by Cari Quinn
He went back to searching his photos, ignoring the shouts and cheers around him as the other people in the bar watched his former team play. He didn’t want to be reminded that he would’ve been the goalie tonight if he hadn’t been taken out by a mucker on the warpath. He was more intent on solving the mystery of the first hockey player who’d captured his attention since the collision.
Cindy came by with his dinner and wordlessly dropped off a fresh bottle when his was empty. The cries from the rest of the bar told him the Whales were losing, and by the end of the game, he shared their frustration, but for an entirely different reason. He’d searched through all his photos and hadn’t found a single one with her in it.
“Care for another one before the deal ends, sugar?” Cindy asked as the final seconds ticked off the clock.
He peered across the bar to where Hailey was delivering another round to a table so they could dull the pain of the Whales’ loss. Maybe if he stayed here long enough, he could get some more information from her stepmother. “Yeah, I’ll have one more.”
When Cindy brought the bottle to his table, he put his plan into action. “I got to watch her play earlier tonight.”
Cindy’s eyes widened, and she slid into the booth. “Are you a scout from Hockey Canada?”
He chuckled. “No, not at all, but I do recognize a good player when I see one.”
“Could you please pass that on to the women’s hockey coach?” Cindy took his plate and wiped the table under it. “Poor Hailey’s been training like a madwoman during the last year for a chance to go to Sochi, and we’re all rooting for her.”
“Olympic aspirations?”
“That’s putting it mildly. The girl lives, breathes, and sleeps hockey. And we all figure this is her final shot at a medal.”
“She didn’t try out for the Vancouver games?”
Cindy’s face fell, and he felt like a door was being slammed in his face. “No, she had other things to deal with then.”
Once again he’d run into the townsfolk looking out for their own. Whatever had happened in her past, they all wanted to protect her by keeping him from finding out about it.
She stood up, his plate still in her hand, and asked, “Can I get anything else for you?”
“No, that’ll be all for tonight.” He’d struck out so far, but maybe he’d find the answer after a good night’s sleep.
“I’ll be back with the check.”
Cindy went back into the kitchen, leaving him alone to observe Hailey. It was her smile that fascinated him. A grin carved a dimple into her left cheek while a full-out smile created a matching set. She seemed to know everyone there, waving good-bye to each of them as they left and flashing that charming grin.
He wanted her to turn that grin on him, but when she looked his way, it twisted into a scowl.
“Here you go, sugar.” Cindy dropped off the check and went back to the bar, planting a kiss on the bartender’s cheek before disappearing into the kitchen.
Ben picked up the check and released a quiet laugh. At least there was one highlight of the evening. This was the cheapest meal he’d had in years. He fished out a hundred-dollar bill and left it on the table before easing out of the booth.
Unlike the other patrons, his departure didn’t receive a farewell call from the owners. Just another reminder that he was an outsider in this small town.
He sat in his Land Rover and waited for it to warm up before starting the drive home, the nagging in the back of his mind even louder than before. He closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the seat. He doubted he’d be able to sleep until he discovered how he knew Hailey.
Time to call in reinforcements.
He dialed the number for his older brother, Adam. “Do you have a minute to talk?”
“Sure,” Adam replied, even though his voice seemed a bit higher than normal.
“Is this a bad time?” He switched the phone to Bluetooth so he could start the drive along the steep, winding road to his cabin.
“No. Lia and I were just talking about our day.”
He snickered. He seriously doubted any words had been exchanged between his brother and his girlfriend. On any other day, he might’ve ribbed his brother, but he had too many questions about a certain hockey player to enjoy some teasing at Adam’s expense. “Do you remember me having anything to do with a blonde with dimples?”
“You usually don’t like blondes—that’s more Caleb’s taste.”
“Exactly, but I saw this woman here in town, and I swear to God I know her, but I can’t remember how.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “That’s why I’m asking you.”
“Doesn’t sound like any of your former girlfriends.”
“She’s a hockey player. I was thinking about scouring my old yearbooks, but I don’t think she went to Shattuck-St. Mary’s.”
“Did she give any indication that she knew you?”
“Adam, I’m one of the most recognizable players on the Whales. Or at least I was before my haircut.” He ran his fingers through his short hair, wondering how long he’d be able to fly under the radar once it started to grow out.
“Yes or no?”
“Yes, and she makes that player who took me out six weeks ago look kind.”
“Bruins fan?”
He laughed. “Nope.”
“Then maybe she’s pissed off because you quit the team, and now they’re about to get eliminated from the playoffs.”
Ben drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. It would be all too easy to dismiss it as something as simple as that, but it didn’t soothe the knots in his gut. “No, it’s not that, and I have no idea what I’ve done to piss her off.”
“I’m drawing a blank, too. Maybe you could snap a picture of her and send it to me. If I saw her face, maybe I could help you out.”
“Good idea. I’ll do it tomorrow.” He was almost home and didn’t want to make another descent in the dark after three beers. “Until then, I’m going to keep searching.”
“Sorry I wasn’t much help.”
“No worries.” He shifted in his seat, wondering if he dared to ask another question. “Mom told me you asked for Grandma’s ring.”
The muffled sound of a door shutting filled the air, followed by a pause. “Yes, I did.”
“That serious already?”
“Yeah,” Adam said softly. “I know it sounds crazy, especially since Lia and I’ve only known each other for a few months, but have you ever met someone where everything feels so right?”
His mind flashed back to a girl with bright blue hair. No woman had ever come close to her. A wave of memories washed over him. The silkiness of her skin. The taste of her pink nipples. The scent of ice that had clung to her. The dimples that cut into her cheeks when she smiled at him.
Shit!
The Range Rover swerved across the center line as it all came flooding back to him. Ben yanked the wheel, jerking the SUV back into his lane. His heart pounded, but it had nothing to do with the fact he’d almost run off the road.
“Ben, are you okay?”
“Fine, fine,” he replied, even though his lungs were working overtime. “I just remembered where I knew her from.”
“Oh?”
His cheeks grew warm, and he debated if he should elaborate. Out of his six brothers, only one knew what had happened that night in Vancouver. “Did Caleb ever tell you about that girl I met when we went to the playoff game nine years ago?”
“The one with the blue hair?”
He bit back a groan and twisted his hands along the steering wheel. “Yeah, that one.”
“Is it her?”
“Ninety-nine percent certain.” She had the same build, the same eyes, the same dimples. The only thing different was the hair color.
Oh, and the fact that she obviously seemed to hate him now.
“So what are you going to do?” Adam asked.
“Find out what’s happened over the last nine years.” And maybe see if the ch
emistry’s still there.
“Good luck to you.” Adam seemed to be ending the conversation, but a second later he added, “By the way, have you been on the ice yet?”
“No.” Not a subject he wanted to discuss.
“You’re going to have to face your fears sometime. You love the game too much to walk away from it.”
Ben blew a breath out through clenched teeth. Adam was right, but he refused to admit it. “Still waiting for the knee to be a hundred percent,” he lied.
“It’s been three months.”
“Yeah, and an injury like mine can be a career ender.”
A sigh of defeat came through the speakers from the other side of the line. “Fine, do what you want, but I know you won’t be able to stay away for long. Eventually, you’ll feel the need to put your skates on again.”
It was scary how well his older brother knew him. The ice had called to him today, and he’d felt that itch. But it still wasn’t strong enough to make him want to venture out onto it again. “Maybe. In the meantime, I have other things to worry about.”
“Let me know how it turns out.”
“Same here. Hopefully, the next time I talk to you, you’ll be an engaged man.”
Adam chuckled. “Fingers crossed. I just have to work up the nerve to ask her.”
A stab of envy pierced him. His brother had everything. A secure job managing the family’s real estate. A place overlooking the lake. A fabulous woman he was on the verge of marrying. He actually sounded happy.
The stab deepened into an ache of regret. If he’d bothered to have gotten Hailey’s number that night before falling asleep, would he be the one leading the charmed life?
“Talk to you later,” he said and hung up on Adam.
For the rest of the drive, he focused on Hailey and why she’d acted the way she had after nine years. Every time he tried to think of something he might’ve done, he drew a blank. After all, she was the one who left him without a word. Not even a phone number. Just a quick note thanking him and telling him she’d never forget that night.
He pulled into the garage and pulled the note out. Nine years in the back of his wallet had taken their toll on the flimsy piece of paper, but the ink was still visible. He ran his thumb over the little heart she’d drawn.
Sometimes life was about second chances, and now that he’d been given one with her, he wasn’t about to let her slip through his grasp this time.
Chapter Four
Hailey breezed in through the front door of the Sin Bin and stopped short of the bar.
A pair of slate-blue eyes stared back at her from a photo by the register, and a wave of grief rose from her chest and threatened to spill out from her eyes. She snatched the photo off the jar and slapped it facedown on the counter before the tears fell. She hadn’t cried since the day she’d learned about Zach’s diagnosis, and no amount of tears would bring him back now.
Her father looked up from the newspaper. “What did you do that for?”
“Pop, I thought we’d talked about this.”
“And I made it very clear that just because Zach’s gone doesn’t mean we have to give up on other kids like him.”
She stared at the back of the photo that was lying on the counter. Part of her wanted to tear it to shreds just so she wouldn’t have to keep reliving the pain that was still raw, even after a year. But the rest wouldn’t allow her to do it. Pictures were all she had left of her son.
She shoved it under the jar. “Fine, but can we please collect money for the children’s hospital without using his picture?”
She continued on to the kitchen to drop her purse off in the back office. The scent of spicy peppers burned her nose as she passed the oven. That meant only one thing—Cindy’s meatloaf was the special tonight. Maybe she could blame her watering eyes on that.
Her dad followed her into the office. “Is something wrong, Hailey?”
“No.” She swiped the back of her hand across her face. “It’s just still hard, you know?”
And it didn’t help that Zach’s father had just mysteriously appeared in town one year too late.
He pulled her into a hug. “I know, sweetie.”
“I keep hoping that if I just keep my promise to him, it will get easier.”
“It will.” Her father would know. He’d dealt with the loss of a child, an older brother she barely remembered. It was his death that had driven her parents apart. “Just stay focused on the positive.”
“I’ll try.” She pressed her palms to her cheeks and removed any lingering wetness. “So, it’s meatloaf night, eh?”
Her father winced and then nodded. “Yeah, Cindy was wondering why we hadn’t featured it in a while.”
“Maybe you should try being honest with her.”
“I know better than that.” He gave her a playful tweak on the nose. “Do you think we’ll sell any tonight?”
She laughed, shaking off the last of her heavy grief. “I think the whole town knows about Cindy’s meatloaf. It should come with one of those biohazard warnings.”
Now it was her father’s turn to laugh. “I guess Dozer will be feasting tonight.”
“If he’s brave enough to come near it. You know something’s bad when a dog refuses to eat the leftovers.”
They shared another laugh and went back into the bar. It was late afternoon, but the regulars were starting to filter in. The Whales weren’t playing tonight, so Cindy had the night off. It meant that Hailey had to take care of all the tables, which was fine until an hour before closing when he walked in.
Ben stood in the doorway, his gaze locked with hers. Neither of them moved. It was like a showdown between two gunslingers in those old Westerns. Finally, he looked away and went to the same table he’d occupied before, barely leaning on the cane in his hand.
Her dad came alongside her, drying a glass. “Is that the same guy who left Cindy that outrageous tip last night?”
“Yep.”
“Can you kindly drop a hint that she’s happily married to me?”
“Will do.” Along with another hint that he wasn’t welcome here.
She took her time crossing the room from the bar in the center to his little corner booth. “Back again?”
“Couldn’t resist,” Ben said with a grin.
Nine years ago, that same grin had won her over and had her ready to follow him back to his hotel room for the best orgasm of her life. But now she knew what he was really like.
That still didn’t ease the twinge between her legs when she remembered how wonderful he’d felt inside her.
“What’ll you have?”
He glanced at the card on the table. “No specials tonight?”
Her lips twitched as an evil thought entered her mind. “It’s Cindy’s meatloaf tonight.”
“Any good?”
Her grin widened. She couldn’t wait to see his face when he took the first bite. “She’s from Texas and came up with most of the recipes here.”
“Then I guess I can give it a try.”
Sucker.
She made a show of writing it down on her pad. “Anything to drink?” Because he sure was going to need something after tasting the special.
“What do you have on tap?”
She gritted her teeth. This conversation couldn’t end fast enough. “What are you in the mood for?”
“Something local.”
She rolled her eyes and rattled off the different microbrews they had on tap. Knowing her luck, he’d probably choose something generic like a Labatt or a Bud Light.
But when she finished, he said, “I’ll go with the Old Yale Pale Ale.”
Hailey jotted that down and returned to the bar to pour his glass. Her revenge on Ben Kelly started tonight, and hopefully, when the night was over, she’d never have to see him again. She dropped the beer off at his table without saying a word and went back to the kitchen to heat up a slice of Cindy’s meatloaf.
At first glance, the slab of meat looked quite g
ood—thick and juicy and perfectly browned, nestled next to a mound of fluffy mashed potatoes and steamed green beans. But it was Cindy’s secret spices that turned plain ground beef into a raging inferno on the tongue. Lumberjacks had wept after tasting it. Ben shouldn’t be any different.
Her father’s eyes widened when she came out of the kitchen carrying the plate. A couple of the locals elbowed each other and snickered. They all knew what was about to happen.
“Here you go.” She set the plate down in front of him and tried to keep a straight face. “Let me know if you need anything else.”
She dashed back to the bar and stood next to her father. Everyone in the bar stared at Ben’s booth, waiting for the moment when he took that first bite.
Oblivious to the spectacle he was becoming, Ben cut off a chunk of the meatloaf, speared it with his fork, and brought it to his mouth. Five seconds later, a hoarse cough filled the room, followed by boisterous laughter. Another person had fallen victim to Cindy’s meatloaf.
Her father stopped long enough to toss her a few packets of saltines. “Give him some of these to ease his pain.”
She approached the table slowly while Ben guzzled dry the pint of beer she’d given him earlier. “Here, try these.”
He took the crackers from her and ripped open the cellophane like a starving man, stuffing the saltines in his mouth. His cheeks were flushed, and the sound of constant sniffling broke up the munching sounds. After he’d eaten the last one, he took a deep breath. “Is there a reason why you don’t seem to like me?”
“Several.”
“And that gives you reason to prank me like this?”
The grin fell from her face. “Everyone in town knows about Cindy’s meatloaf. You were just gullible enough to try it.”
“So this is more of a locals versus outsiders thing?”
“Nope.” She leaned on the table and spoke so only he could hear her. “Listen, even though you’re trying to lay low with this new look, I know who you are.”
He leveled his eyes with hers, refusing to look away. “And?”
Now was her chance to tell him everything, to publicly humiliate him in front of the whole bar. But when he covered her hand with his, a storm of emotions erupted inside her, and her tongue refused to work. She’d never revealed the name of Zach’s father to anyone, not even her dad. At first, it was because she didn’t know more than his first name. Then, when she’d finally realized the starting goalie for the Vancouver Whales was the same man she’d had a wild one-night stand with, she doubted anyone would believe her. And after she’d gotten the letter from the team’s public relations manager stating that Ben had denied ever knowing her, she’d decided it wasn’t worth it.