Hockey Christmas (A Holiday Sports Romance Love Story)

by Naomi Niles

  Louisa smiled affectionately. “I have a few stories I could share with Daniel too.”

  Maddie interrupted us as she walked in. She was wearing a lilac, wrap dress and she had white peonies in her hair. Daniel stirred in his sleep and then his eyes blinked open irritably.

  “Hey,” Maddie said when she saw us. “It’s almost time.”

  I nodded to her as Daniel let out a little cry. I reached for him immediately. He clung to me, but a few short seconds later, he quietened down. He looked at me intently as though he could barely recognize me.

  “Hi, little man,” I said as I rocked him back and forth. “I know mama looks a little different today; I look different to me too.”

  Maddie came forward and ran her fingers through Daniel’s soft, brown hair. “He is such a little cutie,” she sighed. “He’s enough to make a girl start thinking things.”

  I winked at Maddie as Louisa extended her arms to take Daniel. “I’ll get him dressed and bring him down,” she said. “Why don’t you take a moment before Maddie brings you down?”

  I sat down on the bed and Maddie came to sit beside me. “How are you feeling?” she asked.

  I laughed. “Is it crazy that I actually feel a little nervous?”

  Maddie smiled. “A little … especially considering how perfect you and Dylan are together. I mean seriously, that boy is amazing.”

  “He really is isn’t he?” I nodded. “He’s made these last few months so easy on me. He changes diapers, he gets up for the three a.m. feedings, he sings to Daniel every night before bed, and he still manages to make me feel like the most precious thing in the world.”

  “That’s how you know you’ve got a good one.”

  “I didn’t really need the proof though,” I said. “I knew that years ago.”

  “Does that mean you’re ready?” Maddie asked with raised eyebrows.

  I smiled excitedly and took a deep breath. “I am ready.”

  We walked down the stairs where my parents were waiting to walk me down the aisle. Maddie gave me a kiss on the cheek and then rushed off in the direction of the lake. My parents kissed me on the forehead and then I heard the music start up.

  With another deep breath, I started walking with my father on one arm and my mother on the other. There were no more than twenty people sitting in front of the arch but I couldn’t focus on anyone or anything. All my nerves melted away as my eyes fell on the man standing just underneath the arch.

  Dylan looked so handsome that I forgot about everything else. His black tuxedo made him look like he had stepped out of a James Bond film. He came forward and extended his hand to me in a gesture that conveyed more than it appeared. We stood opposite one another under the arch with our hands joined and our eyes fixed firmly on one another.

  I didn’t hear the priest’s words. All I was aware of was Dylan’s blue eyes fixed firmly on mine. The only words that did register were the ones I had been waiting for this whole time.

  “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”

  Dylan pulled me to him forcefully and kissed me so hard that I felt that kiss all the way down to my toes. I heard the small gathering erupt into laughter and applause but Dylan didn’t let go of me.

  “We did it, Lizzie,” Dylan whispered to me. “We made it.”

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  CAMP FLING

  By Naomi Niles

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2016 Naomi Niles

  Chapter 1

  Danica–Sunday, late June

  I critically examined my appearance in the mirror, wondering if I’d managed to get the right look. I needed to get it just right, and I was worried that I hadn’t.

  I had my long, blonde hair tied back out of my face and minimal makeup on my pale skin—although I had made an effort to highlight my bright-blue eyes. They were my best feature; I needed them to stand out. My eyes travelled further down my body, checking that my white shorts went well with the green Camp Woodtree t-shirt. I’d dressed exactly as I’d planned to, but I still felt all wrong.

  I couldn't stop the nerves from fluttering around inside myself when I thought about what the next week would hold. I, Danica Tustin, was going to be a camp counsellor!

  Much as I was excited about spending a week in the sun, coaching young kids and ensuring that they had fun, I felt a lot of pressure, too. I’d spent the last few years going to Camp Woodtree myself, so I knew what a good job they did. I hoped that I would be able to uphold that standard.

  Today, I was going for orientation, to help set up with all the other counsellors, and to get an itinerary of what the next few days would hold for us. The children weren’t going to arrive until the next day, so it would give me an opportunity to get to know some of the other staff members.

  I couldn't wait to make some new friends!

  The pressure I was putting on myself wasn't only because I wanted to do an upstanding job for Camp Woodtree; it was also because I knew for certain that it was the only fun I would be able to have during the summer. As soon as it was over, I had to go back home to help my mother plan her wedding to Brad Fronton.

  Now, it wasn't that I had anything against Brad necessarily, or that I was concerned about the wedding, although I knew the planning of it wasn't going to be any fun for me; it just all felt a bit ... sudden. For as long as I could remember, it had only been Mom and me, so I was pleased that she’d found happiness. But I couldn't understand why they had to get married so quickly. They’d only really known each other for a few months, so it felt a bit much.

  But when I’d tried to delicately approach the subject with Mom, she wouldn’t hear anything of it. “When you know, you know,” she’d said with that blissful look in her eye. So that was that.

  Anyway, who was I to judge? What the hell did I know about love? It would be a fun event at any rate; the cost of it was certainly racking up, but everything she and Brad were booking sounded amazing.

  “Are you ready?” Mom called up the stairs, causing adrenaline to course around my veins. This was it, it was time to go.

  “Coming!” I yelled, giving myself one more look over before scooting down the stairs.

  As we sat in the car, Mom tried to engage me in chit chat about the wedding, but my mind was buzzing far too loudly for me to pay too much attention to her. I didn’t want to even think about dresses, flowers, and seating arrangements. That was a job for afterwards. For now, all I wanted to focus on was sunshine, water, and all the excitement that came with camp.

  It was going to be very different, seeing things from this angle. I was used to being a part of the fun; hopefully, this would be even better.

  “Right, we’re here,” my mom announced pointlessly as she pulled up under the massive Camp Woodtree sign. “Will you be okay? Do you have everything you need?”

  Mom had always been a massive worrier, which probably came from raising me alone, and even Brad’s appearance in her life hadn’t hindered that. I tried to understand, to not feel irritated by it, but it was hard. I was twenty-one-years-old, for crying out loud: a grown ass woman! She was going to have to accept that eventually.

  “Yeah, I’ve got it, Mom. Thanks.” I kissed her quickly on the cheek before jumping from the car.

  I sucked in a deep breath of air, trying to prepare myself, before grabbing hold of my bags and stalking confidently forwards. As I reached the familiar surroundings and inhaled the fresh country air, the nerves all subsided. This felt quite a lot like home, and I was so glad to be back.

  “In here,” someone yelled, waving in my direction.
“All new counsellors need to come for the orientation meeting this way.”

  I followed, shooting him a wide smile as I passed, but he simply stared coldly back at me, as if I was just another face to him.

  Never mind—I wouldn’t let his attitude bother me. I would have fun no matter what. I just prayed everyone else wouldn’t be the same.

  I took the nearest available seat, smiling quickly at the guy sitting next to me. I was half expecting another cold shoulder, but that wasn't what I got at all. He turned to face me full on, grinning brightly and extending his hand to me.

  “Hi, I’m Rhett,” I heard him announce, but I didn’t instantly respond. I was slowly drinking in his appearance while my body decided that he was clearly the most attractive man that I’d ever laid eyes on.

  He was tall, muscular, and broad—he practically loomed over my small, 5’6” frame—with sandy, messy hair and the deepest, warmest brown eyes that I’d ever had the pleasure of looking into. He was so open with them, drawing me in. I felt like I could see right into his soul. On top of that, he had the most chiselled cheekbones and the cutest dimples that popped up when he smiled. As my gaze rested on his lips, I wondered if I was going to make it through this summer without kissing him at least once.

  “What’s your name?” he eventually asked, drawing my attention back to the present moment.

  I blushed as it hit me that I’d just been staring at him like an idiot; what the hell would he think of me?

  “I ...erm, I’m Danica,” I stammered, wishing that the ground would open up and swallow me whole. He took my hand in his and shook it lightly. It was enough to send lightning coursing through my entire body, like a shocking bolt of lust. It made me sit up straighter, to grip onto him tighter. The longer we held onto one another, the more intense the connection sizzled. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  “And you,” he turned back to face the front, where I assumed someone would eventually be along to discuss the next few days with us. “God, I’m so excited to be here.” There was a heat radiating off of him, one that kept me staring at him even though I knew it was teetering on inappropriate. “This week is going to be so much fun!”

  I found his enthusiasm enchanting because it matched mine so perfectly. When I’d seen that miserable guy outside, a part of me had been very worried that everyone else’s negative attitude would bring me down and make this much less exciting. I couldn't believe my luck that I’d sat next to someone who wanted this just as much as I did.

  “I know. I love it here.”

  “Have you worked here before?” he asked inquisitively.

  “No, I haven’t. But I’ve been here a lot.” The pleasant memories of my youth spent at Camp Woodtree flowed through my mind. “My mom started sending me here over the summer, to make up for the fact that I’m an only child...or at least, I always assumed that much,” I laughed, and thankfully, despite my bumbling idiocy, he joined in. “And I loved it. It’s where I learnt to sail and where I built up my strength in the water.”

  I smiled to myself, remembering myself transforming from a young, weaker child into someone who actually loved exercise and athletics. “I also made some pretty amazing friends, too.”

  “Yeah?” He seemed genuinely interested in what I was telling him. “Still in touch with any of them?”

  “Nah,” I shook my head, trying to disguise my sadness at that fact. “You know how it is; you write for a while, vow to stay in touch forever, but then real life crops up and gets in the way.”

  “I don’t, actually,” he shrugged, which drew my attention to the sleeveless shirt he was wearing and the sinewy, toned muscles underneath. “I’ve never been here before. Or to any camp, for that matter.”

  “Wow,” I chuckled. “Then you’ll have to let me show you around.” As soon as those words left my lips, I wished that I could pull them back in. They sounded far too flirty! I cringed internally, feeling the heat consume my body. I was so embarrassed.

  “That would be brilliant, actually,” he said, taking my offer far too seriously. “If you don't mind.”

  My heart began to pound heavily. It was so loud that I thought he might be to hear it, so I talked quickly just to try and cover it up. “Well, I had my cabin number in my welcome package. Hang on, let me find it.” I rummaged around in my backpack quickly, trying to hide my red face from him, talking the entire time to keep his attention on my words.

  “If you come over early in the morning, before the children arrive, and I’ll show you everything that you need to know. Ah, here it is. I’m in Bear Six.” All the cabins were labelled after animals, which I personally found adorable. “It’s over that way,” I pointed vaguely in the right direction. “By the tallest trees.”

  “Right,” he laughed at me, clearly bemused by my rubbish explanation. “The tallest trees, I’ll remember that.”

  But before I got the opportunity to defend myself, the man who owned the camp came in, ready to give us all the information we needed.

  “Hi, guys,” he started. “It’s great to see you all here.”

  As he droned on, boring me with everything that I already knew, I tuned out his words, focusing solely on the chemistry I was certain I could feel flowing between myself and Rhett. At least, I hoped it was. I was definitely feeling it, at any rate; he was doing all kinds of things to me!

  “Right,” I finally pulled my focus back onto the owner as his tone changed. I had a feeling that we were coming to the end of our lecture, and I wanted to at least look like I was paying attention to the health and safety information. “Now it’s time to assign teams.”

  Teams?

  I glanced around to see if anyone else understood these words, but everyone looked as blank as I felt.

  “As you may or may not know, we have sets of teams of children led by one female and one male counsellor.” Ah, as he said those words, I started to remember as much. “The female leader will have a team of girls that they are responsible for and the males a team of boys. For activities, you will combine your teams.”

  I recalled the excitement we all used to feel when we would be combined. It was almost the highlight of the trip, the chance to hang out with cute boys. Not that anything ever happened—we were much too young for that—but it gave us lots to gossip about all the same.

  Suddenly, I was dragged from my thoughts by teams being spoken aloud.

  “Michelle Davis and Gary Jay.” My eyes flickered around the room, wondering who I was going to be paired with. I didn’t dare dream that I would be as lucky to be put with Rhett: a prospect that filled me with terror and excitement equally.

  “Danica Tustin and...Rhett Jones.”

  Oh my God.

  I looked over anxiously, and he shot me a winning smile back. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow, then?” he whispered, leaning far too close to me, sending me a little wild.

  “Yeah,” I replied weakly, feeling myself crumbling a little. “Tomorrow it is.”

  Chapter 2

  Rhett–Monday

  I wasn't an early riser. In fact, I normally slept in as late as I possibly could. But this day was different: I had a date with the stunner from the orientation meeting and I couldn't wait for it.

  I’d barely slept with the excitement bubbling up inside of me, and I was out of bed as soon as the sun started to shine through the slats of my cabin. I had myself showered and dressed long before everyone else had even stirred in their beds, and then I’d been forced to wait until the time was appropriate. I didn’t want Danica to think I was crazy!

  Danica Tustin. She was something of a mystery, and I couldn't wait to unravel her.

  As soon as I had laid eyes on her, drinking in her shiny, blonde hair and her piercing, blue eyes—plus a rocking body that I’d spent the night fantasising about—I felt something deep inside. It was some sort of connection of indescribable origin, and I couldn't stop craving more.

  I had never felt something instantaneous like that. I was always the slow-burni
ng kind of guy, the sort that fell for girls I had been friends with for a long time prior. But maybe that was why nothing ever came of any of my relationships. Maybe the lack of spark and passion was why they always fizzled out into nothing.

  Just thinking about Danica had my heart racing quickly and my chest a little tight. I liked her, a whole lot, and I became increasingly excited at the prospect of what the week ahead would hold.

  I’d come to be a camp counsellor to have a week away from real life, to enjoy myself in the sun while earning some extra cash in the process. I never expected anything like this to happen.

  Sure, at twenty-two-years-old, I knew that I should probably have some more focus and direction in life–I’d been told so enough times–but that just wasn't me. I enjoyed being laid back and taking every day one at a time. I assumed that one day my attitude might change, but for the time being, I was content with my life.

  Especially since it had led me to here.

  I glanced at my watch quickly before ruffling up my hair in the messy, just got out of bed style that suited me best, and I walked outside into the cool, early-morning sunshine. As I stalked across the camp from the Lion cabins to the Bear cabins, I breathed in the refreshing air. There was just something so calming about being by the water. It made someone who enjoyed athletics and activities as much as I did feel right at home.

  This was going to be so much fun.

  The shyness didn’t kick in until I was standing outside Danica’s cabin. It suddenly hit me that this was going to be my real chance to make a good first impression. Sure, we’d had a brief interaction yesterday, but that had been in a bit of a pressured situation. This would just be us, alone. This would determine how the next week was going to go–especially since we were going to be teamed up on all activities. If I fucked this up now, things were going to get very awkward. It would ruin everything.

  “Come on,” I hissed to myself, hating that I was acting like such a pussy. “Just knock.”