Melting The Ice

by Amy Leigh Napier

  “Now I know that’s a lie because if I had been like a gazelle I would have run fast enough to avoid being dragged onto the dance floor with you.” She quipped.

  “You wound me.” Max said dramatically placing a hand over his heart, his blue-blue eyes sparkling with mischief. “You have likened me to a beast of the jungle, dragging a poor, unsuspecting gazelle…No, I refuse to see it that way.” Max adamantly avowed. “You compared me to a beautiful, kingly lion and I will see it as such. You must stop trying to damage my self-esteem, Macy.” He chided.

  “Is that even possible?” Ava asked Cian under her breath. Max’s sparkling eyes immediately turned to her in mock warning.

  “I heard that, Ava.” He shook his head, his eyes full of sorrow. “I can foresee two lovely females’ names that will be coming up in therapy this week.” They all laughed at Max’s outrageous antics.

  “To answer your question, Ava,” Cian said with a wide grin. “No, it’s not possible to damage his self-esteem. Many have tried but no one has even put a dent in that cocky attitude.”

  “I am not cocky!” Max stated indignantly. “I just know my own worth.” Snorts of laughter greeted his pronouncement as they ordered another round of drinks.

  A couple of hours later, they had all moved into the back room of the bar where the pool tables were located. They had been shooting pool with Max offering his expert opinion on everyone’s form despite the fact he was the worst shot of the bunch. Ava was perched on Cian’s knee with his arm around her waist watching Max harass Macy during her shot setup. Macy swatted at him with her pool cue. When Max laughed and jumped back out of range, he stumbled into a young, pretty blonde decked out in skin-tight clothes; what little there was of them. She shot him a withering glare when he apologized and made to continue on when she stopped and did an incredulous double take. Her whole face lit up with a smile of recognition.

  “Hey, aren’t you Max…” she was interrupted by Max, who put an arm around her shoulders and steered her towards the doorway, shooting Cian an apprehensive look over his shoulder. Macy looked over at Ava questioningly. Ava shrugged and turned to Cian who was watching Max speaking earnestly to the young woman, his arm still around her shoulders, smiling his most charming smile.

  “Who is that?” Ava asked. Cian shrugged nonchalantly but his eyes looked worried.

  “Hell if I know. Max gets mistaken for other people all the time.” Cian responded, taking a long drink of his beer.

  “But she called him Max.” Macy interjected into the conversation as she rejoined them. “What are the chances of her mistaking him for someone else named Max?”

  Before Cian answered, Max dropped his arm from around the blonde’s shoulders. She scribbled something on a piece of paper and stuck it in the front pocket of his jeans, taking more time than necessary. The blonde ran her hand lingeringly down his chest before turning to walk away. Max shook his head ruefully, turning back towards them. Cian abruptly stood Ava up and came to his feet. He dropped a kiss on her lips.

  “I’ll be right back. I have to go the bathroom.” Cian offered as he walked over to Max. They had a quick conversation and turned to exit the room together.

  “What the hell was that?” Macy asked Ava, motioning to where the two guys had been. Ava continued to watch the doorway for another long moment before turning to Macy and shrugging. A cold smile came over her face.

  “I have no idea. But I will find out.”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  “What the hell was that?” Cian bit out angrily as he crossed to Max. “Tell me that wasn’t some puck bunny here in West Virginia.” Max just stood there and looked at him mutely. “Well?”

  “You said not to tell you.” Max retorted sarcastically. “You need to calm down, Key.”

  Cian and Max headed for the hallway where the restrooms were located. Cian checked to make sure no one else was there before turning back to Max. “I can’t believe you just did that.”

  Max shrugged. “You would have been recognized, too if you had bumped into Miss Blonde. It is not a big deal. I got her away from Ava and Macy before she could get out much and told her I was trying to keep a low profile. I’m supposed to meet her over at the hotel in an hour or so.” Max said with a grin. Cian rubbed his hand over his face, looking worried.

  “What am I gonna tell Ava?” Cian said under his breath, pacing back and forth. Max looked shocked for a moment before giving Cian a pained look.

  “Maybe you should tell her the truth.” He offered tentatively. “I do not have any experience with relationships…”

  “I don’t either.” Cian groaned in frustration. Max laughed incredulously. “What the hell do you find so amusing?”

  “You, mon ami.” Max said still grinning. “I usually refrain from offering advice, but I am going to make an exception in your case because you are my best friend. I believe you are making a huge mistake by not telling Ava the truth.” Cian looked at Max angrily before sighing and shaking his head in despair.

  “You don’t know her like I do. She’s not the forgiving sort…”

  “That may be the case but she is more likely to forgive if it comes from you rather than from some stranger.” Cian glared at Max who regarded him with pity. “It does not take a genius to know that no one likes to play the fool.”

  “It’s not like that!” Cian growled at Max. Max shrugged completely unmoved by Cian’s rapidly growing ire.

  “You did not use to be this stupid.” Max shook his head with disgust. “Do what you like.” And turned to exit the room.

  “Wait!” Cian grabbed Max’s arm and snatched him back. Max looked at Cian’s hand on his arm before looking into his eyes with a frown. “What am I gonna tell Ava?” Max continued to stare at him as if he were crazy, before shaking his head in disbelief.

  “You are a moron.” He muttered. After contemplating the ceiling for a few seconds, Max sighed deeply. “Since you insist on involving me in your idiocy tell her I met…” Max reached into his pocket for the scrap of paper and glanced at it. “Tiffani with an ‘I’ at some convention or something and she remembered me from that. What does Ava and Macy think I do for a living anyway?”

  “They never asked and I’d prefer to keep it that way. Give them some vague convention story then distract Macy until time for you to meet up with Tiffani with an ‘I’. I’ll keep Ava occupied.” Cian said matter-of-factly. Max regarded him as if he were mentally challenged before shrugging his shoulders and following Cian out of the restroom.

  Cian’s gaze immediately locked with Ava’s upon their return to the bar area and flashed a smile in her direction. She didn’t return his smile, just studied him dispassionately for a moment before turning back to her conversation with Macy. “Shit.” He swore under his breath while Max winced. “She’s pissed.”

  “Let me handle this.” Max said under his breath and headed directly for the women. Cian hurried after him, afraid of what his exuberant best friend was going to do or say.

  “I apologize, Ladies. Say you will forgive me.” Max stated dramatically, setting beside Macy and flashing them both a chagrined smile.

  “What are we forgiving you for?” Macy asked with interest. He looked slightly embarrassed which worried Cian; Max had never been embarrassed a day in his life.

  “I am afraid you will think less of me.” Max said dejectedly. Ava continued to watch Max even after Cian seated himself beside her. “That young woman you saw me speaking with?” The women nodded. “We met at a conference a few months back. We had a…uh, little fling and I told her I would call…but as so often happens, I did not. I did not think I would ever see Tiffani again.” Max said his voice chagrined. Macy burst out laughing and Ava grinned.

  “So she wrote you a mean note and shoved it deep into your pocket?” Macy teased him. Max laughed ruefully and shook his head.

  “She has graciously allowed me the chance to redeem myself. Cian was reading me the riot act because he figured out some of what was going
on but did not realize I knew Tiffani.” Max answered. “I did not mean to interrupt the party.”

  “It’s not a problem.” Ava assured him with a smile that didn’t quite meet her eyes. She came to her feet and slid her purse onto her shoulder. “I have an early day tomorrow and need to head home for some sleep anyway.” Cian got to his feet, as well, but she turned and motioned him back into his chair. “Stay and visit with Max, Cian. I can get myself home.” She started for the front door of the bar. He hurried after her; Max and Macy following close behind them. She was irate and wasn’t doing much to hide the fact. She was moving so quickly, she made it out the door and almost to her Range Rover before he caught up to her, grabbed her arm and brought her to a halt. She took him completely by surprise when she jerked her arm free and rounded on him, her hands shoving him hard, causing him to stumble back a step.

  “Back off, Cian.” She snarled through gritted teeth. “I said I’m going home to get some rest.” She turned to open the door of the Rover but he put his hand against it so she couldn’t open it.

  “What’s wrong, Ava?” He asked in a soft voice. She turned to glare at him and poked him hard in the chest with her index finger.

  “I don’t know what that bullshit was in there with you and Max or why he just wasted all that breath lying about it, but whatever it was, I’m going home…alone.” she said angrily.

  “Ava…” He began, but she waved his words away and opened her door. “So that’s it? You don’t believe Max so you’re kicking me out?” he asked in a wounded voice. “Come on,

  Ava, that’s crazy.”

  “I’m not kicking you out, Cian. You are, as before, welcome to stay as long as you please as I promised my son. I’m just not sleeping with you anymore.” Her words rang with finality as she seethed with rage, her eyes snapping with blue fire. She was so mad at him, but what worried him the most was the hurt he could see lurking behind the anger.

  “Ava, please…” He pleaded, reaching for her again but she moved to avoid his touch. “This doesn’t make sense.” She turned around to look at him in disbelief.

  “You know what doesn’t make sense? That you would think I’m that damn stupid, Cian. I’m supposed to believe that you went after Max to lecture him on hooking up with strangers in a bar?” Her hands were braced on her hips, and one eyebrow was up. “Especially considering you did it yourself not six weeks ago?” She reminded him of their auspicious first meeting. “You must have really had some dumb bitches in your past if you expected me to fall for that shit. I don’t know what you’re lying about and I don’t care. I’m done with this and I’m done with you.”

  Frustrated anger was getting the best of him as he saw his whole relationship with Ava unraveling in front of his face. He was pissed at himself more than anything for getting himself into this situation in the first place, but her stubborn refusal to let this one little thing go added to the helpless fury that rolled through his body. After the Lani fiasco, one would think he would have learned he wasn’t cut out for relationships. Before he could think better of it, his angry words were out of his mouth. “Fine; if that’s the way you want it, that’s the way you’re gonna get it. I don’t need this shit.” He turned and stormed back into the bar. Ava stared after his retreating form before shaking her head in angry disbelief. Without another word to the gaping Max and Macy, she climbed into her Rover and sped away.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  “I begged Cian to get help, long before our trip to Miami.” A tearful, but gorgeous Lani Mason cried delicately into a tissue, pouring her heart out to the over-the-top, trashy talk show host. The host, looking appropriately sympathetic, placed his arm around Lani’s slender shoulders for a quick hug.

  “I know this is hard for you, Lani, but can you tell me when you first found out your lover, Cian Secord, had a drug problem?” He asked, laying the sincerity on thick.

  “I saw signs from the beginning but denied it to myself for months. “ Her voice caught on a sob. “When I found out, I tried to talk to him but he wanted none of that. Cian loves a party and if you’re going to be with him, you can either party with him or get out. I loved him so much…I made some really bad decisions trying to keep him.” The large, grey eyes that had graced so many magazine covers stared soulfully into the cameras. Cian hit the off button on the television remote and chucked it across the room, the phone still to his ear.

  “I can’t believe this bitch…” He muttered in disgust. He had known Lani was giving interviews, doing everything she could to make herself appear an innocent bystander. He even kind of understood why she would go to such lengths to repair her public image. But even after years of dealing with shallow people that didn’t care who got hurt as long as they got what they wanted, he was still stunned to hear a woman he had once made love with try to make him her scapegoat.

  “I warned you it was bad.” His agent’s voice was weary. “She’s scheduled for several more appearances in the next couple of weeks, plus an interview with People. Maybe you should reconsider filing that lawsuit against her, Cian.”

  “Hell no, Craig! That will just make this three ring circus even more of a nightmare.” He said tiredly, setting on the edge of the bed beside the suitcase he’d been packing. He braced his forehead in his hand and closed his eyes, feeling a headache forming.

  “If we’re not responding, then you need to stay where you are.” Craig said irritation ripe in his voice. “There are reporters at your parents’ home, your apartment building, team headquarters, the arena and my office, just to name a few. It’s your call, Key. Stay where you are in peace or come back here and deal with the press.”

  Cian snorted in disgust wondering where this so-called ‘peace’ was located because it sure as hell wasn’t at Ava’s. It had been over a week and it was still like a nuclear winter in the Talbot household. She barely acknowledged his presence, didn’t speak to him at all and made herself scarce from the premises. She had even gone so far as to bring in a housekeeper to take care of him so she didn’t have to interact with him at all. He’d tried to talk to her on several occasions, as had Max but she refused to listen to either of them. He couldn’t believe how much he missed her. He hadn’t been dumped since middle school and that had only been because the girl had beaten him to the punch. Seeing her every day and not being able to kiss her, touch her or even talk to her was eating him alive and it just got worse as time crawled on. He had halfheartedly considered moving back into the Barracks but hadn’t been able to work up any enthusiasm for it. It was childish but he figured if he was going to be miserable and pissed off, Ava could join him.

  Max’s presence had helped some, though if he were honest with himself, he almost wished Max had never come for a visit. Everything was fine until Max was spotted by that damn groupie at the bar. He knew it wasn’t fair to blame Max but if he didn’t blame Max, the only person left to blame was himself for being stupid enough to continue lying to Ava about who he was and why he was there. He had discussed it with Jameson before coming to West Virginia and they had agreed not to tell Ava. Jay said his mom did not like dealing with drama and especially other people’s drama that didn’t concern her. She wouldn’t have allowed Cian to stay if she had known the possible repercussions. That was all well and good until he had started sleeping with her. He should have come clean with her then but he’d been too busy taking advantage of his good fortune in persuading Ava into bed. He hadn’t planned to get attached. So much for plans, he thought with self-disgust; now he was stuck in a house with a beautiful, sexy as hell woman that he had full carnal knowledge of and she treated him like a leper. For six weeks, he had spent nearly every night in her bed and sometimes a lot of the days. He’d become accustomed to sleeping with her against him all night and now he was barely sleeping at all.

  “Are you listening to me, Key?” Craig asked when Cian failed to answer his question.

  “Yeah, I’m listening.” Cian said scrubbing his hand over his face. “I’ll stay
put for the time being. For the record, I don’t like it.” He grumbled.

  “Yeah, well, welcome to the real world where people do things they don’t like all the time.” Craig’s words dripped sarcasm. “You been working out and staying in shape?”

  “Every day.” Cian responded shortly, irritation evident. “If anything changes, you’ll let me know.” Cian demanded. Craig quickly agreed, wanting to placate his star client as much as possible.

  “I know you’re tired of being cooped up, but it’s not for much longer. One day you’ll look back on this and laugh.” Craig said with a tired sigh, wishing there were more he could do than offer trite clichés. Cian laughed without humor.