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Aiden was easy to talk to. If not for Sissi, she’d go as far as to say he was a pleasure. Astrid could see why he was so well regarded in the sport and beyond. Why his exes – aside from the all-important Sissi – never had a bad word to say about him, too.

None of it fuelled her karma quest, but all of it made great fodder for her article.

‘A model player, a model pupil.’ She reflected on what he’d said about his schooldays. ‘And you still found the time to save your brother from flunking out, too.’

‘That’s not what I said.’

She smiled. ‘Okay you said you forced him to study with you when it was clear he’d rather be out with his mates.’

‘Even the best hockey players need to make the grade for the best scholarships.’

She nodded. ‘And did he?’

‘He got into college, didn’t he?’

That didn’t answer her question…

‘I thought deals were often spun for the sake of the sport rather than academia.’

His eyes narrowed. ‘I don’t appreciate the insinuation, Astrid. He got in because he deserved to get in period. He studied hard and he trained harder.’

‘Because of you.’

‘Because he wanted it as much as me.’

She wet her lips. Either he was being modest about it, or there was more to the deal than he was willing to share. She made a note to do more digging and moved on.

‘What about role models? Was there someone who stood out for you back then?’

He nodded. ‘Grady Marshall. He’s a legend. A veteran of the game. When we first joined the Redstone Devils, he took Blake and me under his wing, helped us settle into the game, taught us not to be such cocky little shits.’

She pursed her lips. ‘And that worked you think?’

‘For me, I’d say so. Blake… well, you’ve met him, what do you think?’

Even his name kickstarted a simmering heat down low and she cleared her throat, checking her notes…

‘Aside from your home life, what other challenges did you face early on?’

‘It’s a competitive sport and we were from a tiny town with no real resources. It was an hour’s drive to get us to the rink, and our mom worked long hours; she had to bust a gut to get us to all our training sessions.’

‘Would you say you owe part of your success to her?’

‘One hundred per cent. Most kids probably want to get away from their folks. Not us. We loved taking her with us. And we were so freaking useless, we needed her. She made sure we ate, slept and studied, when all we wanted to do was train twenty-four-seven. Now she lives in Brooklyn, and we see her as much as we can. Try to return the favour so to speak.’

‘Brooklyn. Nice.’

‘It is nice. It’s a traditional brownstone on a tree-lined street right next to the park. It’s everything she always wanted for us growing up; now we get to give it to her.’

‘You pay her rent?’

He shrugged. ‘Sure we do. She helps out in a local school and at the homeless shelter too. She has freedom and the financial stability to do the things she always wanted to do.’

‘Thanks to you both.’

It caught in her chest, the acknowledgement of all he and his brother had done for their mother, and what the woman in turn was doing for others.

It was good, it was kind, it was giving back.

Didn’t make him good, kind and giving to Sissi though.

But the more she listened, the more she was struggling to reconcile her karma mission with the man before her.

‘And what’s it like playing with your brother? Have you ever been tempted to split up, play for different teams?’

‘Playing with my brother means the world to me. We’re a pair. We always have been. On the ice, off the ice. I’m a stronger and better player because of him.’

‘I imagine he feels the same.’

‘He does, whether he’ll admit it though…’

‘I’ll make sure I ask.’ She adjusted her glasses and scanned her notes for her next question. ‘What do you think of the NHL’s shift away from permitting violence in the game?’

‘It’s a good thing. Too many guys are getting into bad scrapes, too many are ending up with injuries that see them in an early grave. It doesn’t make it any less tough, any less aggressive, any less thrilling. Just safer.’

‘Have you had any major injuries?’

‘No.’

‘Setbacks?’

He shifted position. ‘The first time we bombed out of the playoffs, I wasn’t prepared for it. I like to win, and unfortunately, in any sport, at any level, no matter how hard you work, you can’t always win.’

‘And that’s important to you?’

He gave a laugh. ‘Isn’t it to everyone?’

‘Some more than most.’

‘Yeah, well, we live and breathe competition. We want to win, and for a long time, it felt like the only metric to judge my career by. I still struggle with it but I’m learning to dust off the losses.’

‘How so?’

‘I don’t look back. Not ever. You can’t change what’s in the past. You learn from your mistakes, and you move on.’

And is that how he’d moved on from Sissi? Classed her as a mistake? Dusted her off? She spied her pencil bending in her grip and forced her fingers to relax.

‘Is that a motto you apply to your personal life too?’

‘Why not? It works.’

Why not indeed…

‘What’s been your toughest challenge to date?’

‘Easy. The physical exertion. It’s gruelling. The training schedule, the games… the pressure never lets up.’

She took up her water as she feigned an understanding nod. ‘Not leaving Ashbury Falls behind? The people you must’ve?—’

‘I told you I don’t look back.’

‘Right, you did.’ Too quickly. Too forcefully. And that was the bit she wanted to unpick… ‘So how do you deal with the pressure?’

‘I keep focused on my goal. Get better. Be the best.’

‘It must take its toll mentally.’

‘There’s pressure in every job.’

‘But not every job comes with the added pressure of being a public figurehead and with all your sponsorship deals, you’re more than just the face of the Titans; how do you cope with that?’

‘I tune it out. It’s just fuzz. I’m here to play the game and make our fans proud.’

Gah . He was so good at this, every answer so noble and agreeable.

‘What about all those sponsorship deals? Do you truly believe in the products you promote?’

‘I wouldn’t put my name to anything I didn’t.’

‘So the aftershave, the bottled tan, the strawberry sundaes …?’

‘You’ve seen that one?’

She gave a sceptical hum as she raised her brows at his chiselled torso .

‘Everything can be enjoyed in moderation, Astrid.’

‘You’re seriously telling me you eat them?’

‘Off season, absolutely. And don’t knock it until you try it.’

She had tried it, right along with a stack of fondant fancies and candied cocktails! Now focus…

‘What’s your proudest moment to date?’

‘That’s a hard one. Getting recruited into our college team was the validation of a lifelong dream. But lifting the Stanley Cup for the first time, there’s no rush like it.’

His eyes shone with the memory alone.

‘Do you think you’ll get to do it again this year?’

‘You better believe it.’

‘And what if you don’t?’

He looked taken aback by the question. ‘Like I said, I won’t dwell on it.’

Her eyes tightened. Like you didn’t dwell on Sissi. Only you did, I’m sure of it…

‘Would you say hockey has changed you as a person over the years?’

Made you selfish. Made you all about your career and your family. Given you the ability to push out the girl whose heart you broke? Or is she still in there?

‘Man, everything changes you over the years, right? I mean, I’m ten years older than when I got picked for a college team.

Back then, I felt like I had everything to prove.

Now, I want to make guys like Grady Marshall proud.

They had faith in us when they didn’t need to. It’s my job to pay that forward.’

‘What about future goals? You’re twenty-eight now; are there any milestones or achievements you’re still striving for?’

‘I’m never going to stop wanting to win the Stanley Cup. I made that promise to myself a long time ago – that nothing would come between me and the ultimate win.’

‘And after the game, when you can’t play any more? How do you see your life then? Do you intend to stay involved in the hockey world or pursue something else?’

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he looked at his hands.

‘Hockey changed my life. My whole family’s life. I want to work on bringing our sport to more kids. Whether that’s investment in rinks, clubs, training or working with schools to expand their sports programmes. I want to give back to the game that’s given us so much.’

It was so noble, and so sincere, and so maddeningly infuriating because she wanted him to be the egotistical prick she’d had him painted as from the outset. She needed him to be that guy to continue to deliver on the karma he so deserved. She needed Sissi.

‘What about your life outside the game?’

‘Are you hitting on my love life again?’

‘I was thinking more hobbies, interests… but if you want to go there, I’m listening.’

His eyes sparkled. The charm making a return. ‘I’ll find hobbies when I retire.’

‘And a woman?’

‘Not on the agenda.’

‘Now or ever?’

‘Who knows.’

Deliberately vague.

‘You’ve been seen with enough women on your arm in the past.’

‘I date, I’m not a monk.’

‘Anyone serious?’

‘So you really are going there?’

‘It’s important that any profile piece gives a balanced view of its subject.’

He studied her steadily, then, ‘No, nobody serious.’

‘But there was?’ Because she swore she could see Sissi in his eyes, the past, the regret…

‘Nobody that needs bringing into this,’ he ground out. ‘Next question.’

She hesitated. The desire to call him out on it, to name Sienna and put him on the spot burned inside her, begging to be voiced. But how could she do that without letting slip what she already knew and how she knew it. Unless she could get Blake to name Sienna… now that had potential.

Then there could be no stopping her.

In the meantime…

‘So if there’s no serious relationship, and you don’t have any hobbies to distract you, how do you balance your personal life with the professional?’

‘What’s balance?’

She shook her head with a twisted smile. Time to wrap it up.

‘I reckon we’re pretty much done for today, but how about some rapid-fire questions to finish?’

‘Go for it.’

‘Favourite place to compete?’

‘Easy. Home ice. With our fans in the stadium, it’s like truly coming home.’

And as far from Ashbury Falls as he could get, she sensed.

‘If you weren’t a professional athlete, what career would you have pursued?’

‘I thought you said these were rapid-fire?’

‘They are. The trick is not to over think it.’

He smiled. ‘Yeah, okay. As a boy, I wanted to be a builder. I liked working with my hands. I would sit in the yard for hours nailing shit together. I could be happy with that.’

‘Good answer.’

‘I didn’t know I was being judged with every question.’

Always.

‘Don’t worry, if there was a scoring system at play your answers would be considered top shelf.’

Top shelf and restricted to what he was comfortable with off-loading. She recalled Paige’s edgy laugh at the airport, her friend’s delay before she’d spilled the beans on Horrible Harvey… Aiden clearly didn’t trust her with Sissi yet, but she’d get there.

‘You throwing hockey lingo at me?’

‘Trying.’

He laughed and her own smile grew against her will.

‘Got any more? Seems I’ve found my groove.’

She checked her sheet. ‘Okay, final question, what’s one thing about you that your fans might be surprised to know?’

His grin widened. ‘You really want to know?’

‘Not me, your fans… well, maybe me too.’ She eased closer, genuinely intrigued.

‘I love a bit of Amy Winehouse. I warm up to “Rehab” every day.’

She shoved her glasses into her hair and gawped. ‘You don’t!’

‘Hey, what’s wrong with that?’

‘You really do?’

‘I really do.’

The idea of him warming up with the deeply soulful Winehouse fuelling his moves was bloody hilarious!

She choked on her own laughter, grabbed her water, throwing it back for a swig only to completely miss her mouth.

She yelped and shot to her feet, the dampness over her crotch spreading before her eyes.

He chuckled. ‘Let me go grab you a towel.’

For fuck’s sake . ‘They have those in there too?’ she called after him, slamming the glass down and flicking the droplets from her hand.

‘I told you’ – he reappeared with a fluffy white towel – ‘once you’re in, you have no need to leave. I’d offer to help but…’

‘I’ve got it, thanks.’ She snatched it from him, cheeks ablaze as she imagined just how he might assist. ‘I’m such a clutz.’

‘ It’s actually kind of sweet,’ he surprised her by saying as he buried his hands into his pockets – was he imaging it too?! ‘When you’re used to girls being so polished and careful, being around one that’s…’

She looked up, towel frozen mid-swipe. ‘That’s…?’

He shrugged. ‘Real. Genuine. It’s nice.’

Genuine? Her!

Oh God, now she felt like the biggest fraud ever. Who was the true baddie in this setup?

‘Thanks,’ she squeaked out. ‘I think.’

He kept his gaze locked on hers. ‘You got everything you need?’

‘Need?’

‘Yeah.’ He nodded at her discarded notepad on the sofa.

‘Oh yeah, for now. Loads to work with.’

She nodded vigorously, rubbed vigorously too. Until she realised how vigorous her hand was moving and just where she was rubbing. And now he was looking at her invigorated crotch too. Shit. Shit. Shit. She was on fire and not in a good way.

‘You want me to send my brother up?’

She gulped on thin air. ‘Please.’ He started to turn away. ‘And Aiden…’

He paused, meeting her gaze, and she forced herself to at least appear serene and grateful. ‘Thank you. You’ve given me so much of you and I appreciate it.’

He returned her smile. ‘Happy to give you more, any time.’

‘I’ll take you up on that.’

‘Make sure you do.’

She wanted to fist bump the air and shove it through her chest in one. The conflict, a total mind-fuck. Good vs bad. Karma vs article. Who the real man was.

She waited for him to leave then quit the recording on her phone and raced to the rest room, cursing when she saw the state of herself in the mirror.

Red cheeks. Eyes overbright. Hair already in disarray. As for her jeans… she looked like she’d wet herself. No, no, no.

Blake was going to show up any minute and… this!

Desperate, she spun on the spot. Spied the hand drier.

Thank heavens for small mercies. Shrugging out of her suit jacket, she hooked it on the open door and propped her leg up on the vanity unit.

If she could just tilt her hips high enough to activate the blower, she could… nope! The damn thing wouldn’t respond.

She thrust higher. Nothing. Fanned her hand beneath the sensors. Power at last. Thank the?—

‘Need a hand with that?’

She froze mid-thrust. Oh good God, no!

‘I’ve heard of a shower head offering up the perfect stimulation, but a hand drier?’

She squeezed her eyes shut. ‘Blake…’

It came out like a curse uttered between her teeth but the only person she was truly cursing was her Twinkle Toe self.