All for You

by Moore, Heather B.

  Blaine looked over at Nelson, surprise in his brown eyes. “Sure thing.”

  “With your, uh, girlfriend at Belltown,” he said. “Is it hard to stay connected when you’re so far apart?”

  Blaine seemed to take the question in stride. “There are definitely days when I hate it, but we video chat a lot. She also comes out one weekend a month.”

  Nelson was surprised. He had no idea. Blaine hadn’t ever missed any team events. “Really. And she’s okay with that?”

  Blaine smiled. “Well, she thinks I’m worth it, I guess. Besides, her scholarship at Belltown makes it a hard thing to pass up. Free education and all. She wants to be a physical therapist, and I’m only too happy to be her guinea pig.”

  Well, Nelson didn’t want those kinds of details. “Thanks, dude.”

  Blaine hadn’t moved forward in line during their conversation. “Can I ask why?”

  “If things go well, you’ll find out soon enough.” Nelson stepped around him.

  Blaine chuckled. “Someone you met while in Pine Valley?”

  “Maybe,” Nelson hedged, adding salad to his plate.

  Blaine grinned. “I thought you were a little different when you returned. And it wasn’t just the physical therapy.”

  Nelson lifted his gaze to meet Blaine’s. “Different how?” Had Coach noticed? His other teammates?

  Blaine lifted a shoulder. “Distracted. Staring at nothing when we’re in meetings. Looking like a lovesick cow.”

  Nelson scoffed. “Whatever.” But as he crossed the room to find a seat, he wondered if anyone else had noticed something different about him. He wished he could check his cell again and see if Lindsey had sent any flight updates.

  He’d barely started to eat when Coach got up in front of the room. Nelson tried to pay attention, he really did. But he was thinking of Lindsey and if she’d make it to Vegas at all. If the flight was canceled, would she find another airline or stay in Pine Valley? What Nelson really wanted to ask Blaine was how he handled it. How he stayed busy and kept the game in his head.

  Coach looked directly at Nelson and said, “Right, Nelson?”

  Nelson blinked. He had no idea what Coach had just said. “Right,” Nelson said.

  That seemed to be good enough. Coach continued talking about visualization and how important it was to visualize the plays and outcome of the game before the game even started. Nelson had no problem doing that. Usually.

  Right now, he was visualizing Lindsey texting him that she wasn’t coming to Las Vegas after all. Yeah, so maybe he was a lovesick cow. And it was really going to be miserable when he got to the end of tonight’s game, and still no Lindsey.

  Nelson suppressed a frustrated sigh, keeping his gaze focused on Coach even though the words weren’t being registered.

  Finally, Coach wrapped up with, “Find your quiet zone, men. Review what you know about the Chicago Flyers. Visualize how you, each one of you individually, will play like you’ve prepared to play. Each move, each shot, each block . . . they all count toward the whole.”

  The players clapped, Nelson included. He caught Ben’s eye. Nelson sensed the second-string goaltender had been watching him during the entire meeting. But Nelson had been too caught up in his thoughts to notice. Nelson gave the guy a small nod, and Ben returned his gaze to Coach.

  Meeting over, and Nelson rose and dumped the rest of his sandwich in the trash. He’d only been able to stomach about half of it. Which was . . . unusual. But he couldn’t help thinking about how Lindsey had teased him for eating so much.

  “You okay?” It was Minky. The huge forward was a brute on the ice, but off the ice, he was observant.

  “Yeah, sure,” Nelson said as the group of them headed out of the room. “How about you?”

  Minky scoffed. “Don’t try to avoid the question.”

  Nelson slowed his step so that the other players moved ahead of them, out of earshot. “I was hoping someone could come to the game tonight, that’s all.”

  “Well, for your sake, I hope she makes it.”

  Nelson didn’t have to ask why Minky would assume the person was a she. It seemed Nelson was pretty transparent.

  An hour later, he stepped out onto the ice. There hadn’t been any more updates from Lindsey, and he decided he wasn’t going to worry about it until his team had defeated the Flyers. Being back on the ice had felt good, but Blaine had been right. Things about Nelson had changed while he was in Pine Valley. Maybe it was that he took life a little more seriously. He’d also seen retirement staring him in the face with an injury taking him out for several weeks.

  He wasn’t ready to retire from the game he loved so much, but he was also looking beyond the game for the first time that he could ever remember.

  Coach called out a drill to start with, and Nelson moved into the warm-up routine. His knee was feeling great, normal, but he was definitely aware of his movements more than ever. He tried not to favor it, because that had the potential to weaken his defense. So he had to steel his mind to pretend that he hadn’t been injured in the first place.

  After the first couple of drills, Nelson skated to the goalie box. Minky took shots at him, and Nelson blocked them one after another. Ben warmed up in the goalie box on the opposite side. In between shots, Nelson took a couple peeks at the stands to see if there was anyone he recognized. Not yet.

  The other team was already prepping to come onto the ice, and the coaches were watching the warmups, collecting last-minute intel to use in their own strategies against each team.

  Twenty minutes later, Nelson went to the bench with his team while the Chicago Flyers took their turn to go through their own warm-up drills.

  Then it was time for the game to start. The arena was mostly filled. While the national anthem was sung, Nelson again checked the stands for Lindsey. He’d put a ticket on will-call, which would put her a few rows above the bench. Still, he didn’t see her. And now the time had come when he couldn’t think of anything but the game.

  The first period started out fast and furious, with the Flyers’ fullback colliding with Minky and sending him crashing to the ice. Minky got up as quickly as possible, but the Flyers were already past the center line and plowing through the Falcons as if their bodies were made of air.

  Nelson was ready, though, and he deflected not one but two goalie shots. “Give me some defense!” he called to the fullbacks. “There’s only one of me.”

  Five minutes into the first period, Nelson knew they were outmatched. Shot after shot got through the defense, and Nelson had deflected at least a dozen drives. It was going to be a long night. “Let’s go, boys!” he called more than once.

  During the short intermission between period one and two, Nelson drank his water and focused on Coach’s instructions, mostly to the other players. Nelson didn’t allow himself to check the stands again.

  Second period started right off with Minky scoring on the Flyers. The Falcons’ fans went nuts, and it was just the motivation they needed to turn the game in the Falcons’ favor. Everyone on the team was hyper focused, and they were becoming the aggressors instead of the defenders.

  When the second period ended, Nelson went to the bench with his teammates, feeling both elated and anxious about the upcoming third period.

  “This is it,” Coach said. “In seventeen minutes, we begin the third period. If you win this game, we’re in the conference finals.”

  Nelson nodded. One more period. They could do this. When the warning buzzer went off, the team began to file out onto the ice.

  “I think that lady’s looking at you,” Minky said. “Just above the bench.” Minky continued to skate past Nelson to his position.

  The words hit Nelson like a thunderbolt. He skated to the goal and turned to take his position. Only then did he allow himself to look.

  Lindsey was sitting between two other people, and her cheeks were flushed a pretty pink. Whether from the coolness of the arena or something else, he didn’t know. Her dark
hair was waved about her shoulders in loose curls, and he wasn’t sure if he’d ever seen her with curls. Then her gaze connected with his, and she smiled. It was like another thunderbolt.

  She was even prettier than he remembered, and he had a good memory.

  The ref skated to the center of the rink and dropped the puck between the two opposing forwards. Third period had officially started, and Nelson pulled his gaze from Lindsey. She was here. She’d made it. Somehow.

  Minky made an aggressive drive and shot, but it was intercepted, and one of the Flyers was coming straight at Nelson, apparently having dodged every Falcon on the ice. Nelson was ready. He’d be damned if they lost, especially now that Lindsey had made it.

  The puck sailed straight for the high corner, and Nelson moved to block it. The puck glanced off his shoulder, then pinged against the goal, bouncing back into play. Nelson didn’t like how close that was. One more half centimeter, and the Flyers would have scored.

  “Come on, Blaine,” Nelson shouted at his teammate.

  Blaine had taken control of the puck, but the intermission had somehow stirred the Flyers into a frenzy.

  Nelson blocked another direct shot to the goal, going down on his knees. He didn’t feel pain, or at least he wasn’t sure, because the adrenaline was high. Finally, Minky had the puck, outmaneuvering the Flyers. “Shoot, Minky!” Nelson called. “Now!”

  Minky sent the puck right between the goalie’s knees just before they clamped together.

  The arena went wild.

  Falcons up by two, but the Flyers weren’t finished yet.

  Nelson kept his gaze on the one player who had been making breakthroughs all night. Sure enough, the Flyer came barreling toward the goal, fire in his eyes, nostrils flared. The guy wasn’t slowing down, and Nelson skated backward the final foot.

  A split second before it happened, Nelson knew the player was going to crosscheck him. But Nelson didn’t try to block the blow, because there was still the puck to deflect. Nelson moved his gaze to the progress of the puck, and the second the other player slammed into him, Nelson got his hockey stick on the puck and sent it toward the half line.

  The crowd cheered, and Nelson knew it was almost the end of the third period. Chances were pretty low that the Flyers would score two points to tie and push them into overtime, but stranger things had happened.

  When the buzzer finally sounded, Nelson nearly sagged in relief. His teammates crowded around, smacking his shoulder. “It was Minky,” Nelson said. “He scored the two goals.”

  When he reached the bench, Blaine slapped Nelson’s back. “You saved our season about thirty times. I wonder if you set a new league record.”

  Nelson pulled off his helmet and face mask. “I don’t know,” he said, and he didn’t really care right now. Because Lindsey was here.

  He looked up into the stands, which were already clearing out. She was standing, her hands clasped together as if she’d been clapping. She was wearing dark jeans and a black hockey T-shirt that said Falcons. Something he’d mailed to her. And it fit quite well, if he were to make an assessment.

  She waved when their gazes connected, and the congratulations surrounding Nelson faded into a distant buzz. Lindsey smiled a slow smile, and then she started down the bleachers toward the bench.

  His teammates began to leave, but Nelson waited for Lindsey to make her way against the tide of the departing crowd. He unlaced his skates and tugged them off, then he opened the connecting half door and stepped out as she reached the bottom row. Lindsey was wearing high heels, which made Nelson chuckle.

  “What’s so funny?” she asked.

  Her voice was much better in person. “Do you ever wear anything but high heels?” he asked.

  “Only when moving boxes.”

  She continued toward him, which Nelson took as a good thing. Her blue eyes locked with his, and wow, it was so good to see her. He wanted to kiss her, but he was a sweaty mess, plus there were a lot of people around.

  “That was some game, Mr. Goaltender,” she said, folding her arms. “I mean, the two points were great, but you’re the one who kept those points uncontested.”

  “I’m glad you could come,” he said, keeping his voice low.

  “Me too.”

  Okay, this was ridiculous. He had to get showered so that he could show her a proper greeting.

  One of his teammates clapped him on the shoulder with a congratulations as he passed.

  Nelson said, “Thanks, you too, man,” without even looking to see who it was.

  He couldn’t take his eyes from Lindsey, but he was going to have to. “Can you meet me at that portal in about ten minutes? I’ve got to get showered and changed.”

  Lindsey did a slow perusal of his person, her lips quirked. “Ten minutes, huh? That quick?”

  “Maybe nine.”

  She laughed, and Nelson stepped away. The longer he waited, the longer that ten minutes would be.

  Waiting for Nelson at the portal he’d indicated had her stomach all tied up in knots. She’d thought he was a good-looking man before, but in his hockey gear . . . Suffice it to say, she wasn’t cold for a second in the chilled arena. But it wasn’t just his personal appearance that had the butterflies growing; it was the way he’d acknowledged her. How his eyes had held hers. How he’d smiled. And asked her to wait for him.

  She could tell he was happy to see her, and that made her even happier. And possibly crazy. She was in Vegas at a hockey game. So not her normal thing to do. Who would have thought that she, Lindsey Gerber, attorney at law, would be following a man around the country?

  “Hey, you looking for someone?” a man said, passing by her, then slowing down.

  He was about her age, tall, with brown eyes and black-as-night hair. He had to be a hockey player. For the Falcons or the Flyers, though?

  “Uh, I’m waiting for Tyler Nelson.”

  The guy chuckled. “That so? He should be along in a minute.”

  “Are you . . . his teammate?”

  “Yeah, I’m Blaine,” he said, sticking out his hand.

  She shook his rather large hand. “Lindsey.”

  He nodded, the smile still on his face. “Where you from?”

  “Northern California.”

  “Ah,” Blaine said in a knowing tone. “Nelson’s questions make more sense now.”

  Well, this was interesting. Lindsey folded her arms. “What questions?”

  Blaine took a step back, flashed another smile, and said, “I should probably shut up now. Nelson is bigger than me.”

  She was about to ask what size had to do with anything when she spotted Nelson coming down the long corridor.

  “Gotta run,” Blaine said, but Lindsey wasn’t paying him attention any longer.

  Nelson was striding toward her, a duffle bag slung over his shoulder. His fitted Henley shirt followed the ripples of his torso. And his jeans, well, they fit him perfectly too. Did he have a tailor? Or did clothing companies use his body for their measurements?

  Breathe, Lindsey. He’s just a guy. So what if he’s the reason the Falcons are advancing to the conference finals? And he lives far from Pine Valley, so don’t start creating what-if scenarios.

  Someone called out to Nelson from behind him, and he turned and waved but continued walking toward Lindsey.

  His gray eyes were dark, and his hair still damp from his shower.

  She exhaled, then inhaled.

  “Thanks for waiting,” he said as he reached her.

  She felt herself smiling when he dropped his duffle on the ground and pulled her into a hug.

  She wrapped her arms about his neck and pressed her face against his skin. He smelled so good, like clean soap and Tyler Nelson. His body was warm, and his arms were holding her like he wasn’t going to let go any time soon.

  “I missed you, Lindsey Gerber,” he said, his voice rumbling against her ear.

  A warm shiver traveled the length of her body. She closed her eyes. “I missed you too
, Tyler Nelson.”

  His hold only tightened, but Lindsey didn’t mind. Reality would hit her soon enough—the reality of the impossibility of their situation. She pushed all worries and questions from her mind and focused on breathing in this warm, strong man who was working his way into her heart.

  When he finally drew away, Lindsey wanted to pull him close again, but she was an adult woman. Not some infatuated teenager with her crush. She released Nelson, already dreading when she’d have to get on that return flight out of Vegas.

  Nelson picked up his duffle, slung it over his shoulder in a smooth motion, then grasped her hand. “My truck’s through here.” He led her down the corridor toward an exit. “How long was the flight delayed?”

  “About an hour,” she said as he pushed through the exit door. “But the pilot made good time, and the flight was shorter than expected. So here I am.”

  He stopped beneath one of the parking lot streetlamps and looked down at her. “Here you are.”

  The intensity of his gaze and the depth of his voice sent a new round of flutters through her. He leaned down, his eyes still on her, then he pressed his mouth against hers. It wasn’t like their other parking lot kiss. This one was more of an icebreaker.

  Nelson’s mouth was warm and possessive, even though he wasn’t holding her. In fact, he wasn’t touching her at all, just his mouth against hers.

  She wanted to twine her arms about his neck again, but she decided it would be wise to keep this public kiss as hands off as possible.

  Nelson drew away much too soon, but his gaze remained. “Hungry?” he asked.

  “Yeah,” she said. “I haven’t eaten all day.” It was probably not something she should have admitted. Too late now.

  His brows lifted. “Why not?”

  “Nerves, I guess.” She shrugged. “I might be your match and eat more than you tonight.”

  His gaze moved down the length of her body. “I doubt it. But I’m not going to stop you from trying.” He pulled a key fob from his pants pocket and clicked on it. Not far from where they stood, the headlights of a truck flashed.

  “Come on,” he said. “I’m starving too.”