Page 2 of Fake-Off with Fate (Love in Maple Falls #1)

JAMIE

Trying to relax into the lumpy cushions of the ancient sofa that came with my rental, I click the link on my phone sent to me by the editor of the Maple Falls Gazette . It’s the article about my recruitment to the Ice Breakers.

Coach Dale Hauser of Maple Falls’ very own Ice Breakers has just announced his choice for captain, Jamie Hayes.

Hauser tapped Hayes for this coveted position on his newly minted NHL team, claiming, “There’s no one I trust more to lead my guys to victory.

Jamie is a straight arrow who knows the importance of teamwork.

I’m excited to be working with him again. ”

Hayes comes to us from the New York Blades where he played center for the last six years. Before that, he was with the Chicago Flame. He started his career at the University of Illinois in Chicago where he first played under Coach Hauser.

I recently spoke with Jamie, who told me, “I’m looking forward to getting to know all the guys and can’t wait to work with Dale again. I owe my continued love of hockey to the dedication he showed to my college team. There are few role models like him left.”

I continue to skim the rest of the article, hoping it will help to soothe the potential ruffled feathers of my new teammates.

I understand from Dale that more than one of them was vying for the position of captain.

While it’s common practice that the captain is one of the players who has been with the team the longest, this team is new.

As such, they need a leader who’s had the most experience.

With the exception of Cade Lennox, who also played for the Blades, I haven’t ever been on the same team with any of them. It will be novel to play with them instead of against them like in years past.

I’ve always admired Weston Smith, who was traded from the Tennessee Wolves. He’s a really determined guy, which is something you need to succeed in this sport.

Then there’s Carson Crane, who’s one of the few hockey players I’ve ever heard of that’s from the south, which is not at all common in our sport.

As for me, I most likely would have stayed with the Blades until retirement had my girlfriend not left me for the billionaire she met on a recent fashion shoot in Martinique. After her desertion, I seized the opportunity to get out of Dodge and nurse my wounds in a more secluded location.

There’s only one problem with my new situation. I’m a city guy, through and through, and Maple Falls is tiny. Seriously, I feel like I’ve been kidnapped and taken to the woods to be held until my ransom is paid.

I’m renting a small cabin while I figure out what part of town I want to live in.

So far, nothing compares to my apartment in New York, which is in the old meat-packing district, halfway between Chelsea Market and the Whitney Museum.

Twelve-foot ceilings, with weathered brick walls and giant casement windows.

Just add bamboo floors and an outdoor space and it’s the perfect find.

I’m leasing it out to a former teammate during the season so I can have it available in the off-season.

In Maple Falls, I have the choice of residing in the woods or living in town. As far as I’ve been able to discern, the two are not that dissimilar. Seriously, I have never seen this many trees.

I’m so distracted contemplating my questionable domestic situation that I practically jump when the landline rings.

And here I thought the old phone was nothing more than decoration.

Picking it up, I stare at it like it’s going to bite me.

“Hello?” I say somewhere near the vicinity of the giant mouthpiece.

“Is this Jamie Hayes?” a gruff voice inquires.

“It is.”

The tone immediately becomes more jovial. “Jamie, this is Mayor Thompkins. I’d like to welcome you to Maple Falls!”

I suppress the burst of laughter bubbling up inside of me. If receiving a call from the town’s mayor doesn’t smack of hick living, I don’t know what does. “Thank you,” I tell him. “It’s nice of you to take the time to reach out.”

Before I can find a way to cut the call short, he says, “I’d like to invite you to join me for supper tomorrow night. You know, give you the rundown of our little paradise.”

I have no idea why he thinks I need that information, although I’m guessing Dale would support my attendance, so I tell him, “That would be nice. What do you have in mind?”

“What are you in the mood for?” he counters. “We have Italian, Chinese, pizza, a sweet little diner that serves the best burgers this side of the Mississippi …”

Before he can finish regaling me with more options, I interrupt him. “Burgers sound great.”

“Meet me at Shirley May’s on Main Street at seven,” he says. “I can’t wait to tell you all about Maple Falls.” Then he hangs up.

Picking up my cellphone, I press the button with Dale’s face on it. He answers immediately. “I just got off the phone with the mayor,” I tell him .

My statement is met with a snort of amusement. “Bill Thompkins is nothing if not eager.”

“So you’ve already talked to him?”

“Once, and it was a lot.” Shoot, maybe I didn’t need to take this meeting.

“It sounds like you don’t want to join us,” I say disappointedly. “What could he possibly want to talk to me about?”

“He doesn’t want you to talk at all. He’ll spend about two hours telling you the history of Maple Falls and then if I had to guess he’ll ask you to co-chair Maple Fest.”

“Maple Fest …”

“It’s an annual event that put Maple Falls on the map before the Ice Breakers.” He’s quick to add, “It’s supposedly a lot of fun, but if I were you, I wouldn’t get involved.”

“You don’t have to worry about me.” Co-chairing a small-town festival sounds like as much fun as being a grand marshal of a parade—which is something I’ve done and don’t ever need to repeat. So. Much. Horse. Poop.

“You ready to meet some of the guys tomorrow?” Dale asks. “The whole team isn’t here yet, but those who are have already started some preliminary practices. They’re a great group.”

Instead of answering his question, I ask one of my own. “How’s Harry Franks handling my arrival?” Harry and I played college hockey together, and we didn’t get on. While we were decent teammates, our personalities clashed. I'm charming, and he’s more like a viper on blades.

“He’s not exactly thrilled you’re joining us, but he’ll take it on the chin.”

“Thanks, Coach, that’s a real comfort.”

“Seriously, Jamie, Harry’s a good guy if you give him a chance. In fact, I think the two of you might just turn out to be great friends.”

I’m sure he’s wrong, but I don’t tell him that. Instead, I say, “Harry has a hard time with boundaries.”

“You mean because he asked out your college sweetheart? ”

“While I was still dating her,” I remind him.

Dale laughs. “If I remember correctly, she didn’t go out with him.”

Defending my position, I tell him, “He should have never tried to get her to.”

“All’s well that ends well,” he drawls.

There’s nothing like a trite platitude. “If you say so.”

“Why don’t we meet at Shirley May’s in town for breakfast in the morning before we head to the arena? That way I can give you a little history on some of the guys.”

“That’s where I’m having supper with the mayor,” I tell him.

“It’s good eating for a town this size,” he assures me before adding, “See you at ten in the morning. And Jamie, thanks for joining the Ice Breakers. I know it couldn’t have been easy for you to leave the Big Apple, but this is going to be a great move for you. I just know it.”

Instead of telling Dale how much I needed to get out of New York, I say, “I’m thirty-five. This is my last stop as a pro. Not only do I love working with you, but I like the idea of my hockey career coming full circle.”

I can tell he’s touched because he pauses like he’s trying to suppress emotion. “Maybe once you’re done playing, you’ll consider being my assistant coach.”

“That’s a real compliment, Dale, but we’ll have to wait and see. New York is still my home and it’s the only place I’ve imagined living out my retirement.”

“You never know, you might meet a nice local girl and settle down right here in Maple Falls.”

“And I might grow wings and take up cliff jumping.” I hurriedly add, “And you know heights aren’t my thing.” Getting involved in a romantic relationship is not on my to-do list. In fact, it’s not on my radar at all.

Undeterred, Dale says, “I know it sounds farfetched, but word is there’s something about this town that sparks love in the hearts of hockey players.

” He backs up this pronouncement by adding, “The first year the Ice Breakers’ charity team played, every unattached player got hitched.

And they met their intended right here in Maple Falls. ”

“There must be a lot of single gals here.” I cringe inwardly at the thought. I’m not in the headspace to fight off female adoration—which unfortunately comes hand-in-hand with being a professional hockey player.

“There not always from here,” he says. “But this is definitely where the guys are getting bitten by the love bug.”

“You’d better watch out, or you might be next,” I tease.

“I wouldn’t mind that at all, son. In fact, I’d like to meet a nice lady to spend my downtime with.”

“Good luck,” I tell him. “But I’m not looking.”

With a note of warning in his voice, he tells me, “That’s exactly when Cupid sends his arrows flying.”

I don’t bother responding to such a ridiculous statement. Instead, I tell him, “I’ll see you tomorrow, Dale.” Then I hang up.

I may finish my hockey career in Maple Falls, but I guarantee I will not fall in love here.