***
So far, so good. Jessica accepted his help in getting up from the grass, then kept her hand linked with Ryder’s as they strolled the park. The soft, soothing sounds of jazz played in the background, but this apparently wasn’t the band Jessica wanted most to hear, so Ryder was content to walk around and take in the other sights.
They stopped at a craft booth, where Jessica seemed drawn to the pretty, multi-colored woven bracelets, so Ryder brought her one.
“You didn’t have to do that,” she said, as he helped her fasten it on her wrist.
“No, but I got off fairly easy on the cost of admission,” he reminded her. Besides, the small gesture made her smile, and he liked her smile. They continued their stroll, pausing occasionally to look at the various crafts. This time, when Jessica found a piece of Aztec pottery she liked, Ryder let her buy it herself, but offered to carry the bag.
As they wandered back to the music stage to try to get a good spot to watch the next band, they ran into Ryder’s teammate, Trevor Collison, with his girlfriend Danielle, and their daughter, Kaylen, and he was surprised to learn that Jessica knew Danielle.
“My brother’s a lawyer, and Dani used to be a legal secretary at his firm,” Jessica explained, when Ryder questioned the connection.
“And I will be again,” Dani said. “I’m just taking an extended leave while Kaylen recovers. I’ll be back, though.”
Ryder nodded, wanting to believe her. Trevor and Dani’s daughter had undergone a bone marrow transplant in the spring, and Trevor had been the donor. It caused him to miss the playoffs, which undoubtedly hurt the team’s chances of advancing, but all of the guys had rallied to support him. Family was more important, and seeing Kaylen walking around now, no longer confined to a wheelchair, gave Ryder hope. So far, good. The transplant took, and Kaylen seemed to be gaining strength every day. Trevor’s new four-year contract with the team made certain that Dani shouldn’t have to work any more, but at the same time, he understood that her getting back to her job would be a sign that Kaylen was better and things were returning to normal. And he wanted that for Trevor and his family more than anything.
“I know that’s what Mike and Ellis want to see,” Jessica said. “You’ll always have a job there if you want one.”
“Are you guys hanging around for a while?” Ryder asked Trevor. “Jessica knows the next band and wants to hear them, so I can get us some drinks,” he suggested.
“Sure,” Trevor said. “Special Kay is feeling good, so I think we’ll stay a little longer, right, baby?”
“Yeah, at least for a while,” Dani agreed. “Thanks, Ryder.”
“No problem.” He gave Jessica’s hand a squeeze. “Why don’t you find us a good place to hear the band, and I’ll be back in a few?”
“Sure, that sounds good,” said.
“I’ll come with you,” Trevor said. “To help you carry them.” He kissed Dani’s cheek. “We’ll be right back.”
Great, Ryder thought as Trevor fell into step beside him. Time to be grilled about my date.
Chapter Five
It was all Jessica could do not to laugh when Trevor decided to accompany Ryder to get drinks for them, leaving her with Dani and Kaylen. “That wasn’t exactly subtle, was it?”
Dani did laugh. “Not at all. I’ve got to admit, we’ve been a little curious how the dates from the auction would play out.”
“We?” Jessica asked, as located seats with a decent view of the stage and sat down. “Who’s we? You and Trevor?”
“Oh, sorry. Yes, Trevor and me,” Dani said. “As well as the other WAGs who were fortunate to be amused observers the other night.”
WAGs. The wives and girlfriends of the athletes. Jessica knew enough about sports to be familiar with the terminology, even if she didn’t care for it. “Amused, huh?”
“Very much so. We kept a running commentary going the whole time,” Dani said. “Casey’s a player, so it was probably a fantasy come true for him. Ryder, on the other hand, we figured just wanted it to all be over with, and the sooner the better.”
Jessica nodded. “I got that same impression when I interviewed him before the auction started.”
“Yet you bid on him, anyway,” Dani said. “That’s very interesting.”
“Oh, no, I didn’t bid. Char was responsible for that,” Jessica explained. Dani knew Char as well, thanks to the team’s efforts to help her out during her daughter’s illness.
“Really?” Dani’s expression broke out in a grin. “Now this I can totally see.”
“Yeah, typical Char. I kind of wanted to kill her.”
“Yet here you are... with Ryder.”
“Yeah, here I am.” Jessica watched the musicians setting up on the stage. “With Ryder...”
“You don’t sound terribly thrilled about that,” Dani observed. “What’s the matter? Are you not having a good time?”
“Actually, I’m having a great time,” Jessica admitted. “He’s a gentleman. He has a sense of humor, and doesn’t take himself too seriously. And he’s definitely not bad to look at.”
“Maybe I’m missing something, but those all seem to be good qualities in a date.”
“They are, for sure,” Jessica agreed.
“So what’s the problem, exactly?” Dani frowned. “Are you seeing someone else? Or not interested in a relationship at all?”
Jessica shook her head. “No on both counts. I’m very much single, and open to a relationship. In fact, I’m getting tired of being alone. Char knows that, and that’s why she set this up.” She sighed. “As attractive as Ryder is, this isn’t the kind of relationship I’m interested in. I want someone I can settle down with. Someone I can count on to be around. Not someone who’s on the road half the time.” She turned to look at Dani. “How do you do it?”
“That’s a good question. I don’t know. The season was almost over before Trev and I found our way back to each other,” Dani said. “I guess we’re about to find out. It scares me a little, but we’ll figure it out. We’ll be okay.”
She sounded confident, and Jessica wanted it for her. “I’m sure you will. You guys have a history together. That makes a difference.”
***
“To help me carry them, huh?” Okay, it wouldn’t be easy to juggle drinks for five people, but Ryder was wise to Trevor’s ulterior motive.
“Well, you know...” Trevor gave a sheepish smile as they got in line at the beverage stand.
“Yeah.”
“So, since we’re here anyway, how are things going?”
“Good.” Ryder didn’t even have to think about it. “Real good. I like Jessica. I still think the auction idea was silly, but that’s beside the point. I have no idea how the other guys’ dates are going, but I think I fared pretty well in the whole process.” It was way too soon to tell where things were headed with Jessica, but Ryder was happy to have the chance to spend an afternoon with her.
“I think Casey was a little put off when she didn’t bid on him,” Trevor said, causing Ryder to roll his eyes.
“Naturally, because Casey thinks all women should be after him.”
“Of course.” Trevor laughed. “I wonder if anyone will ever tame him.”
“Who knows? Maya sure tamed Colton pretty fast,” Ryder said, referring to their team captain who’d come to San Antonio after a trade from Montreal with quite a reputation of his own as a womanizer and a playboy. Now he was happily engaged to a local sports writer and planning a wedding after the new season ended—which they all hoped was not until sometime in June. Preferably in late June. Maybe after the Stanley Cup parade. A guy had to have dreams, and that was Ryder’s.
“That she did,” Trevor said. “And then look at Dani and me.”
“Oh?” Ryder arched his brows. “Is there something you haven’t told any of us yet?”
“Nah.” Trevor shook his head. “I mean, it’s on the radar for sure. Now that I got her back, I can’t imagine being with anyone besides Dan
i. But things are still pretty new this time around, and our focus is on Kaylen right now.”
“As it should be.” It had turned into the feel good story of the league. The guy who battled back from drug addiction, trying to resurrect his career with an expansion team, and he reconnects with the first woman he ever loved, then gets to save the life of the daughter he never knew they had. It was hard to script things better than that. “She looks good, Trev.”
He nodded. “She feels good, too. She’ll be plenty tired after today, but she wanted to come, and being outside is good for her.”
“Glad to hear it.” Ryder made his way to to front of the concession line and ordered a couple beers for him and Jessica. “What about you?” he asked Trevor.
“The same, and a water for Kaylen.”
“Got it.” Ryder got his wallet out and paid for all of them.
“Wow, you’re Mr. Generous today,” Trevor teased. “This date must be going well.”
“Oh, funny man.” Ryder handed Trevor two of the beers and the water and they made their way back over to the stage. Jessica and Dani had found good seats, so they would have no problem seeing or hearing the band.
“Here you go,” he said, giving Jessica her drink before sitting down beside her.
“Thanks. And good timing. They’re just about to start.”
***
The band lived up to Jessica’s expectations, and she thoroughly enjoyed their music. It appeared that Ryder did, too, since they stayed for the entire performance. Trevor and Dani left after the first set, stating their daughter was tired, and Jessica didn’t doubt it. The little girl had been through a lot. Ryder, though, never appeared bored or expressed a desire to leave.
“Good show,” he said as the last set concluded. “I liked them.”
“Classic New Orleans jazz. There’s nothing better.”
“If you say so. I’ve never been to New Orleans.”
“You haven’t?” Jessica had a hard time keeping the surprise from her voice, even if it really wasn’t a shocking declaration.
Ryder shook his head. “Nope. Hey, I’m from Canada, remember?”
“True enough. And I’ve never been there.” Jessica laughed.
“Never been to Canada?” Ryder frowned. “Then perhaps it’s time to change that. You should travel to one of our road games,” he suggested.
Following the team on the road? Did he mean as a groupie, or WAG? Or had he simply meant as a spectator? “Maybe I’ll get the chance to someday,” Jessica said as they got up from their seats and left the stage area. “And you should visit New Orleans.”
“I want to, for sure,” Ryder said. “Do you want to look around some more, or can I walk you to your car?”
Ah, the dreaded is the date over, or not, moment. Jessica both loved and hated dating. Loved it, because career woman be damned, she’d be lying if she said she didn’t want to find her soul mate and start a family, and hated it, because, well, hello awkwardness. Like now. How was she supposed to respond to Ryder’s question? The truth was, she was tired. It was a warm day. She’d had a good time, but was also ready to go home. But if she said that, would he be put off? Yeah. She hated dating.
“Would you be offended if I said the latter?” Jessica asked. “I’ve had a good time, but I work on Monday, and Sundays are kind of my only ‘me day,’ if you know what I mean.” Was she rambling too much?
“I get it,” Ryder said with a casual smile. “I leave for El Paso early on Monday, so we’re cool. I’ll just take you to your car.”
She wanted to tell him he didn’t even have to do that, but Jessica appreciated the gesture. Ryder was a gentleman, for sure. They walked the short two blocks to where she’d parked, and Jessica unlocked her Mini with her key fob. “This is me.”
Ryder nodded. “Cute car.”
“Thanks. I always wanted one, even though my mom keeps telling me it’ll have to go if I ever have kids.” Now what did she go and say that for?
“Maybe, maybe not,” Ryder said with a shrug. “Anyway, thanks for agreeing to the date, in spite of the circumstances.”
“My pleasure,” Jessica said. “I really did have a nice time.”
“I’m glad.” He jammed his hands in his pockets. “So, um...”
Hello, awkwardness! “Yes?”
“I had a good time, too,” Ryder said. “In case you wanted to do it again...”
Yes, this was beyond awkward, but he was so darn cute when he was being shy and uncertain. Was it all an act? Jessica hated to be cynical. “I could probably be persuaded.” She smiled. “You can call me at the station when you get back from El Paso, if you’re interested.”
Chapter Six
The second San Antonio Generals Training Camp differed quite a bit from the first, and not only because it was held in a different city. The previous year had been filled with uncertainty. There was excitement, of course, about being the league’s newest franchise, but unfamiliarity, too. Most of the guys barely knew each other, having all come from different teams.
On the first day of training camp the year before, Ryder was selected as an alternate captain. He didn’t know why the coaching staff chose him. He hadn’t worn a letter since his days in the American Hockey League. It was an honor, though, and he’d vowed that day to make his teammates proud.
A year later, that remained his goal, as he stood with Captain Colton Tremblay, and Alex Gray, the other alternate captain, to address the guys in the locker room. Sixty guys, as young as eighteen and as old as thirty six—their veteran defenseman Seth Rollins—made up the training camp roster. Twenty three of them would open the season on the Generals roster, while another twenty six would ultimately begin the regular season in El Paso, playing for the AHL affiliate Aztecs. The remainder would return to their junior leagues or college.
Or in the case of the franchise’s newest draft pick, high school. The kid had just turned eighteen two weeks before, narrowly making him eligible for this draft class, and he’d earned a camp invite mainly just so he could get a taste of what an NHL training camp was like, even though he was likely to spend at least two years at the University of New Hampshire, where he’d committed to play college hockey. After he graduated high school, of course. Not a bad gig, being drafted in the NHL before you even had your high school diploma.
Ryder spoke first, and decided to talk to the team about expectations, and always striving for more. “When we got together last year, we were a group of guys from all over. Canada, the United States, Russia, Sweden, Czech Republic. Some of us were drafted by the Generals, others came here via trade, and a few in free agency. For most of us, though, it was the expansion draft, after we’d been left unprotected by our former teams.” That was the route Ryder took, having previously played for the New York Rangers. “Nobody knew what to expect from us, and we didn’t know what to expect from ourselves. After all, we’d never played together before, yet we were somehow supposed to form a team. And we did.
“We lost our first game in spectacular fashion, but picked up a win in the next one, and soon more wins followed. And somewhere along the way, we formed our identity. We became a team. Even more than that, we became like a family.” Maybe it sounded cheesy or cliched, but Ryder really did view these guys as an extension of his family. “We were there for each other through good and bad, and personal challenges.” He looked at Trevor as he said it. “We may not be the most talented team, or the most experienced, but we stick together and give it our all, every day. I know we surprised a lot of people last season, and exceeded their expectations, but I think I can speak for most of us, if not all of us in this room, when I say we came up short, because our last game was a loss. We didn’t take home the ultimate prize. Well, I don’t know about you, but that jawed at me all summer, and I’m hungry. I want that prize. So let’s get ready to play hockey!”
***
“Ryder, Alex and Colton just got done addressing the team, and they’re about to take the ice for their first d
rills,” Char announced to Jessica. “Ryder’s in the first group, along with the new draft pick. The one from New Hampshire that hasn’t even finished high school, if you can believe that.”
“Okay...” Jessica said. “Is there some reason why you’re giving me a play by play of the first day of training camp?” Char had invited her to lunch, presumably to get a recap of Jessica’s date with Ryder, and so far she’d spent most of the time on her phone, following the Generals’ twitter feed, and providing Jessica with a running commentary.
“Sorry. Force of habit. I do work for the team.” Char set her phone down. “That and I figured you might be interested in knowing what Ryder is up to today.”
“Why would I be interested?” Jessica kept her tone nonchalant.
Char shrugged. “Oh, I don’t know. You haven’t killed me yet, or even threatened to again, so I’m guessing your date with Ryder must have gone well.” The self-satisfied smile returned to her face. “I did good, didn’t I?”
Jessica sipped diet soda through a straw and rolled her eyes. “Don’t break your arm patting yourself on the back,” she said. “But yes, it went fine. The food and the music were good. We had a nice time.”
“Yep. Exactly as I expected,” Char said, making an exaggerated motion of patting her shoulder. “I did real good. So, when are you seeing him again?”
She was so pleased with herself, Jessica almost hated to burst her bubble. Almost, but not quite. “My guess would be never.”
“What?” Char’s eyes widened in apparent horror. “You just said things went well.”
Jessica nodded. “They did, yes. And I told Ryder he can call me at the station if he’s interested in seeing me again. I don’t expect to hear from him, though. Once the hockey season starts, he’s going to forget all about me. He probably already has.”
“You don’t know that.” Char sighed. “Why do you say things like that?”
Chasing the Prize (Men of the Ice Book 5) Page 3
