by Kristen Echo
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Epilogue
Extended Epilogue
Chapter 1
Weddings make people horny. It’s a simple matter of hormones running rampant when they see love triumph. Or it could be knowing the newlyweds will get down and dirty sooner rather than later that gives people the urge to do the same. Whatever the reason, every wedding Beth ever attended ended with sex. She had no reason to believe tonight would be any different.
She adjusted the fit of her push up bra and eyed her body in the full-length mirror. It would do. The dress was low cut and the hot pink satin fit like a second skin. Her outfit left nothing to the imagination, and that’s exactly what she’d been shooting for. Stepping out of her comfort zone and flaunting her assets. She wanted her date to know what he would get if he played his cards right.
Several girls stood in front of the sinks, fixing their makeup before heading out for a special Valentine’s dinner. It was a day like any other as far as she was concerned. The cynic in her refused to believe love existed, and a holiday that celebrated such nonsense was lame.
“Hey Beth. Are you going out with Joe Larson again?”
Joe played right wing for the city’s NHL team. His reputation for getting around was well known on the ice and off of it. They’d been out a few times, but he wasn’t her boyfriend. They hadn’t had sex yet, but she hoped to remedy that soon. “I’m his date for Nicolas Ivarsson’s wedding tonight.”
Nicolas was the team captain, and one hell of a great guy. His bride to be, Caroline, had become a friend over the past month. As much as she hated weddings, she wanted to go to this one. Knowing the couple, it would be the event of the century. She would just make sure she stayed far away from the bouquet toss. The last thing she wanted was for everyone, including her date, to think she should be next.
Joe was clear about not wanting commitment. That’s why they hadn’t done more than fool around. He wasn’t ready to settle down, and neither was she. But she wasn’t interested in casual sex either. They were at somewhat of an impasse, yet he’d called and asked her to be his plus one. She hoped that meant he was interested in more than a fling. They had to work on their timing.
“He’s been around the dorm a few times. Are you like an official couple? We saw you guys holding hands the other night.”
“Yeah, you shouldn’t assume. It’s complicated.” Beth pulled out a pink lip gloss from her purse. She coated her lips and smacked them together. With her focus on her school work, she didn’t have time to play games. The only game she liked was hockey. She loved everything about the sport. The speed, the action and the athletes. Most of those guys were young, hot and talented. Joe was a perfect example. He was gorgeous and his body was a work of art. Unfortunately, she wasn’t the only one who thought that.
“He’s so dreamy. You’re so lucky. Are you two… you know?” The girls giggled. “Having sex?” One girl whispered as if it was a bad word.
She arched her brow. “That’s none of your business. I’m not interested in discussing my sex life.” Especially not with a bunch of gossiping University students. Beth tried to keep a low profile which was difficult when dating a professional NHL player. Joe was one of the most beloved and eligible bachelors in the city. Everything he did was newsworthy. Her roommate was dating Theo Montagne and found it difficult dealing with the press all the time. Luckily, years of practice had taught Beth how to keep her mouth shut. “You ladies have fun tonight.”
They all smiled and went about their business. Beth made it back to her dorm room in time to watch her date saunter down the hall. Joe had a swagger that most men couldn’t replicate even if they tried. She’d only met one other man who had as much charisma as him, and she refused to think of that asshole ever again. The door to her room was open, and she walked inside, waiting for him to follow.
“You look good,” Joe leaned close and kissed her cheek before retreating to her bed. He stretched out, making the tiny, twin bed appear even smaller. With his hands behind his head, he checked her out. “Let me rephrase; you’re stunning.”
Her cheeks heated, matching the bright pink shade of her dress. She twirled around, giving him the full view. “You look rather dapper in your tux. Will I need a hat? I’ve never been to an outdoor wedding in winter.”
“We’ll be out of the wind, but the ceremony is in an ice castle by the river. I’ve got my coat, toque and gloves in the limo. You should probably plan to wear something warmer than that sexy pink number you’ve got on. It will be fun taking you out of it later though.”
She closed the distance between them and straddled his lap. Joe was sexy and possibly one of the hottest men in professional hockey. He could be someone to build a future with, but their timing seemed off. Every time they tried to get close, something interrupted them. She ran her finger over his freshly shaved jaw. Her lips hovered over his, drawing out the foreplay. “You could help me out of it now.”
His hands slid over her hips as he licked his lips. “Temptress.” He nuzzled his nose in her hair and inhaled. “This bed is too fucking small. I could rent a room at the hotel and we can work up an appetite before the dinner.”
“Sounds—”
“Oh, for the love of chocolate! Put a towel on the handle or something so I don’t have to see shit like this,” Carly said, stalking towards her bed on the opposite side of the small room. Her auburn hair was tied back in a low chignon, and she wore a deep blue, floor length dress that matched the eyes of her boyfriend.
Beth laughed at her roommate’s outburst. Since Carly had started dating Theo, she’d walked in on them doing far worse on more than one occasion. “Are your virgin eyes burning? Oh wait, that’s impossible because you’re not—”
“We are not going there!” Carly held up her hand. “I thought you two were just friends. That’s what you told Theo when he asked you about your intentions towards my roommate.” She leveled Joe with her stare. Both men played for the same team, and they were friends.
Joe’s fingers caressed the exposed skin on her back. “We’re more than friends.”
She planted a chaste kiss on his lips before standing up. Once again, they had been interrupted. It was like fate didn’t want them to be together. If they ended up being just friends, that suited her fine. Her goal was to get through her classes with a high enough GPA to earn a scholarship. Chasing boys could wait. She’d wasted enough year’s doing that, and she had no intentions of repeating her mistakes. She faced her over-protective roommate and smiled. "Thank you for your concern. I love you, but my love life is not up for discussion. Why are you back anyways? Didn’t Theo pick you up an hour ago?”
Carly blushed deeper than a Valentine heart. “We… got side tracked. I forgot one of my mittens.” She grabbed the item from the foot of her bed and held it up. “Got it. I’ll see you there.” She raced out of the room as Joe and Beth laughed.
“I guess she left her coat in the car too.” Beth joked as she slipped her high heels on.
Joe stood and took her hand. “We should go, or we’ll be late.”
She nodded, grabbing a cute beanie from her closet. “Right. We wouldn’t want to miss Caroline’s big entrance. I hear her dad hired the symphony to play,” she said, pulling on her long cream-colored winter coat and matching gloves.
He fixed his hair with his right hand and stuffed the other in his pants pocket. “I’m not a fan of Valentine’s Day either, but I got you something.” He pulled a candy ring from his pocket and placed it on her finger. “Jewelry and candy. I covered all the bases. Are you ready?”
Unbelievable. The guy before her didn’t match the bad boy reputation that followed him. His gift was sweet and corny and she loved it. “Th
ank you.” She tore off the wrapper and licked the cherry favored ring.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” She took his hand, threaded their fingers together and let him lead her out of her dorm.
The limo ride to the ice castle by the river wasn’t far. He took a lick of her ring as he helped her out of the car. It was freezing and Beth shivered as she stepped towards the entrance to the castle. Massive slabs of ice were molded into walls and turrets. She hoped the ceremony wouldn’t take long.
The couple getting married had their first date skating on the ice next to the castle. They shared their first hot chocolate walking amidst the frosty walls, and they wanted to say their vows where it all began.
“It’s beautiful, don’t you think?” Joe asked, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. His body heat warmed her.
Looking around, she didn’t agree. It was over the top cheesy, like something from a frozen fairytale. The only thing colder than the walls were her feet. She regretted her fashion choices as they slowly entered the castle. “It’s stunning. The lights add an extra—”
“Romantic feel. Yeah, they picked a great venue for the ceremony. I see Nico and some of the guys over there. Let’s make our way over.”
She was going to say they added an extra cheese factor, but she kept her opinion to herself. Based on the smiles she saw on the faces of those around her, her take on the castle wasn’t shared. Joe gripped her hand and pulled her further into the Valentine wedding wonderland. She giggled at his eagerness. For a man who was anti-marriage he seemed rather happy.
“I see Carly and Theo over on the left. We should head over there,” she suggested after seeing her roommate with two vacant seats next to her. Carly had fallen in love with the team’s leading scorer over the Christmas holidays. The relationship had surprised Beth, but she was happy for them.
They said hello to other players and their dates as they made their way towards the seats. He knew everyone, and it took them a long time to move only a few steps. Then she stumbled on a block of ice. Her two left feet tossing her forward. Joe caught her around the waist, moments before she face planted into someone’s back. “Sorry,” she said to the man she’d accidentally pushed.
A shiver raced down her spine as that man stepped aside. She got a clear view of the group ahead. Her heart dropped to the floor, and her mouth opened but no words came out. A flash of pain and anger overwhelmed her. In the distance, less than a few feet away, she saw him.
He was impossible to miss. The one man she’d vowed to never see again as long as she lived. Benny Wilder looked as handsome as ever and his smile made her toes curl. He didn’t see her and she wanted to keep it that way. No matter how hard she’d tried to run away, the past had caught up with her.
Chapter 2
The air outside must have dropped another fifteen degrees, chilling her to the bone. Beth had anticipated a moment like this. More like dreaded the day she’d see him again. However, she never expected it to be so soon. She wasn’t ready; not enough time had passed. Two years wasn’t even close to enough time for her wounds to heal. She rubbed her hands together, trying to inject warmth into her numb fingers. Only, her entire body had gone numb as she stood there dumbstruck.
He stood close enough for her to see the five o’clock shadow on his chin and the slight bend in his nose. Her breath hitched at the minor flaws on an otherwise perfect face. His angular features were ingrained in her memory.
A slight breeze could have knocked her over; she reached out for Joe. She needed him. Her body stiffened to the point of pain. She clenched her fists, inadvertently squeezing his hand hard.
“Shit! What’s wrong?” Joe took his hand back and shook it.
“Sorry. We should grab those seats before they’re gone,” she said in a quiet voice, clinging to his arm and hiding behind him.
“Are your feet hurting already in those heels? I told you winter boots might be more appropriate.”
Her feet had turned into blocks of ice, but she was glad she went with the sexy stilettoes rather than drab winter boots. If she had to face her ex, then she wanted to look amazing. Joe maneuvered them past a few of his teammates, and he nodded as they made their way closer to the empty seats. It also brought them closer to him.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Benny’s smile widen as he caught sight of Joe. He closed the distance between them. She cringed with every step he took. This was not the way she envisioned their reunion. There was nothing sharp around her to spear him with. Ripping him to shreds with her bare hands might draw unwanted attention. She liked Caroline and Nicolas too much to make a scene at their wedding.
“Larson, we’re finally on the same team.” Benny shook Joe’s hand. His voice had the same commanding resonance that once made her body quiver. The effect hadn’t dulled.
“Not sure we got the good end of the deal on that trade, Wilder.” Joe’s comment made her laugh silently. She wasn’t the only non-Wilder fan, which was new. Everyone loved the two-time MVP.
Benny had a good fifty pounds on Joe and he squared his shoulders, like a man ready to fight. “The trade’s done. Like it or not, I’m your new goaltender. You’ll be singing my praises when we win the Cup. As I’m sure you’re aware; it won’t be my first.”
His cockiness hadn’t changed. Nothing about him was different. His eyes still had that whiskey shade you could get drunk off just from looking at him. She drank him in, feeling intoxicated and unstable. He was still the sexiest asshole in the room. A spark ignited in her belly.
Fuck. She needed to get a grip and get away as quickly as possible.
She clung to Joe’s arm like it was her lifeline. In many ways he was. Benny hadn’t noticed her as she hid behind her date. The men bantered about some trade for another minute and then fist bumped like old friends. She hated the way he ignored her. Until he didn’t. His eyes widened as they connected with hers.
Her pulse raced, and she wished he’d gone back to ignoring her. She chewed her lip because she had nothing to say to this man. Not a damn thing, however, curses teetered on the tip of her tongue. If she opened her mouth, he’d get the lashing she couldn’t give him years ago. Instead, she pretended they’d never met. She didn’t reach out to touch him though her hand twitched to feel his skin against hers.
Joe must have noticed her posture stiffen as Benny stared at her. “My bad; I’m being rude. I suppose I should introduce you though I’m not sure this guy is worth anyone’s time.” Benny’s forehead creased at the insult, but he never took his eyes off her. Joe continued, missing the fact that she’d stopped breathing. “Beth, this is our newest teammate, Benny Wilder. He’ll be back up for Martin.”
“Hi,” Benny said in a voice deeper than it had been only a moment ago.
The same deep voice had once filled her head with dreams. The lush sound penetrated through the freezing temperatures, causing her cheeks to heat. She sunk her teeth deeper into her lower lip and nodded. She couldn’t speak.
They stared at each other for far too long. His eyes became heated and intense as he devoured her from top to bottom. She’d seen that voracious hunger too many times. “You are a vision. I’ve seen no one more beautiful; more radiant than—”
“Don’t get any ideas. Beth is my date. So, back the fuck off and flirt with your own date,” Joe didn’t wait around for a response. He tucked her against his side and ploughed through the rest of the crowd to get to Carly and Theo.
She could have kissed Joe for taking charge like that and setting Benny in his place. He wasn’t the kind of guy who heard the word no often; if ever. The shocked look on his face would keep her warm through the ceremony.
It took a moment and a few deep breaths before she could speak. “I take it you don’t like that guy?” She placed her hand on his knee as they took their seats.
“He’s a great goalie and has his name on the Cup to prove it. I’m not unhappy to have him on the team, but I need to keep him on his toes and break him in. He might be the
king at his old team, but he’s gotta earn our respect. To be honest, he’s a decent guy. Cocky, but he’s got the skills to back it up.” Joe wrapped his arm around her chair and rubbed her arm. It felt too hot. Suddenly, she was burning up and sweat developed on the back of her neck.
“So, he’s here to stay.” The sentence was barely audible. She swallowed the lump in her throat at the prospect of having to see him again. This was horrible news. “I got the impression he wasn’t wanted.” Or maybe she was projecting her own feelings.
People filled the empty chairs and the wedding party took their places. The groom and his men stood next to a wall made of ice which had pink lights illuminating the surface, projecting a romantic glow. Overhead the sun began to set and paint the sky with strokes of orange, pink and purple. She closed her eyes and exhaled.
“You know, Martin’s our current goalie. He’s also one of my best friends. I can’t exactly welcome the new guy with open arms. It seems disloyal. But he’s on our team now. All that matters is working together and winning games. The regular season will be over soon. Then it’s do or die time,” he whispered in her ear.
“Right.” She opened her eyes and kept them forward, sensing Benny behind her. The music started and everyone stood. She didn’t turn around to watch the bride because she was afraid to see him. Scared that one more look would bring everything back; the good and the bad.
The bride looked stunning in a pure white cloak. When the father of the bride handed her over to Nicolas, Beth cried. She had allowed no tears to flow in a long time, but she’d never get to experience a moment like that. Marriage and commitment weren’t a priority. Plus, her father had passed on. She was alone in this world, and she had come to terms with that.
Caroline and Nico smiled as they pledged their eternal love to one another. The epic love shared by this couple couldn’t be duplicated. Fate got it right by putting them together. Beth had given up on the possibility of love, but she could appreciate when others found happily ever after; at least temporarily. Nothing good ever lasted. She watched the couple seal their union with a kiss, which proved to be the exception. Their kiss lasted longer than the vows, forcing the crowd to laugh and cheer.