She shook her head. “Sorry, I’m not that type of girl.”
“That puts me in a bind. I need a really hot date to a team party this Friday night. You being hot and all, I figured you’d be perfect.”
“Oh.” A fragment of a smile appeared. She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his chest. “I guess I can make an exception this one time.”
“Good. I’ll use any excuse to see that figure of yours. Although why wait until Friday? I could wrestle you out of that outfit and check out your curves as soon as we get home.”
“I was thinking the same thing. Care to join me in the shower? If you’re fast enough.” She took off down the beach again toward his house.
Alec jogged slowly watching her hair sway and her fit body cruise over the sand. Tight dresses and limos were overrated.
Annie maneuvered around the exercise equipment lining the physical therapy room. She trudged across the carpeted floor, her mood as black as the cup of coffee she carried. Enduring a phone call from her mother, peppered with suggestions for improving her looks, drained her energy and depressed her spirits. After Alec’s comments about her appearance on the beach, maybe he thought she needed to make a change.
He’d surprised her after their beach run with new running sneakers that cost five times what her old pair did. Her mom’s doubts about him swirled in her head. Alec’s need to take care of things—her, the stray cat, the lonely teammate, sat at the forefront of her mind. Was she just another project for him to fix? What would happen when he wanted to move on?
Terri fell in step beside her. “How was your visit with your family?”
“Fabulous.” She spat out the word and glanced at her watch. Colin should have arrived for his session by now.
“What’s wrong?”
“I told my mom and sister about Alec. Mom said I’m not the right type of woman for him.”
“Because he’s a professional athlete?”
“Because I’m not his usual type. I’m not polished or dressed in five-hundred-dollar shoes and three-thousand-dollar dresses.”
“Please. That’s pathetic. I saw him with you. He didn’t give a damn about what you were wearing that day in the ER.”
“Well, he has a team event on Friday night, and he cares about what I’m wearing to that. I have to find the perfect dress and figure out what to do with my hair and makeup. I don’t even have the right kind of clothes in my closet. I want to fit in with the team’s wives and girlfriends. Maybe my mom was right. He’ll see me next to those women, and it will be glaringly obvious that I don’t belong.” She dragged her hand through her hair.
“Stop. He’s dating you because he likes you. No question. If he didn’t care, then he wouldn’t have revamped his life to include you in it.”
“Maybe.”
“No maybe about it. You told me how he took care of you after the accident, and that he’s offered to let you crash at his place if you can’t find an apartment.”
Move back in with me. She hadn’t been prepared for that. At all. Spending the night was one thing. But living together… Too much, too soon, too scary. “He’s done so much and I just wonder why.”
“No man would go to those lengths for you if he didn’t really care.” Terri held up her hand. “I don’t know what nonsense your mom is spewing, but Alec is damn lucky to have you.”
“You’re my friend. You’re supposed to say that.”
“Well, you’re the one in the relationship. It’s about time you started believing it.” With a wave, she walked over to her patient.
The heavy weight in her chest eased but didn’t disappear. Annie greeted Colin and then settled him on the treadmill for his warmup.
For the next forty minutes, the dark-haired ten-year-old went through his list of exercises. He should have been further along. She made a notation in his chart and gripped the pen so hard her knuckles turned white. Obviously, he hadn’t been doing the exercises at home, like she’d prescribed. She’d have to have another conversation with him and his mother about the importance of sticking with the program.
The sound of knuckles rapping against wood filled the air. If Colin had finished that last set already, they’d need to have another discussion on not rushing through the moves. Blood pounded in her temples. She rolled her head from side to side to ease the ache forming between her shoulders. Taking a deep breath, she turned. Blond hair, broad shoulders.
“Alec.” His face was as welcome as sunshine after a storm. She pushed to her feet. Warm air from the heating duct whipped her hair into her face. She tugged the tangled strands aside.
He held a Hustlers jersey in one hand. “You mentioned Colin had a session today. Coach told me to cut out of the afternoon skate a few minutes early so I could see him.”
He’d remembered. Warmth spread through her chest. Before she could say anything else, Colin hopped over on one foot, dribbling an exercise ball. “Annie, I’m practicing my…Whoa, you’re Sequoia.” His eyes grew saucer-wide. “I’m Colin. I play right wing, too.”
Alec smiled at Colin and handed him the jersey. “Annie told me you’re a great player. Tell you what, once you complete your rehab and are cleared to play hockey, I’ll arrange for you to come to one of the Hustlers’ practices. You can practice shooting with me.”
“Really?”
“Sure.”
Colin high-fived Alec, then he hopped over to Annie. “You have to help me, so I can skate with Sequoia.”
“You need to do your exercises at home to strengthen your knee. Working only when you’re here isn’t enough. If you want to get better, it’s up to you.”
He glanced over at Alec. “Deal.”
After Alec and Colin spoke for a few more minutes, she escorted Colin back to his mother and scheduled his next appointment. Then she closed the door to her office to allow Alec and her some privacy.
His large fingers cupped her cheek in a touch, so light, so gentle, like she was something delicate, something special. “You’re not smiling as much as usual. You okay?”
“Sure.” She wanted to lean into his hand but held still.
His eyes narrowed a fraction as he studied her face. “Really?”
Care. Concern. Comfort. All right in front of her. Questioning everything was exhausting. She allowed her body to relax and wrapped her arms around his waist. He gathered her against his chest. It rose and fell in deep, even breaths.
“Thanks for coming by. It really meant a lot to Colin…and to me.”
“Anything for you.” He pressed a kiss to her temple, then drew back. “I’d better let you get back to work.”
She nodded and opened the door.
He paused in the threshold and turned around. “Have dinner with me tonight?”
Terri’s words echoed in her head. If Alec didn’t want to be with her, he wouldn’t. Nails biting into her palms, she squelched the doubts creeping in. “Sounds great.”
A grin brightened his features. “I’ll pick it up from the diner. Want me to get your usual?”
She shook her head. She wasn’t ready to move in with him, but it was time for something to change. “Surprise me.”
Chapter Eight
Alec wanted to call his teammates and tell them he couldn’t make it to the party. He wasn’t a big fan of crowded dance floors, and he sensed Annie wasn’t a fan of that atmosphere either. She’d become quiet and moody over the past few days. Although she’d insisted they go out, her inability to smile, despite his best efforts at lifting her spirits, loomed over their preparations. Twice he’d asked her to stay home.
“You can’t skip out on your team,” she’d insisted. “We need to at least show up, and then we can come back to your place.” She’d kissed him on the cheek, and then went into the bathroom to shower, leaving Alec alone and grumpy.
Your place. Her insistence in not moving in with him burned. Shit. He was already in deep, and the idea of her staying away tugged at him. Yet, she seemed distant, and damn
ed if he knew why.
He dressed in his black tuxedo, threw on a gold and platinum Rolex watch he’d splurged on after receiving his first contract, and tied his hair back from his face. Annie had locked herself in the bathroom doing whatever women who look perfect waking up in the morning did to make themselves appear even more perfect. He knocked on the door.
“It’s nine o’clock. Are you ready to go, or have you changed into pajamas for a movie night? I personally prefer you in pajamas. I’ll even let you pick all the movies.” He could shift her mind away from the movies once he had her on the couch.
“I’m ready,” she called through the door.
When she appeared, Alec stepped away from her. She was too beautiful to touch. Annie, his sweet physical therapist in a ponytail and jeans, had transformed into someone exotic and sensual. Now he definitely didn’t want to go out. A black gown draped over one smooth shoulder and flowed across every curve on her body. A copper shimmer of satin blended throughout the material and highlighted the red tones in her long wavy hair. She’d even darkened her pink lips to a hue that added to the movie siren glamour.
“Do you expect me to watch as all the men at the party leave their wives and dates for a chance to speak with you?”
Her lips curved into the first smile of the evening, making her even more beautiful. “Thanks, but I think you’re exaggerating.”
“You have no idea how you affect men. And it’s not your looks alone. You’re funny and intelligent and clever and the bravest woman I’ve ever met.” He clasped her hand and stared long and hard at her. “And I’m falling for you. Hard.”
Her eyes widened. “Me?”
“Yes, you. I haven’t felt this way about someone for years. Not since Tamara.” The intensity of his emotions for her made him blurt out all sorts of crazy things and from the faraway look in her eyes, she’d probably just been insulted because he’d brought up his wife, but he wasn’t ever going to deny loving his wife. Yet his heart had somehow expanded to included Annie, and the feelings he held for her were intense.
She glanced at the door. “We need to go, or we’ll be late.”
Had he moved too soon? With Tamara, falling in love happened over a few years at their high school. With Annie, his feelings came fast and hard. Perhaps she needed more time to catch up.
When they arrived at the casino and strode hand in hand into a magnificent gold and ivory ballroom overlooking the ocean, she returned to her upbeat, charming self. He introduced her to a bunch of teammates. Every man seemed entranced with her. A real woman, not one manufactured from silicone and extreme diets. When she left to find a bathroom for a moment, he received a few thumbs up and appreciative nods.
Zac arrived a few minutes later and introduced the team owner’s daughter Heather as his fiancée. This wasn’t really news, since he’d proposed in the middle of a televised game. Yet, he was so proud of her, he bragged about their relationship to anyone who would listen. They’d survived the pressure of the press and the fans and the team and her father to stay together, and they seemed more in love with each other than ever. Alec presented Annie to them as soon as she returned to his side.
“Congratulations.” As Annie spoke, Zac placed an arm around Heather’s waist.
Heather beamed up at him.
After several minutes of small talk, Heather and Annie struck up a conversation about something related to Heather’s charity work. They seemed to be enjoying each other’s company, which was a bonus because Zac and Heather would always be part of Alec’s life and, hopefully, Annie would too.
Sweeney limped over with his arm wrapped around a petite brunette.
Zac frowned at the sight of his teammate. “What’s wrong?”
“Twisted my knee.” He shook his head. “I tripped in my garage over a basketball.”
“Idiot.” Zac let out a deep-throated laugh. “I guess I’m not so worried about losing my position. You’re your own worst enemy.”
“It’ll be fine.” Sweeney lifted his bent knee above his waist and then winced. “Shit. It better be fine.”
Annie stepped toward him. “When did you injure it?”
“About an hour ago.” His eyes changed from sulky to shiny and bright when he caught sight of Annie. “You wouldn’t be an orthopod, would you?”
Alec watched their interaction with a mountain of pride and a grain of jealousy. He trusted her and her feelings for him, even if they weren’t as intense as his were for her. Yet. “Sweeney, this is Annie. She’s a physical therapist at Fairhill Hospital.”
“Then she’s the perfect person for me.” A cocky grin appeared on his face, and he seemed to hold back on saying something that would have earned him an extra check into the boards during practice. “I hate to bother you, but being with Alec must be a bore anyway.”
He shot Alec a challenging look, then turned to his date and smiled at her as though he hadn’t just flirted with another woman. She smiled and stood quietly behind him.
Annie’s brows drew together, as though she hadn’t heard Sweeney’s compliment of her. She had to be diagnosing him. It was in her nature to help people. “Where does it hurt? Describe the pain.”
“My knee hurts under the right side of my knee cap, but it’s more of a dull pain than a sharp pain.”
She asked him a few questions and touched his knee in a few places. Zac pulled Alec to the side.
“She’s perfect for you.” Zac slapped him on the back.
“Why do you say that?” Alec glanced back at Annie.
A few other teammates circled her now and were ribbing Sweeney and pointing to their own injuries. She gave out advice to each of them, always with the same warning to confirm everything with the team physician.
“She’s stunning, smart, and she seems unfazed by a group of men twice her size surrounding her for advice on knee, back, and groin injuries. I wouldn’t let her go. Women like that are hard to find. But you know that. Tamara was the best of the best.”
“She was pretty amazing.” He nodded in agreement. “Annie’s totally different from her, besides the hair. She’s the most competitive female I’ve met, but not in that backstabbing way. More playful.”
Zac smacked him on the back. “Don’t screw it up then.”
He winked at Heather who stood guard near Annie. Heather blew him a kiss and then told Sweeney to return to his date, but stay off the dance floor. After all, Heather had a financial interest in Sweeney’s health.
Sweeney frowned at her but did as she told him. Heather had grown up around the team. Her father owned each and every man within an arm’s length of her. In addition, Zac would kill anyone who bothered her. Alec laughed as Sweeney limped away.
The remaining guys remained focused on Annie. She had one hand on her hip and the other pointing at Andre’s ankle. He lifted his pant leg, and she touched him on his shin, then shook her head with the expression of a school teacher. Andre nodded, flexed his foot back and forth and asked her a few more questions. This went on for ten more minutes. A few new men arrived with new injuries, and Alec’s patience wore out.
He pushed through her growing admirers. Despite his most threatening look, his teammates hounded Annie for bits of advice. Isn’t that why they had team trainers and a full medical staff? Enough. He pulled her back into his arms without a word to the slack jawed men near him. They should be returning to their dates, anyway.
“I need to dance, and you’re my first choice.” He linked his arm in hers and walked to the other end of the room where lights flashed and music boomed.
She laughed. “Not very subtle, but thanks. It seems like your entire team has aches and pains.”
“Comes with the paycheck. You were pretty gracious to them and their complaints.”
The music slowed. She wrapped her hands over his neck, her fingers caressing him in the process. He placed his hands on her waist and tugged her as close as he could while enabling them to move to the music. Her hips swayed side to side as the band played
“All of Me.”
“I didn’t mind. They seemed nice.”
“They’re a bunch of spoiled brats who love beautiful women with useful information.”
She laughed. “And you? Are you a spoiled brat?”
“Absolutely.”
They danced for what felt like hours. When they stopped to rest, she stayed near him. His hands rested on her hips more than holding her. They strolled over to the bar for a drink. Sweeney arrived shortly afterward to tell her about the improvement in his knee after icing it for half an hour. Annie was patient and kind. Alec wasn’t so gracious but held back to avoid a scene.
When Annie turned to speak to Sweeney’s date, Sweeney smacked Alec on the shoulder.
“Annie’s fucking awesome. From what Zac says, she’s as perfect as Tamara had been, you lucky bastard.” His voice was lowered, but Annie sure as hell heard him.
From the widened appearance of her eyes, she hadn’t taken his words for the compliment he’d intended. Alec wanted to punch him.
She pulled him aside the second Sweeney left. “I know the party’s not over yet, but do you think we could go home now?”
“Home?”
Her posture fell a notch, and she shrugged. “I’m a bit tired.”
He turned, waved to Zac and whoever else was in his vicinity, and started to the door with her hand held firmly in his. “Let’s go.”
“You’re crazy. We should at least have said good night to your teammates.” She waved to a few of her new admirers before entering the lobby.
“So you want to stay?” He stopped at the door and waited for her answer. She’d better say no. His over attentive teammates had monopolized enough of her time.
She shook her head, but that earlier confidence had withered, replaced by an insecure version of Annie he’d never seen.
He guided her to the parking lot. The evening was crisp and stars decorated the sky. He held her hand tightly so she wouldn’t slip on the thin layer of snow and ice on the ground.
“The women at the party were so beautiful. Almost perfect.”
Simmering Ice Page 9
