by Toni Aleo
And after a year of being odd man out in Phoenix, he wanted to play. The Colonials could’ve sent him down to the ECHL and he would’ve been happy. He just fucking wanted to play.
Yeah, he knew that was a hell of a change in his attitude from when he’d been here more than a year ago. A hell of a lot had changed since then.
Apparently, Leah could say the same.
Their gazes caught again, and this time, he saw something in her eyes he’d never seen before: a cool detachment that made his gut ache.
Fuck.
“Phoenix kept you on the bench.” The sneer in Rob’s voice was tough to miss but Kyle let it slide off his back. “Tough to work your way up to where you think you should be when you can’t even get on the ice.”
“Rob.” Leah’s soft voice got between them like a physical barrier. “You’re going to be late for work.”
Her brother nodded slowly, but his gaze remained locked with Kyle’s. Because it wasn’t in Kyle’s nature to back down, he didn’t look away.
The baby made a noise then, flapping his hands at Rob, as if wanting him to pick him up.
Rob looked away, his face softening when he looked at the baby then leaned down to kiss his dark curly hair and ran a hand down his back.
“Be good for Aunt Leah, bud.” Then Rob leaned in to kiss Leah on the cheek. “Call me if you need anything. Marie’ll be in court all day. I’ve got that meeting this morning but then I’ll be free.”
“JayJay and I will be fine.” She waved Rob out the front door with a warm smile. “We’re going to the studio for Mommy and Me class.” Now she looked down at the baby and affection showed in her eyes and her smile and every inch of her face. “We’re going to have so much fun, aren’t we, JayJay?”
“Let’s hope some of that zen rubs off on JayJay and he sleeps through the night tonight. Thanks again, brat.”
Then Rob glared at Kyle, still standing in the hallway outside Leah’s door.
“Hope you get that call-up soon.” Rob shook his head as he walked away. “Like tomorrow.”
And finally, he and Leah were alone again. Kind of.
The baby had started to babble, loudly, staring straight at Kyle. The kid had a lot to say apparently. Unlike his aunt, who continued to watch him like she was expecting him to do something stupid.
So when the kid reached out to him, Kyle didn’t hesitate.
“Hey, kid. How’s it going?”
As Leah’s eyebrows arched, Kyle reached for the baby, but he looked at Leah for confirmation before he lifted the kid into his own arms.
She gave the baby over without hesitation. At least she knew he’d never hurt a kid.
As the baby continued to babble away, Kyle grinned. The kid had his aunt’s eyes. A blue so dark they could be mistaken for black. Unless you looked straight into them. Then you could see how unusual they were.
Just like Leah’s. His aunt.
“He’s strong,” Kyle said as the baby gripped his free hand with both of his. “Gonna be a bruiser.”
“Why are you here, Kyle?”
That cool tone was back in her voice, the one he’d only ever heard her use with him. And only in the past few minutes.
That pit in his gut threatened to open again.
Stop being an asshole and say what you came to say.
“I’m planning to go back to the studio while I’m here. If it’s okay with you.”
It didn’t look okay with Leah. She definitely looked like she wanted to tell him no, it really wasn’t okay with her and would he please fuck off and die.
Then again, maybe he was reading a little too much into her silence.
After several long seconds, she huffed out a quiet sigh. Then she shrugged. “Sure. No problem.”
Okay, not exactly the response he was expecting. But he’d take it. Unless…
“Great. Are you still teaching?”
“Yes.” Her brows arched over those cool blue eyes. “Is that all? I need to get ready.”
No, that wasn’t all. That wasn’t even close to everything he wanted to say to her.
But now wasn’t the time because, while he’d never seen that look on Leah’s face before, he’d seen it on his mother’s face plenty of times, when she’d looked at his dad after another one of his “indiscretions.” Leah had had enough.
So he smiled then as he looked down at the baby he was unconsciously bouncing in his arms. As the oldest of three and the oldest cousin of fourteen, he actually liked babies. He wanted kids. Someday. In the future.
“Okay, bruiser. Back to Aunt Leah.”
The kid babbled something as he smacked his hands together and reached for Leah as she took him back. And managed not to accidentally touch Kyle. Hell, her fingertips didn’t even brush against his arm.
“So, I guess I’ll see you at the studio.”
Her smile was totally fake as she took a step back.
“Sure. See you later, Kyle.”
Then she shut the door in his face.
Sighing, hands on his hips, he stared at the door for several seconds before he turned and headed for the stairs, back to his new apartment on the fourth floor with his new roommate.
When he’d lived here before—before he’d gotten traded, before he’d been injured, before he’d been sidelined for so goddamn long—his apartment had been on the third floor and he’d known, he’d known he was destined for bigger things.
Hadn’t quite worked out that way yet, had it?
But he wasn’t opposed to hard work. He’d work his ass off on the ice to get back to where he wanted to be. And he was prepared to grovel to Leah if that’s what it would take to get back in her good graces.
He just wasn’t sure any of it would work.
He didn’t know if he’d ever make it back to the NHL. And he didn’t know if Leah would ever take him back.
And that would suck so hard. Because he’d realized a few things through this past year and a half. He loved to play hockey and he loved Leah.
And he’d been the one to fuck up their relationship.
So how the hell was he going to fix this?
Leah walked away from the door, picking her way through her apartment carefully because she wasn’t sure she wouldn’t bump into anything.
Luckily JayJay wasn’t old enough to ask questions about the man who’d just shown up at her door after more than eighteen months.
Had it really been that long?
Yeah, it had. And she totally hadn’t been prepared to see him again.
Damn him.
And now she had to go to work and smile and pretend like nothing had happened.
When the man she’d never thought she’d see again had announced he was back.
“Jerk.” She muttered the word under her breath, even though she knew JayJay couldn’t understand her or mimic her. “Why did he have to show up now?”
As if he understood her, JayJay began to babble and clap his hands and she couldn’t help but smile at him.
“You, little man, are the light of my life at the moment and the only man I want to spend time with.”
Which was totally true.
Liar.
She leaned down to rub her nose against her nephew’s then smiled when he giggled and put his chubby little hands on her face.
“Yes, I love you too. But we’re going to be late for class if we don’t leave now.”
Luckily, her brother had JayJay’s bag packed and ready for the day. All she needed to do was get her bag, which she’d packed last night, and head to the studio.
But she couldn’t stop thinking about Kyle.
She wished she could lie to herself and say she hadn’t thought about him in the past year and a half since he’d left. Wished she could say she hadn’t cried herself to sleep more than she wanted to admit when he’d left her without more than a “Hey, it’s been fun. Have a great life.”
By the time she and JayJay got to the yoga studio and she’d dropped him off at the in-studio day
care, she’d waffled back and forth between asking Kyle to find another studio to telling herself to be strong, be the better person, and just ignore him.
She snorted. “Yeah, like that’s gonna happen.”
“Talking to yourself already, Leah? Kinda early for that. Everything okay?”
Leah dredged up a smile for her best friend, Charlotte, who also happened to be her boss.
She’d just walked into the tiny office at the back of the studio and had been hoping to find it empty. Apparently, today wasn’t going to be her lucky day.
Leah didn’t want to talk to anyone right now. And if she said that, Charlotte would know she wasn’t herself. And that would not be good.
She loved Charlotte. She truly did. The thirty-two-year-old owner of the studio was easy to love. She had a big heart and a calm spirit. But that big heart also meant she was fiercely protective of her friends. And if you hurt someone she loved, she could make your life hell.
“Everything’s fine.” Leah held her smile until her face started to hurt. “Just have a lot on my mind.”
“I hope that means you’re giving more thought to my proposal.”
Charlotte’s hopeful expression made Leah feel even more depressed about lying, but she wasn’t going to tell the woman who’d given her a career and a purpose that she wasn’t sure she wanted to go into business with her.
“Of course I’m thinking about it. I just need a little more time to chew over the finances.”
And to figure out if this was truly what she wanted to do with the rest of her life. And not just something she fell into because it was easy.
Charlotte’s gaze narrowed. “But that’s not all that’s on your mind, is it?”
Checking the clock, Leah realized she had at least fifteen minutes before she had to lead her first class of the day. Poor planning on her part.
Sighing, she leaned against the doorjamb, trying to look casual. And probably failing miserably.
“Kyle’s back.”
Charlotte’s eyes widened, and her mouth opened, but she couldn’t seem to find the right words. Leah knew exactly how she felt. She didn’t want to talk about him either, but she couldn’t seem to stop thinking about him.
When he’d left before, he’d walked away without looking back, off to the west coast where he’d been sure he was going to make his mark on the NHL. He was going to show everyone he had the talent and determination to become a hall-of-fame goalie.
Kyle’s confidence had been one of the first things that had drawn her to him. The killer smile, outgoing personality, and his flat-out adoration of her hadn’t hurt. Neither had the athlete’s body. Any woman would’ve drooled to see him naked.
His determination and his drive to be the best at what he did had only made him more attractive. And he’d been hers. Well, hers and the game’s.
Until the game had taken him away. He’d packed his bags then knocked on her door to tell her he was going.
Even though she’d known it would happen someday, that he could get a call and be on the road in a matter of hours, she hadn’t expected to be so…devastated.
Finally, Charlotte found her voice. “Did he call?”
“No, he stopped by.”
“Why—oh jeez.” Charlotte shook her head. “He’s staying in the same building again, isn’t he?”
Leah shrugged, as if it didn’t matter. “He told me he’s planning to come back to class and wanted to make sure I was okay with that.”
“I hope you told him to go to hell.” Charlotte scrunched her nose and shook her head before Leah could respond. “Of course you didn’t because you’re too sweet to do that. Well, I’m not. I’ll tell him to find another stu—”
“No, you are not going to tell him to go somewhere else.” Leah made sure to put some strength into her voice; otherwise, Charlotte would do exactly what she wanted. “I’m fine. It’s been almost two years,” one year, seven months and a few days but who was counting, “and I’m fine. This isn’t a problem.”
Charlotte lifted one pale eyebrow over skeptical brown eyes. “Uh-huh. Right.”
Leah maintained steady contact, because if she backed down now, Charlotte might actually bend Kyle into a pretzel during class and laugh hysterically when he injured himself. “Seriously. And we’re done talking about this now. I need to get ready for class.”
“Leah,” Charlotte paused, searching for words, “do you really want to be around him? That man—”
“Is just another guy. He means nothing to me anymore.”
Her friend released a long-drawn-out sigh. “Fine. If you’re sure putting him in a headlock and choking him until he passes out isn’t a viable option, then I won’t say a word to him. But don’t expect me to be nice to the guy. He broke your heart and that makes him a dick in my book.”
Since she really didn’t have a response to that, Leah left with a little wave over her shoulder and the silent vow to get over it. Over the situation. Not over him. She’d gotten over him a year ago.
Then why is your stomach in knots and your heart beating a mile a minute?
“Oh, just shut up,” she muttered as she headed for the changing room. “He didn’t come back to get together with you again.”
And even if he had, she wasn’t stupid enough to take him back. Not after the number he’d done on her heart the first time.
Chapter Two
“Hey, man. Nice to see you again. Glad to have you back.”
Kyle took the outstretched hand of Derek Flaherty, returning the guy’s wide grin.
“Glad to be here.” Which, amazingly, was true. “How’s it going, D?”
“Not bad.” The guy tossed his sweat-soaked jersey in the bin and started stripping off his gear. “Season’s going pretty well so far, and I’ve only had my nose broken once.”
Laughing and shaking his head, Kyle pulled his t-shirt on. He hadn’t had time to talk to anyone other than the other goalie, Nate, and the coaches on the ice at practice today. By the time he’d finished checking in with the head office and signing all the papers he needed to sign, the rest of the team had been on ice.
He’d said hi to the guys he’d known from before, tried to get the names tied to the faces of the newbies. But he was genuinely psyched to see Derek. The guy made him laugh.
“Still can’t find a way to turn off your mouth, huh?”
Derek’s grin widened. “Never happen. At least my girl has learned to put up with me.”
“Hell, some nice girl took pity on you finally? How’d you manage that?”
Derek shook his head. “Don’t really know but I can tell you she’s a keeper. What about you? You find someone while you were away?”
“Nope. Still single.”
Though he was hoping to change that while he was here.
“You wanna meet my girl?” Derek said. “I’m headed over to her dad’s restaurant to get some food.”
“No, man, but thanks for the invite. Another time. I’m gonna catch a yoga class.”
“You still into that, huh? All that bendy shit. Must be good for sex, right?”
“Jesus, D, get a grip.”
The older guy who walked in behind Derek let his elbow swing out and smack into the side of Derek’s head. Not hard enough to hurt but enough to make Derek give him the finger. “Not on you, Will. You’d like it too much.”
The guys around them groaned. Kyle laughed his ass off.
“Dude, don’t encourage him.” The gangly guy sitting on the bench next to Derek rolled his eyes before he stuck his elbow in Derek’s side, then smiled. “He’s a fucking twelve-year-old in a grown man’s body.”
“Hey, we haven’t actually met.” The guy who’d hit Derek in the head stuck out his hand. “I’m Will. Nice to have you. Heard good things about you.”
Kyle shook and took the compliment with a grain of salt. He hadn’t played enough in the past year for anyone to have heard good things about him.
“Thanks. Looking forward to getting ba
ck on the ice.”
Even if he only played every other game, it’d be a hell of a lot more than he’d played in Phoenix.
“You need someone for extra practice let me know.”
“Your woman out scouting other men?” Derek’s sly grin surfaced again. “One of these days she’s gonna find a younger one and dump your old-man ass.”
Will didn’t bother to respond. “My fiancée’s been on the road for the past couple of weeks. She’ll be back before Christmas but I’m free ’til then.”
“Thanks. Appreciate the offer and I’m probably gonna take you up on that. I’m here to play.” He paused, considering his next words carefully. “So, D. You talk to Leah at all?”
The confusion on Derek’s face quickly turned to another of his shit-eating grins.
How the guy still had all his teeth was a fucking mystery.
“Ah. Now I get the yoga class.” Then his grin calmed into a more serious smile. “Yeah, I see her around sometimes. Always says hi. Always got a smile on her face. She’s nice. Too fucking nice for you. Besides, you dumped her when you left. I don’t think you’re gonna be seeing her again.”
Not wanting to get into that with the rest of the team in the room, he shrugged. “Just asking a question.”
Derek’s expression made it clear he didn’t believe that.
“Uh-huh.” Derek leaned closer, his voice dropping so he couldn’t be heard over the other guys’ conversations. “She seemed pretty depressed for a while after you left. Her smile never seemed the same. Know what I mean?”
Yeah, he did. Leah had a smile that made her glow. So fucking sweet, it could give you a sugar high. And he’d been the bastard who’d gorged himself on all that sugar then tossed her aside like an empty candy box.
Dick.
Yep, he was a total dick. But he was going to make up for it, goddammit.
“I’m going to put that smile back on her face.”
Derek shrugged, his expression doubtful.
“You got your work cut out for you, man. You broke her heart. I don’t think she’s gonna forget that too easily.”