The guys whooped it up and Sarah nearly fainted from shock. Jon had thrown his support behind her and not Lou. The warm fuzzies flowed through her and no matter how much she tried to school her expression, a silly grin popped up on her face.
Jon started giving his own notes. As Sarah sat down next to Doug, her cell phone vibrated. Heart in her throat, she left the room.
Dan was on the line. With trepidation she answered.
“I’ve been trying to get a hold of you all day. I was worried you were avoiding my calls.” There was a note of hesitation clear in his voice.
“I wasn’t. We’ve got a game tonight.” She sounded defensive, no doubt due to the guilt from avoiding his calls, so she took a deep breath and downshifted. “I’m sorry. I’m just tired.”
“It’s okay. I know you guys work long hours, especially on game days.”
Why does he have to be so damn nice? I am a total bitch for leading him on.
“We need to talk.”
“Uh oh, I think I know where this is going.”
“You do?” Sarah regarded her fingernail in annoyance. She’d been biting it again. She forced her hand to her side.
“Yes, I think so, but why don’t you say whatever you were going to say?”
“I need some time alone.”
He sighed, and the weight of her horrible treatment of him bore down on her even more. “I was afraid of that.”
“I just need to figure out what I want.” She felt terrible for doing this to a good man like Dan, and not even doing it in person to boot.
“And who you want, I suspect,” Dan replied. “I saw that player follow you outside at the bar. When you came back in, you were pale as a ghost. I put two and two together.”
Wincing, Sarah kept quiet, allowing him to have his say. She owed him that much.
“Don’t worry, I’m not mad. I’m disappointed. I’m jealous. But I’m not mad. We can’t help what our heart wants.”
“You’re a great guy, Dan. Someone will realize that. I’m sorry it’s not me.”
“Me too. Good luck, and I hope you get what your heart wants.”
Sarah hung up and sank to the floor, her head in her hands. The meeting let out and the players started back toward the locker room. She scrambled to her feet with a muttered curse, not wanting to look weak in front of the players.
Apparently she did, though, as Rob approached her and asked, “Everything okay? You look a little flushed. Are you feeling all right? Did you get some bad news?” He came closer, putting his hand on her shoulder and squeezing.
“Fine. Just, um…” Sarah tried in vain to clear her head. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.” She smiled, and even though Rob’s expression was doubtful, he shrugged.
“If you say so. I’m always around, you know that.”
Sarah nodded, grateful he didn’t continue to quiz her.
Waiting a short distance up the corridor, Sebastian studied her face. Needing to regroup, she fled, the questions piling up inside her head.
What did her heart want? Was her head correct in insisting she and Sebastian not be together?
****
On his twenty-fourth birthday, Sebastian heard a commotion and glanced up. Rick and Rob were carrying a cake into the locker room with candles blazing. Wax dripped all over the place. Sebastian smiled. No doubt they’d used the butane torch, normally reserved to work on their sticks with, to light the candles. Sebastian blew them out and then noticed Sarah ducking out of the room.
She can run, but she can’t hide. He knew she’d recently broken up with Dan. Might be time to step things up.
After eating a piece of cake, Sebastian went to her office. He ambled in, kicked the door shut, lifted her out of her chair, and pulled her flush with his body. She sputtered in protest, while also leaning into his touch, and he ached for more contact.
Sarah’s breath came faster as his tongue pressed the seam of her lips, coaxing her to open for him. He was trapped in a sensual haze of lust and drowning in it. The kiss consumed him until in some remote part of his brain he heard a group of guys passing by her door.
The noise broke the trance and she shoved him, but this time he wasn’t letting her go. It had been a mistake to at the bar, and he wasn’t about to make the same one again.
“I came in for my birthday kiss.”
“Leave,” Sarah pleaded. When he didn’t move, she said, “Please, Sebastian. I can’t do this. What if someone comes in?”
Between their bodies, she was actually wringing her hands, and much as it disappointed him to let her go again, he didn’t like seeing Sarah so upset and knowing he was the cause of her pain. “Fine, but I’m going to keep kissing you until you surrender. We both know you will.”
He released her then strode to the door and opened it, peeking out to see if there was anyone in the hall. Seeing the coast was clear for the moment, Sebastian turned back. “I’m pretty determined when I want something. That’s why I’m in the NHL instead of partying my way through university like my friends. I won’t stop until I get what I want. What I want is you.” He gave her one last, thorough perusal then ducked out the door.
****
The team was rolling as December hit, but injuries were piling up, with more players going on injured reserve. Keith called the entire off-ice staff into a conference room. His gaze took in the entire room. “Will we be screwed if we lose more players in addition to the injuries we already have? Do we need to consider making a trade?”
Jon was the first to speak up. “When is everyone expected back? We should try to figure that out first and work from there.”
“That’s the problem,” Colby said. “There’s no way to say for sure, but we probably won’t have everybody back until at least six weeks from now. January, I would think, at the very earliest. Longer for Casey,” Colby finished, referring to one of the team’s top forwards.
“So what do we do?” Keith asked. “Change our style of play to focus less on skill? How are we going to win games without all these guys?”
Jon rubbed the bridge of his nose as he paced the room. “Someone else will have to step up. We’ve got a team of young guys and many of them could be the guy. I don’t think we should make any significant changes to our playing style in the middle of the season.
“Besides, Rochester plays the same system, so taking more kids from there shouldn’t affect us too much. I think it’s more practical to work with what we have under the expectation the guys currently on the roster can get the job done. I don’t like the idea of making a trade just to bring in a body. I think it sends a bad message to the team that we don’t trust them to win.”
Keith nodded. “Agreed. Anyone feel different?”
Lou spoke up. “A trade always shakes things up.”
Sarah barely repressed the groan of frustration. He was forever arguing, and it was getting tiresome. From the looks on the faces of her fellow staff members, she wasn’t the only one sick to death of it.
“Do you feel the team needs a shake-up? We’re leading our division and in the top five in the conference,” Keith said.
“But there’s always dead weight. Like Rick, what the hell does he really bring to the team?”
“Toughness,” Jon answered.
Lou rolled his eyes. “Only if we play him.”
Keith put up his hand and Jon and Lou stopped speaking. “Anyone agree with Lou that a shake-up is necessary?”
Everyone shook their heads and Lou glowered.
“This is going to affect both the power play and the penalty kill,” Jon said. His gaze fell on Eric, one of the assistant coaches. “Can you work with Sarah and Doug to figure out who we should put on each? We might have to change a few things to compensate for having different guys getting power play and penalty kill time.
“We need everyone to work together on this. Got it?” Jon threw a hard look Lou’s way, and the other man nodded, his lip curled in distaste.
Would the man ever accept her? If not, that w
as his problem. Everyone else seemed to be coming around. Based on the things he was asking her to do or be part of, Jon trusted her judgment more each day.
Doug chimed in then. “It’s never too early to figure out contingencies, you want to start now?”
The staff members agreed and converged on the video room, where the biggest white board was located.
Doug held the roster in front of him. “I’ll ignore anyone we’re already using and anyone who obviously won’t work. Sarah, can you write up our latest stats on goals per sixty minutes of play?”
“Sure.” She picked up the marker and jotted down players’ names, along with their most recent stat. Seeing her idea in action at the NHL level was a special thrill, especially since the coaches and management bought it.
“Michal…”
Lou piped up. “Michal is good at fishing the puck out of the corners. Let’s put him on the list.”
“Sebastian… he should be on the list. The kid’s a natural goal scorer. Aaron…”
Sarah wasn’t surprised Doug recommended Sebastian for the list, but her heart still skipped a beat or two. Being on the power play could be a huge chance for him.
“I just don’t know what to think about Aaron,” Eric replied. “He’s got so much skill, but he just doesn’t seem to use it.”
“Me neither,” Sarah said. “Okay, so it appears we have two forwards to add to the power play, Michal and Sebastian. What do you guys think? With the guys we have already is that enough?”
“What about defensemen? I know we don’t need as many on the power play, but we should consider them too,” Eric said.
“Didn’t Sebastian play defense a few times in juniors?” Sarah asked. She went on, eager to share her epiphany. “He might be a good choice to play on the blue line during the power play because he wouldn’t be a liability back there. I know we’ve always used a traditional formation, but I don’t think we need two defensemen on the power play. Four forwards and one D-man should be enough.”
“I agree.” Eric glanced at Sarah with a mischievous grin. “We should’ve known you’d remember something like that. You’ve got a mind like a steel trap. Nothing gets by you, does it?”
She was thrilled Eric liked her suggestion. His support would go a long way toward getting Jon to make the change.
They went through the penalty-killing squads and repeated their analysis, and then at practice the next day, Jon announced the new lineups. There was a noticeable buzz around the arena. Getting a shot to prove something to their coaches always energized the team, and Sarah was no different.
****
Since the last jaunt into Sarah’s office had resulted in one of the hottest kisses he’d ever had, Sebastian decided to try the same tactic again. Maybe if he kept kissing her, he could wear down the walls she’d built around herself.
Besides, he had a good excuse this time. During practice Jon had told him he’d been chosen to be on one of the power play units and that Sarah had been the one to champion his cause. His coach didn’t know it, but he’d just given Sebastian the perfect opening.
As soon as he showered after practice, Sebastian went to Sarah’s office, knocked quickly then walked in, shutting the door behind him. He appraised her sweaty, flushed appearance, his gaze traveling up her body at a leisurely pace that did nothing to calm his rioting heart.
What had she been doing? She was positively delectable.
Her breasts were outlined beneath the thin material of her top, and her nipples peaked as he continued his languid perusal. Her hands twitched, moving in front of her and then back to her sides as she obviously fought the urge to cross her arms over her chest. In a tone he was sure was meant to be casual but came out as anything but, Sarah asked, “What’s up?” She put distance between them by sitting behind her desk and then grabbing her warm-up jacket and tossing it on.
A pity. I was quite enjoying the view.
Sebastian also sat. He regarded her with narrowed eyes, daring her to look away. “Jon told me you recommended me for the power play.”
Sarah nodded. “You’re a natural fit.”
“So that’s the reason you did it? I’m a natural fit? There weren’t other guys who should have gotten a shot first instead of the rookie? Or was there another reason you recommended they use me? Tell the truth, Sarah.” He wished he could outright dare her to deny their mutual attraction hadn’t influenced her decision but knew instinctively she’d balk.
Sarah stared at a point on the wall behind him. The musk from her sweat so close caused his libido to announce its presence with a vengeance. It was always like this when she was near him, and it was getting harder and harder not to act on it. He was positive her feelings for him had played a part in her advocating of him, but doubted she’d just up and confess it.
Turning back to him, Sarah spoke in a cool, controlled voice. “I was doing what was best for the team. It’s that simple.”
Stop lying to me. Stop lying to yourself. He could scream from the sexual frustration he had been harboring for months. She was driving him crazy, and if he didn’t leave her office soon, he was liable to put her over her desk and have his way with her.
That sounded like a pretty damn good idea. Sebastian was not buying her explanation, but instead of calling her on it, he let his gaze travel back down her body to her breasts once more. Her jacket had fallen open since she hadn’t zipped it, but now she jerked up the zipper to her neck. It was useless to try to hide her body from him—he had the image of her imprinted on his brain. He shifted to quell the ever-increasing bulge between his legs.
Sebastian gazed into her eyes again, running his tongue over his lips on purpose. Her pupils dilated. Yeah, he affected her.
Her hands vaguely gestured to herself as she said, “I was just running.”
Sebastian nodded, cocking his head. “You have a bad knee. You’re not supposed to run.”
“How did you know about my knee?” The question came out like an accusation, as if he’d been spying on her or something else equally ridiculous, but he ignored the tone.
“You told me about it when we went out to eat that night. Our first date, remember?” He raised an eyebrow. Presumably she remembered. How could she forget the event that had put all of this in motion?
“I just wanted to run, that’s all. Did you need anything else?”
Her attempt at dismissing him was a dismal failure. He wasn’t going that easily. Sebastian rose and ambled around to her side of the desk, leaning against it as he regarded her. His groin was at her eye level and her gaze flicked to it a couple of times.
Good. See how you affect me.
“I heard you broke up with Dan. And I don’t believe the only reason you suggested putting me on power play was for the good of the team, but since you continue to deny there’s this thing, whatever it is, between us,” he motioned to her and then back toward himself. “I’ll just say thanks.”
He bent until his mouth was a mere breath from hers. She stared at it, her chest heaving. If he didn’t kiss her soon, he was going to lose his mind.
Of course, if he did kiss her, he’d lose his mind anyway, just like he did every time he touched her.
“What do you want?” Her voice broke on the last word and she closed her eyes.
Sebastian’s heart went out to her. He didn’t like to see her hurting. “Sarah, stop running. Don’t fight this.
“We’re both in hell, and it is not going to go away, no matter how hard you try to ignore it,” he continued, his voice thick and raspy. “I think you broke up with Dan because he wasn’t me. I know how cocky that sounds, but I think it’s the truth. Go ahead and deny it. I know you want to.”
Her eyes flew open, but he put a finger over her lips. Standing once more, Sebastian muttered a bunch of swear words in French then left Sarah’s office before he did something he might regret.
He had wanted to kiss her, to hold her in the worst way, but she was clearly struggling with her attraction to him
and he didn’t want to do anything to endanger any feelings she was developing. No matter how hard it was, he needed to bide his time.
That didn’t mean he had to stay away from her, though, and he had no intention of doing so.
Chapter Nine
It was tradition for the Storm players, coaches, and off-ice staff to hold a Secret Santa exchange for Christmas. Because of their travel schedule, the holiday party would be on December fourteenth. It wouldn’t be a big, fancy affair, but rather a small, informal gathering in the arena’s private party room.
Sarah had gotten a Finnish defenseman, Fredrik Kuusi, for the exchange. She jumped on the Internet and discovered that in Finland they served herring at the start of the Christmas meal. Since he couldn’t be in Finland for the holidays, she’d bring a bit of the holiday to him. After more searching, she found a recipe for herring prepared in the traditional way.
“Now all I have to do is find some herring. Piece of cake. No big deal,” she mumbled as she sat in her office hunting for a gourmet food shop. The results showed one that stocked herring in a suburb about a half hour away from the arena.
While she got ready the next day, she considered perhaps herring she prepared herself wasn’t the best choice for a Secret Santa. She highly doubted any of the guys would’ve gone to the trouble of searching the Internet for and then actually preparing a native Finnish recipe. Plus, there was another problem. The fish was very…fragrant. Some of the players would probably use different terminology.
After wrapping the dish in a shopping bag so it wouldn’t spill, she drove to the arena and parked then carefully carried the bag inside. Even with the container closed tight and the bag, the smell still emanated.
Nikolai held the elevator door open for her with his foot while he juggled his own package. They got on, and after a few seconds, Nikolai sniffed the air. In his adorably broken English, he asked, “What the hell you have in bag? Rotting fish?” Sarah winced at his description, knowing the reactions to her gift would get worse when everyone else smelled it. “You not like person you got for Santa? You give him something dead?”
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