Fresh Ice

by Sarah J. Bradley

  “I, for one, do not believe you.”

  “And I, for one, am relieved to not have the image in my brain. Oh geez, I’ve got class.” Jenna glanced at her watch. “I’d love to stay and hear all about it but, well, you’re my mother so, no thanks.” She hopped up and kissed Izzy. “See you later!”

  Izzy waited until the door closed before hopping onto the bed. “Cat, I have to talk to you!”

  “Oh so we were just playing innocent for the girl, right? The two of you are actually lovers, right?” Cat couldn’t contain her giggles.

  Izzy hesitated. “I don’t think so.”

  “It’s a yes or no question. Either you did the deed, or you did not.”

  “There’s a bit more to it than that.”

  “I’m not following you.”

  “Well, you’ve…you know…”

  Cat’s mood sobered. “What, had sex? Yeah. I mean, not recently, and not with anyone as gor-ge-ous as Mr. NHL, but yeah.”

  “Okay, well, I’ve only ever been with Jason. And he was very…it was sort of …” Izzy bit her lip. How can I explain this? In all those years with Jason I didn’t feel one tenth of what I felt in that one kiss from Quinn. How do I explain that? “Last night, we just kissed, really. But the kissing, Cat…it was…I really can’t explain it. I felt more, I was more involved, you know, than I’ve ever been…before.”

  Cat absorbed this without comment, for which Izzy was thankful.

  “And then we stopped.”

  Cat was silent, tapping her fingers on her chin. “Quinn Murray stopped at kissing?”

  Izzy shook her head. “It was me. I got nervous or something. I stopped everything. He said it was okay.” Izzy sighed. “Cat, I’ve never had that before, that feeling of…want. I’m not entirely sure what I would have done if we hadn’t stopped. I’m not what you’d call prepared for…that.”

  Cat patted her hand. “Well, I’d say you are the luckiest girl on the planet.”

  “Not the response I expected.”

  “I’m serious. I have yet to meet a guy who sets up a romantic date, gets the girl willing and ready with a good lip lock, and then stops without the encouragement of a swift kick to the jewels.”

  Izzy laughed at Cat’s depiction, but something nagged in the back of her mind. “So, then what, he’s not into me, so it was no big deal for him?”

  “Maybe it means he is trying to be a better man with you. Do you have any idea how much control a guy like Quinn would have to exert to stop at kissing? Especially with you all dolled in that most excellent dress?”

  Izzy unwrapped a muffin and took a bite. “What do you mean ‘a guy like Quinn?’”

  “Well look at him, for number one. For number two…”

  “Wait, I know that accent! ‘Cold Mountain.’ That’s the Renee Zellweger character. Ruby!”

  Cat feigned impatience. “Anyway, secondly, he had quite the reputation during his playing days.”

  “He told me.”

  “Doubtful he told you everything. He was a real animal. Drinking, women, all the time. All the time.”

  “I get it, Cat.”

  “I mean, the man was a legend. He’d walk in to a place and half the women would want him and half the women had already had him.”

  Izzy grit her teeth. “I get it, Cat!”

  “Sorry. Then a few years ago, he stopped everything. Quit playing for the Preds. Quit partying. He started filling in at the radio station, and he really went crazy with the charity work. Like he was rebuilding his image from scratch.”

  “We talked about his past a little, but he didn’t say much about his life here.”

  “Well, when did he have time between dinner and face-sucking? I’m surprised you got any conversation in. At any rate, I think you can look at this first date as a complete success. You’ve hooked him. There’s no keeping him away.”

  Izzy was unconvinced, but wasn’t going to push the point. “Well, I won’t be seeing him for a week. He’s on the road covering the Preds. He left for San Jose this morning.”

  “Don’t be too sure about that. A man doesn’t give a girl the kind of good night kiss I witnessed and then put a country and a week between them.” Cat checked the clock. “I have to get downstairs. If I’m not there at the start of the lunch rush, I know three or four regulars who will leap over the counter and clean me out!” She hopped off the bed and left the room without another word.

  Izzy hugged her knees to her chin, breathing Quinn’s scent from the sweatshirt. Peace and a sense of safety blanketed her. He won’t let me fall.

  TWENTY-TWO

  Quinn parked his car in front of Silver Screen. Every window was full of light and he was suddenly very nervous. What’s the big deal? Just get in there and talk to her. He squared his shoulders and walked around the building to the front entrance. It sounded as if a very loud party was going on.

  Once inside, he noted an odd assembly of people gathered around the big television in the front room. Some sort of heated game seemed to be happening. At the counter, Cat read a paperback. The phone rang, and she answered it.

  “Mark, you butt. I’m not going out with you again! Because you make my brain sad. Because I know that the National Anthem doesn’t end with “Land of the Free.” No, I’m sorry but anyone who mistakes Annette Benning with Annette Funicello is not someone I’m going to be able to date. Because one is an Oscar winning actress and one was a Mouseketeer. Oh, and that thing you do with your thumb? No, no woman likes that. Stop calling here!” She slammed the receiver into its cradle.

  Wonder if I should ask her what the thumb thing is? Quinn took a cautious step toward the counter. “Wild night?”

  “That? That was just some moron who thinks he can be an idiot and still get somewhere with me. And then we have the funky bunch over there.” She nodded vaguely in the direction of the loud the group around the TV.

  “What are they playing?”

  “Oh, we just got the latest copy of that movie game ‘Scene It.’ This is one of the Twilight movies.”

  “Team Jacob!” Someone yelled over the din.

  “Team Jacob sucks!”

  “Vampires suck!”

  “Werewolves blow!”

  “Hey, you guys? If you can’t keep it civil, I’m going to take it away.” She returned her attention to Quinn. “If you’re lookin’ for Izzy, you’re in the wrong place. She’s working tonight.” She held his gaze. “You may have already thought that might be the case.”

  “I guess I did.”

  “You’re here to check the weather?”

  “I’m sorry?”

  “Look, you might be a very delicious chunk of yum…”

  That’s a new name for me.

  “But you haven’t been completely up front with our mutual friend.” She leaned on the counter, low enough that he had to sit down to hear her, “You knew exactly who you were dealing with all along, am I right?”

  “You are.”

  “I figured. So let me tell you something: Izzy’s a world class skater who’s had a sucky life.” Cat shook her head. “Her sister-in-law dumped on her, I know that. I also know Jason didn’t make her feel in all their years together what you did in one kiss.”

  Her comment surprised Quinn. He closed his eyes, remembering the feel of Izzy’s fingers on his face, the thrill as she responded and returned to his kiss.

  “Hey, hey!” Cat snapped her fingers in front of his face. “Focus here.”

  “Oh sorry.”

  “I saw that good night kiss. That was great theater. But dude, you dumped her off and flew to San Jose in the middle of the night? That’s not romantic.”

  “I’m aware. That’s why I came back.”

  “Which is a positive move. You’re no saint, but you’re taking some steps toward being a hero. You’ve got the look of one for sure. I respect you taking it slow with her. Let’s face it, if a kiss sets her world on fire I can’t even imagine what the full treatment from someone with your skill se
t would do.”

  Quinn nodded, unable to form words in response.

  “But get this: If you go back to your wicked ways and do to Izzy what I know you’ve done to half this town, I will hurt you.”

  “I believe you would.”

  “So we understand each other?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. Now do two things for me.”

  “Okay?” He was not about to turn her down.

  “First, get to Waffle House and see your woman. And second…” she hesitated.

  “Go ahead.”

  Cat picked up her book and sighed. “It’s a perfectly beautiful night and I’m a perfectly lovely person. I’m sitting here giving out romantic advice, listening to the idiot patrol play a board game over there, and reading only the good parts in romance novels. If you know a guy who’s not a complete moron, or just out of jail, could you send him my way?”

  Quinn smiled. “I’ll do what I can.” He took a few steps toward the door.

  “Oh one other thing?”

  “Yeah?”

  “He doesn’t have to look like you. It would be nice, but it’s not a deal breaker.” Cat’s smile was shy, and a little sad.

  Quinn walked back to his car. Sitting behind the steering wheel, he stared at the back door of the coffee shop for several minutes. She’s right. I have to be a much better person, I have to be honest.

  Not a chance.

  Quinn started the car, but didn’t put it into gear. The radio started playing Toto’s “I won’t Hold You Back.” Closing his eyes, the music carried Quinn back to the rink, to the one place where he felt good about himself, the place where Izzy was truly her most beautiful. He called to mind the feel of her skating, floating above the ice as if her skates never touched the surface. The memory of her from the night before, and that last night at Nationals, flashed before him, melding into one perfect image.

  His hand on her waist, one holding her hand, twirling her, letting her go, the landing, like a flower on a still country pond, the feeling of control that flowed through him, even now, when he thought of her. Quinn tried to forget the look of her in the glow from his bedroom fireplace a halo around her lithe form.

  She needs a hero.

  I could be that hero. I could at least give it a good try.

  He put the car in gear and drove to the Waffle House.

  ***

  This is ridiculous. I’m standing here staring at the phone like he’s going to call.

  I have become every bad romantic comedy movie ever.

  Cat would be so proud.

  The bell on the door jangled. Izzy couldn’t pull her gaze away from her cell phone display. “Just sit anyplace. I’ll be with you in a minute. You want coffee?”

  “Most guys wait a few days to call. I’ve never been a patient person, so, I thought I’d show up instead.”

  “Quinn!” She leaped into his arms, not caring one bit that Carlo was laughing out loud over the grill he cleaned. “I thought you had to be in San Jose?”

  “I did. I do. I was standing there on a sidewalk, Benny was getting into the cab and I just couldn’t, I just couldn’t get into that cab. I turned around, went back into the airport, paid a ridiculous amount of money for a plane ticket, and here I am.”

  She didn’t want to let go because none of it seemed real.

  “I can’t be here too long. Benny and Bob can cover for me, but I do need to get back to them by Friday. So we have a couple days to just…” he set her down on her feet and sat on a stool. “In all absolute honesty, Izzy, I have no idea what I’m doing.”

  Oh thank heavens! “Well, I’m glad you came back.” She reached for a coffee cup.

  “So am I. See, we left some unfinished business the other night.”

  Her cheeks heated. “What are you talking about?”

  “The business about…” he lowered his voice instinctively “the charity event.”

  “Oh, that. I’m pretty sure I made my demands clear.”

  “I’m in.”

  The surprise on her face was well worth his misgivings. “Really?”

  “Really.”

  “Okay, then.”

  Quinn set down his coffee and pulled her close to him. He glanced around the empty restaurant and smiled. “You promise?” He brushed his lips across hers lightly.

  The rush of anticipation washed away any doubts, and most conscious thought. “I promise.” She murmured, leaning closer to him. Just kiss me again.

  “Then we have a lot of work to do.” He laid a brisk kiss on her cheek and released her. “And I need something to eat.”

  She took a deep breath, trying to get her heart rate back to normal. “You want grits with your eggs and mushrooms?”

  “Thank you!”

  Izzy gave the order to Carlo, who hadn’t stopped laughing. “We do have one problem.”

  “No backing out. You promised.”

  “Yeah, well, I’m a demanding figure skater. Watch me pout.”

  Quinn drained his coffee and grinned. “Could you pout in front of my fireplace?”

  What is this, banter? When most people learn to banter, I was learning to land on my outside edge. “Um….okay.” Oh yeah, I rock at banter.

  “So what’s the problem?” Quinn picked up a fork and started in on the plate of eggs before Izzy set it down. “Sorry, I’m hungry.”

  “We don’t have a coach.”

  “Can’t you call up your old coach?”

  “He’s dead.” Izzy ignored the tear welling in her eye.

  He took a forkful of eggs and chewed thoughtfully. “Isn’t there anyone else?”

  Izzy shook her head. “No one I would trust. Plus we don’t have a place to practice.”

  “That’s not a problem. We can work out at the Bridgestone Center.”

  “Quinn! We can’t do that.”

  “Why not?”

  “How are you going to get permission, hold a charity event every other day?”

  “You let me worry about that. You draw on your years and years of experience and put something together that doesn’t involve me breaking you in half. You can do that, easy. I mean, look at what I have to do. I have to learn to figure skate, I have to arrange training times. And what is the upside for me?” His grin was wicked.

  Izzy glanced behind her to make sure Carlo wasn’t listening. Carlo was out having a smoke. “You’ll get to put your hands all over me?”

  His voice was matter of fact. “I’ll be in skates and you’ll be in clothes. That doesn’t count.”

  “Fine, how about this: I’ll help with all the boring stuff, the mailing, the emails, the phone calls. I could be your secretary.”

  Quinn swallowed another mouthful of eggs and mushrooms. “Okay, I could use a secretary. I’ll pay you a salary so you can stop working here for awhile.”

  Izzy bit her lip. “I don’t know about that.”

  “I do. This is going to be a full time job. There’s too much to deal with between practice and all the paperwork you’re going to be slogging through.”

  “It’s tempting, but I can’t,” she sighed, “I have health insurance through this job. For Jenna and me.” She watched his face contort in four directions. This has never been an issue for him.

  “Quit your job.”

  “What?”

  “Quit your job. Come work for me.”

  “Quinn…”

  “I’m serious. I don’t just need someone for this event, I need someone full time. I’ll handle your insurance, everything.”

  She shook her head. “You don’t even know what is involved.”

  “No, but I know I like the idea of chasing you around the desk.”

  Izzy laughed out loud. “Stop. I’ll keep my cushy gig here for now.”

  “How are you going to manage everything?”

  Izzy didn’t understand her reluctance, but the need to keep her job was overwhelming. “I’ll manage. I’ll take some day shifts. It’ll be fine.”

  “I
f you say so.” Quinn pushed his empty plate aside. “Let’s go get to work.”

  Izzy laughed. “It’s not even midnight. I have six hours left on my shift.”

  “See, if you worked for me, you wouldn’t have just said that, and we’d be headed back to my place to look over entertainment contracts in front of an electronic fireplace.”

  “You paint a picture loaded with mixed signals.”

  “Don’t judge me, I’ve been on a plane for almost twenty-four hours. I’m going to go home and fire off some emails to a few key people, letting them know I have a gold star secret weapon for this thing and they’d better come through with some massive bucks. Then, I’m going to take a shower because I’m starting to smell like a sardine rolled in jet fumes. Then, I’ll probably sink into some sort of sleep deprivation coma. Then I’ll come here, get you, and make breakfast for you at my place.” He seemed to sense the misgivings she knew crossed her face like a banner. “And I promise; I will be as hands off as you wish.” He smiled. “I think you’ll find, however, that working with me on a project like this isn’t quite as exciting and romantic as it sounds.”

  “Just wait until you start skating with me. It’s nothing like it seems on TV.”

  “You’ll probably start to hate me.”

  “You’ll hate me more.”

  “Do your worst.” He arched an eyebrow.

  She leaned in close. “I can slice and dice parts of your body with a skate blade. What have you got?”

  He shot backwards in his seat, his eyes glowing with a mix of surprise and fear.

  Izzy laughed. I’m starting to get the hang of this banter thing.

  TWENTY-THREE

  Dawn broke over the Nashville skyline as Quinn rolled his car into the Waffle House parking lot. Through the window he caught her eye. She motioned to him to wait in the car, and Quinn found himself observing Izzy’s work world very closely.

  Two waitresses, probably those coming to relieve her, walked in. Behind them, a grimy man slunk around the side of the restaurant to the side door. Instantly alert and suspicious, Quinn studied the man’s every move.

  Izzy opened the side door and stepped into the man’s line of sight. A hand on the car door handle, Quinn readied himself to spring to her defense.