by Avery Flynn
His brother's words lightened his mood even more. "Okay. You twisted my arm. Let me grab my stuff."
The smell of the Bedlam practice facility was the same as it had been years ago when he'd hung out there as a kid, watching his dad. Rod followed Dylan down the hall to the locker room. Pulling on the pads and equipment was the same as always. But this was the first time he was facing off against Bedlam players on their home turf.
He shook hands with Jon Kreider, Vince Forsberg, and Anton Celek. He'd met them all before. Anton and Jon were Dylan's line mates, and Vince was one of the league's best defensemen.
Then Ken LeClair joined them. "We've been recording these practices all summer. Analysis, just like the regular season. We're going to kick some ass this year."
"It's cool you guys have been getting together on and off all summer."
Dylan bounced a puck off the end of his stick. "We're pretty ticked that the Spartans booted us out of the Conference Finals."
"It's a good thing your team kicked their ass, kid." Celek nodded at Rod.
Kid? Really? He was what, four years younger than Celek? Then again, Celek had been in the league since his rookie season, so the thirteen-year veteran probably felt ancient. "Kicking their ass was our pleasure. Winning the championship was a bonus."
"The last time the Bedlam won the championship was twenty-five years ago." Kreider pointed to a plaque marking the occasion on the wall. "That's too damn long."
Rod exchanged a glance with Dylan. Their dad had been on that team. Rod had been too little to remember it, but Dylan did. His brother rolled his shoulder and put on his helmet. "That's extra motivation for us to win it again."
They went through some skating drills and then LeClair called for him to get in net.
Rod skated into the crease and set his water bottle on top of the net, and then faced the guys. Stick in hand, he crouched and waited, analyzing Kreider's position as the player skated toward him.
His agent's words rang in his head. Not special? He'd show them.
Kreider skated in fast, flipping the puck from his forehand to backhand to forehand again, then spun around and shot.
Rod kicked out and then dove. The puck slammed into his glove.
Kreider skated to a stop in front of the crease. "Damn. Even Pavel has trouble blocking that one."
He shrugged at the mention of the team's All-Star hot-shot goalie but gave a mental cheer at having bested him.
Dylan grinned and nudged Celek, and both lined up at the blue line and then took off for the face-off circles on Rod's right and left. Off-balance, Rod scrambled to get ready, checking the players' skate, knee, and shoulder positions.
Shit.
Double, simultaneous slapshots.
He pushed out as hard as he could to the top of the crease, blocked Dylan's puck with his pad, then slammed his body to the opposite side of the net and nabbed Celek's puck with his glove.
"No freaking way." Celek shook his head. "Why the hell are you not on our team?"
After that, the guys kept firing on him one shot after another, a non-stop volley of pucks. Then they worked on passing drills and every so often, Dylan would try to confuse him by sending an extra puck rolling his way.
At the end of the practice, Rod was sweaty and happier than ever. He sucked down water and joined the guys at the players' bench, and accepted high-fives and back slaps from Dylan and his teammates.
LeClair shook his hand. "I knew there was talent in your family, but damn." A low whistle escaped his lips, and his shook his head. "I hope you'll join us again."
"I'd like that." More than anything. "You guys are awesome. Kept me on my toes."
Celek patted his back again. "You're always welcome, kid. Come to our next one. We'll have more guys in town too."
"Pavel's supposed to be back by then. I finally heard from him last night." Forsberg's words punctured a hole in Rod's happiness.
He fought to keep the smile on his face. If their goalie was returning, they wouldn't need him. He moved closer to Dylan, closer to the locker room, closer to escape.
LeClair turned to Forsberg. "How is Pavel? I haven't heard from him all summer."
"Really happy. His wife just found out she's pregnant."
"He was pretty homesick last season. I hope that won't happen again."
"I'm sure that'll go away now that he's had his first season under his belt." Dylan slung his arm over Rod's shoulder. "Mintner will still be away, though, so we could use you in the other net. That'll let us have a scrimmage."
"That's right." LeClair nodded and grinned like he was planning something mischievous. "I'd love to surprise our other players and throw you in net."
"Going up against new guys keeps me sharp. I'll be here." He fought to keep his tone professional and not go nuts with excitement. "Hey, can we review the tape now?"
Kreider groaned, Celek laughed, and Forsberg tapped his stick against Rod's pads. "You're just like your brother. Watching film is up next. Right after we talk Coach into buying us lunch."
LeClair smirked at the defenseman. "Just for that, Rod gets to pick the delivery place."
Dylan moaned. "Don't let him pick. We'll end up with ten coffees and no actual food."
Rod followed the laughing group off the ice, then turned and gave one last look to the practice rink. He'd give anything to play here.
Even if it was just one more practice—he'd take it.
"Rod, let's go," Dylan called out to him.
He turned toward the locker room. His future with the league was out of his hands. He could only hope he'd get the chance he wanted.
He didn't want to think about what would happen if he didn't.
5
Arielle loved Kelsey's apartment in downtown Buffalo. Her building looked out over Lake Erie, but the apartment faced the city skyline. The peaceful hideaway had been her haven those first few days after she'd left Matt. With a groan, she sat on the couch and sipped from her glass of wine. They'd put in an hour at the gym on the ground floor and her muscles ached in that good, well-used way.
She tugged the fleece blanket with the Bedlam's logo off the back of the couch and draped it over her legs. "Rod said he had a good time practicing with Dylan and the Bedlam players yesterday."
Kelsey topped off their drinks. "I know. I heard an earful from him last night. Then got the same story from Dylan's point of view this morning. I'm glad they had fun. I just wish Roddy would get a shot with someone."
"He still has time, right?"
"Well, yeah. But I don't think many teams need a starter at this point unless there's a freak accident like with the goalie from Colorado."
"Will he go back to New Orleans if he doesn't hear from another team?" Rod would be so disappointed.
"I guess so. We'll have to see what happens." Then Kelsey smiled and tucked her legs up underneath her. "Any word from the principal about the job?"
"Nothing yet. But he promised to make a decision by next week. I'm nervous. It's the only full-time art position available in the Holiday and Buffalo school districts. The part-time positions are all filled, so I don't know what I'm going to do if I don't get it."
"I'm sorry you're having such a hard time finding something. I wish I could help you."
She swallowed another mouthful of wine to blanket the worry swirling in her stomach. The money she'd earned as a substitute teacher since returning home to Holiday and her income from the coffee shop weren't enough to cover all of the payments. She needed full-time work. Or hell, part-time work even if that meant holding three jobs at once. But no one wanted to hire her. She'd tried temp agencies, job fairs, and talking to recruiters. No luck. "The principal is going to be at the ceremony they're having for Rod at the high school. I have to make sure I make a good impression. It's my last chance to convince him to choose me."
"If he doesn't choose you, he's an idiot."
"I'm glad you're in my corner. I know how hesitant he was, after seeing how many different di
stricts I'd worked in over the years while I followed Matt from minor league club to minor league club. He didn't ask if I was married or anything personal like that, but I knew he was curious. I think he was worried that I'd only be here for a year and then be up and gone and following my man off to another team in another city, so I volunteered that I'd moved back home for good. Landing a full-time teaching position is hard. I can't risk anything that might lose me this job."
"I'll be at the ceremony, so I'll send happy "pick Arielle" vibes your way if I see you talking to him." Kelsey studied the wine swirling in her glass. After a moment, she looked up. "I don't want to bring up unhappy things, but what if Matt shows up at there?"
Her stomach soured at the thought. "That would be a disaster for me. I don't know if I could keep myself from slapping him. But I don't think he will. He was supposed to play in Russia again this year. Their season is just getting started now. He wouldn't be able to get away to come home for this."
"Thank God." Kelsey raised her glass. "Because if he comes near you, I'll cut off his balls."
Arielle burst out laughing. "Kels."
"Okay, not literally. But figuratively, I'm all over it."
"I appreciate that. You're a good friend."
"I'm the best friend. I always have your back."
"You are, and I know." She toasted Kelsey. Her best friend truly did have her back. Kelsey was the only one who knew all the details about Matt's indiscretions. Things she hadn't been able to tell her brother…
Matt had bedded so many women. And she'd been completely unaware until one had shown up at his hockey game, pregnant and demanding money. Then the facade of their relationship had unraveled. He had no intention of marrying her, couldn't bear the thought of sleeping with the same person for the rest of his life, and only kept her around because he didn't want to go to a new city alone.
God, that still stung. And the sheer number he'd admitted to, and the fact that it had happened during the entirety of their relationship had stung even more. Getting tested afterward, because he'd admitted he hadn't always remembered to be careful, had been one of the scariest experiences of her life. Thank God she'd had Kelsey and Ben there to help her through. Thank God she was okay.
Arielle bit her lip. She'd have to ask, especially since Kelsey hadn't brought it up. "You're okay with Rod and me?"
"Are you kidding? I think it's adorable. I always wondered if you two would somehow end up together."
After sputtering her sip of wine, Arielle leaned against the couch cushion. "Really?"
"Your eyes threw sparks when you'd see each other. It wasn't my place to interfere, so I didn't. But it's cool it's worked out this way."
A knock at the door saved Arielle from responding. She filed away Kelsey's words for later.
"Well, look who's here." Kelsey threw the door open and then stepped back, and Rod and Dylan entered the room.
Rod smiled at Arielle, handed a grocery bag to his sister, and then came right over and sat beside her. "I heard you were hanging out."
"Hi." She snuggled in under his arm. His lips against hers, and his hand playing with the ends of her hair sent tingles from her scalp to her toes.
"We were." Kelsey sighed and closed the door. "At least you brought wine with you."
"And popcorn. And nachos." Dylan grinned and held up another bag. "We know better than to show up empty-handed."
"If you're crashing a party, you'd better bring something. It's polite." Kelsey nudged his arm. "The beer you liked last time is still in the fridge. Help me get the food out."
After Dylan and Kelsey had disappeared into the kitchen, Arielle twisted toward Rod. "Did you guys have a good time hanging out with Ben and Jacob today?"
"We hit the arcade and the pool, and then Jacob wanted to take a turn beating all of us at video games. When we left, he was begging Ben for more bedtime stories. Our godson is a pretty persuasive kid." He ran his fingers over the blanket covering her thighs. "It's soft."
His hand felt good, and she leaned further into his side. "That's nice."
"Yeah?" He smiled, a sexy almost wicked smile, and changed the pattern he traced. "I can do so much more. Come home with me tonight?"
Her mouth went dry, and she licked parched lips. Rod dipped his finger into her wine glass. He painted the liquid onto her lips and then lowered his head and slowly licked it off.
His mouth covered her low moan. Kelsey and Dylan's voices grew louder and closer. Rod took her glass from her hand and raised it to his lips. Then he shot her a look filled with heat. "I think it tastes better the other way."
"Me too." Her whisper was covered by his siblings' chatter. As they came into the room, she told herself to pull away from Rod, but her body didn't want to listen. "And, I will come home with you."
Dylan set down the tray laden with snacks and then switched on the TV. On screen, was a commercial for an outdoors store. "I remember the time a few years ago when Rod and I went camping and fishing with the guys from my team and he bought out the entire camping section of the store for a two-night stay."
"Not the entire section. Besides, we needed fishing rods and all the gear if we were going to do it right."
"Sure." Laughing, Dylan shook his head. "Tell me, is that stuff still in the storage room?"
"Yeah. Back corner, maybe? Why, do you want to try it out again?"
"I was thinking of taking a day trip before the season starts. You in?"
"Why not?" Rod kept up that rhythmic stroke of his thumb along her knee and Arielle shivered.
Dylan glanced her way. "I'm bunking on Kelsey's couch tonight. We're going to stay up late and watch monster movies."
From the way Kelsey's eyebrows winged up, this was the first she'd heard of it. She exchanged a glance with her eldest brother, then her gaze darted to Arielle and Rod. Rod just grinned and then his hand tightened on Arielle's thigh. Cheeks heating, she picked up the wine glass again and glanced at the three siblings. Dylan's subtle announcement had been for her benefit.
"Hold on." Kelsey tossed a piece of popcorn at Dylan. "I'll have a movie marathon, but we're watching that period drama series that I wanted to see."
"No way. How about we compromise. Action?"
She folded her arms across her chest. "Musicals."
"Comedy?"
"Documentary."
Rod stood and held out his hand, and pulled Arielle to her feet. "Let's get out of here. I have a feeling this debate will take a while."
Dylan and Kelsey were laughing as they tossed out and vetoed more and more sub-genres.
Arielle set her glass in the kitchen, and then followed Rod to the door and made her goodbyes.
Heat blanketed her skin when they entered the parking garage, and their footsteps echoed off the concrete. Rod's car was parked nearby. He opened the car door for her, and then tossed her gym bag onto the backseat. "Want to take a drive first?"
"Sure."
They drove only a short distance and parked on the waterfront. Arielle leaned against the headrest and sighed. "It's such a nice night."
"How much wine did you have?" He laced their fingers together and then rested their joined hands on his thigh.
"Only enough for a mild buzz."
The buzz increased when his thumb traced a pattern on her palm. He leaned in, close enough to send her pulse pounding in anticipation. "I thought about you a lot today. And tonight. You're one of Jacob's favorite topics of conversation."
"You are, too. It's always Uncle Rod this, and Uncle Rod that." She traced her fingers over the hard muscles of his forearm, then up his bicep to his wide shoulder. His strength was exciting and comforting and incredibly sexy.
Rod lowered his head, and his teeth scraped against her neck, and she lost track of her thoughts.
Twisting toward him, she tangled her hands in his hair and then moaned when his hand skimmed up her side and cupped her breast. His thumb stroked her nipple to a peak, and his lips and teeth continued their journey across
her neck and collarbone.
Gasping at the sensations, she titled her head to give him better access. "I want you."
He slowly sucked on the sensitive spot by her ear and then lifted his head and stared at her with a hooded gaze. "Yeah. Me too. So damn much."
A car horn sounded in the distance. Arielle glanced out the window. Others cars were parked close enough that she could see inside them and enough people were strolling along the path to make privacy an issue. Blushing, she pulled away.
Rod eased back into his seat. "But not here. I'm not sharing you with anyone."
Sharing.
At once, her thoughts flipped to Matt. And burning desire ran cold.
What if Rod found her lacking too?
She stayed quiet on the twenty-minute drive back to Holiday, and Rod's home.
He drew her through the garage door and into the kitchen. "Can I get you anything?"
Shaking her head, she wrapped her arms around her middle and moved to the center of the room.
His footsteps grew closer until he stood in front of her. Her gaze traveled up the expanse of his body until she met his gaze. Lines formed in his forehead and he touched her hand with gentle fingers. "You were really quiet during the drive back. We don't have to do anything if you're not ready. I can take you back to Ben's, or you can sleep in the guest room."
"It's not that." She stared at the wood floor. "I'm just nervous. I… He said I wasn't enough for him."
"Bullshit."
The word flew out of Rod's mouth so fast and so hard that she looked up, startled.
Rod's blue eyes blazed hot and intensified the thunderous expression clouding his face. "It's not your fault he couldn't keep his dick in his pants."
"I know that… I do… But…" Cheeks on fire, she looked away. Damn it, she shouldn't have said anything.
Rod's arms wrapped around her and he drew her against his chest. His lips pressed to her hair. "He's an immature idiot."
"I agree. And I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring him up. I don't want thoughts of him to ruin this."