Simmering Ice

by Veronica Forand

  The pizza finally arrived, and they moved to the kitchen. They finished their meal and another glass of wine at the island. The warmth of her company turned his kitchen into something closer to a home.

  She lifted her wine glass toward him. “Here’s to home cooked meals.”

  He laughed and lifted his glass in reply. “Here’s to pizza delivery on speed dial.”

  Despite the mood killer of the picture, he enjoyed spending time with Annie. She was an easy person to be with.

  “Would you like another glass of wine or some coffee?”

  “No, thanks. I need to get home. I have to work in the morning.”

  He nodded. Pushing her into too much intimacy wouldn’t be right, not after such a platonic evening. He needed another chance with her.

  “I’m leaving for a ten day road trip tomorrow night. But I’d love to see you when I return.”

  “That would be great. Another basketball game?” She lifted her eyebrows in a challenge.

  “Sure.” He’d take ballet lessons in a tutu if it meant more time with her. “I’ll text you while I travel. We can make plans.”

  “It’s a date.”

  Chapter Four

  Late Saturday night, Annie crawled into bed and watched highlights from the Hustlers’ afternoon game in Los Angeles. Two goals, a win, and four more days until Alec would be home. Not that she was counting. But she couldn’t get their kisses out of her mind. It had distracted her during her basketball game earlier that afternoon and left her with too many cravings for more.

  Ringing drowned out the sportscaster’s commentary. She fumbled for her phone on the bedside table. “Hello?”

  “I didn’t wake you, did I?” Alec’s voice came through the line, smooth and deep.

  Her heartbeat ticked faster. Surprise morphed into pleasure. She clicked off the TV. “I wasn’t asleep yet. What’s up?”

  “Thought we’d better set a date for our rematch. Unless you’re still licking your wounds from our last one-on-one.”

  A laugh huffed out. “Please. I went easy on you.”

  “Oh yeah? You were holding back?”

  “Of course.” She settled against her pillow, her smile spreading across her face. “Name the time, and I’ll be there.”

  “Wednesday night. Seven o’clock. I’ll pick you up.”

  “Perfect. I already know what I want as my prize.”

  “Is it anything like the kiss I received?” His voice lowered, deepened.

  She closed her eyes and enjoyed the languid pull of desire. “Maybe. Would you want it to be?”

  A quiet groan echoed back. “God, yes.”

  She imagined his hands framing her face, lips coaxing hers open, and hard body close enough to hold tight.

  Yes.

  More.

  “What are you doing now?” His voice pulled her away from her fantasy.

  “I’m in bed.”

  Again, a groan answered back. A little louder. Rougher.

  She bit her lip and felt her face flush. “What about you?”

  “Bed.” The word whispered out, at once intimate and suggestive, and curled around her.

  She glanced at the empty space beside her on the mattress. Picturing him there was too easy. Fresh heat flooded her body. “I should let you get some sleep.”

  “I won’t be able to sleep now.”

  Neither would she, not with the knowledge of how deep his voice sounded rumbling in her ear, as close as it would be if he were there by her side. She bit back a moan. “Maybe I can help. What are you thinking about?”

  “I’m coming up with new ways to distract you on the court.”

  Laughter flowed in a rush, tumbling together with images of how she might throw him off his game. All involved brushes of her body against his.

  Murmured sounds, male voices greeting Alec, came through, then a moment later, his voice returned. “I have to go. My teammates just walked in, and they aren’t leaving anytime soon.”

  “That’s all right.”

  “Damn it. I’m sorry.” More voices echoed in the background. Mikael’s voice, then Zac’s. “Can I call you tomorrow night? I’ll make sure the guys stay away.”

  Her breath caught at the promise in his voice. “I’ll talk to you then. Good night, Alec.”

  “Sweet dreams.” His voice dipped low again, the words almost a command.

  She snuggled into her sheets, but with thoughts tangled up in him, sleep took a long time coming.

  Late Wednesday morning, after shoveling the four inches of snow covering the walkway, Annie dressed in her scrubs and packed a bag with a change of clothes. Five hours of hospital duty, and then she’d see Alec immediately afterwards.

  He’d called her nearly every night from the road. Late night conversations in whispered tones, while she lay in bed wishing for more than his voice washing over her.

  But why her? He could have any woman he wanted, so what made him want her? Maybe for the first time in her life, she wouldn’t question it. She would just enjoy and see what happened.

  His road trip ended last night with a win. Maybe tonight he’d follow through on some of the things he’d hinted at doing during their chats. Head ducked down to avoid the falling snow, she hummed as she hurried to her car. The repairs had been expensive, but she was glad to have it back. Her boots crunched through the fresh layer covering the ground. It was accumulating fast. Thankfully, Vito’s grandson had promised to stop by that afternoon to shovel the snow and throw rock salt on their walkway.

  Freezing winds slapped against her cheeks as she scraped away the light coating of snow and ice covering her windows and doors. The mini-workout warmed her. She slipped into the car. Her phone rang. She dug through her purse, not in the mood to talk to her mother or her sister.

  Alec’s name lit up the display. She answered, a smile in her voice. “You’re not chickening out of tonight’s battle, are you?”

  “No way. But I might be a little late. I have to stop by a sports station at six o’clock to do an interview. Damn, I hate when they spring things on us. I don’t have a suit with me. The two I have at home are trashed from the road trip, and I’m tied up all day with practice and meetings.” His frustration raised her need to soothe.

  “Can I help? Maybe bring you a suit?” Holding her breath, she waited for his response. She didn’t want to overstep any boundaries.

  “The rest of my suits are at the dry cleaner’s.” His voice turned thoughtful.

  “Where’s the shop?”

  “It isn’t too far from your hospital.”

  “I don’t have to be at work for a while yet. Plenty of time for me to pick up the suits and drop them off to you.”

  “You’d do that?” Surprise and gratitude colored his words.

  “Sure.”

  “That’s really nice of you but no. The roads are too bad.”

  “It’ll be fine. The ones by the hospital are always cleared first.”

  “I don’t know. It snowed a lot last night and roads were pretty icy when I drove to the rink this morning.”

  “Look, I’m already in my car. I have a full hour before I have to be at the hospital. And I’ve never had an accident. I’m great at driving in the snow. Let me help you.”

  “If you’re sure…”

  “I’m sure, but won’t I need your receipt when I pick up the clothes?”

  “I have it here. I’ll take a photo and text it to you.”

  The fact that he’d asked her to do something for him pleased her. A chore so domestic that for a moment, she felt like his girlfriend. “No problem at all.”

  “Thanks, Annie. I owe you.” His voice held a promise.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you pay up. See you soon.” She set her phone on the passenger seat and eased onto the street.

  The roads were worse than she’d thought. She held tight to the wheel and maneuvered over slippery snow. Five minutes into her drive, her phone pinged with a new text message. When she stop
ped for a red light, her gaze flicked to the screen.

  Alec.

  The address for the cleaners. The light turned green. She turned her attention back on the wet road. Her phone pinged again. Probably his receipt. She’d read his message after she arrived at the cleaners. Her car slipped like the treads couldn’t grip. She pumped the break and eased back into her lane. Plows had gone through here, but slush and patches of ice turned the streets into a minefield.

  A minivan from the other lane lost control on the ice and headed straight for her. She swerved to avoid the collision. Her car skidded and picked up speed. A rush of adrenaline spiked her blood. Palms damp, heartbeat pounding, she pumped the breaks, but the car didn’t slow down. It spun in a circle. She jerked the wheel in the opposite direction.

  An SUV slammed into the back of her car. Her head jolted forward before momentum snapped it back. The sound of metal on metal twisted her stomach. Lightning fast, her car spun in the opposite direction, around and around, across four lanes of traffic.

  Snow and street and cars whirled by. Panic sparked up her spine. Horns blared, breaks squealed. A truck swerved out of her way.

  “Oh, God, oh, God, oh, God.” She gripped the steering wheel and turned it as hard as she could.

  A blur of blue, then a large metal grill filled her gaze. The tractor trailer would crush her car. The driver laid on his horn. She prayed, jerking the wheel a final time, eyes closing as she winced. And braced for impact. Something huge and hard slammed into the front of her car.

  Her head and neck jerked forward. Her stomach lurched. With a bang the car’s airbags deployed. The seatbelt cut into her chest and hips and held her in place.

  Her horror-filled ride had ended.

  Heart pounding, she opened her eyes. The car’s hood crushed like an accordion against a telephone pole.

  She hadn’t smashed into another car. Relief that she’d survived weakened her.

  Uncontrollable shaking took hold of her limbs. Tears cast prisms into her eyes. She inhaled short, quick breaths and focused on the airbag deflating in front of her.

  She surveyed the scene on the road. The minivan and three other cars were in various states of damage. Then, the minivan’s doors opened and five little kids scrambled out, followed by two women. All were crying.

  They might need an ambulance. She fumbled to release the seat belt and leaned over the console, reaching for the phone. Moving worsened the pain in her head. Her eyes watered. Dizziness crashed down, messing with her vision. She grasped the phone and somehow managed to dial 9-1-1.

  “I need to report a multi-car accident.”

  The operator’s calm voice came through the speaker. “Are there any injuries?”

  A wave of nausea blocked out her ability to think.

  “Ma’am? Are there any injuries?” The voice coming through the speaker sharpened.

  She closed her eyes and focused on answering. “Maybe… Don’t know…” God, why did it hurt so much?

  After relaying her location, she leaned her head against the headrest. Sickness coated her stomach. Pain throbbed in a band across her neck and across her forehead. The operator assured her a police car and ambulance were on the way. She pressed her hand to her head. She needed to help the people in the other cars. Pushing open her door, she climbed out. A wave of shakiness forced her to sit down on the ground. In the distance, sirens wailed.

  She’d close her eyes for just a second, just until the nausea passed.

  …

  The slamming of iron and the smack talking of his teammates rumbled through the gym. Alec used his ear phones and Lynard Skynyrd rocking to “Gimme Three Steps” to keep his focus. He looked over at his phone to see if Annie had responded to his text. Nope. Just a black screen. It didn’t matter, because in five hours he’d have her in his arms again. Five long hours. He was tempted to sneak over to her work, but self-control had always been his strength. He could wait.

  He let his mind wander to Annie’s sweaty body on the basketball court. The woman was all legs and hips and sex appeal.

  Andre caught his attention from across the room. His chest was the canvas for a screaming eagle carrying a hockey stick in its talons. The picture dominated his appearance when he went shirtless. He pointed to the weight bench. Alec looked down and saw the screen on his phone lit up.

  He pulled off his earphones and grabbed the phone. Annie’s name was on the screen.

  “Hey beautiful. Ready for tonight?” he asked.

  “Mr. O’Meara?” a masculine voice asked.

  Alec’s chest tightened. This wasn’t a social call.

  He waved over to the guys to keep their voices down and turn down the stereo. The room fell instantly silent.

  “Yes.”

  “Ms. Davidson has been in an accident.”

  Ice chilled his system. He needed answers, he needed to remain calm, he needed Annie to be all right. “Is she okay?”

  He could barely hear a woman’s voice in the background. The words seemed garbled. Did she have a concussion? Was it worse?

  “She’s being transported to Fairhill Hospital.”

  “Let me talk to him. You’re probably freaking him out.” Annie’s voice carried through the phone. Strong, clear. Alec relaxed a little bit, although he’d feel better when he could hold her.

  The paramedic mumbled something, and then Annie came on. “Alec?”

  “Annie. Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. My car’s a mess. It hit a telephone phone. I’m not sure if I can drive it again.” She sounded shaky and bit fatigued.

  “I don’t care about the car. Why are you in an ambulance?”

  “They’re just taking precautions.”

  “I’m going to meet you at the hospital.”

  “Ma’am, put down the phone.” The paramedic could be heard in the background, and his concern caused Alec to pick up his pace to the locker room to get the keys to his car.

  She said something to the paramedic he couldn’t understand, and then she spoke to him again. “You don’t have to come.”

  “Yes. I do. I’m on my way.”

  He heard the paramedic again urging her to keep her neck still and hand him the phone. Her neck? The injury sounded worse than she’d made it out to be.

  “Drive carefully. It’s really icy. Gotta go, my phone is being confiscated.” She hung up.

  He threw on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. Zac joined him.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Annie was in a car accident. They took her to the hospital. She’s fine. I think. I’m not sure. I need to go.”

  “Want me to drive?”

  “No, thanks. I can take my car and then drive her home.” To his house, not back to that dilapidated hovel she called home. He knew how to be a caretaker. It seemed he was destined to be one again.

  “Call me if you need me.” Zac patted his shoulder and turned toward the executive offices.

  “Absolutely.”

  Careful to keep her head still, Annie sat beside her co-worker Terri, listening to the doctor’s instructions. Her friend had been waiting for her in the ER when the ambulance arrived. When the doctor advised a few days of rest, she argued, but he insisted. She knew he was right but hated missing time with her patients.

  Terri offered her a smile. “The sooner you rest, the faster you’ll be able to get back to normal. I’ve already reassigned your patients for the rest of the week.”

  “Thanks. I owe you.”

  “Here comes your ride home.” Her friend’s elbow nudged her side.

  Annie glanced to her right. Alec strode down the hall. When his eyes met hers, his features tightened. He shook hands with the doctor and then crouched in front of her.

  His big hand covered hers. “How are you feeling?”

  “I’m all right.” She squeezed his fingers and absorbed some of his strength, then glanced at the doctor. “Can I go home now?”

  He handed her a sheet with discharge instructions. “
Your CT scan didn’t show signs of trauma so it’s safe for you to leave, but if you experience any severe headaches or nausea, or loss of consciousness, confusion, or weakness, you need to contact your doctor and come in right away.”

  She nodded and glanced at the paper. How would she know if she lost consciousness? Sometimes she hated living alone.

  “You’ll have a lot of pain during the next few days,” he continued. “Do you have anyone who can stay with you to monitor your condition for the next twenty-four hours?”

  She bit her lip. Elsie would take care of her, would check in on her every few hours if she asked, but she didn’t want to trouble the elderly woman with keeping vigil over her. Elsie had enough health problems of her own.

  Alec brushed her hair behind her ear. “I’ll take care of you. You’re staying with me.”

  Surprise fluttered into appreciation. “You’re sweet to offer, but I have to go home. Elsie relies on me.”

  “I’ll make sure someone looks in on your friend.”

  “I can’t ask you to—”

  “You’re not asking, I’m offering. And I’m not taking no for an answer.” His eyes gleamed with the same intensity he possessed when chasing down a puck or knocking into an opposing team’s player.

  His fingers curled under hers and the strength in his grip urged her to say yes. He looked so solid, so secure. And she was tired, so tired. All she wanted to do was curl up in his arms and block out the memories of her high-speed adventure. “Okay. Thank you.”

  “Let’s get home and pack your stuff.”

  An hour and a half later, after packing a suitcase and making sure Vito’s grandson would also check in on Elsie when he visited his grandfather, they rode toward Alec’s home. Street lights flashed by, illuminating the inside of the car like a slow strobe light. Annie shivered despite the heat blasting from the vents. “I’m glad you texted me just before the accident happened.”

  “What do you mean?” He turned onto a driveway and pulled up in front of an estate secluded by pine trees.

  “I was pretty out of it there and couldn’t think of anyone’s names. The EMT showed me your text and asked if he should contact you. I’m glad they didn’t try to call my sister. Lynn would’ve worried too much, and she wouldn’t have been able to do anything from Maryland anyway.”