Page 41 of Breaking the Ice (Denver Stampede #6)

DANI

“ H ow sweet was that win last night? I swear Roger was crying in his Wheaties or whatever the hell he eats in the morning,” Belinda said as she plopped down in the chair opposite my desk the following morning.

“What? Oh yeah, it was a great game. Wait. You watched?” My last client and his father had just left, and I was trying to get through my emails before the next one showed up in thirty minutes. But I guessed my emails could wait since Belinda obviously wanted to chat.

“Of course I did.” She flashed me a smile. “I’ve watched all the games.”

“You were not a hockey fan last season.”

“My friend and amazing coworker is dating a hockey player, so you bet your ass I’m watching.”

I chuckled. “Fake dating. And you didn’t watch when I was dating Roger.”

She quirked a brow. “I never liked Roger or thought he was perfect for you. And are we still doing that nonsense?”

“It’s not nonsense. I mean, it is, but yeah, the ruse is still going.” I ignored her comment about Roger.

“Dani, you know that’s not what I meant.”

Yeah, I knew. But I didn’t feel like acknowledging it. Last night had been another amazing night with Gabe, and not just because of the Stampede beating Roger’s team—fucking hell, that’d been beyond sweet.

Gabe had filled me in on Roger being a dick during that last TV timeout. He hadn’t wanted to, but I pestered him until he told me. I wanted to smack Roger across the head. His stupid, thick head.

“When are you going to tell that man that you’re in love with him?”

“Excuse me? I’m not.” Her eyes narrowed. “What? I’m not. There’s no way. It’s been less than a month, and he’s just helping me out. We’re friends.”

“Who fuck.”

“Belinda,” I exclaimed.

She shrugged. “Where’s the lie? Aside from the one where you’re telling yourself that it’s too early to be in love or that it didn’t stop being fake dating almost as soon as it started.”

“It was definitely fake dating for a long time,” I huffed.

“Your response seems very practiced. Almost as if you’ve had to repeat it to more than one person calling you on your bullshit. What does Mal think?”

“You are a terrible friend.”

“We both know that’s a lie too. Mal loves me. And I’m an amazing friend. You just aren’t a fan when I’m insightful about you. I wouldn’t be a very good therapist if I couldn’t read people and see through the bullshit they try to tell themselves.”

“Rude,” I muttered.

She chuckled. “So, really. Want to talk about what is holding you back?”

I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned back in my chair. “No, thank you.”

“Maybe you think that you’ve had a bad run with athletes, goalies in particular, and when a nice and gorgeous man, who is the sweetest guy, happens to also be a goalie, you think history will repeat itself.”

“Isn’t that the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result?”

“Not if there’s a clear difference in the person or situation.

Gabe is not your father and he sure as hell isn’t Roger.

He’s smitten and not a controlling asshole.

He shows up when you didn’t even ask, like at the center yesterday.

He knows what’s important to you and doesn’t wait for you to tell him. Do you know how amazing that is?”

I sighed. “I know. But he could also be doing that because he’s just a nice guy.”

“Who are you fooling?”

“Hopefully you,” I drew out, and she barked out a laugh.

“Okay, sure.”

“Don’t you have a session coming up?”

She shrugged. “Thought I’d do some pro bono for you.”

I narrowed my eyes. “So not funny.”

She grinned. “I thought it was. But really, I just want you to be happy and respected by the man you’re dating—don’t even try to say fake right now.”

I huffed.

“That’s what I thought. Good guys are hard to come by, and Gabe seems legit. Don’t ignore what could be amazing because of your past.”

“I know. Don’t let your past ruin your future. You’ve said that for years.”

“And it’s true.”

“So, who are you dating at the moment?” I asked, trying not to grin when she gave me an annoyed look. Turnabout is fair play and all.

“We’re focused on you right now. I’ve got no time to date anyway. I’ve got Jasper and my hardheaded friend who can’t see what’s right in front of her taking up all my time and energy.”

“Very funny,” I deadpanned.

“You know I’m teasing. Just be happy, Dani.”

My shoulders slumped. “I want to be, but I don’t want to get burned.”

“I get that you find it hard to trust yourself, but you had an inkling that Roger was bad. Unfortunately, he had a great dick so it slowed down your processing.”

I wrinkled my nose. “Don’t remind me. Although I’m happy to say that Gabe is more amazing in everything.”

A wide grin split her face. “Those good boys can be the best people pleasers.”

Heat filled my body and my cheeks were on fire.

“I’m happy for you,” she repeated.

“Thanks.”

“And I know you’re wary, but trust your gut, okay?”

“I’ll try.”

She reached across my desk to squeeze my hand. “Lunch tomorrow?”

“Deal.” I was truly was grateful for her friendship, even if her logical delivery about the facts of my life was sometimes annoying.

“Now, maybe think about something boring, like baseball, and not your boyfriend’s tongue. You have a session coming up.” She grinned and stood up.

I gave her a mock glare. “Go away. We are so not friends anymore.”

She chuckled as she walked out of my office.

Later that night I plopped down on my couch, work clothes exchanged for comfy pjs, and was about to indulge in some brainless reality competition show and Chinese takeout. Gabe had dinner plans with his teammates, and I was grateful for a night off.

It wasn’t like I really had to be on anymore, and it wasn’t like I didn’t enjoy hanging out with Gabe and his friends, but after talking to Belinda, I just wanted to veg out and decide if I could really trust my gut. She’d done me dirty so many times in the past.

My phone buzzed on the table next to me, and Maisie’s paw darted out to knock it off the table.

“I don’t want to be bothered either, but it could be important,” I said, reaching for it before she could bat it away again.

I could already feel myself smiling as I saw Gabe’s text.

Gabe: Dinner is boring without you. Sleepover as soon as I can bail?

My body instantly heated.

Dani: It’s not nice to text someone while you’re out with your friends.

Gabe: What are you wearing?

Gabe: Or not wearing?

[winking emoji]

I chuckled. This man gave me the warm fuzzies all over my body and I wanted to not be jaded. Ugh. How had I let it get to this messy point?

Fucking Roger.

No. I would not think about him. Or the fact that he’d tried to send me a friend request under a different name this afternoon. I’d blocked that one, as well.

My phone dinged again.

Gabe: You don’t have to tell me.

I shoved Roger from my mind. I only wanted to focus on Gabe. He truly was incredible. And constantly in the mood, which I was reaping the benefits from.

Gabe: What competition is on tonight?

I chuckled. Was he pivoting because I wasn’t responding to his sexting?

Fuck it. I stood up, quickly shucked my yoga pants so I was just wearing one of his shirts that hit me just below mid-thigh. Propping my phone up on the bookcase so it was at the perfect angle to not show too much skin, I set the timer to take a selfie. Then I sent it.

Gabe: Fucking warn a guy. Damn.

Gabe: That’s my shirt, isn’t it?

Gabe: You can keep it.

Gabe: Your place or mine tonight?

Dani: I didn’t agree to a sleepover.

Gabe: Umm. Okay.

I grinned. Messing with him was too much fun.

Dani: Your place. Wouldn’t want Pucks to be by himself all night.

Gabe: You’re a terrible tease. For that, I’m going to bring you to the brink more times than you can count before I let you come.

I sucked in a breath. Fucking hell. For such a nice guy, his dirtier side came out at all the right times. My body shuddered in anticipation.

Dani: Aren’t you supposed to be a nice guy?

Gabe: I’ll be very nice. I’ll text you when I’m on my way over.

Gabe: I cannot wait to taste every inch of your body. I’ll get some dessert to go. You know how much I enjoy my sweets, and chocolate cream on your skin sounds delectable.

I squirmed in my seat, my body on fire.

Dani: Are you guys almost done with dinner?

Gabe: We just got our food.

Dani: Eat fast so you can come eat me.

I couldn’t believe I’d actually said that to him. But now I wanted him to hurry up; my night of relaxing and vegging out sounded boring.

Gabe: And now I’m rock hard and can’t do anything about it. Don’t touch yourself until I get there. It’s only fair.

Dani: You weren’t fair when you started this conversation.

Gabe: If you come before I get there, I’m only going to snuggle you tonight.

Dani: That sounds terrible. Maybe you should get dinner and dessert to go so I don’t have to wait too long.

***

Twenty minutes later, he showed up with dessert.

“I might’ve inhaled my food just so I could get over here and inhale you.” His eyes gleamed with heat that absolutely matched mine.

“I thought I was going to meet you at your place?”

“I couldn’t wait. So how about we start here and end up there? Don’t want Pucks to get too lonely.”

And then I was in his arms and his lips were on mine.

Was he too perfect to be real or was I finally going to figure out how to get out of my own way and reach for the happiness I craved almost as much as I craved his body pressed against mine?

TUCKS

“Okay, one more costume, I promise,” I said, grabbing the Bumblebee Transformer costume. Halloween was coming up in a week and we had our team party in a few days, but first we had our hospital visit and Pucks was coming with us.

Since Micah’s nickname, Micahtron, had gotten out last season, Josie had been on us to go full Transformers this year, and Micah had begrudgingly agreed. Dani still hadn’t agreed to a costume for the team party, but I was going to present her with a few ideas tonight at dinner.