Simmering Ice

by Veronica Forand

  Alec stopped under the soft glow of a light. She paused as well, her eyes full of something so sweet that he wanted to bottle it and keep it with him.

  He lifted her chin and kissed her lips. “You’re beautiful and more perfect than any of those other women. Every man in there wanted to be near you.”

  “I’ve always been one of the guys. I think they enjoyed having someone baby them for their injuries.”

  One of the guys? Only a woman as pretty and clever as Annie could turn a hockey team into blithering idiots, making up injuries and complaining about ghost pains for the chance at having her attention all to themselves. She acted as though she had no clue as to her true beauty, both inside and out. Good thing his gift was arriving in the morning.

  Chapter Nine

  Annie woke with a dull pain throbbing through her temples. Alec’s hand rested on her hip, as though he had to touch her even in sleep. Warmth from his solid build pressed into her back. The declaration of his feelings had shaken her to the core. She wanted to believe him, but their relationship had developed so fast. For the first time, she felt stuck, paralyzed, unsure of her next move.

  She slipped out of bed and padded to the kitchen. Watching the sun shining off the ocean didn’t calm her. An uneasy feeling settled in her chest. She pulled her phone from her pocket and dialed her sister’s number.

  “Hey, how was the party last night?” Lynn’s voice, accompanied by sounds of Josie playing in the background, came through the line.

  “Alec told me he’s falling for me.”

  “Wow. Really? That’s great, but why don’t you sound happy?”

  She stared at the waves breaking against the shore. “Because I’m not sure how I feel. Part of me is thrilled and wants to believe it, part of me is afraid I’ll wake up and find out I dreamed it, and the rest of me is waiting for the moment when he realizes he wants to be with someone else.”

  “Annie.”

  “I can’t help it. Corey dumped me when he found someone better.”

  “Corey was an ass, and he didn’t find someone better.”

  No. The one was how he’d put it when he’d finally come clean about the affair. “Dad walked out on us too.”

  Lynn sighed. “I don’t have an answer for that one.”

  “Me either.” A beep signaled an incoming call. She glanced at the screen. Mom Cell. Ugh. “I’d better go. Mom’s calling.”

  “Okay, but we’ll talk more about this later. Promise?”

  “Sure.” She ended the call and allowed her mom’s to go to voicemail. She’d need caffeine to deal with her. Alec’s fancy coffee maker brewed a single cup in record time. Fortifying sips chased away most of her headache. Taking a deep breath, she dialed.

  “Annie.” Her mom answered on the first ring. “I saw pictures of you and Alec at some fancy party last night.”

  Damn it. Why did people have to post pictures of everything? “The team had an event.”

  “I’m surprised he’s still around.”

  The words echoed her own fears. There wasn’t enough caffeine in the world to soothe her now. “Why?”

  “You know. With him being who he is and all.”

  “Is that supposed to mean I’m not good enough for him?” Her voice rose, echoing through the kitchen.

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “You implied it, so same thing.” Emotions too close to the surface pushed over. “He told me he’s falling for me.”

  “And you believe him.” The sardonic tone rang through loud and clear.

  The steady throb at her temples returned. “Mom. Forget it. I don’t want to talk about this with you.”

  “No. We need to talk about this. You need to be prepared.”

  “Prepared for what?”

  “You haven’t been together long, right?”

  “Right.” The word formed slowly. She tightened her hold on the phone.

  “And from what I could tell from my online research, Alec never stays with a woman for very long.”

  “What are you saying?” Something close to dread curled in her gut. It was one thing for her to think Alec might wake up and change his mind about her. But hearing the words from her mother made them too real, almost like a guarantee.

  “Whirlwind relationships aren’t built to last. Men like Alec, like your father, breeze into your life and are out of it as soon as the next pretty face turns their heads.”

  “Alec isn’t like that.”

  “How do you know?”

  She didn’t. Pacing the kitchen, she groped for an answer. “He said he hasn’t felt as strongly about someone since his wife.”

  Her mother sighed. “You’re living with your head in the clouds. Real life isn’t a fairy tale. You need to wake up before you end up with your heart broken.”

  The words sunk in. Annie pulled out a chair and lowered into it. Her father had been an impulsive man, always jumping to the next big thing. If she were honest with herself, Alec’s actions—the offer to take care of her after the accident, the presents he’d given her, the offer to let her move in with him—seemed impulsive too. She wanted to believe he meant the words he’d spoken, and that he’d fallen head over heels, because she was headed there too. “Is it so hard to believe he could feel that way about me?”

  “Annie. Look at yourself. Do you really believe he’s thinking that you’re going to be the one for him?” The harsh, disapproving, cynical tone sliced through the air like a knife.

  Her cheeks burned. Discomfort rose in a steady wave until getting off the phone and away from the conversation were all that mattered.

  “I don’t want to see you go through what I went through. Your father never loved me. Living as someone’s replacement is hell.” Her mom’s voice softened. “I have to head to the restaurant. Give me a call in a few days.”

  “Sure, Mom.” Annie laid her phone on the table and stared out the window. The surf battered the sand. She was cold but didn’t have the energy to move.

  “Morning.” Alec shuffled into the room, rumpled and sexy in workout clothes. He wrapped his arms around her and pressed a kiss to her temple.

  She forced her cheeks to lift into a smile. “What time do you have to head to the arena?” The Hustlers had a one o’clock game.

  “Soon.” He stole her coffee and winked as he raised the mug to his lips. “You should get dressed.”

  She recognized the excited gleam in his eyes. “What’s up?”

  With a grin and a shrug, he headed to the freezer and pulled out frozen waffles.

  “Okay…” She bent to pet Slash, then hurried to the bedroom and tugged on jeans and a sweater.

  When she came back to the kitchen, Alec captured her hand and guided her to the front door.

  “I thought you had to head to the arena. What’s going on?” She twisted to face him.

  He turned the knob and pulled the door open. A silver Volvo with a huge red bow on its roof was parked in Alec’s driveway.

  Her mouth fell open. Was he crazy?

  He caught her hand in his. In between placing kisses on her palm and fingers, he pointed out the safety features and recited stats about horsepower and miles-per-gallon with the finesse of a seasoned salesman. A light radiated from his features, happy and proud, and it stole her breath. “Do you like it?”

  His generosity was as overwhelming as the rest of him. “I really appreciate the thought, but you can’t buy me a car.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because. That’s not what people in relationships like ours do.”

  His smile disappeared. “What do you mean, relationships like ours?”

  “We’re… It’s just…” Pulling her hand out of his hold, she shook her head and stepped back. She didn’t have a clue how to categorize what they were. This wasn’t coming out right at all. “Look, it’s so soon.”

  “You need a car.”

  She fought for control of her emotions. “I told you I was going to buy the Jetta.”

 
“This is bigger.” His voice pitched low and resembled a growl. A scowl clouded his expression. “You need something safe and reliable.”

  The sweetness of the gesture touched her soul but accepting the gift elevated their relationship to a level she wasn’t sure they’d reached, especially with her mom’s words ringing in her head. “It’s too much. I can’t keep the car. Please take it back.”

  “Don’t fight me on this.” His tone became more firm, and his features hardened. “I’m not returning it to the dealership. If you won’t keep the car, I will, but it’s yours to use.”

  No amount of arguing would sway him once his voice took on that tough edge. He was as immovable as the giant trees that shared his nickname. But she could match him in a battle of wills. “Did anyone ever tell you that you’re stubborn?”

  “Only when it’s warranted, and it’s warranted when I’m looking out for my girl.”

  A rush of heat expanded from her head to her toes. Her breath came in rapid spates. Obviously, the Jetta she’d wanted wasn’t what he’d wanted. And he’d bought her what he’d preferred. If they stayed together, how long would it be before he traded her in for a new, improved model? Or worse, was he trying to turn her into Tamara? An awful, sinking feeling settled over her like a heavy blanket.

  “What type of car did your wife drive?”

  His brows drew together, and he stared at her like she’d grown another head. “She had a Volvo. Why?”

  Her stomach ached like she’d been hit in the gut with a heavy medicine ball. “Was it just like this one?”

  “Well, yeah. It was a silver sedan.”

  Enough. Her heart beat fast against the pressure in her chest. Comments from her mom, from Sweeney, from Alec whirled through her mind. Backing away from him didn’t ease the impulse to run. “I can’t do this.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “This.” She waved her hand, indicating the car and the house. “All of this.”

  Alec’s eyes narrowed. “What are you saying?”

  “It’s all too much. I need time to think things through.” Her fingers curled into the soft material of her sweater. She fought the urge to fling her arms around him and hold him close until her stormy emotions settled.

  A muscle jumped in his jaw. He clasped her shoulders. His tender touch contrasted with the intensity in his expression. “Are you breaking up with me?”

  She bit her lip. Alec’s warm lips and familiar scent tempted her to give in and take want she wanted. But did he want her, or did he see her as a second-rate version of his dead wife? She couldn’t voice her fear. “I need time.”

  “How much time?”

  He was pushing, and she wasn’t ready to give an answer. Breath clogged in her lungs. She fought the suffocating sensation and whipped out, “I don’t know… Two weeks.”

  “Two weeks.” He shook his head and dragged his hands through his hair.

  She turned toward the house. “I have to go.”

  “You’re leaving now?” He followed her. “Where are you going?”

  “Back home.”

  His hand clasped her shoulder. “We need to talk this out.”

  She shook her head, shrugged him off, and kept moving. “Not now.” Not when she might say something she regretted.

  “Annie.” He stepped in front of her. “Listen—”

  “Stop.” She pushed against his chest. “I can’t do this now.”

  “Two weeks? You really want us to take a break from each other?”

  The stare unnerved her, nearly broke her. Her gaze darted around the room and landed on the clock. “You’re going to be late for the game.”

  He glanced at his watch and swore. “Stay here. We can talk more when I get home.”

  After grabbing his keys, he gave her one last, long look then walked out the door. As soon as Annie heard his car pull out of the driveway, she headed into the bedroom. The tightness in her chest hadn’t eased. She threw clothes into her overnight bag, stopping to swipe the tears from her eyes.

  Two weeks to make sense of her feelings, his feelings, and to try to figure out if their relationship was really their relationship. She needed space, away from all of the ghosts of the past.

  After one week in to her separation from Alec, Annie felt as confused as when she’d walked out of his house. Time hadn’t made anything seem clearer. She only knew one thing for sure. She missed him.

  Crack.

  A chunk of plaster fell to her bedroom floor.

  Figures. The hole in the ceiling mirrored the one in her heart.

  She needed a distraction. Maybe a conversation with Josie would help her forget about him for a while. She dialed her sister’s number.

  “How are you doing?” Lynn’s voice rang through the speaker.

  “Fine. Packing’s going well, but I haven’t found a new apartment yet. How’s my favorite niece?”

  “Josie’s at gymnastics. I sent you an email with photos from her birthday party. Did you get it?”

  “Let me check.” She opened her laptop and clicked her browser. The home page loaded with news stories and the weather, and—“Wait. What’s that?”

  Headline: Sequoia Takes a Tall Drink of Water

  With photos. On screen, Alec stood at an L.A. club, next to a long-haired brunette with artificially enhanced cleavage, a low-cut, tight dress, and mile-long legs.

  Another photo. The brunette was doing what with the cherry?

  “Lynn.” Her whisper came out as more of a whimper. Her stomach clutched and her chest ached as though it had taken a direct hit.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Open your browser.”

  The sound of fingers clicking on keys…. “Oh no. Annie, I’m so sorry.”

  “I can’t believe it. I really wanted to believe that he was different than Dad.” Tears burned and blurred her vision. They spilled down her cheeks, hot, fast, unending.

  She dropped her phone, unable to take her eyes off of the couple on-screen.

  He’d replaced her.

  No matter what he’d claimed, she wasn’t special to him.

  She wasn’t anything.

  Chapter Ten

  Two weeks. He’d waited. He’d given her space. Perhaps things had moved too fast. He could slow everything down. He could stop being so controlling. He’d only buy her larger presents with her full knowledge. Except at Christmas and maybe Valentine’s Day and her birthday.

  If he hadn’t had hockey to redirect his thoughts away from her absence, he would have gone mad. Instead, his frustration propelled him to perform better in extra workouts and provided him with more intense focus during games. All in all, the separation had cleared up many things in his life. His priorities twisted around to place a certain redhead ahead of everything else. Once she was by his side, things would fit together as easy as a plug into a socket. Voltage be damned.

  Alec dialed Annie’s number and waited. His heartbeat increased in anticipation.

  “Alec?” Her voice broadcast through the phone and immediately relaxed him.

  “How are you?”

  “I’m fine.” She sounded tentative, not enthusiastic.

  The thumping of his heart increased.

  “It’s been two weeks, and I’ve missed you. Are you free for dinner on Friday night? We can get dressed up or even grab a bite at the diner.”

  The silence that filled the next few seconds gripped his now tense chest and squeezed it until he found it hard to breath.

  “Or you can come over, and we can order a pizza,” he said.

  “I don’t think so. I don’t belong in your life. From the news reports I’ve seen, you’ve been having a great time without me.”

  “What are you talking about?” He couldn’t help raising his voice. This was crazy. “I’ve played hockey and traveled for two weeks.”

  “I saw the photos of you in Los Angeles and then again in Seattle.”

  “I was at dinner with the team. We eat out when we travel
, and some of the guys brought guests. I went to every dinner alone.”

  “You can have any of the stunning women surrounding you and your teammates, why would you want me? I don’t think I’m the type of woman you need. I prefer hanging out at home to going to nightclubs.”

  “You’re exactly what I need.”

  “For now, maybe, but what about later? I’m not Tamara and, except for our resemblance, I won’t ever be like her.”

  “This is insane. I don’t want Tamara. Of course, I did, but she’s gone and you’re here and seriously, you’re exactly who I want in my life.”

  “I won’t compete with a ghost. I’d never win.” She paused again and almost sounded like she was crying. “I have to go to work. Good luck in your game today.”

  “Annie?” he yelled into the phone, but she’d already hung up.

  He sank into his couch still holding his phone. He sucked in a breath and tried to make sense of their conversation.

  Anger tore through him. He lifted his arm to whip the phone into the wall, but that wasn’t how he handled things. He’d figure this out.

  He needed to get his act together. He grabbed his bag and jumped into the Escalade. How could he lose her for such a stupid reason? Didn’t she realize he’d cared for her whether she was a redhead, a blonde, or a crazy artist with purple hair? Tamara had nothing to do with it.

  Two hours later, he stood listening to the National Anthem. Emptiness and anger leeched into his usual pre-game enthusiasm.

  Halfway through the first period, the game was going great, and everything was wonderful, except Annie was being pigheaded and didn’t want to see him anymore. He stole the puck away from Cleveland defenseman Fedorov and slapped it back to Zac who took a shot on the goal. The goalie deflected it.

  The puck slid past Alec and careened off the boards behind the net. He raced a white jersey to recover it, but was one step behind. His body twisted to stop. The momentum carried forward, and he rammed into Fedorov. The impact sent the defenseman flying to the ground. Alec maneuvered around the downed obstacle and retrieved the puck. He passed it off to Zac and headed around the goal. He turned back to Fedorov in time to see the Russian barreling toward him, gloves off, hands poised for a fight.