“No, I’m okay,” she had to choke out.
Nelson headed back down the hall, chuckling to himself.
Lindsey used the photo album to fan herself. How soon did he say his sister was arriving? A handful of minutes later, Nelson was back, with a shirt on.
He crossed to her. “Are you okay here by yourself?”
“Of course,” she said. “Unless you have evil lawyers around.”
“Not that I know of.” His tone was teasing, but his gaze was sober. He leaned down and set his hands on either side of the couch behind her head. “Bye.”
“Bye,” she said.
He kissed her. It was a brief kiss, but it still stirred up the butterflies in her stomach. His freshly showered scent was divine.
“See you soon,” he said.
“See you,” she repeated. “Good luck at your game. I’ll be cheering for you.”
He smiled and pushed up from the couch. He picked up the duffle bag next to the door, then opened the door.
She watched him leave, and when he shut and locked the door, she sagged against the couch. Tyler Nelson had her heart. There was no denying it.
The Florida Ducks had a few moves up their sleeves that Nelson hadn’t seen on any of their game film. Nelson knew that his absolute focus would be paramount and that he’d just have to forget that Lindsey and his sister were sitting next to each other in the stands.
Minky was on fire, though, and he scored in the first eight minutes of the first period. The Ducks retaliated with a point of their own, sending Nelson into a spiral of adrenaline. He was determined to not let another puck through. By the beginning of the second period, the score was one to one. Unacceptable.
Nelson was barely aware of the screaming crowd. He had a job to focus on. As the Ducks broke the Falcons’ line of defense over and over, Nelson deflected goal shots one after the other. Game one hadn’t been nearly as intense, and it was obvious that the Ducks’ forwards had spent plenty of time analyzing Nelson’s weaknesses. Because they were aiming for each one.
Blaine scored, pretty much saving the team and their entire season. And by the time the final buzzer sounded in the third period, Nelson was completely exhausted. He was also pissed at the halfbacks and fullbacks, who’d been more than lax. He moved off the ice with the rest of his team but didn’t say a word. Not even when Minky clapped him on the back and said, “Nice job, man. You saved us again.”
Nelson just shook his head. In the locker room, he nodded at Blaine, then went straight to the trainer after his shower. Ricky iced down Nelson’s knee and asked a couple of questions, but when he realized Nelson wasn’t much for talking, Ricky worked in silence.
Because of the ice-down, Nelson was the last one out of the locker room. Coach had even left, probably to do more interviews with the media. Nelson purposely headed down the corridor that would lead him away from fans and signing opportunities. When he reached the parking lot, he saw his sister with Lindsey, standing near his truck. His sister had done the right thing then, not waiting for him by a portal.
“Nice game, Ty,” Becca said with a wide smile on her face. She’d bleached her hair again, making it about five shades lighter than his dirty blond. And her blue-gray eyes that were so much like his were focused on him like an arrow. Despite her smile, she recognized his mood.
“Thanks, sis,” he said, his answer short and curt.
Becca hugged him, and he held her tightly for a moment. It was good to see her, but his anger about the game still hadn’t settled down. “Thanks for coming,” he tried again, hopefully keeping the edge out of his voice.
Then Becca released him and stepped back.
Lindsey was watching him, a frown between her brows.
“Sorry I’m so pissy,” he said, stepping to Lindsey. He kissed her on the cheek, keeping it brief. “Rough game.”
Becca nodded. “I know. That’s why we ordered your favorite barbeque to pick up on the way to your place.”
Nelson gave his sister a smile, although he didn’t feel like smiling. “Thanks, sis.”
Becca linked arms with Lindsey. “No problem. It was Lindsey’s idea, actually. Said you’re always starving after the games.”
Nelson linked his fingers with Lindsey’s and squeezed. He should probably go running or something, blow off the steam that had been building for the last ninety minutes of hockey.
Once they had picked up the food and made it back to his condo, Nelson was pretty sure his sister had become best friends with Lindsey. The two women had chattered nonstop in the truck, and Lindsey had laughed at all the stories that Becca had shared, some about their childhood.
Nelson didn’t mind, not at all, but he sort of wished he could go crash and start over tomorrow. Talking to Coach about the team wouldn’t help, not this late in the season. Everyone was stressed, and everyone was already doing their thing. No matter how many times Nelson called out direction to the fullbacks, they’d ignored him. He wondered if it had something to do with his three-week absence. Had they all bonded with Ben that much?
Had they not seen Ben’s blatant mistakes, things that no professional goaltender should be doing?
“Hello, Tyler?” his sister’s voice cut into his thoughts.
He looked over at his sister. Both women had finished eating, and he had hardly touched the food he’d piled onto his plate.
“Not hungry after all?” Becca asked.
“I am . . . Sorry. The game’s still in my head.”
“No worries, bro,” she said, standing, then patting his shoulder. “I’m beat, and I have an early flight. So I’m going to read a little, then go to sleep.”
“What time do you need a ride to the airport?” he asked.
“Oh, I’ve scheduled a Lyft,” she said. “I’m not going to make even my brother drive me at four thirty in the morning.”
“I can take you, Becca,” he said. “It’s fine.”
“No, you sleep,” she said. “You need to be rested for your travel to Florida and your next game against the Quacks.”
Normally Nelson would have laughed, but he barely forced out a smile. “Okay, but seriously, if you change your mind, just wake me up. I’ll be on the couch.”
Becca’s eyebrows rose, and she looked from him to Lindsey. “Okay then. Goodnight. And great to meet you, Lindsey.”
Lindsey stood and hugged Becca, then Becca headed down the hall to the guest bedroom.
After the bedroom door clicked shut, Nelson met Lindsey’s gaze. “Sorry about all this,” he said. “I’m being a terrible host.”
Lindsey shrugged. “Don’t worry about me. I’m fine. Becca’s been great.”
“Good.” He hesitated. “Would you mind if I went for a run? I’ve got to get some things worked out in my head.”
Worry flickered in Lindsey’s eyes, but she nodded. “Sure. You go, I’ll clean up here.”
“Thanks, babe,” he said.
He went into his bedroom and tugged on his running shoes, then grabbed a couple of things that he’d need when he returned and slept on the couch. He dumped them on the couch on his way out. Lindsey had the kitchen-sink water running when he left.
Nelson walked out of the parking lot and started to jog down the neighborhood road. He’d done everything but jog since his injury, yet he wasn’t going to let a little achiness stop him. He had a lot to think about, and exercising alone was the best way he knew how to do it.
His thoughts first went to Lindsey, and even though he knew he was in season, he still didn’t like the long-distance thing. When she’d told him last night that she was falling in love with him, even though he was pretty sure she didn’t remember saying it, those words had cut straight into his soul. Because he knew he was feeling the same way.
And seeing her with Becca only solidified it. Becca was his only family, and if she liked Lindsey, that pretty much sealed the deal.
Nelson turned a corner and upped his pace now that he was warmed up. He didn’t like that his team
felt different. Sure, he was still close to Minky, and Blaine had done him a huge favor by hooking him up with Cole Hunter’s private-jet service, but there was no real friendship with the other guys. Coach looked at Nelson like a commodity—which he was, and which he wasn’t going to argue with—but when Nelson saw things that were broken on the team, it was like he was talking to a wall if he brought it up to Coach.
He’d been in this same situation during one club season in high school. The team he’d been on had established cliques, or a good ole boys club, when Nelson came on. Nelson hadn’t been there to make friends in the first place, but he’d been aware of the times that the teammates got together after games or practices. He’d never been invited. And he truly hadn’t cared, as long as the team was in sync during games.
Nothing was in sync right now, not in his professional life or his personal life.
Lindsey could have been seriously hurt by a damn intruder the night before, and even though Paul Locker was behind bars, Nelson was frustrated that he lived hundreds of miles away from the woman he loved and should be protecting.
Yeah, he loved her.
And he didn’t know what to do about it.
By the time Nelson returned to the condo, everything was quiet. A single light had been left on in the living room, but there were no lights coming from either of the bedroom doors. No wonder, since it was after one in the morning. Nelson had run until he almost couldn’t walk anymore, but he’d figured a few things out. And if he still felt the same way in the morning, then he was going to begin putting his plan into action.
No one would know until it was a done deal. Not even Lindsey.
Nelson showered, then changed into the clothes he’d dumped on the couch. He hoped his mind would slow down enough that he could get some sleep. He planned to take his team to the Stanley Cup, win the whole thing, then . . .
It felt like he’d just fallen asleep when he sensed someone walking into the living room. It took him a second to remember why he was on the couch in the first place. When he opened his eyes, he saw Becca opening the front door.
“You’re out of here?” Nelson asked, sitting up on the couch.
“Yeah,” Becca whispered. “Sorry to wake you.”
Nelson rose and crossed the room to hug her goodbye. “You know I can drive you to the airport.”
She squeezed him and patted his back. “I know, but the car’s already waiting outside. Thanks, though. You’re a good brother.”
Nelson drew away. “Have a safe trip.”
Becca smiled. “I will. And take care of that girlfriend of yours. You’re a lucky guy.”
“You like her?” Nelson said, although he knew the answer.
“She’s amazing, like you said,” Becca said. “If you screw things up with her, you’ll have me to answer to.”
Nelson chuckled. “Duly noted.”
Becca gave him another quick hug and hurried out the door. Nelson shut it quietly, then turned the deadbolt. He returned to the couch. His mind was fully awake now, and he was pretty sure he was done sleeping, even though he’d only gotten at most three hours of sleep. But he didn’t want to move around the condo, since it would probably wake up Lindsey.
So he settled back onto the couch, propping his hands behind his head, and watched the changing shadows on the ceiling as the early dawn approached. Nothing he’d decided last night felt off, and he was determined to go forward with his plans.
“Nelson?” The whisper brought him out of his thoughts, and he looked over to see Lindsey. She was wearing a long T-shirt of some sort.
“Sorry, did we wake you?” he said. “I tried to be quiet.”
“I’ve been awake for a while,” she said. “Is Becca gone?”
“Yeah, she left a few minutes ago.” He narrowed his eyes. “Is that my shirt?”
She looked down at what she was wearing. “Oh, I forgot my PJs. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Come over here, and I’ll let you know if I mind.” He scooted over on the couch, turning on his side, and Lindsey sat next to him. “Closer,” he said.
She lay down alongside him, and facing him, she nestled against the length of his body.
He drew her close and kissed her temple. “You smell good.”
She smiled and closed her eyes, wrapping her arms about his torso. He was pretty sure she could feel the racing thump of his heart.
“How was your run last night?” she asked.
“Long, but good,” he said. “Thanks for putting up with me.”
Her laugh was soft, like a caress.
“Did you sleep?” he whispered.
“Not really,” she said. “I kept waking up, thinking of you out here, on the couch.”
“It’s pretty comfortable, don’t you think?”
She laughed again, and he smiled.
“How are you doing?” he asked, knowing that the question wasn’t just a casual one.
“Good right now,” she said. “So when’s that fifth game?”
“Well, if we need a fifth game, it will be next Sunday in Vegas.”
“Okay, I’ll come.”
Warmth buzzed through him. “I’d love that. And I promise not to be a head case.”
She ran her hand up his arm. “You’re not a head case, Nelson. You’re one of the best goaltenders in the league, and you deserve teammates who are as dedicated as you.”
“Have you been talking to Becca?”
“Yes.” She lifted up on her elbow. “I like her a lot.”
He gazed into her eyes, a darker color in the dimness. “And what about me?” he whispered. “Do you like me?”
The edges of her lips curved. “Very much.” She closed the distance between them and kissed him lightly on the lips.
He wanted more, much more, yet there was something significant at this moment. He didn’t know what it was, but he didn’t want to ruin it. He smoothed some of her hair from her face, then let his fingers linger on her neck. “I like you very much too,” he said.
Lindsey smiled, then moved to lay her head against his shoulder.
“I can have Ben take my place for the next game if you want me to go back to Pine Valley with you,” he said. “You know, to make sure you’re okay in your condo.”
“I’ll be fine, I promise,” she said. “Besides, I’m not going to come between you and your team. That’s your job, your commitment. And I can’t go to Florida, because I have to get my business producing.”
“We sure have a lot of commitments between the two of us,” he said. Commitments that were keeping them apart.
Lindsey released a soft sigh but didn’t respond.
Minutes passed, and she gradually relaxed more, until her breathing evened out and she fell asleep once again in his arms.
This was nice, Nelson decided. He wouldn’t be sleeping, but he was more than happy to be her sleeping place. He wouldn’t mind more of this. Much more.
Lindsey stepped off the plane, back in Vegas two weeks later for game five of the Stanley Cup. She couldn’t believe Nelson’s team had made it this far. She was so proud of him, and despite all the dissension that was only getting worse among his teammates, Nelson had kept his focus with his usual grit.
Becca had informed Lindsey about the underbelly of the world of pro sports, giving her quite an education. Speaking of Becca, she was waving wildly at Lindsey from the baggage-claim area. They’d coordinated their flights so that they could share a car and head over to the game together.
Nelson would already be at the arena, so Lindsey wouldn’t be able to see him until after game five. Which could very well be the final game, since the Falcons had won three and the Boston Devils had won once.
Lindsey hurried to Becca and hugged the woman.
“It’s so good to see you!” Becca said, her perfect white teeth flashing as she grinned. “I don’t know how you wear those heels all the time.”
Lindsey laughed. “I’m used to them, I guess. They didn’t really stand out in San
Francisco, but in Pine Valley . . . well, not many women wear heels.”
Becca smirked. “And I think my brother likes them.”
Lindsey gave a noncommittal shrug. In truth, things were getting more and more serious with Nelson. Whether they were spending brief amounts of time together when she came to Vegas for his games or they were on the phone, talking or texting, a shift had happened since that night Lindsey had first met Becca.
Lindsey’s relationship with Nelson had gone from fun and lighthearted to more intense, more real. More everything.
“So, you checked your luggage?” Lindsey asked.
“Yeah, I brought stuff to decorate Tyler’s place,” Becca said. “So they’d better win tonight. If not, then the decorations will have to stick around a while.”
Lindsey laughed. “Sounds great to me. Even if they don’t win the Cup, it’s amazing they’ve gotten this far.”
“Don’t let Tyler hear you say that,” Becca said with a grimace. “Almost isn’t good enough for these alphas.”
“Well, hopefully this game will be a win, so I won’t have to.”
Becca snorted. “True. And that’s why I like you. You’re not afraid to state your opinion.”
“I’m sort of required to,” Lindsey said. “For my job, that is.”
“Oh, there’s my bag,” Becca said, then she moved to the conveyor belt and pulled off a dark-green suitcase. “First stop, Tyler’s place.”
Lindsey and Becca spent the next hour decorating Nelson’s condo, from hanging banners and streamers to blowing up balloons. “This looks like Mardi Gras,” Lindsey pronounced when they were done.
Becca laughed. “Tyler’s gonna hate it, which will make it even better. Did you know he won’t even allow leftovers in his fridge?”
“Yeah,” Lindsey said. “We should fill up his fridge too. If only to mess with him.”
“Ooh,” Becca said. “I like the way you think.” She checked her cell. “We don’t have to be at the game for two hours, so let’s go grocery shopping.”
The two women were in their arena seats about twenty minutes before start time. Because of their extra errands, they’d been dropped off by the Lyft later than they’d planned. But it had been worth it. Nelson’s fridge was now stocked with food and some gag items.
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