Page 25 of Breaking the Ice (Denver Stampede #6)

DANI

“ T hanks,” I said when Cora passed me my vodka soda. I was only going to have two max. Maybe three.

By some miracle, I had no clients tomorrow. The few scheduled had canceled, so the only plans I had were to enjoy the game and sleep in tomorrow before swinging by One Center in the afternoon after I met with Meredith.

I was excited and apprehensive about my meeting.

I didn’t want anyone to think that we were getting assistance from the team just because of who I was dating, but the thought had crossed my mind more than once, so I knew it would cross others’ as well.

But it was for the kids, so I kept my focus on that.

“The zoomies killed me.” Harper laughed as she clinked her beer bottle to my glass.

I smiled. Why was that man so damn adorable? He’d texted back that his face was fine and then we’d watched the media clip as soon as we’d arrived at the bar. Gabe had told reporters that he’d gotten the zoomies and overshot his jump.

“He’s annoyingly adorable,” I muttered.

“Yeah, he is,” Josie said, knocking her shoulder into mine and giving me a knowing wink. These ladies were pushing hard for me to fall for Gabe, but I didn’t want to fall for anyone right now, and if I did, a hockey player would be at the bottom of my list.

And yes, I knew it had become a mantra I continually told myself, but if I said it enough, it would come true, right?

Why the hell did he have to be a damn athlete?

My dating history included a few of them, and I’d been burned by them every time.

I should know better than to cave so easily to his charm.

But his charm wasn’t fake, dammit. He was exasperatingly genuine.

Weirdo.

“You okay?” Cora asked.

“Yeah, just nervous about meeting with Meredith tomorrow.” It wasn’t a complete lie.

She gave me a reassuring smile. “You’re going to be awesome. It’s clear you love those kids and that’s all that matters. Plus, we like helping where we can. Win-win.”

I laughed softly. “Let’s hope so.”

“And if you ever want more bunny books for your clients or to have in the waiting room, I’m happy to supply.”

“Thank you. That’s very generous.”

She shrugged. “I don’t agree with the idea of hoarding my wealth.

Can’t take it with me, so I might as well share it.

I don’t see a need to be on some list of richest people or whatever and luckily, neither do my brother, Will, or Kris, so we help where we can and where it makes sense.

And helping kids will always make sense. ”

I didn’t miss the brief look of sadness that crossed her features.

I knew a bit of her story, but only the part that had made it into the media.

Her parents and younger brother had been killed in a plane crash when she was a teenager, and she had been raised by her older brother, Christian, who’d been a college student at the time.

It couldn’t have been easy for either of them and probably had helped them become the compassionate people they were now.

“Also? Those boys have energy to burn, so if the Center needs anything built or whatever, we’ll send them over.”

I chuckled. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Let’s face it, it never hurts watching a bunch of ripped men get all sweaty building stuff.”

I smirked. “And there’s the real reason you volunteer them.” She just shrugged and clinked her glass with mine, then we chatted with the rest of the women and waited for the guys to show up.

***

“There’s that smoking team captain,” Cora called out a short while later as a few of the players started trickling into the bar.

The energy had already started ramping up as more fans arrived to wait for our winning team.

I reveled in that excitement, but it was also bittersweet.

I hadn’t been allowed in bars when my father was still playing, but I remembered the family events and hanging out with my father’s teammates’ kids.

That comradery, that excitement when the team won and we got to celebrate together.

I would have been lying if I said I hadn’t missed some of that. Which was stupid. Those friendships had faded years ago, but watching Gabe and his teammates and their families made me think about easier times, before my father really showed his true colors toward us, especially to my brother.

Mal had apparently turned on the game during the second period and heard our father commentating, so he texted me.

I felt bad for not telling him that our father was going to be in attendance.

It’s not like he didn’t know that the man was in town since the asshole had shared a picture of us—one that I’d actively tried to avoid taking with him—from the Stampede charity event the other night.

I reiterated that I had zero plans to see our father tonight.

Mal brushed it off, like he’d done for years, and it niggled in the back of my mind. Did Mal truly not care how our father felt about him, or was it just an act? If it was, then I fucking hated my father for making my amazing brother feel even an ounce less than awesome.

“Everything okay?” Gabe asked, and I jumped. Where the hell had he come from?

“What?” I asked, trying to get my bearings.

His head dipped down to mine, concern in his eyes. “You looked sad. Everything okay?”

Pressing my hand to his chest, I felt his pulse beat strong as his heat enveloped me.

“What? Yes, of course,” I said. “You freaking startled me.”

“Sorry. I thought you noticed me walking over here. Want to talk about what had you so distracted that you didn’t even see me coming?”

I shook my head. “I’m fine.”

He brushed his thumb over my lower lip and I wanted to nibble, so I did, nipping the flesh of his thumb lightly and loving when he sucked in a breath, his blue eyes darkening.

“Don’t distract me. We already discussed that I’m well aware what fine really means.”

“We should get you a drink to celebrate that awesome win. You really stood on your head tonight. Oh, and how is your head, or actually, your face? I can’t believe you said you had the zoomies.” I was rambling, and I could tell by the quirked brow that he was going to call me on it.

Instead, he tightened his grip on my hip with one hand, then leaned in and feathered his mouth across mine.

I couldn’t stop the soft groan that spilled from my mouth as he teased me with his lips, kissing me gently, just a whisper. My body needed more, so I swiped my tongue against the seam of his lips, and he thankfully parted them to give me the kiss I wanted. Needed.

But he pulled away before I could go deeper.

“Are you done?” he asked.

“You’re mean,” I muttered.

He snorted. “How? I just kissed you.”

I scoffed. “Please. That was barely a kiss.”

“Maybe you tell me what made you look so sad when I walked in and I’ll give you a better kiss.”

Ugh, I didn’t want to get into my feelings right now—or probably ever.

“It was nothing. I said I was fine.” I tried to keep the bite out of my tone, but he was frustrating me and that half-kiss thing had been very unsatisfying.

“Guess we’re not kissing tonight.”

Is this how this was going to go? I knew I wound him up just as much as he did me. I guess two could play at this game.

I trailed my fingers down the front of his dress shirt. Dammit, this man filled out a suit to perfection. Another plus to game days—exquisitely tailored game day suits. If he turned around, I probably would have copped a feel of his ass. No shame, either.

“You do not play fair.” I huffed out a breath.

He just grinned expectantly.

“Fine. I was just thinking about my father and Mal.”

“Did your dad text you again? About dinner?”

“What? Yeah, but—wait, did he get to you?”

“What?” Gabe shook his head. “No. He just came by the locker room before the game.”

My lust evaporated and I felt on edge again. That man could not go back to Montreal fast enough.

“What did he say to you?” I asked, tugging on his elbow.

He moved in close, holding my gaze. I really could get lost in those gorgeous eyes.

Nope. Focus.

“It’s fine, Dani.”

“Fine? Didn’t you just give me shit about that word?”

“Okay, different word. It’s okay.”

“That doesn’t sound much better. So, was he super charming or a dick?” I knew my father wouldn’t show his true colors to a bunch of young NHL players that he wanted to worship him.

“He was friendly. Wanted to see if we could join him for dinner.”

I snorted. “No thank you. Did he guilt you?”

He shook his head. “Of course not. I told him that it was completely up to you to decide about dinner. He’s your father.”

“Bet he loved that. Did he follow up with something about you making the decisions?”

“Uh, actually no,” he drew out.

Fuck. What the hell had my father said?

Gabe linked his fingers with mine and gave me a smile.

“I also added that I knew Mal was back in town and that he should come to. That I hadn’t met him yet, but from how much you talked about how great he was, I couldn’t wait to do so.”

My mouth parted. Oh my god, Gabe actually looked smug.

I dropped his hand and twined my arms around his neck, lifting up on to my toes. “Seriously, that is perfect. Thank you.” And then before I could question what the hell I was doing, I sealed my mouth to his.

A soft, startled sound left his lips and then his hands were gripping my hips as I slanted my mouth to deepen the kiss.

His body rocked against mine, hard and warm and perfect, and the need to climb him overtook my senses. Watching him tonight on the ice and then hearing how he’d responded to my father was apparently a massive turn-on.

Who knew?

My fingers sank into the hair at the back of his neck and I swallowed his groan as I scraped my nails along his hairline.

Then his mouth opened and his tongue tangled with mine. Everything around me vanished as he kissed me back with equal fervor.