Shutout

by Jami Davenport

  It was just a fucking Christmas tree.

  My buddies retreated to our condo, not interested in anal Christmas tree decorating.

  “Easton, the top left side, right there, the lights are in a big glob.” Caro pointed upward, and I sighed.

  I squinted to see what she was seeing. Looked fine to me. I stood on the stepstool and moved the lights around.

  “You made it worse.”

  I glanced at Caro over my shoulder. She stood several feet away, hands on hips, chewing on her lower lip as she cocked her head to view the tree at a different angle. Fuck, she was hot in her red sweater and worn jeans. My annoyance gave way to desire. I lost my concentration. Arms flailing, I fought to keep my balance on top of the short ladder.

  Caro giggled. “Are you okay?” she said between bouts of laughter.

  “I’m fine.”

  “It’s a good thing you skate better than you stand on a ladder.” She covered her mouth with her hand, still snickering.

  The uncontrollable urge to wipe that smile off her face overcame me. I scrambled down the ladder and stalked toward her, my intent clear in every determined step I took. She backed up, laughing harder. I gave chase, and she sprinted around the kitchen island. I lunged for her. She eluded me, keeping the counter between us.

  For a long moment, we froze, regarding each other, the hunter and the prey. Her chest was heaving, drawing my eyes to her delectable set of tits. I didn’t know of one other woman who made me feel so many things, so intently, and so deeply.

  “Fuck,” I whispered. Her nostrils flared and those beautiful eyes lit up. She lifted her chin slightly in a silent challenge, and I didn’t wait one second longer. She wasn’t getting away from me. I was a professional hockey player, a finely tuned athlete at the top of my game, a man with one thing on his mind. And that happened to be Caro.

  I bolted around the counter; she raced to the other side. I faked a lunge in one direction. She dashed the other way, and I reversed direction, catching her off guard.

  She squealed, attempted to spin, but she wasn’t going anywhere. I wrapped my arms around her, pinned her against the counter, and brought my mouth down on hers before she had time to react. She pushed against my chest but abandoned her struggle a heartbeat later. She melted into me. Her mouth, her tongue, her lips claimed me, as I was claiming her.

  Caro’s fingers curled into fists in the shirt fabric at my shoulders, and she leaned harder into me, kissing me like a woman who’d been sexually starved for too long. That made two of us.

  I slid my hands down her waist and cupped her gorgeous ass in my palms, pulling her even closer, letting her feel the hardness under my jeans. She made the cutest sounds as she ground her hips into mine. She was fucking driving me insane.

  I was going to strip her naked and bend her over the arm of the couch. I’d thrust into her like a man possessed.

  She was breathing hard as she dragged her mouth away from mine. I protested and captured her lips once again only to have her elude me once me.

  “The…kids…” she said in raspy voice.

  I didn’t understand her words at first. They sank in slowly.

  “How much—how much time do we have?” I panted against her neck.

  “They’ll be back any second.” Her answer was robotic, her eyes glazed.

  As if they’d been waiting for their cue off-stage, we heard the pounding of feet running down the hallway from the elevator.

  “Fuck,” I groaned, gripping her ass tighter. I didn’t want to end what we’d started.

  “Perfect timing.” She pushed on my chest again, and this time I released her.

  “Yeah, perfect.” I backed away and leaned down to pick up a box of decorations, feigning interest in their contents, but I had the boner of all boners, and my boy wanted satisfaction. So did I. We were screwed, and not in a good way.

  The door slammed open and hit the wall with a bang. Two whirlwinds stormed into the living room and slid to a halt in front of the large tree. They stared up at it in awe.

  “We got a tree. It’s really tall. Can we decorate it now? Is it real? Where’s our star from our old house?” Hailey rapid-fired the questions at no one in particular.

  Heath glowered at me, almost accusatorily.

  “Is something wrong?” Caro asked.

  “The lights are on. They shouldn’t be on until we do the tree lighting.” His voice dripped with disappointment and anger. I blinked a few times, not expecting such hostility and still recovering from raging lust.

  Having more experience, Caro recovered faster and rushed forward. “Oh, honey, sorry, we were testing them. I’ll turn them off until we do the official tree lighting tonight.” Before she had a chance to unplug the lights, Heath stomped from the room. A second later, his door slammed shut. Hard.

  Caro, Junie, and I exchanged glances. What had just happened? I was missing some big piece of Christmas past. Hailey ignored Heath’s outburst and rummaged through the decorations.

  “I apologize for his behavior. Things have been going so well, he was due for a meltdown. His dad used to make a big ceremony out of lighting our tree every year. He’s struggling with change.”

  I nodded. My heart pinched when Caro referred to Mark as Heath’s dad. I wanted to be his dad, and I’d assume that role as soon as feasibly possible. I’d tread lightly and be sensitive to the loss of the only dad they’d known. While he might not have been the best husband to Caro, by all accounts, he’d been a great father and tough act to follow.

  I hoped I was up to the task, in more ways than one.

  Chapter 20—In Motion

  ~~Easton~~

  Tail tucked between my legs and my dick aching from dissatisfaction, I trudged back to my condo. I had lots to do, considering it was Christmas Eve, and I’d procrastinated as usual. Pushing thoughts of Caro and the kids from my mind, I started on my list.

  I’d intended to tell my family about the twins in person, but there never seemed to be a time that worked out for all of us to be together. My two brothers played for hockey teams in different parts of the country. My hardworking mother, our rock, had decided to go on a European cruise with her single female friends for the holidays.

  Since my entire team knew, it was only a matter of time before the word spread and my family found out from people other than myself. I had to tell them now, before that happened. Mom was in port and was calling at one p.m. I waited for her call, anxious to reveal my secret, pacing the floor as I played over and over in my mind exactly how I’d break my news to her.

  Typical of Mom, the phone rang exactly at one.

  “Hi, Merry Christmas, Mom,” I said huskily, unable to cover up my nervousness.

  “Merry Christmas, honey. Are you okay?” Her voice was laced with concern, and I cringed. She’d picked up on my tone immediately. I’d never been able to fake her out. She always knew when something was up with me or one of my brothers.

  “I’m good, Mom. Really good.”

  “Then what’s wrong?”

  I closed my eyes for a moment, taking deep, calming breaths. There was nothing to be worried about. My mother would embrace having grandchildren with the same enthusiasm she attacked everything in her life.

  “I have something to tell you.”

  “Easton, are you okay? Are your brothers okay?” She sounded alarmed, and I rushed to squelch her concerns.

  “It’s nothing like that. We’re all fine.”

  “Then what is it?”

  “Are you sitting down?”

  “Yes.”

  There was no easy way to say this, so I blurted it out. “I’m a father.”

  I heard a gasp, after which all was quiet, so I continued.

  “I found out recently that I have twins, a boy and a girl.” There, I said it, got it over with, and now I waited nervously for her reaction. The phone was silent for so long I thought we’d been disconnected. “Mom? You still there?”

  “Yes,” she answered shakily. “I�
�m processing. Would you care to elaborate?”

  I told her everything about Caro, about the death of her husband, about the kids, and about her moving to Seattle. She listened quietly, making a brief comment here and there. When I finished, I waited for her response.

  “I’m surprised. I’m thrilled. I’m going to need some time to adjust to being a grandmother, but I promise you I’ll be the best grandmother ever.

  “I’m certain you will. I don’t know how long it’ll be before we reveal I’m their father, but as soon as we do, I want you to meet them.”

  “I can’t wait, Easton. I really can’t.”

  “They’re great kids but still reeling over the death of the man they thought was their father. That’s why we have to be careful about everything. They need time to heal and adjust before we drop another bombshell on them.” I was parroting Caro’s words, but as much as I hated to admit it, they were good words.

  “And you and Caro? How is that going?” Leave it to Mom to get right down to one of the most troubling pieces of this entire mess.

  “I was angry at first because I couldn’t understand how she didn’t know they were my children, but I’m working past that. I didn’t leave her much room when I dumped her. I made it clear we were through, that I was moving on to college and the pros, and she was moving on to nursing school. She went back to her former boyfriend on the rebound and got pregnant. I guess she never imagined I was the father.”

  “I’m glad you’re over blaming her. Time to look forward, not backward, for the children’s sakes. How do you feel about her now?”

  “That’s the problem, Mom. I’m conflicted. I expected I’d find the same thing again with other women I dated, but I didn’t. I thought once I made the NHL, I’d have arrived, and this emptiness inside of me would be gone. Pro hockey should’ve filled in the missing part of me, but it hasn’t. I don’t know if we have a future, but I wouldn’t throw out the idea either.”

  “I’ve always liked Caro. Maybe she’s your special someone.” Mom was a bit of a romantic. After Dad had died, she’d never shown any interest in dating anyone else. My brothers and I encouraged her, but she said she was happy with her life and her friends.

  “Like Dad was yours?”

  “Yes, like your father was mine. I’ll never have what I had with him, and I’m not looking for a replacement.”

  “I know, you’ve said that. But don’t you get lonely?”

  “At times, but let’s not talk about me. Let’s talk about you. Easton, follow your heart. What is it saying to you?”

  “A couple years ago, I decided to find Caro for reasons I really couldn’t explain. When I tracked her down, I sat outside her house and a guy came out along with her and the two kids. I left, feeling I’d been robbed of my life that could’ve been. He had the family I didn’t know I wanted, and the woman I’d walked away from. Now I wonder… I’m getting a second chance. I don’t know if I should take it or not.” I was being brutally honest with her and with myself for the first time regarding this situation.

  “Things happen for a reason. At sixteen, you weren’t equipped to handle a wife and two small children. Chances are things wouldn’t have worked out. Now you have another opportunity. Most people don’t get that lucky.”

  “A do-over?” I chuckled.

  “Yes, a do-over. Don’t let something special slip out of your hands, Easton.”

  “What should I do? Should I tell her I want to give us a chance as a family? I’ve made a point of telling her that I don’t want a relationship, just sex.” I couldn’t believe I was talking to my mom about stuff like this, but I had to talk to someone. Was that what I really wanted? Another chance at a relationship? Or was it the need for sex with her that was clouding my judgment? Fuck, I was confused.

  “Maybe you should tell her you’ve changed your mind. Be honest with her and, most of all, yourself.”

  “I’ll give it some thought.”

  “I have faith in you to do the right thing for everyone concerned.”

  “Thanks, Mom.” Yeah, once I figured out what that was.

  We talked a few more minutes about family stuff and ended the call. Then I phoned my two brothers and broke the news to them. They were equal parts surprised and thrilled to have a niece and nephew. Of course, they gave me all manners of shit for getting a girl pregnant in the first place. I wouldn’t have expected any less of them.

  After I ended the last call, I sat in silence, trying to process what to do next. If I was Caro, I’d make a list, but I wasn’t Caro. I tended to dive in and think about the consequences later.

  Did I want just sex, or did I want more? Maybe testing the waters with every possibility on the table would be the best way to go.

  But first…

  I’d put off Christmas shopping until the last minute, typical of me, but now I knew what I needed to buy and had very little time to do it. I made a few phone calls and set everything in motion.

  This would be a Christmas to remember.

  Chapter 21—Eggnog Toasts

  ~~Easton~~

  After I finished shopping, I drove out of Seattle to the burbs where Ice and Avery lived. Our captain had invited the entire team to an open house on Christmas Eve, and I felt obligated to put in an appearance. Ice was a private person who was trying to come out of his shell, and I appreciated this gesture.

  As a rookie, I was always trying to make a good impression on my veteran teammates and my coaches. As much as I’d preferred to insinuate myself into Caro’s evening, attending this party was necessary.

  I double-checked the address multiple times as I drove farther into the country. I had Ice pegged as a city boy, and living out here didn’t fit with my image of him. My GPS told me to turn down a narrow gravel lane lined with trees and a white-rail fence. In the distance were a couple large barns. I drove past the barns and turned down another driveway. As the thick trees opened up, a large two-story home lit up with Christmas lights came into view. I was surprised once again as I pictured Ice on a ladder stringing lights from his eaves.

  His driveway was clogged with cars, and I pulled behind Steele’s car, surprised to see my roommate was already present.

  I grabbed the gift bag containing a nice bottle of wine from the seat beside me and stepped out of my truck. The evening was clear and brisk, a nice respite from the incessant rain and gray skies of the past few weeks.

  Several of my teammates stood on the front porch flanking the entire front of the farmhouse. They were drinking beers and laughing. I walked onto the porch and greeted everyone, stood outside for a short time, and ventured in the house to find my host and hostess.

  Avery and Ice stood in the large living room with a huge rock fireplace on one wall, talking to Smooth and his wife, Bella, along with Brick and Amelia.

  “Hey, glad you could make it.” Ice was beaming from ear to ear. Glancing down at Avery’s stomach, I could see why. She wasn’t showing a lot yet, but her pregnancy was obvious. Not to mention, Avery inadvertently called attention to her baby bump by rubbing her stomach quite often.

  I shook hands with the guys and hugged the women, then settled back into conversation that ran the gamut from hockey to kids to buying a house. I didn’t say much, just listened and observed. The three couples were very much in love. They were always touching, sharing private glances, and standing close to each other. Bella liked to finish Smooth’s sentences, but he didn’t seem to mind. Amelia often directed the convo to kids, while Avery often talked about horses. Every one of them gave me advice on being a dad, and I discussed riding lessons for my daughter with Avery.

  Eventually, the couples wandered off to mingle, and Avery excused herself to check on the caterers.

  “How are you, Big E?” Ice asked when we had a rare moment alone. To my surprise, his blue eyes were warm and inviting.

  “I’m doing okay. I’m spending the day tomorrow with the kids and Caro.”

  “How’s that going with Caro?” He seemed g
enuinely interested.

  “I don’t know. I don’t think either of us can figure out what we want—friends, physical, or an actual relationship.”

  Ice chucked. “Been there. Honestly, love will bite you in the ass before you even realize what’s happening. I sure as fuck wasn’t looking for the love of my life when I met Avery, but I didn’t have the strength to resist.”

  “I don’t either.”

  He nodded sagely and rubbed his chin. He was sporting a beard this season though he kept it trimmed short. “You can’t stop love, buddy. If you’re in love with someone, no amount of resistance will work, and just the dumb-ass, moony expression on your face when you talk about her tells me all I need to know.”

  Moony was a word I’d never expected to hear from Ice’s lips. “You think I look like that?”

  “Fuck yeah. It’s obvious to everyone but you. That’s the way it is with guys who think they’re in control when they’re not.”

  “Everyone?” I was horrified. I didn’t want my heart on my sleeve when I hadn’t even acknowledged my emotions in my most private of thoughts.

  “What’s the worst thing that could happen if you and she give it a try?”

  “I don’t know. We might break up.”

  “Is that worse than not trying, never knowing, and always regretting?”

  I shrugged.

  “It’s like not taking a shot when the game is on the line because you might miss and be blamed for losing the game. What do you do? Do you take the shot anyway, or do you play it safe and pass the puck?”

  “I take the shot.”

  Ice smacked me on the back so hard I stumbled forward a step. “Take the shot, rookie. Take the shot.”

  He winked at me and strolled off.

  ~~Caroline~~

  This year the holidays were bittersweet.

  I didn’t have good memories of Christmas until I’d married Mark. His family celebrated in a big way, maybe too over the top, but the kids loved Christmas at their grandma and grandpa’s house. The decorations were lavish and plentiful. Not even Scrooge would be able to resist getting festive once he walked into their house.