“Okay.”
“Sweet.”
They called out many of the other celebrities first. The Belltown Six Pack went out right before Northbrook. Summer watched on the television. It was crazy surreal. She could hardly believe that in less than ten minutes, she’d have all those lights on her, the music playing and the crowds watching.
Cole and Harlow did a lap, her hair streaming out behind her. Then he picked her up and set her down at his side, just a quick little leap.
Rocco snorted. “We totally got that beat.”
She laughed. “You sure?”
“Totally. We are winning this entry.”
She grabbed his hand.
They announced Coach Fenwick first. And Rocco seemed surprised. They moved up the ramp to watch the man take a lap with his wife. They looked extremely happy. When they passed the Northbrook guys, he pointed in their direction and then moved to the center of the ice, waving all around him.
Clint went first, then Declan. And then the wait seemed to last forever, but the announcer finally shouted over the loudspeaker, “Rocco De Luca with Summer Davis of Star Valley, Wyoming.”
The spotlight followed them as they waved and skated around the edge of the rink. Then she whipped around, skating backwards, and the crowd went crazy. Then Rocco reached forward, hands around her waist, and lifted her in the air above his head. Summer held her arms out and felt like she was flying. He lowered her back down to crazy cheering from the crowds. Then they held hands and raced around one more time in double time before joining the others in the center.
The guys were clapping. Jax shook his head. “Wow, Summer. Now we know how you could outskate our Rocco, here.”
“Well, I didn’t actually outskate him…”
“Sure you did. You scored on me, babe.”
Babe. She loved the sound of that coming from Rocco. Babe. Mmm.
“You smiling?” His breath against her neck sent happy tingles down her arms.
“Yeah.” She lifted her eyes to his. Their faces were so close the energy flowed between them. He didn’t kiss her, but she almost felt like he had.
“I like it when you smile.”
When the team was finally out, and the announcer finished with some sponsorship statements, they began the fun of the night. There was a really excellent DJ, some fabulous music, and lots of time with Rocco’s arms around her.
After half the evening of fast-beat, body-moving music, the DJ slowed it down for a minute, and Rocco pulled her into his arms. “This is what I’ve been waiting for.”
She reached her hands up around his neck, and he led her out onto the ice. Their bodies swayed to the music. Summer closed her eyes and felt like she was floating out over the ice. Then the music turned jazzy. Rocco held her hand, and they started to swing dance. He spun her and brought her close and at the end of the song dipped her low. They came to a stop with Summer in his arms. Then he kissed her before rising back up.
Everyone around them cheered, and Summer looked over at the jumbotron. They were doing a replay of the dip and kiss. “Wow, we’re drawing cameras like crazy today.”
“Yeah, I guess.” Rocco frowned.
“Hey, come on. No big deal. Let’s go skate into the crowd.”
He didn’t answer as they joined the others.
The night kept going with more of the same. The crowds all danced in their seats, the VIPs skated and danced on the ice, and Summer wished it would never end.
When Rocco was at last walking her to her room, she didn’t know what to do to keep the night going. Except the obvious. Summer wanted to stay with Rocco, wanted to invite him in. If she were being totally honest, she never wanted to separate from him ever again. But she didn’t think she was ready to take things to the next level. To her, that would mean marriage. And she was for sure not ready to think along those lines. Was she? She wiped her hands on the front of her dress.
Rocco must have noticed. He kissed her fingertips. “I’m going to say good night at the door.”
“Oh, okay.” She hoped her relief didn’t show too much.
“And I’m gonna fight every instinct that would send me running back to beg you to let me in.”
She laughed, a sort of nervous giggle.
“Because all I want, where you’re concerned, is more.” They arrived in front of her door, and he pulled her close. “Summer, I’m falling for you in a big way. The more time I spend with you, the more I know I’m on the fast track to being completely in love.”
She sucked in her breath and tried to memorize this moment, his face, his eyes, his lips. Oh, his lips. “I want you to stay. I want you to never leave.”
He pressed his lips to hers, and this time, the friendliness was replaced by a burning intensity that singed everywhere his hands touched. It left trails of yearning up her back and sent her into waves of desire. Her knees shook until he lifted her up against him, kissing her into oblivion. He pulled her lip into his mouth, and his teeth sent jolts of expectation through her.
When he finally paused, his breath came out heavy. “Wow, Summer. I’m gonna turn around and walk down that hallway. Good night.”
He kissed her once more and then left her leaning up against her door, watching his broad shoulders. He wiggled his hips, and she laughed.
She opened her door and stepped into her room, knowing she would not be getting much sleep that night.
21
Rocco boarded the flight to his next away game with an ache that nothing but seeing Summer again was going to fix. He’d called her first thing in the morning and drank in the sound of her sleepy voice. He imagined many mornings with that sleepy voice right next to him. He hadn’t fallen for a woman this hard ever. Whatever he’d felt for Millie was nothing compared to the sweet addiction Summer had become.
Crandall sat next to him, and Rocco was happy to see him, but it was hard to not compare their friendship to the brotherhood he felt with the Northbrook guys. All the same, he and Crandall had it pretty good. He always knew how to find him on the ice. And that was worth a lot.
“So, how we gonna beat the Hounds? Your guy Zane is gonna be tough to beat, all by himself.”
“Yeah, he’s always all over the wings. And he wins the puck drop every time.”
It felt good to talk hockey. He shifted his focus to where it should be right before a game. He and Crandall strategized for an hour. Rocco talked to him about the rebound move, and they planned how to try it out a few more times before the pundits picked it up and the other goalies watched the film.
When they landed, he smiled at the notification of a voice mail from Summer. He put his phone to his ear while the guys figured out their rides from the airport.
“Hey, Rocco. When you come back, my parents have planned a joint Davis–De Luca day again so get ready. Rodeo then dinner in Jackson Hole. Miss you. Come back soon.”
Their families were so different but so similar at the same time. The biggest thing he and Summer shared was a loyalty to family. She understood that his family was important to him. She thought it was totally normal that they’d followed him to Wyoming, and she loved his mother. You had to love his mother. She was a classic. And the best cook he’d ever met.
The Pit was going crazy. Landing in Tennessee.
Oooh. Showdown again. Rocco vs Zamboni.
You gonna try to knock him over again?
I don’t know. That kind of hurt last time…
A series of GIFs followed that comment.
Is knuckle budkins Rocco gonna hurt hisself?
Dinner with me and Hope after. Zane at last jumped in.
Oh, you get Hope? Tell her Clint is her favorite uncle.
No way. I’m bringing a new unicorn. Instant favorite uncle status. Rocco had been working hard to win the little girl’s favor. Hope totally gave him knuckle bumps whenever she saw him.
Is Summer with you? Zane asked.
No man. She said she has a job, or something.
She’s getting her PhD. You found a
smart one. What are her plans? Jax texted.
Plans?
Yeah, like once she has her degree? Jax sent a couple question marks.
Rocco had no idea. I’ll ask.
A whole slew of facepalm emojis followed, and he pocketed his phone.
He made it through his away games, and after too many days on the road, Rocco was happy to finally arrive back in Star Valley, the city where Summer lived. And where his bed waited for him. He fell into it late at night and slept deeply.
The next morning, Rocco pulled on a pair of Wranglers, a belt and huge buckle, a black Stetson, and a flannel shirt. “Ready for the rodeo.” He drove over to the arena Summer had told him about, looking for her. Her brothers were in the middle on horses. They’d invited him to come mess around with them while they practiced. And Rocco thought he was pretty cool, showing up, getting let in, and going to find the rodeo stars.
They shook his hand and then moved off to the side to watch Jed. Even though Rocco knew today was a practice, Jed looked pretty professional. He was just off the entrance, sitting on a horse, shifting a carefully coiled rope in his hands.
A buzzer sounded, and Jed took off racing across the arena, just behind a calf. Jed’s rope went up, around and around, and then he sent it flying toward the calf and jerked it to a stop. He hopped off the horse, raced to the calf, and tied its hooves together.
Rocco stepped up on the fence to watch until Jake saw him.
“It’s Rocco!” He rode over on his horse. “Let’s get this guy on a horse.”
“What? Are you kidding?” Rocco held his hands up. “No need. I’m good to watch.”
“Sure. You can do it.”
A couple guys brought a horse around. He wasn’t sure he could do it. He’d never really ridden a horse, except on a couple trail rides.
But Jed brought over a block. “Hop up on Joey. He’s a good one.”
“This I gotta see.” Summer jogged in, and Rocco took a moment to appreciate this new look on her.
Cowgirl hat, boots, tight-fitting jeans, snug shirt. Yep, he was a fan.
“I’ll get on with you,” she offered.
He was absolutely getting on a horse. He put his foot in the stirrup and swung his other leg around like he’d seen people do in the movies.
“Nice.” Summer’s gaze traveled over him and made his precarious position totally worth it. She stepped up on the stool and leapt up, landing just behind him like he’d seen in old westerns. She wrapped both hands around his middle and pressed up against him.
He pulled the reins back into her hands. “Do you want to take these?”
She shook her head against him. “No, you take them.”
“Okay, off we go.” He made a clicking sound with the back of his tongue and nudged the horse with his heels. Joey started walking. Slowly.
Summer laughed. “He’s probably complaining about having to take two of us.” She leaned back and patted his rump. “Don’t worry, Joey, we won’t take you out on the pasture.”
They began a walk around the arena. Summer leaned her cheek up against his back.
“This is nice. Maybe I’ll become a true Wyoming cowboy.”
“Not all cowboys get the girl.”
“Then count me extra lucky. The girl is the best part about this new gig.”
“You sure? ’Cause you haven’t even ridden a bucking bronco yet.”
“Is that something I’m going to be doing?” He sure hoped not.
She laughed. “Hey, Jed. Rocco thinks it might be fun to ride Thunder.”
Jed walloped and hollered like any cowboy would, and Rocco decided right there and then he was not getting on Thunder, no matter what.
The shift of Summer’s body up against him with the slow rocking of the horse was doing things to him. “I think I’d like you better up here.”
“Oh, would you, now?”
“Mmm.”
“Okay, you might need to help me a little bit.”
“Wait, really?”
“Sure.” She scooted to the side until she had some room to lift her leg up and across the side of Rocco.
“Oh wow, this is way better.”
“Help me.” She laughed.
He put his hands at her hips and twisted so that he brought her around to the front, straddling him. “I could get into this.”
She sat right in front of him, their faces inches apart. He nuzzled her neck. “So, maybe we can do something tonight?” He shifted her hair over with his nose and then pressed his lips on the welcoming soft skin.
She tilted her head to give him greater access, and he grinned up against her. “You like that?”
Her nod was all he needed to run his mouth up across the top of her shoulder to her neck. He’d give her earlobe some attention later. “Mmm.”
She leaned against him. “I’m glad you’re home.”
“Me too. And I say we ride this fine animal more often.”
Joey stopped in front of the blocks, and she hopped down. Rocco followed suit.
“Remember we have Bar J tonight.”
“What? What’s Bar J?”
“Our families set it up. My dad’s taking the De Lucas to a real chuck wagon, complete with entertainment.”
Rocco was intrigued but not interested enough to give up a quiet evening with Summer. “And what if we get lost on the way there?” He pulled her close.
She smiled up at him, and he didn’t think he’d ever seen anything prettier. But she shook her head. “Let’s make an appearance and slip out early.”
He nodded. “Okay, but we’re driving alone.”
Her grin grew. “Perfect.”
Hours later, Rocco laughed while the De Lucas and the Davises climbed into the passenger van that Mr. Davis had rented. Summer’s dad tried one more time to get them to join. “You sure? There’s plenty of room.”
“We’re great, Dad!” Summer called and then rolled up the window.
They took off before the van. “Do you think it’s okay we’re leaving them in the dust?”
“Totally.”
Rocco couldn’t believe his luck. He reached for her hand. “Tell me, Summer. We’ve covered work, hobbies, that you’re getting a PhD, and that you’re into me.” He grinned and kissed her knuckles. “Now tell me about your life, your past… Ooh, high school boyfriends! I want all the deets.”
“Wow, that’s all kind of personal.”
“Hey, I’m all about personal.”
“Okay then. For every personal detail I share, you have to share one too.”
“You’re on.”
She wrinkled her nose, and he wanted to kiss it smooth. “I never really had a boyfriend in high school.”
“What kind of clueless guys did you go to school with?”
She laughed. “I was busy. I studied. I think they all thought I wasn’t interested.”
Rocco wondered if that were true. “Were you?”
“Was I what? Interested?”
“Yeah, if someone asked, would you have been happy about it?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I wasn’t really into the guys around here. No one ever talked about leaving, about making something of themselves. Their whole hope was to go to University of Wyoming and come right back.”
He studied her. Did she want to leave? He didn’t dare point out that she’d done the same thing.
“But I did have a mini relationship in college. Just in case you think I’m totally without experience.”
He lifted the back of her hand to his lips. “Whatever experience you’ve had, I like you just the way you are.”
“Your turn.”
“I don’t date. You’re my one and only.”
“We both know that’s not true.”
“Okay, well, you saw Millie. So there’s her. She’s my latest ex. And I already told you how happy I am that didn’t work out.”
“True. What happened?”
“It just wasn’t working for her or me. So she dumped me for
some model dude at an Armani shoot.”
“Oh, harsh. Do you miss her?”
“No. But I missed what we had, the relationship, having somebody in my life.” He watched her reaction. “I don’t miss it so much lately.”
The color that spread across her cheeks was his reward.
“So am I, like, a rebound?”
“Not at all. It’s been almost a year. Besides, rebounds are my favorite thing lately.”
She considered him for a minute, and he saw that little nose wrinkle again. “Oh, you mean off the goalie?”
“Totally. I’ve been working on that move some more. I hit it right at the perfect angle against the goalie’s chest and send it back to the other wing, who slaps it in.” He snapped his fingers. “Magic.”
“And that’s called a rebound, officially?”
“Yeah. When a puck hits the goalie and comes back out, it’s still in play.”
She watched him.
“But anyway, before Millie, I just dated around a little, you know, getting to know a girl here and there. But nothing that left me wanting more.” He squeezed her hand in his. “And nothing at all like this.”
Her wide eyes made him want to pull over and flatten their seats, pulling her into his lap. Trying to redirect his thoughts, he shrugged. “I always knew it would be a woman who could beat me at hockey.”
“Best day of my life. Who knew?”
“Best day?”
“Well, yeah, I love what we have. And that was the start of it all…”
“What?”
“What do you mean what?”
“You almost said something there.”
She looked out the window. “I got an email.”
He waited. Her serious expression had his mind spinning, trying to guess what she was about to say.
“They offered me a spot on their team.”
“What, you’re going to play hockey now?”
She laughed. “No. Just listen.”
He pressed his lips to her hand again, mostly to comfort himself.
“They want me in Prague.”
His mouth fell open.
“For a year.”
He swallowed twice before he trusted his voice to behave. “Who? Is this a cool opportunity?”
“New York University. It’s the best thing for my doctorate. It’s the break I’ve been wanting. If it works out, I could go anywhere. I could be a visiting professor anywhere in the country or pick a place and stay. A big city. Somewhere different, with an actual theater, an opera, a library with a real collection.” She sighed, and Rocco couldn’t help but notice the longing. “But it’s far.” She leaned her head against her seat and didn’t say anything more.
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