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‘You going to tell me what’s got into you?’

Blake sent his brother a look that said it all.

‘Come on, buddy, ever since the photoshoot yesterday you’ve been crankier than Coach on a losing streak.’

Blake adjusted his earphones and leaned back into the airplane seat, closing his eyes and praying his brother would get the message. It was only ten in the morning but if he wanted to sleep, he’d bloody well sleep.

‘I thought you’d be happy to see Chantelle and Leo.’

‘You should’ve checked with me first.’

‘I told you, I didn’t plan it, I bumped into them and?—’

‘So you keep saying…’

And he didn’t believe it. Chantelle didn’t just ‘hang out’ in their neck of the woods. His brother had orchestrated the whole thing.

‘Why is it so bad that they were there?’

He peeled open one eye. ‘Because you knew I wouldn’t want them involved.’

‘Why not?’

He pressed back in his seat and closed his eye. Let it go, bro.

‘It’s just a photo, Blake.’

‘Like hell it is.’

‘Have you explained who they are to Astrid?’

He clenched his jaw; just her name alone turned his stomach.

‘I’d have to speak to Astrid to explain.’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

‘Just what I said.’

‘Look buddy, don’t be mad at her, this is all on me.’

‘I know,’ he bit out. ‘I’m just not speaking to her right now.’

‘What the hell’s going on?’

He ground his teeth, fighting the urge to call the flight attendant over for a beer or something stronger. But he didn’t need a drink. What he needed was to forget all about Astrid. Astrid and her hots for his bro.

‘Blake?’

‘We’ve fallen out!’ he shot back, eyes open and glaring now. ‘You happy ?’

And now he felt like a petulant bloody child.

‘Happy?’ His brother looked affronted. ‘Why would I be happy? That girl’s the best thing to happen to you in a long time.’

Now Blake laughed and laughed and laughed, because my God, he’d thought so too.

And look how wrong he’d called it.

‘Why do you think I got Coach to call me that night at ours? Why do you think I’ve been doing all I can to bring the two of you together?’

‘Because she’s saving my bloody ass, remember!’

‘It’s about more than that, Blake,’ his brother said. ‘There’s something between you both, something?—’

He scoffed. ‘Got you fooled too, hey?’

‘Fooled? What are you talking about?’

He shook his head. All this time he’d been driving himself half crazy over his brother and Astrid, and his brother had been playing at his own matchmaking game.

‘Just let it go.’

‘Not a chance. You guys have got something, something that’s managed to put the right kind of spark in your eye and set you on a decent path too. If you’ve had some kind of argument, grow some balls and talk it out, don’t give her the silent treatment.’

‘Wow. You’re telling me not to give a girl the silent treatment.’

His brother stiffened. ‘That was ten years ago, Blake.’

‘Yeah, well, doesn’t mean I don’t remember the constant calls and your stubborn refusal to pick up. Seemed to serve you alright, so excuse me while I do the same.’

‘That was different.’

‘Yeah, you’re right, you were in love.’

His brother blanched and Blake cursed. ‘Sorry, bro.’ He raked a hand through his hair, took a breath. ‘I shouldn’t have said that.’

‘No. You shouldn’t have.’

Aiden shifted back in his seat and Blake searched for something to say, something to fix it, but nothing could. Not when he’d been the one to force his brother’s hand. To make him leave not just their home, but his teenage sweetheart too.

And his brother had never met another woman capable of touching him in the same way. Blake had ruined that for him… perhaps even ruined it for good.

‘Instead of throwing Sienna back in my face,’ his brother said quietly, ‘maybe you ought to realise that what I went through with her makes me the person to listen to now when I tell you, don’t do it. Whatever’s going on between you both, it’s something worth exploring not walking away from.’

He gave a choked scoff, wanting to dismiss it, wanting to tell his brother he didn’t have a clue because he was the reason there was nothing to explore. Astrid had made it clear which of them she wanted.

But then his brother wasn’t just referring to Astrid’s feelings, he was referring to Blake’s and as much as Blake wanted to say he was wrong there too, he knew he wasn’t.

And wanting a woman who wanted someone else – someone more deserving and someone he’d willingly lay down his life for – that wasn’t just a reason to walk away.

It was a reason to run.

* * *

Astrid stared at the words on her screen, the opening to the article that she had rewritten several times now and still didn’t feel. She was getting nowhere.

How could she possibly write about the twins when one refused to speak to her and the other was blissfully unaware of everything? It was killing her mojo. Guilt for Blake. Guilt for Chase. Guilt for continuing to fail Sissi.

She checked the time in the top corner of her screen. The Titans should be landing in Dallas any moment now, their game against the Stars taking them away for a couple of days and giving Blake ever more reason to avoid her.

Her phone buzzed beside her laptop, and she snapped it up, praying for Blake and seeing Aiden.

Aiden

You free for a lesson early hours Saturday, before the arena opens to the public?

She gave a weak smile as she typed:

Astrid

I’d love to. Thank you.

Aiden

Great. See you 7a.m. sharp.

Astrid

7a.m.?!

Aiden

Told you it was early

Astrid

OK

She hit send then toyed with asking how Blake was. But asking Aiden would make it known that something was up – if he didn’t know already – and she wasn’t about to kick that hornet’s nest. Especially when they had a game to play tomorrow.

But Blake’s radio silence was driving her as crazy as the guilt. She hated that she’d hurt him, and that kiss… she kept reliving it over and over.

Maybe he’d message after the game. Maybe he’d message when they were back in New York. And if he didn’t, she could ask Aiden in person on Saturday. As for the photographs and the unknown child… she glanced at the pic on her mood board.

Who was he? Or more specifically, who was he to Blake?

And why couldn’t Aiden just tell her?

Her research had drawn a blank; she still couldn’t find their father and she was no closer to getting Aiden to at least admit Sienna had existed!

Some reporter she was turning out to be… muzzled by her own mess.

And speaking of her mess… Bella was heading back into the gallery today, kicking off a new plan to ‘save’ Chase. Fingers crossed it worked. For his sake as much as Bella’s, and her own.

She texted Bella to wish her luck, fired off another to Mum, then went back to her article.

When you first meet these NHL giants, it’s hard to imagine them as boys, lacing up borrowed skates, playing on frozen ponds…

Now towering over opponents on the ice, the Titan Twins command attention with their skill and sheer presence, but behind the fierce intensity and celebrated success lies a story of resilience, a journey that began far from the bright lights of professional hockey…

The cursor flashed back at her… words refusing to come.

All she could see was the hurt in Blake’s face, all she could feel was the intensity of that kiss. With a groan, she pushed away from her laptop, grabbed her trainers, and hit the streets, hoping a run would help and knowing in her heart that it wouldn’t. Nothing would.

Because the one thing she wanted to do – come clean – was the one thing she couldn’t work out how to do.

Not without making everything so much worse and dragging Sissi through it with her. And that girl had suffered enough.

But then, so had the twins…

Her watch buzzed with a message, and she peeled back her thermal top to check the screen.

Aiden

PS Dinner Sunday at Mom’s, 1p.m.? We’ll pick you up…

Her stride faltered. Shit, she’d forgotten about dinner. Another reporter fail! But dinner with Mother Carter, Aiden, and Blake?

She could hardly say no…

Aiden

She’s looking forward to meeting you.

Great . But what about Blake?