot just like his dad. It sure was a sight to see. Tate could be watching a future NHL leading forward in the making.
With a grin, Tate took a huge bite out of his cupcake and moaned when the flavors exploded in his mouth. It was buttery and sweet, two things Tate loved in his sweets. He had an unhealthy obsession with sweets. Thankfully, he was extremely active or he might be 900 pounds.
When he took the gummy bear off the top, popping it in his mouth before returning to the cupcake, Audrey chuckled beside him. He glanced over to see her grinning at him.
“So I guess you like them?”
Tate nodded, swallowing the mouthful he had before he said, “Oh yeah, they are fantastic.”
When he reached for another one, Audrey continued to laugh. “I hoped you would.”
He shot her a wide grin before taking a bite out of another cupcake. After swallowing he said, “I love sweets. I’m not hard to please, but you hit the gold mine with these. Gummy Bears are my favorite.”
Audrey looked pleased as she wrapped her arms around her legs, leaning her head on her knees as she watched him eat.
“Why?”
Tate’s face broke into a grin as thoughts of his mom moving around their kitchen back home. She baked constantly, having him and Matilda try everything she made. Tate never minded, but Matilda would get mad, saying that their mother was trying to make her fat. His favorite thing she used to make was a gelatin-based candy that was very much like a gummy bear. When he came to America and found Gummy Bears, he became obsessed with them. They reminded him of her.
Remembering that Audrey was waiting for an answer, he swallowed before saying, “My mom was a baker. She could bake anything and everything. She used to make these things that were like Gummy Bears. They were my favorite.”
“Aw, that’s awesome!”
“Yeah,” Tate agreed, taking another bite of cupcake.
“You know, Lucas used to say your English was horrible, but I understand you just fine.”
Tate nodded as he looked over at her, wiping the icing off his lips. “I had a really good speech therapist. Plus I wanted to learn the language.”
“Oh, that’s good.”
“Yeah, she was an amazing teacher.”
In and out of bed. Tate’s relationship with his speech therapist was short lived, but it was fun while it lasted.
“You can tell; your speech is really good.”
Tate nodded as he continued to stuff his face, “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” she said. She sat up, stretching her arms out in front of her before turning her attention to the rink. The game had started and Aiden was a starter. They watched as Aiden skated around, deking, and juking kids left and right. Tate shook his head, his lips curving into a grin.
“He is just like Lucas.”
Audrey laughed as she nodded, “He sure is, and everyone hates it. They all think he should be moved up, but we want him to play with his friends. He’s such a blessing, we are so proud of him.”
“You should be. He’s a great kid.”
Audrey blushed as she nodded, “Thanks.”
Tate watched as she watched Aiden, cheering when he would do something good and yelling out words of encouragement. She really was a great aunt. When the first period ended and the kids all gathered around the bench for a breather, Tate cleared his throat before saying, “So how have you been? I haven’t seen any fires lately.”
Audrey’s laughter filled the arena, her eyes bright as she covered her mouth as if she was trying to keep her laughter in. Tate noticed people glancing over at her, and he couldn’t help but chuckle along with her.
“Yeah,” she giggled, “I haven’t felt the need to burn anything. Thanks for checking on that though.”
Tate beamed as he nodded, “That’s good, and you’re welcome. Anytime.”
Audrey blinked twice, her eyes locked with his as seconds turned into minutes. He could get lost in the caramel depths of her eyes. When the horn sounded, signaling the start of the second period, Audrey looked away, taking in a deep breath. Things weren’t going the way he wanted them too. She was being uncommonly quiet and he didn’t understand it. He wanted to know everything about her, but he didn’t know how to ask. She was watching her nephew play. He felt rude asking her things but what if he never got this opportunity to be with her like this. He needed to gather up all the confidence he had in him and channel his inner Lucas. He had to stand out in her mind, make her think of him when he was gone.
“How did you get so great at making cupcakes?”
Yeah, that was going to make her think of him later.
With her eyes still on the ice she said, “My mom bought me an easy back oven when I was four. I’ve been obsessed ever since. It calms me and makes me happy.”
Since she wouldn’t look at him, Tate looked out at the ice just in time to see Aiden shoot and score. They both stood, screaming for him as he hugged his teammates tightly. As the boys lined up for the puck drop, Tate and Audrey sat back down.
“It isn’t what you do for a living though?”
Audrey glanced over, “Huh?”
Tate blushed, feeling stupid. �
�The cupcakes, you don’t do that for a living?”
Audrey nodded, “No, I work for my family’s wine company.”
“With Fallon?”
“Not with her, but I’m in the same building. She’s the PR rep and I am the customer service manager.”
Tate nodded, “That’s cool, how long has the company been in the family?”
“Oh, Lord, for forever. 81 years now. There isn’t a day of my childhood that I wasn’t out in the vineyards, chasing my granddaddy and father around or racing Fallon up and down the rows of grape vines. I have lived and breathed Rocky Top Wine my whole life.”
“You must love it a lot.”
Audrey looked over and smiled, “No, actually I hate it.”
Laughter bubbled in the base of Tate’s throat, coming out as a cough. “Excuse me?”
“Oh, I hate it. If I could quit today, I would.”
“Wow, I didn’t see that coming.”
“Yeah, not too many people do,” she said with a shrug, “they all think that since Fallon loves it, that I do too, but really I hate that place. I don’t like wine, I hate grapes, and I think being a customer service rep blows.”
Tate chuckled, leaning against his knees, “Tell me how you really feel, Audrey.”
Audrey giggled as she glanced over at him. Her eyebrows were drawn together in a puzzled look and she was cupping her neck with her right hand. Her eyes were glossy, and wide. Her eyes reminded him so much of the dolls that Matilda collected and their father made. They all had wide bright eyes, and round faces, much like Audrey’s. Just all the dolls had blonde hair and blues eyes, while Audrey didn’t. “I have no clue where that came from, jeez.” She blinked twice, and then shrugged her shoulders, “I seem to get diarrhea of the mouth around you.”
Tate gave her a slight shake of his head, “That doesn’t sound safe.”
Audrey’s giggles intoxicated him as she laughed with her whole body. Smacking her knee as her other hand went to cover her beautiful mouth. He loved it. He had never been around someone so bright. “Haha, no, it’s not.”
When she didn’t go on, Tate became more confused. He had never heard of that phrase. When she glanced up at him, he smiled shyly, “What exactly does that mean?”
She giggled before saying, “It means that I seem to just run off at the mouth when I’m around you.”
Tate was still confused. “Is that good for me?”
Audrey nodded, “Yeah, but not for me because I keep embarrassing myself in front of you.”
Tate shook his head, “You shouldn’t be embarrassed, and I think you are fascinating.”
Her lips quirked up as her cheeks darkened with beautiful color. “Well thanks.”
He nodded, looking out at the ice. Nothing was said for the rest of the period and Tate wanted to scream in frustration. Audrey wasn’t saying anything and he felt very uncomfortable. He was afraid to say, or ask anything because he didn’t know what she would think. Yeah, they had slept together but that felt like eons ago. Plus, there was no talking happening in that bed. This was different, he knew how to make love to a woman, he even knew how to pick up one when needed but he didn’t know how to actually talk to one. Back home, no problem, but here, he didn’t know if he would sound stupid. He was nervous around her.
She made him nervous.
“So, do you like Nashville?”
Tate glanced over to see that she was looking up at him, her head on her legs again with her arms wrapped around them. She blinked twice and he found himself speechless. No other woman had made him nervous. Especially with his coaching with Lucas, but ever since day one with Audrey, he had been nervous.
He didn’t understand it.
Clearing his throat, he said, “Yeah, I like it a lot.”
She nodded with a grin on her lips, “How long have you been here?”
“Um, right around 8 months.”
“And you came from Florida right? The Rays?”
He nodded, “Yup, I was there for a month before I was brought here.”
“Wow, so you haven’t been in the states all that long.”
Tate shook his head, “Nope, not even a year.”
“I bet you miss it.”
Tate shrugged his shoulders. There was nothing to miss, so why would he? “Sometimes.”
She watched him for another minute and then let out a long breath, “This is really awkward.”
“What?” he asked, confused.
“This conversation. It’s super awkward. All I can do is think that you think I am a crazy slut, and no matter how much I try to forget that you’ve seen my wobbly bits, I can’t. So I think that we should just part ways, you know? Like just agree to be cool around each other since we will see a lot of each other but that’s all.”
Tate found himself blinking in total shock. Was he getting the brush off?
“Okay, what if that isn’t what I want?”
Her eyes narrowed as she pinned him with a look, “What do you want, Tate? Another roll in the hay? Cause if you think I’m gonna get naked with you again, think again, bud. I tore up my slut card.”
“I never said anything about getting naked, you are the one that has brought it up twice,” he said holding up two long fingers, “I just want to get to know you.”
“Why?”
Tate thought it over for a moment and then said, “Because maybe I think you are worth knowing.”
“I’m really not. Go find someone your age.”
“I don’t want someone my age.”
“Well, you sure as hell won’t want me,” she said as she stood, “see you around, Blondie.”
Tate watched in disbelieve as she made her way down the stairs and around the rink to meet Aiden. He had gotten brushed off…again. Tate stood, picking up what was left of his cupcakes before making his way down the stairs. He knew he should take the hint and leave her alone, but Tate knew something was there. Their conversation was awkward, but wasn’t that part of getting to know someone? Things are always awkward at first, but he was convinced they had chemistry. He felt it in that bed, and every time he had been around her. He could feel it in his bones; he could see it in her eyes. So what was the problem?
His age couldn’t play that much of a factor and neither should the fact that he was good friends with Lucas. He also knew that she couldn’t still be so hung up on that guy if she was burning his stuff and making cupcakes for Tate. Maybe it was the embarrassment, but why? Didn’t she realize she was amazing and beautiful? He didn’t think twice about the fact that she went home with him quickly. He thoroughly enjoyed it and would love a repeat, but not until they knew each other. He could wait.
Something was different between them, and Tate was going to find out a way to make things not awkward between them.
He couldn’t let her go.
Not yet.
Chapter 8
“So, I am thinking about going on a Guy Break. Wanna do it with me?”
Piper looked up at her quizzically as Audrey handed her a beer. “Say what?”
“A Guy Break, you know, where we swear off guys for a while.”
Piper’s eyebrows came together; her bright blue eyes confused as she took a quick sip of her beer. “Why in the world would we want to do that?”
Because Audrey couldn’t do it alone.
It had only been 24 hours since she had walked away from Tate, but it felt like a year. She felt horrible for pushing him away but how was she supposed to tell someone that he needed to find someone else because he was young and she couldn’t give him what he wanted? It was obvious that he was attracted to her, and she was attracted to him, but it would never work. She wasn’t looking for a fling. Audrey was looking for forever, and she doubted that Tate was.
He was a hockey player for fuck’s sake.
“I was thinking that I wanted to do it and I kinda need a partner for it.”
Piper narrowed her eyes, “Are you telling me you’re gay?”
They looked into e
ach other for a long heated moment before laughter bubbled out of both of them. Audrey leaned her head back, laughing so hard her gut hurt. Wiping her eyes, she grinned over at Piper.
“No, you dork!”
Piper let out a few more giggles before saying, “Then why are we giving up guys?”
“Because,” Audrey whined playfully, “I keep picking idiots.”
“And how is that my fault? Why am I giving up penis?”
“‘Cause if I have someone doing it with me, I won’t crave them.”
Piper shook her head, “No, that’s dumb. No Guy Break, we both like penis too much for that.”
Eh, she was right.
Piper perked up, a big grin on her face as she moved her hair out of her eyes, “I was thinking we could set up an account on a dating site!”
“Why on earth would I do that? Both our brother-in-laws play on a team full of hot hockey players,” Audrey said, rolling her eyes, “if I am not going on a break, I’m gonna find me a man. I can’t sit here all sad and lonely.”
“True that, sister!” Piper said toasting her drink in the air before taking a long swig. “What about that sexy goalie who hollered at you at the wedding?”
Audrey shook her head, “He’s so young. Could you imagine what people would say?”
“Yeah, that you are a lucky bitch! That dude is gorgeous!”
Audrey rolled her eyes, “No way. We wouldn’t work.”
“You said it was the best sex you’ve ever had. I think it works.”
Eh, again, Piper was right.
“Well, yeah,” Audrey said, moving her hand with every word she said, “But still, he doesn’t want a forever kind of relationship. I’m pretty sure he wants a fling.”
“How do you know? And also, Levi never wanted anything but a fling and you stayed with him,” she said it with a little nod of her head, like she knew she was right.