Mistletoe Games: A Play-By-Play Anthology

by Jaci Burton

  “She lies. She did most of it herself,” Gavin said. “The only thing I did was utilize my expert turkey-carving skills.”

  “He tried to slice his finger off with the electric knife,” Mick said. “Thank God I was there to save him, or his career would have been over.”

  Gavin rolled his eyes. “In your dreams. My knifing skills are legendary.”

  “Yeah. In your own mind.”

  After dinner, Kathleen declared that the men were in charge of putting away the leftovers and loading the dishwasher. Despite much grumbling about missing the game, the guys headed into the kitchen to do their duties while the women settled into the family room.

  “How have you been feeling since the wedding?” Tara asked her.

  “Oh . . . fine.”

  “Really? No ill effects from that flu bug?”

  “No. Not really.”

  Tara gave her a look. “Are you sure? Because you still look a little pale to me.”

  “Actually, you are a little pale, Liz,” Alicia said. “There are a lot of people out sick on our therapy team with the flu. God, it’s been awful. I’ve been hoping I don’t get it.”

  “No, I don’t have the flu.”

  “So, how far along are you?” Tara asked with a knowing smile.

  “Excuse me?”

  “You’re pregnant? How did I not know this?” Jenna looked affronted.

  And Liz knew she’d never be able to hide this from the women she held so dear. She gave them all a smile. “Actually, I just took a test this morning, and it said I was pregnant.”

  “Seriously? That’s awesome,” Alicia said. “Congratulations!”

  Then she was surrounded by everyone and hugged. She couldn’t help but smile and laugh and shed a few tears.

  “Dammit, you’re all making me weepy and emotional, and you know I hate that shit.”

  “Well, get used to it. It’ll get worse before it gets better,” Tara said. “I was a water faucet and an emotional basket case when I was pregnant with Sam.”

  “I’m going to get a grip here very soon. I don’t intend to let hormones get the best of me.”

  Kathleen laughed. “Good luck with that, sweetheart. I don’t think you get to control your hormones when you’re pregnant.”

  She lifted her chin. “I refuse to let my body take over. It’s bad enough I’m throwing up.”

  “It’s only the first trimester,” Alicia said. “After that, you’ll be back to normal again.”

  She didn’t think anything would ever be normal again. Her life—her and Gavin’s lives—was about to change forever.

  Surprisingly, and considering it was late December, the day had turned out beautifully. No snow, and it was in the fifties, so the guys went outside to shoot baskets. After that, everyone came inside for dessert.

  Kathleen’s coconut cream pie was a big hit. Liz had made pecan pie, which everyone loved, and Savannah had made a peach pie that was to die for. Though she wasn’t hungry, Liz had to sample everything.

  “And now I’m so full I think I’m going to explode,” she said.

  “Think how awesome it’s going to be not to have to suck in your stomach anymore,” Jenna said.

  Liz laughed. “You’re right. That’s the most awesome thing ever.” She rubbed her belly. “Thanks, baby. My diet is officially over for at least the next, I don’t know, seven months or so.”

  They all opened gifts, and then everyone left early in the evening, which suited her just fine. She loved Gavin’s family—her family—but it had been one hell of a long day and she was utterly exhausted. Plus, after finding out she was pregnant, she wanted some time alone with her husband.

  After they said good-bye to the last of the family, she and Gavin shut and locked the door. He slipped his arm around her waist and tugged her close, then brushed his lips against hers. She melted into him and took the moment to breathe in his scent, then laid her head against his chest.

  “Thank you,” she said, wrapping her arms around him.

  “For what?”

  “For loving me. For marrying me. For giving me a baby.”

  He tipped her chin up with his fingers, forcing her to meet his gaze. “How about I thank you? I was watching you when you fell asleep on my lap last night, thinking about how much my life has changed since I fell in love with you. And how much I want to make you happy.”

  Her eyes filled with tears. Gavin swiped them from her cheeks and kissed her again.

  “You’ve already made all my dreams come true.”

  He laid his hand on her belly. “This is it, babe. You and me—parents. Think we can handle it?”

  “I know you’ll make a wonderful father. Now me as a mom? The poor kid.”

  “I don’t know if I’ve ever known anyone with a deeper capacity to love than you. Our child is very lucky to have you as a mother.”

  All those years she’d fought so hard to become just as successful as her male counterparts in the sports world. She’d won that battle, but she’d never thought she’d have the man of her dreams.

  She’d made so many mistakes along the way, and she’d almost lost Gavin. But he’d been there for her when she’d needed him the most, and he’d seen through all her bullshit and had wanted her anyway. She’d be forever grateful to him for busting through her walls and getting to her heart.

  They spent some time sitting together around the Christmas tree, enjoying the quiet of the house and the twinkling lights.

  “It’s been a perfect day,” Gavin said.

  “A rough start to it, yet a happy one.”

  “You ready for bed?” he asked.

  She nodded, and they turned off the lights and started up the stairs.

  “You’re off the hook now, you know,” she said as they got into the bedroom.

  He frowned. “Huh?”

  “Well, now that I’m pregnant, I won’t be after you to have sex with me every day.”

  “So now that you’ve used me for my baby-making abilities, you’re casting me aside like a used condom?”

  She laughed. “Yeah, it was good while it lasted, but we’re through.”

  He picked her up and set her on the bed. “Nice try, Elizabeth.” He loomed over her and tugged at her pants. “But I’m nowhere near through with you.”

  She reached for him to pull him against her. “And that’s why I love you, Gavin.”

  Because she knew no matter how long they were together, every time would be as fresh, new, and exciting as the first time.

  And the best was yet to come.

  HOLIDAY ON ICE

  ONE

  Patrick “Trick” Niemeyer walked into McGill’s, his favorite after-game bar hangout, with several of his fellow players.

  It had been a grueling game tonight, and they’d eked out a win by only one goal over Winnipeg. Since it was Friday night and they were on home turf, they deserved to celebrate.

  “I need a drink—or three,” Drew Hogan said.

  He and Drew were of like minds there, which didn’t surprise him since they were friends and had been as long as they’d both played for the New York Travelers.

  “Let’s get this party started.” Trick led the way to the bar.

  “How many of us are having beer?” Avery Mangino, their goalie and the main reason they’d won tonight, turned and counted as all of them raised fingers.

  “Okay, that’s a half dozen.” Avery turned to the bartender, who slid bottles across.

  Trick took a long draw from the bottle, then sighed. Nice and cold, like the ice had been tonight. But the crowd had been hot, and so had the game. They’d had to work hard for this win, and it had been a nail-biter all the way to the buzzer at the end of the third period.

  “We need to avoid these close ones,” Avery said, leaning against the bar. “You all a
re going to have to score more goals next time.”

  “It’s Trick’s fault,” Drew said. “He let that asshole steal the puck on a power play and slide one past you.”

  “I agree,” Boyd Litman said. “Let’s blame Trick.”

  “I don’t know,” Trick said. “You looked a little slow, Boyd. Stay up past your bedtime last night?”

  “I say we blame the defense,” Drew said.

  Avery frowned. “Don’t mess with my defense.”

  “Someone fucking with us?” Colin Kozlow slung an arm around Avery’s shoulder. “If it wasn’t for us, we’d have been down by several goals since you pansies could only sink two in the net tonight.”

  They spent at least a half hour giving each other shit, ordered up a few more beers, then set up at the pool table. Nothing like winding down after a particularly grueling game.

  Trick had found a comfortable spot leaning against the wall, watching the guys take their shots, when the door opened and two women walked in. Not that women being in the bar was unusual, but these two caught his eye.

  He noticed the blonde right away. Tall, with short hair and big blue eyes, she stood out even across the room. She was slender, and wore black leather boots over skintight jeans. She had on a long coat that hid the rest of her body, but Trick knew that body well, just like he knew the woman well.

  Stella Slovinski.

  He hadn’t seen her in a while. They’d been hot and heavy on and off for several months late last year, and some earlier this year, and then they’d lost touch. She was a dancer, and about as busy as he was during his season. It had been a no-strings kind of thing, just the way he’d wanted it, and so had she.

  He couldn’t even remember why they’d stopped seeing each other.

  Jobs, probably.

  He sure liked seeing her right now. So did every other guy in the place. Stella was the kind of woman who commanded a man’s attention without even trying. It was the way she moved, with a confidence and grace like she didn’t give a shit if a man looked, but she had to know they were all looking.

  She didn’t make eye contact, in fact was laughing with her female friend as they grabbed a table at the opposite corner of the room. She shrugged out of her coat, and he saw she was wearing a body-hugging top.

  She’d lost some weight since the last time he saw her, which was . . .

  Hell . . . March, maybe? He’d been at the tail end of his season, and busy, trying to make the playoffs, working his ass off. He hadn’t called her. She hadn’t called him.

  And then the Travelers had lost in the playoffs, and he’d taken time off, gone to visit his mom. He’d taken a vacation, done some endorsements, and he’d still never heard from Stella. It wasn’t like they’d even dated. It had been more like a series of hookups.

  Fun ones, too. His lips curved at the thought.

  “You’re up, Trick,” Avery said.

  He took his shot, and when he finished, he grabbed another beer and took up his spot against the wall, trying not to look at Stella, while still watching her.

  Stella was deep in conversation with her friend and hadn’t once looked his way.

  He wanted to talk to her. It would be polite to go over and at least say hello, right? Otherwise, he’d be rude, and he wasn’t an asshole. They knew each other, and he’d at least spotted her. If nothing else, they could put their relationship to bed.

  So to speak.

  He pushed off the wall and headed her way.

  * * *

  “So then he said— Oh, shit.”

  Stella arched her brow at Greta’s curse. “Oh, shit . . . what?”

  “Oh, shit, you have got to check out the hot guy heading our way. And he’s got eyes only for you.”

  She dragged her gaze away from Greta, and on . . .

  “Oh. That’s Trick.”

  “You know him?”

  Her lips curved. “I most definitely know him.”

  She stood just as Trick got to their table. “Well, hi. I didn’t know you’d be in here tonight.”

  He smiled back at her. “This is my favorite bar, remember?”

  “I actually did remember that just now.” She turned. “This is Trick. Trick, this is my sister, Greta.”

  Greta stood and shook Trick’s hand.

  “Nice to meet you, Greta.”

  “You, too, Trick.”

  Stella motioned for Trick to take a seat. He stretched out his long, oh-so-fine body next to hers.

  It had been a long time. She normally never missed guys she’d slept with, but Trick? She’d missed having him in her bed.

  “I didn’t know you had a sister.” He looked them over. Greta was pretty, blonde like her sister, with her hair worn longer and pulled back in a ponytail. Their facial features were similar, and they both had those striking blue eyes, though Greta’s were a darker blue.

  “She’s visiting from out of town.”

  Trick made sure to give Greta some attention. “Is that right? And where is out of town, Greta?”

  “Currently, I’m in D.C., but I’m in town for a job interview, so if it all goes well I might be moving here to New York City.”

  He grinned. “Great time of year for it, too. All the decorations are up for the Christmas holidays.”

  “I know. I’ve been gawking at everything and Stella has been showing me all the holiday sights. It’s fantastic. The tree at Rockefeller Center is amazing. And the window displays are works of art. I love it!”

  “I’m sure having you move up here would make Stella happy.”

  “It would make Stella very happy,” Stella said with a grin. “Now we just have to hope she didn’t bomb the interview.”

  “Hey,” Greta said. “I totally aced it.”

  “Where are you interviewing?”

  “A PR firm.”

  “And she’s right. I’m sure she did ace it,” Stella said.

  “Did they say when they’d get back to you?”

  “Surprisingly, by the end of the week,” Greta said. “Usually these things take a while, but I’m the last candidate they interviewed. I talked to the head of the firm as well as the VP. I’m hopeful.”

  “She’s very good at her job,” Stella said.

  Trick liked that Stella pumped up her sister. “So you’re staying the weekend, Greta?”

  “I am. And what do you do, Trick?”

  “Hockey player.”

  Greta frowned for a few seconds, then her eyes widened. “Ohhh, of course. I should have known. You have the fierce, competitive look about you.”

  “Do you like hockey?”

  “I love hockey. As a matter of fact—”

  “Yes. She loves hockey,” Stella said, interrupting her sister. “So maybe you can hook her up with some tickets if she gets the job and moves up here.”

  “I’d be happy to.”

  Greta shot a bemused look at Stella. “So . . . how do you and Trick know each other?”

  Stella shrugged. “Oh, Trick and I go way back. We’re old friends.”

  “Is that right? Knowing how much of a hockey fan you are, Stell, I don’t doubt that. So you’ve been to his games?”

  “A few.” Stella gave him a knowing smile. “I’m kind of a fan.”

  Trick laughed. “We actually met through one of my teammates. Stella’s a friend of Carolina Preston, and she was dating Drew Hogan.”

  Greta leaned back in her chair and picked up her drink, taking a sip through her straw. “Interesting. How come you never told me this?”

  Stella shrugged. “Not much to tell.”

  It was obvious Stella didn’t want her sister to know about what went down between them. He got that. Sometimes your sex life was your business, and he wasn’t about to reveal anything.

  He stood. “I won’t take up any more
of your time. Good to see you again, Stella.”

  “You, too, Trick.”

  “And great to meet you, Greta.”

  “Same here.”

  He walked away, wishing he could have had some alone time with Stella, but this wasn’t the right time or place. She needed to spend time with her sister, and he needed to get back to his friends.

  It was good to see her again, though, and it reminded him how much he liked being with her.

  He wanted to see her again. The question was—did she feel the same way?

  * * *

  Stella resisted the urge to watch Trick walk away, knowing the view would be spectacular.

  For some reason, when they chose this bar, she hadn’t expected Trick and his friends to be here. How stupid of her. Maybe subconsciously . . .

  Greta grasped her wrist. “You did not tell me you knew Trick. And you could have introduced him as Patrick Niemeyer of the Travelers. I don’t know how I missed that connection when he walked up. Probably because I’ve only ever seen him before in uniform.”

  She leveled a benign gaze on her sister. “Yes. I know Trick.”

  “Is that why you took me to the hockey game tonight?”

  “No. I took you to the game because we both like hockey.”

  “Uh huh.” Her sister tapped her nails on the table, studying her, then her eyes widened. “Oh, my God, Stella. Did you have a thing with him?”

  “Define ‘thing.’”

  Greta rolled her eyes. “Now you’re being coy, and you’re never coy about men. Spill it.”

  Having a little sister had always been great. They were only a few months over a year apart, and it had been fabulous growing up together. But it also meant Stella had very few secrets. Though she had managed to keep a couple.

  Trick had been one of them.

  She waved her hand back and forth. “It was no big deal. We hooked up off and on for a while late last year. It ran its course.”

  Greta searched the bar, her attention settling on Trick and his friends. “I don’t think it has run its course at all. Not for him and definitely not for you. I saw your eyes light up when he came to our table.”