Razors Ice 04 - Hot Ice

by Rachelle Vaughn

  Jace frowned. “What are you talking about? I have the guys over for barbeques all the time. You should see this place in the summer. Between the boat and the lake, it’s party central.”

  “That’s not what I meant and you know it.”

  “What do you mean, Vi?”

  “I don’t mean you’re isolated because of where you live, I was talking about you. Your heart.” She rested her palm against his chest and felt his heart beating through the warmth of his skin. “You’ve isolated yourself from love. Just when I think you’re letting me in, you slam the door shut.”

  “Yeah, well I’m isolated and you’re engaged.”

  It stung, but it was the truth.

  Violet walked to the wall of windows and looked out at the lake. “Do you like living alone in this big ole house?”

  “It’s better than living with someone who’s with you for the wrong reasons,” Jace replied honestly.

  Violet turned and saw the pain etched on his face. “She really did a number on you, didn’t she?”

  Jace shrugged, obviously still bitter about his ex. “It’s all a part of the game, I guess. You get slammed into the boards all the time.”

  “Yeah, but you can always drop your gloves later in the game to retaliate and send the other guy a message,” she said, continuing his hockey analogy.

  “Damn right.”

  “So, this is how you’ve gotten back at her? By shutting yourself off to the world out here in the woods.”

  “Christ, Vi. Are you sure you didn’t minor in Psychology at massage therapy school?”

  “I’m just being observant.”

  He closed the distance between them in one long stride. “Clearly you’re not observant enough,” he said with a grin and pushed his hips in her direction. “Because I’m ready to go again.”

  “Come on, Jace. I’m trying to have a serious conversation here.”

  “So am I. Now, come into the bedroom and bring those magic hands of yours.”

  * * *

  Later the next morning, Violet sat up in Jace’s bed and glanced at the clock. “I’ve got to go.”

  “But it’s Saturday.” Jace rolled over and flung his arm protectively over her stomach. “Are you coming over tonight?”

  A pained look crossed her face. “I wish I could, but I can’t. Phillip has this fundraiser dinner thing…”

  Jace’s body stiffened at the sound of the other man’s name on her lips. Damn. He was willing to forget she was engaged, but the rest of the world apparently wasn’t. He wanted to smack his head against the headboard for getting too damn comfortable with her.

  So he lifted his good shoulder in a half shrug and played it cool. “That’s cool. I’ve got plans with my brother today, anyway,” he said with purpose. “I’m picking him up from the airport.”

  Violet’s stomach twinged. She wanted to meet him, to be a part of Jace’s family, but men didn’t introduce their cheating mistresses to their family.

  “I’ll call you tomorrow,” she promised.

  He rolled over onto his stomach. “Whatever,” he mumbled into his pillow.

  She got up, leaned over and kissed the back of his neck. “Have fun.”

  “You too.”

  Jace laid there and listened to her get dressed and leave the room. How long was he going to keep doing this to himself? he wondered. Either until this Phillip guy showed up angry on his doorstep and they had it out gladiator style or until Jace grew a freakin’ conscious.

  Chapter Twelve

  James Bond

  Jace picked Donovan up from the airport and swore his brother had grown another few inches since the last time he saw him. The kid had grown like a weed all through high school and was nearly the same height as Jace now.

  Donovan looked like a younger version of Jace with lighter hair, eager eyes and that same smug smile he stole from his big brother years ago.

  Jace stowed his brother’s luggage in the trunk and pulled out of the airport parking lot.

  “It’s great to see you, little brother.”

  “You, too.”

  “I’m surprised you made the trip out here. There must be dozens of hearts breaking back in Florida.”

  “Yeah, but they’re a dime a dozen.”

  Jace chuckled. “Right. I’m sure you have no problem throwin’ your big brother’s name around for your own benefit.”

  Donovan let out his breath in a huff. “No offense, bro, but I’ve got my own thang goin’ on.”

  “Like what? The hair?”

  Donovan ran a hand over his spiked faux hawk. “Yeah, chicks love the hair. You wouldn’t believe how many random babes come up to me on a daily basis squealing Ooh, can I touch it? I’m tellin’ ya, it’s like catnip for girls.”

  “Right. My little brother, the chick magnet.”

  “Damn straight. I’m here in Red Valley for recreation only. But, seriously, next year I’m focusing solely on the game. I’m ready for some California hockey. When I get drafted by the Razors it’s gonna be all hockey all the time. No distractions.”

  Jace marveled at how young, naïve and fresh-faced Donovan was. He was so ready to conquer the future no matter what it held. Jace recognized that devilish grin, too. His brother wasn’t thinking about the end, only the beginning. It was easy to envy his brother. Oh, to be so young again. Just starting out in your career as opposed to seeing it shifting beyond your reach.

  “Well, I’m glad you’ve got your priorities straight,” Jace commented.

  “Heck yeah. I’m too good at it to piss it all away.”

  Jace recognized their father’s words. “I admire your modesty.”

  “Thanks.”

  Jace smirked. “You’re welcome.”

  Donovan studied his older brother. “You look good, Jace, even if you are old. But according to mom, you’re a bedridden invalid.”

  Jace grimaced. “Yeah, every time I tell her about an injury to spare her from hearing about it on the news first, her mental picture has me in a freakin’ wheelchair.”

  “Tell me about it,” Donovan remarked with a roll of his eyes. “You think she’d be used to it by now. You’ve been playing hockey, for what, forty years now?” Donovan asked, ducking a punch from his brother.

  “You’d better watch it. I can still put you in a headlock with my good arm.”

  “You’ll have to catch me first and no one has been able to do that on the ice for a long time.”

  Jace chuckled. Man, it was good to see his little brother again.

  “Dude, you seem different,” Donovan observed. “More mellow. You met a girl, huh?”

  “What?” Jace bristled. “I haven’t seen you in months and you’re already starting in about women with me?”

  “I think it’s worth giving someone new a chance. Just because of what happened with Simone… You can’t hold that against all women. I mean Simone was a real b—”

  Jace put a hand up. “Yeah, buddy, I know. You don’t have to remind me.”

  “So how come you don’t wanna talk about this new girl? Is she a stripper or something?”

  “No, she’s not a stripper.”

  “Is she hot?” Donovan asked, ignoring his brother’s evasiveness.

  Jace laughed. It was no use. There was no avoiding the McQuaid persistence. “Yeah, she’s hot all right.”

  “Then what’s the problemo?”

  “She’s engaged to somebody else. A doctor.”

  Donovan shrugged like Jace had just revealed that she had a tiny flaw like a funny shaped pinky toe or a silly fear of spiders. “Maybe she’ll pick the right guy.”

  From the mouths of babes, Jace thought. “It doesn’t matter anyway because it’s not a real relationship,” he said for his own benefit more than his brother’s. Just sex.

  “Uh-huh.” Donovan nodded, not believing a word his brother said. “So, what does she do? Is she a “dancer” of some kind?” he asked, making air quotes with his fingers.

  Jace sighed. Th
e kid was incorrigible. “If you must know, she’s a massage therapist.”

  “Oooh.” Donovan’s expression brightened and he took a whole new interest in the conversation. “I’ve gotta get me some of that massage therapist girlfriend with benefits, if ya know what I mean.” He wiggled his eyebrows and made a whoop whoop noise while pumping his fist in the air.

  “Aren’t you too young to know what that means?” Here, Jace was sounding more and more like his father by the minute.

  “Dude, you have no idea what high school is like these days. It’s not the same as it was in the seventies when you went.”

  “I didn’t go to high school in the seventies!” Jace jabbed his brother in the ribs.

  Donovan shrugged. “Seventies, sixties, it’s all the same.”

  Jace wisely steered the conversation away from matters involving his age and the opposite sex. “Are you coming out to the lake with me?”

  “Probably later this weekend. I told my buddy Travis you’d drop me at his place. He’s got an apartment downtown where all the action is. If it’s okay, I wanna bring him over later to show him your boat.”

  “Sure, Donovan. That’d be great.”

  “Oh, and by the way, can you do me a favor?”

  “What’s that?”

  “Call me Van while I’m out here. That’s how I wanna be known in Cali. Van. Van McQuaid.”

  “Sure thing James Bond. Now, tell me where this Travis guy lives.”

  * * *

  As much as Violet wanted to spend the night at Jace’s, she had promised Phillip she’d be his date for the annual Red Valley Medical Center charity fundraiser. After all, it was one of the obligations she had to fulfill as Phillip’s fiancé.

  That evening, dressed in a fire engine-red dress held up by thin spaghetti straps, Violet filled a jeweled clutch with a few items she might need while she waited for Phillip. The dress was the same color as the Ferrari she’d pictured Jace driving. It wasn’t too revealing or inappropriate for the occasion, but just sexy enough to encourage a man’s imagination.

  Jace’s imagination.

  Violet sighed and slipped her feet into her sexy stilettos. Of course Jace would pop into her brain at a time like this. When she was all dressed up with somewhere to go. Without him.

  Phillip showed up precisely on time and stood nervously on the porch of a house he supposedly lived in. He’d changed into a tux and it was a good look for him, but he was no James Bond.

  Was this what he’d look like on their someday wedding day? Violet wondered. Would he smile as she walked down the aisle toward him? Or would he look at her with disdain like he was doing now?

  “Hi,” Violet greeted, trying out a sexy voice to match her sexy dress.

  “Hello,” Phillip replied, not giving her or the dress as much as a passing glance.

  They walked out to his car and when she realized he wasn’t going to open the door for her, she slid into the passenger seat with a huff. He got behind the wheel, pulled away from the curb and didn’t even ask how she was or how her day had been.

  Pouting silently during the ride to the hotel, Violet pictured how the evening would unfold if she had a different companion. There would be stolen kisses and sneaky groping when no one was looking. There would be laughing and hushed whispers as they conspired what they’d do after the event was over.

  There would be none of those things while Phillip was around.

  “I hope they serve booze here tonight,” Violet wondered aloud.

  Phillip frowned, but didn’t take his eyes from the road. “I believe there will be an open bar, yes.”

  “Good.”

  When they arrived at the hotel, Phillip handed his keys to the valet and helped Violet from the car. Only because there were people present did he see the need to exercise manners. What a swell guy.

  As they waited to have their invitation checked, Phillip took the opportunity to remind Violet what was expected of her tonight.

  “Remember our agreement,” he whispered in her ear. “There are some important people I want to introduce you to, so...”

  “I’ll be on my best behavior, Dr. Krandall,” she quipped.

  When Phillip finished with his debriefing of the who’s who, they filed inside the ballroom of the Cerise Hotel.

  Everyone was always so snooty at these shindigs, but one thing was for sure: they knew their alcohol. After two glasses of fancy shmancy wine, everyone began to seem a lot friendlier and Violet felt a lot better about her situation.

  “Would you like to dance?” she asked Phillip. It would be a shame to waste such a dress by holding up the bar.

  “No, thank you,” he answered primly and gazed out over the crowd like he was looking for someone.

  “Why not? Let’s give that dance floor a whirl.” She reached up to straighten his tie and he caught her wrist.

  “I think I’d better take you home,” he said harshly.

  “Why?” She saluted him with her wine glass. “Because I’m enjoying myself?”

  “Violet, please.” He took the glass from her, set it on the bar and steered her toward the exit. “It’s quite unnecessary for you to cause such a scene.”

  “A scene, Phillip? I just thought you’d want to have a dance. With your fiancé.” She spat the last word in his face.

  Sure, she was feeling relaxed from the wine, but she was far from drunk. And in no way did her behavior warrant such a perturbed reaction from him. It wasn’t like she was dancing on the table with a cardiologist. Or trying to give a lap dance to a gynecologist. Even the radiologist in the corner had given her a few longing looks, not to mention a once over with his beady little eyes, but she had only sent him a polite smile across the crowded room in return. She had played her role perfectly tonight and all she got in return was a glare from Phillip.

  He was all too eager to play the doting fiancé when he was trying to impress his colleagues, but as soon as there was no one around to impress Violet was a nuisance again.

  Phillip pulled up to their house with such ferocity that Violet half expected the tires of his BMW to screech.

  As soon as he parked, Violet opened the door and started to get out. When he didn’t follow suit, she turned her head back to him. “Don’t tell me you aren’t coming in.”

  “I’m staying at the apartment tonight. I have an orchiectomy early in the morning.”

  “Oh.” She settled back into her seat and closed the door.

  Even though Phillip was never there, he wasn’t going away any time soon either. He was the proverbial elephant in the room and he couldn’t avoid her forever.

  “We need to talk,” she said and rested her head back against the seat. “It’s important.”

  “It will have to wait until—”

  “Don’t brush me off, Phillip. I’m not going away.” Even though the thought was appealing.

  She wondered what his reaction would be if she told him “I’m going to August Lake and I’m not coming back.” Would he even care? And more importantly, did she want him to care?

  Phillip pressed his thin lips together and focused on something through the windshield. “What is so important that we must discuss right this second?”

  She raised her chin and sucked in a breath. “I want you to check your schedule so that we can finally set a date?”

  He tensed and relaxed again in a split second. “A date?”

  “Yes, Phillip. A date for the wedding.” It was cruel to put him on the spot like this, but she had to know. Why was he hanging onto their engagement so tightly, but not willing to take the next step? She knew he was stringing her along, but why?

  Phillip swallowed and his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. The tension was back. “A date.” He repeated the death sentence to buy time.

  She turned in her seat to face him. “Yes, I’d like to line up the caterer and start deciding on flowers.” She didn’t really, but he didn’t need to know that.

  Phillip gripped the steering wheel as
she continued. “We’ll need to decide on a location. And, of course, I need to start looking for a dress. My mom has a few stores she’s been dying to take me to.”

  Phillip swiped the back of his hand across his forehead and Violet looked him square in the eye. His eyes darted to the window behind her and she sighed. “Phillip, look at me.”

  He did, but not happily. If anything, he looked like he was trying not to get sick.

  “Do you have any intention of marrying me?” she asked pointblank.

  He blinked and his lips trembled. “Of course I do, Violet. This is absurd. Why wouldn’t I? There just hasn’t been time.” He offered her a weak smile. “Let’s have this conversation in a little while when things calm down at the office. Then we can iron out all the details.”

  They both knew things were never going to “calm down” at the office. Their relationship had reached the Do Not Resuscitate Stage and they both knew it.

  Phillip’s cell phone chimed and he looked at the screen, thankful for the interruption. “I have to go,” he told Violet without looking at her. “A patient’s kidney stone—”

  Violet got out and slammed the car door without letting him finish his sentence.

  * * *

  Without even going inside the house first, Violet got into her car and drove to August Lake. Despite the fact that her life was spiraling out of control, she felt downright sexy and perfectly capable zooming down the road in her red dress and matching heels.

  Jace answered the door wearing plaid flannel pants and a T-shirt.

  His eyes just about bulged out of his head when he saw what Violet was wearing. “Jesus, Vi, you look incredible!”

  Now that was the reaction she’d been looking for. “Thanks, Jace. I needed that.”

  She didn’t ask about his day and he didn’t mention Phillip’s fundraiser.

  He pulled her inside and she stood in front of the fireplace. She pushed the dress’s straps down and let the silky fabric slither down her body and onto the floor. Then she pounced on Jace like a cat.

  * * *

  The next morning, Jace rolled over and felt something sharp snag the skin on his arm. “Ouch,” he grumbled.

  “Oh, I’m sorry.” Violet snatched her hand away. “I was in such a hurry to come over that I forgot to take off my engagement ring.”