Thanks, but no thanks. He knew some of the players were into the puck bunnies but that wasn’t for him. Never had been. So he excused himself and left, not entirely surprised when the sister made her way over to Harland.
He wasn’t sure if Harland had taken advantage of her offer or not. It wouldn’t surprise him if he had. And if he had, more power to him. It wasn’t his business what two consenting adults did.
All he knew was that if he ever saw the sister, Lindsay, again, he’d turn and run in the opposite direction. If he didn’t, he didn’t know if he’d be able to control whatever words might fall from his mouth.
No, he wanted nothing to do with the sister. Lauren, on the other hand, was a completely different story. There was something about her. Her dry sarcasm, the fact that she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. Their banter had been light and teasing, but not in a sexual way, not like some of the other women who had come up to him after games or at the Casino Night. He had fun talking to Lauren. Watching her facial expressions, the way she rolled those wide eyes whenever he said something she didn’t agree with or the way a small flush would spread across her high cheekbones.
“He asks question but doesn’t listen.” Nikolai nudged his shoulder, his laugh echoing in the empty building.
“Sorry. I was—” Kenny snapped his mouth closed. There was no way he was going to tell them he’d been thinking about a woman. “So why is it so quiet in here?”
Nikolai laughed again, the sound bouncing back at the them in the surrounding quiet. “Again, he does not listen.”
Randy frowned and Kenny figured they must have already answered the question. “I said: they cancelled the games because of the weather.”
“What weather?”
They stopped by the double glass doors leading out. Randy zipped up his jacket and motioned his head.
“That weather. Apparently it’s supposed to turn to all ice, if it hasn’t already.”
Kenny looked out the doors and muttered to himself. The sky was an angry gray, the perfect backdrop for the sheets of rain coming down in a steady downpour. A gust of wind blew the rain at an angle for a few seconds, cold air blowing in through the crack of the door.
“I didn’t think they cancelled games because of weather.”
“Every once in a while they do. Especially the younger kids. Why take chances, you know?”
Kenny grunted, his gaze still fixed on the downpour. This is exactly what he got for wearing nothing but a sweatshirt to practice this morning. “And this is supposed to turn to ice?”
“That’s what they’re saying. Ice, then maybe snow. Or maybe nothing. It’s November. For all they know, it could be eighty degrees tomorrow.”
Kenny didn’t say anything. Tomorrow’s weather here wouldn’t matter, not when they were leaving for LA right after tonight’s game. He pushed through the door, Randy and Nikolai following him, then made a run for his car fifteen feet away. He was soaked through by the time he slammed the door shut, water dripping into his face. He shook it off then started the engine, waiting for the car to warm up.
And grateful this new one had heated seats and steering wheel.
The car had been his only big splurge when he signed the new contract. One and half a million over two years might sound like a lot of money—and yeah, maybe it was—but he wasn’t going to be one of those guys who went out and blew the whole thing. There were still too many unknowns with his career. So no, he wasn’t going to blow it. Most of his salary was being invested, mostly long term for greater stability down the road. He didn’t even buy a house. Hell, he hadn’t even completely unpacked everything in his apartment. The spare bedroom still had about a dozen boxes stacked along the wall.
But he had splurged on the car. Nothing too fancy or extravagant—unless you called heated seats extravagant and he didn’t. But it was new, and big enough so he didn’t feel cramped inside. That was all he needed.
He turned the wipers on then headed out of the parking, aiming the car for home. The heater was going full blast and the seat was working its heated magic along his back and ass, but he was still chilled. He’d need to change out of his wet clothes and take another shower before grabbing a bite to eat and getting his nap in.
And it looked like Randy was right. The rain was starting to turn to ice. Nothing too bad yet, mostly a mix, but he could see it under the swipe of his wipers, just the barest film starting to build up.
The light at the corner turned red and he tapped the brakes, testing the road before coming to a stop. At least the roads were still fine. But the weather still completely sucked, especially if you were out walking in it like the solitary figure on the sidewalk next to him.
Kenny blinked then did a double-take.
“You have got to be fucking kidding me.” He whispered the words in disbelief and blinked again, certain he was seeing things. No, it wasn’t his imagination.
The light turned green and he pulled forward, easing the car over to the curb and hitting the button to lower the passenger door window before leaning over to shout.
“Lauren!”
The woman didn’t stop and at first he thought maybe he had been mistaken, that it really wasn’t Lauren he saw walking along the sidewalk. But no, it was definitely her. Her hair was plastered to her head and neck, the rain turning the dark strands to black. She was wearing a pair of jeans and nothing more than a sweatshirt, both of which were soaked through and clinging to her athletic body. A large bag was slung over her left shoulder, the same bag she had nailed him with the first time he had seen her.
What the hell was she doing, walking in weather like this?
He inched the car forward, stopping at angle before leaning over and calling her name again, louder this time. She must have heard him because she stopped and looked his way, confusion marring her face. Did she recognize him? Maybe not because she just kept walking. But he didn’t miss the look of anger on her face, like she wouldn’t hesitate to wind up her arm and slug whoever happened to get in her way.
What the hell was that about? Kenny ignored it, figuring now wasn’t the time to ask. He inched the car closer, keeping up with her slow pace. “Lauren!”
She stopped again, frowning. Then her expression cleared and she blinked, almost like she didn’t quite believe she was really seeing him. But she didn’t move toward him, just stayed there on the sidewalk with the icy rain pouring down on her.
Kenny jammed the car into park, remembering to close the window before he jumped out. Icy rain bit into him, stinging his cheeks as he ran around the front of the car and caught up to her on the sidewalk.
“Lauren. Come on, get into the car. I’ll give you a lift.” He reached for her bag, saw her wince when she released it. Her hand was white and he couldn’t even begin to imagine how cold she must be, completely soaked and freezing. Standing out here much longer couldn’t be good for her. “You need to get out of this weather. Let me take you home, we can talk more in the car.”
“I can’t go home. Lindsay has my car. And my keys. And I have no idea where she is.”
Anger surged through him on Lauren’s behalf. Did her sister just take her car, or had Lauren loaned it to her? He couldn’t imagine why she would, not after what he learned the other night, but he didn’t say anything. He bit back the comments he wanted to make and guided Lauren to his car, opening the door for her. Then he moved to the other side and popped the trunk, hurrying around to the back so he could toss her bag in next to his. He hesitated then grabbed the fleece blanket shoved in the corner. It wasn’t much, but maybe it would help get her warm a little faster.
“I’m getting your seat all wet.”
“If it makes you feel better, so am I.” He handed her the blanket, hoping his small smile would help put her at ease. She just sat there, watching him for a few long seconds. Then she took the blanket and wrapped it around her shoulders, using the corner to brush the dripping hair from her face.
“It’s, uh, probably not very cle
an. I’ve always kept it in the trunk and—”
“Yeah, I don’t think a little dirt or grease is going to make much difference at this point.”
“No, guess not.” Kenny leaned forward and cranked the heat up as high as it would go, both the interior heat and the seat heat. Then he put the car in gear and moved away from the curb.
“You can just take me back to my place. In Fell’s Point.”
“I thought you said you didn’t have your keys.”
“I don’t. I’ll just have to call a locksmith or something. Maybe someone from maintenance will be there and can let me in.” She shifted, digging behind her for something.
“On a Sunday? In this weather? And what are you going to do, stand outside and wait?”
She pulled a phone from her back pocket and tapped the screen, frowning. “Uh, no. I live in a condo building. Renovated warehouse. I can probably get someone to let me in the lobby. And dammit.” She banged the phone screen a few more times, a little harder each time. “Great. My phone’s dead.”
“Probably got wet.”
“You think?” She reached behind her and shoved the phone back in her pocket then pulled the blanket more tightly across her shoulders. Kenny didn’t miss the way her hands shook or the slight chattering of her teeth that she tried to hide.
“Do you really think you’re going to get anyone to come out on a Sunday? In this weather? It’s already starting to freeze.” Kenny pointed to the windshield, at the thin layer of ice being pushed away with each swipe of the wipers.
“Then I’ll go wait in one of the bars.” She looked away, frowning again. “Lindsay has to show up at some point.”
“You don’t sound too sure about that.”
“Hm?” She looked over at him, her frown still in place. A thin trail of water moved from the edge of her hairline down along her temple and cheek and he had the sudden urge to wipe it away. To drag his thumb across her pale skin, to see if it was as smooth as it looked.
Kenny forced his eyes front and made sure he kept both hands on the steering wheel. He had no idea where that last thought came from but the last thing he needed to do was act on it. Especially when Lauren was sitting there shivering and trying so hard to hide it.
Anger pulsed through him, pushing away the cold and blasting him with an unhealthy heat. Why would her sister leave her stranded like this? He didn’t know but it left him feeling unsettled. Angry. Off-kilter. A hundred other different things he didn’t know how to explain.
“Did your sister take your car, or did you lend it to her?” Kenny hadn’t planned on asking, not really. Or at least not until they were both warm and dry. But the more he thought about everything he had been told or overheard on Friday night, the angrier he got. A quick sideways glance let him know that Lauren wasn’t too happy either. But was she upset with him for asking? Or with her sister?
She chewed on her lower lip, hard enough he was surprised she didn’t draw blood. Her hands fisted around the edges of the fleece blanket and for a minute, Kenny half-expected her to start swinging. He wasn’t sure what he would do if she did that because he was pretty certain a punch from the woman next to him would be fairly solid.
Then she just…deflated. He didn’t have any other word for it. One second she looked like she was ready to take someone down and the next she just fell back against the seat, looking as boneless and empty as one of his niece’s pool toys when she pulled the plug and let the air out of it.
“Both. She was just supposed to run a quick errand after she dropped me off then come right back but she never showed back up. And I have no way of calling her.”
The admission surprised him because he didn’t think Lauren would actually trust her sister with anything, not after what she’d done with her credit card. But it wasn’t his place to judge her decisions. Hell, he might have done the same thing in her place.
Except he could trust his sister. That made a big difference. “Why would she just disappear like that?”
“I don’t know. I don’t why Lindsay does half the stuff she does anymore.” Her jaw clenched again, some of her anger returning. “But I intend to find out as soon as she gets home. And speaking of home, you should have turned back there.”
“Lauren, I am not letting you wait outside in this weather. Or in a bar. Let me take you back to my place. You can throw your clothes in the dryer and have a bite to eat. Maybe we can dry your phone out or something.”
“I couldn’t. That’s just…no, I couldn’t.”
“And I can’t just drop you off, not knowing if you’re going to be stuck for however long.”
“But I’d be imposing—”
“No, you won’t. I have to make myself something to eat anyway, it’s not a big deal. And after that, you’ll have the whole place to yourself while I take a nap before the game.”
“You guys really do that?”
“What?”
“Take pre-game naps. I always thought that was one of those urban legends or something.”
“Yeah, we really do. Most of the time, anyway. It helps to recharge and get ready for the game. It’s not always as easy on the road, at least not for me, not when we go to the west coast to play like we’re doing next week. But yeah, I usually do.”
Lauren nodded but didn’t say anything, just huddled deeper in the seat, her teeth still chattering. The rest of the drive took place in silence, which wasn’t that big of a deal because it was a short drive. And Kenny didn’t want to push, not when he could tell she was deep in thought, worrying about something.
He pulled the car into the garage then went down to his spot on the second level. He grabbed Lauren’s gear bag from the trunk then guided her over to the elevator. She was still shivering, chills racking her body even though she tried to hide it by pulling the blanket tight around her.
“You need to get out of those clothes, get warm.”
Lauren glanced at him, a small smile on her face. “Please tell me that line doesn’t usually work for you.”
It took a few seconds for the meaning of her words to register. Heat seared his face and he looked away, embarrassed. “That’s not—I didn’t mean—” He stopped and cleared his throat. “That’s not what I meant.”
“Relax, I was only teasing. I have a warped sense of humor.” She sighed, the sound tired and almost sad, then leaned against the wall of the elevator. “Just one more thing that makes me a freak.”
“You’re not a freak. Why in the hell would you even say something like that?” The words came out harsher than he intended, making him wince. He didn’t understand the anger that pulsed through him when he heard her say that, only knew that nothing could be further from the truth.
“Sorry. I’m not usually like this. I guess—” Lauren cut herself off when the elevator stopped at his floor and the doors opened. She tossed another look at him, one he couldn’t read, then stepped off the elevator in front of him. He led her down the hall, thumbing through his keys to find the right one before unlocking the door.
He motioned her in front of him, stepping out of the way so she could enter first. Then he looked around, trying to see the apartment from her eyes.
The small entranceway opened into the living room. An overstuffed sofa, loveseat, and recliner were arranged around the large television mounted on the wall. A wood coffee table sat in the middle, several magazines scattered on the surface next to the remote, along with the half-filled mug of coffee he had left there this morning. The small dining room sat just beyond the living room, with the kitchen accessed directly across from that and separated by a pass-through window that doubled as a small eating bar. A hallway ran down the middle, leading to the two bedrooms and bath.
It wasn’t much but it was home. For now, anyway.
Kenny dropped her bag to the floor and walked over to the table, stopping to turn on the light before grabbing the dirty mug and carrying it into the kitchen. Lauren followed him, still huddled in the blanket, her gaze scanning everythin
g around her.
“Nice place.”
“It’s not too bad. A place to eat, sleep, and sh—uh, chill.”
Lauren laughed, no doubt knowing exactly what he was going to say. “And you’re not a slob. That’s a good thing.”
Kenny almost laughed. “I try not to be. Although honestly, I’m not really home that much to make a mess.” He finished rinsing out the mug then placed it on the drying mat. “The laundry closet is next to the bathroom. Did you have a change of clothes or something in your bag?”
“Nope. Just my zebra costume.”
“Then you can borrow some sweatpants and a t-shirt until your clothes are dried.” He opened up the pantry and dug through some of the shelves, finally finding a bag of rice. He grabbed a plastic storage bag then moved to the counter, glancing at her over his shoulder. “But first, give me your phone, let’s see if we can get it dried out.”
“You really think that’s going to work?” She dug into her back pocket and pulled her phone out.
“It’s worth a try at least.” He tossed the phone into the bag of rice and zipped it closed, shaking it around until the phone was completely covered. “I just don’t know how long it’s supposed to take.”
“I think I heard twenty-four hours. I think. I never paid that much attention.”
“Yeah, me neither.” He grinned then sat the bag on the counter before turning around. “Now let’s get some dry clothes for you.”
He tried to step around her but the doorway was too narrow for both of them and he ended up brushing against her instead. Awareness surged through him, sudden and intense, startling him. Or maybe not so startling. He was attracted to her, had been since that first morning at the rink. That didn’t mean he was going to act on it. Not here. Definitely not now, when she was soaked through and probably turning blue underneath that ragged fleece blanket and her wet clothes.
But damn. He didn’t think he was the only who noticed it, not when her eyes widened just a fraction, not when he heard the sharp intake of her breath. All he had to do was lean forward just the tiniest bit and press his lips against hers. Her mouth was right there, the perfect height for him, just waiting to be kissed. It would be so easy, so tempting—
On Thin Ice (The Baltimore Banners Book 8) Page 8
