Page 43 of Breaking the Ice (Denver Stampede #6)

DANI

M y body seized up, but I wasn’t about to show that to him.

“This again. Really, Roger, it’s getting old. Why can’t you just move on and let me be happy?” I schooled my tone to sound annoyed but not riled up.

“Because this isn’t real between you two. I was a dick and you’re teaching me a lesson or some shit.”

I scoffed. “You can’t be serious.”

“Come on, Dani. You know we’re perfect for each other. We could be a total power couple. Star NHL goalie falls for veteran star NHL goalie’s daughter. The sponsorships would be amazing.”

I should have been offended, but I didn’t care at this point. “Here come the true colors. This was all just a ploy for publicity?”

He shrugged. “And you’re also hot and good in bed.”

“You disgust me.”

“That’s not what you said to me when you were in my bed.”

He fucking leered. What the hell had I ever seen in this guy?

“Jenzy, don’t be an asshole,” Gabe said, still holding my hand. I wished I was sitting next to him, but his touch was enough to help ground me; otherwise, I might have given into the urge to punch Roger.

“What’s wrong, Tucks? She faking it for you?”

“Are we really going to do this right now in the middle of a restaurant?” Gabe gritted out, but now I was beyond pissed.

“Maybe I was faking it for you .” I couldn’t stop the words from coming out of my mouth, and I squared my shoulders when Roger leaned in. I knew I was pushing his buttons, but what the actual fuck with this guy?

He scoffed. “Doubtful. But come on, you know I’m better.”

“One hundred percent not. Also, you know that I don’t want to be tied to my father’s name, so that wouldn’t have worked for your sponsorship plans anyway.”

“Even better. I can help you mend your relationship. People eat that shit up.”

“Do you hear yourself? Even more, do you hear me?” I was so done with this guy.

He reached one toward me and I swatted him away with the hand that wasn’t currently holding Gabe’s. I didn’t miss the anger in his expression at that and I tensed up, itching to really hit him.

“Fine, you want to give me shit about playing games? You’re not even really dating. I heard from a very reliable source that this is all fake.” He waved his hand at Gabe and me.

I rolled my eyes. “Reliable? Who?”

He smirked. “From you.”

“What?” Gabe interjected.

Up until this moment, Gabe hadn’t said much, and I never realized how much I appreciated how he let me fight my own battles. But if I needed him, I knew he’d step up without question.

“When you spill secrets in my arena, you should make sure nobody’s around to hear them.” He looked so fucking smug, and if I thought I was done before, this took the damn cake.

I removed my hand from Gabe’s and clenched my fist. “You know what, you’re right.

We weren’t really dating.” I focused my attention on Roger’s face and not the other people around us.

The restaurant was decently busy and this was the last way I wanted everything to come out, but there was no stopping it now.

Some people were starting to stare and it was only a matter of time before we became the main attraction.

“Dani,” Gabe drew out.

“I knew it,” Roger exclaimed.

I turned my glare back on him. I may have lied, but I refused to let Roger look like anything but the loser prick he was. I stood up and Gabe immediately was at my side.

“Yes, that’s how irritating it was that you couldn’t take no for an answer.

The man so sure of himself refused to believe I wasn’t interested in dating him.

I asked you to leave me alone, and breaking up with you wasn’t enough to get the message across.

Truly pathetic.” I raised my voice a bit at the end in case anyone was recording this.

I already knew that more people were paying attention the more we dragged this mess out, so I was going to control the narrative a bit.

Roger’s eyes narrowed.

“Gabe just happened to be there at the right time.”

I heard murmurs from the people around us, but I no longer cared. The asshole apparently needed this done in public, so it was his own damn fault.

“How sad is it that I had to ask a stranger to kiss me because you couldn’t understand the word no?”

I definitely heard a gasp from someone.

“That’s ridiculous. You were just playing games with me. I could get any girl I wanted.” His backpedaling was weak.

“Just walk away, Roger. This is over, like it should’ve been months ago,” I stated coolly.

“So he’s just some stranger? How’s that feel, Tucks?”

“Really, Jenzy?” Gabe sounded exasperated.

“Don’t you dare, Roger,” I bit out. “Yeah, we started out as fake—”

“I knew it was fake.”

“Shut up, Roger. Yes, it started out that way, but everything I feel for Gabe is real. I’m in love with him.” I paused and turned to Gabe. His expression was unreadable. Disbelief, irritation—hopefully at Roger, not me—and I didn’t know what else. “I’ve fallen for you, Gabriel Tucker.”

“It’s because of Pucks, isn’t it?”

The warmth in his eyes melted me and then there was that smile that I had come to adore more than anything. He was just such a sweet, kind guy, and always looked like a snack. I bit back a grin.

“He’s a nice bonus. And yeah, I know this is fast, and I really didn’t intend to do it in quite this way, but I love you.”

He cupped my cheek. “How convenient, because I’m totally in love with you, too.”

I stretched up to kiss him, brushing my lips against his. I hadn’t planned to confess my feelings—hell, I hadn’t fully realized I was in love with him until Roger couldn’t shut up—but the moment felt surprisingly right.

“Oh please. You’re not in love with him. He’s a goalie, and you clearly have a type, that’s all.”

Roger’s voice grated on my last nerve and I spun to face him, poking him in the chest. “Don’t you dare taint this, you jerk. Gabe is amazing, a freaking walking green flag, and I had no clue he was a goalie when I kissed him.”

“Enough, Roger. This has gone on for long enough. Just walk away,” Gabe said evenly, his hand on my hip.

I swore I heard someone say “burn” behind us.

“Don’t tell me what to do, Tucks.” Roger leaned closer to Gabe, and I wouldn’t have faulted Gabe if he decked the piece of shit, but I already knew that punching my ex wasn’t Gabe’s style.

He stayed calm. God knows, Roger was itching to have his face rearranged, but I didn’t want Gabe to end up suspended for hitting another player off the ice.

I lowered my voice and moved in closer to Roger. “Just walk away. The longer you draw this out, the more of a dick you’re going to appear. Not that it isn’t accurate.”

He bristled.

“We have an audience. Wouldn’t want your fans to know what a true asshole you are, right? I have no problem telling them if you don’t just go away and leave me alone.”

His eyes narrowed.

“Roger, move on,” a man said, coming up behind him.

“Fuck off, Tony,” he said.

“As your agent, I would suggest you leave before this turns into a media shitstorm, and from what I’ve seen so far, you will not come out as the better guy. Remember, we have contract negotiations coming up this season.” Then he nodded to me. “Ms. Albans, hope your father is doing well.”

I tried hard not to roll my eyes again. Looking back now, there was no doubt in my mind that this guy had probably encouraged Roger to date me because of my dad. It was super gross.

“Fine, I can be the bigger person,” Roger said, raising his voice as he stepped back. “I had real feelings for you, Dani.”

I held back my scoff. He was full of shit, but if he had to save face to get out of my face, I didn’t care. Of course, I had a sense his image was going to take a hit after this bullshit anyway, and I was all for it. Served the asshole right.

Then he dropped his head like he was heartbroken and walked away, Tony trailing behind him. It was quite the performance. I spotted more than one woman in the crowd approach him.

Good luck with that .

Hopefully, any woman who was interested in him would do her homework first. There was no way tonight’s scene wouldn’t end up online, if it hadn’t already.

I glanced up to see our waitress and a woman with the bearing of a manager coming toward us, concern in their eyes. Dammit, I loved this place and now I wasn’t going to be able to come here again.

Fucking Roger.

“Is everything okay?” The other woman asked. “I’m Bonnie, the manager.”

“Umm, yes. Sorry about that scene.” My emotions were barely in check. I just had to remain cool and collected until I could get out of here. But I wanted dessert.

Her expression softened. “No, don’t even worry about it. He looked like he needed someone to put him in his place. Can I get you anything? Cocky men are the worst, if you don’t mind me saying.”

My laugh was harsh. “No kidding. And we should probably just get the check?”

“Of course. I’ll bring it right over,” Bonnie said, and both women walked away.

Ugh. What were the two of them saying? I hated the thought that I might become gossip fodder and that I probably had to stop coming here. The food was so good.

There were still some people looking over at me, and I tried not to bristle at the looks of pity coming from a few of them. Luckily, most were quick to look away when I made eye contact.

I turned toward Gabe. “I’m so sorry about this mess.”

He gripped my hip. “I’m sorry that Jenzy is a dick, but I’m not sorry that you told me you loved me.”

One side of my mouth quirked up. This was not how I’d planned tonight going at all.

“To be clear, that wasn’t just for him, was it?”

He looked so hopeful, and my heart pounded in my chest.

TUCKS

Please let that not have been just for Jenzy’s benefit .

Did I look desperate? I felt it.

She nibbled on her lower lip, her eyes locking on mine, and I swore she took a visible breath.

“Can we sit?” she asked, which didn’t help my nerves at all.

“Uh, sure.” I sat down across from her again.

She fidgeted with her fingers and I held my breath.