Between a Jock and a Hard Place (6 page)

She could imagine the look on her friend’s face. “It’s been known to happen, you know. Actually, we were talking about our family and I mentioned that Cam plays hockey and we went on from there.”

“Did you tell him about Cam’s concussion?”

Claire thought back. “No. I wanted to, but I didn’t want him to connect it to the blog.”

“Whew! So what happens next with the blog?”

Claire glanced at the screen. “As Emeril would say, I think it’s time to kick it up a notch. It’s not due until next week, right?”

“Right.”

“It’ll be ready.”

She disconnected and stood up to stretch, but the phone rang again almost immediately. She was laughing when she picked it up.

“Who do I hear from more than you?”

“I don’t know.” His voice sent shivers of delight down her spine. “How are you, Claire?”

“John?” She sat down again. “Hi.” She couldn’t think straight.

“Did you get the flowers?”

“Oh. Yes. Thanks, they’re lovely.” What was the matter with her? She gave herself a mental slap. “Where are you?”

“I’m in California.”

“Oh.” She tried unsuccessfully to keep the disappointment out of her voice. “How’s the weather down there?”

“It’s hot. I wish I was back in Vancouver right now.”

Me too.

“I was wondering if you’d like to meet again when I come back. I thought perhaps we could start over again and make it a real date this time.”

Her pulse went into overdrive. “I’d like that.”

“Terrific. Let’s meet on Monday at noon in the same spot we met the first time.”

“On the seawall?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay...” she said slowly. “Will there be jogging involved?”

He laughed. “No, but dress casually. Oh, and pray for good weather.”

She was beginning to enjoy this. “You’re not going to tell me where we’re going, are you?”

“Not a chance. Is it a date?”

“It’s a date. See you then.”

* * *

“You’re coming to Sunday dinner, of course.”

Claire gritted her teeth. If only her mother would ask her once in a while instead of ordering her. But Cam was still there, and she wanted to see him.

“Thanks, Mom. I’d like that.”

Cam greeted her with a brotherly hug. “I’ve got to get out of here,” he murmured in her ear. “Talk to you later.”

She gave him a squeeze and looked into his eyes. They were still dull with residual pain, but she understood his need to get back to his own place.

Over dinner the talk turned to hockey.

“Did you watch the game last night?” her father asked.

“No, Dad. I was busy.”
Doing her nails and giving herself a facial, but she didn’t have to tell him that.

“Too bad. The Canucks won the quarterfinals.” He looked at Cam. “But we knew they would.”

“Yeah. Jack Logan scored the winning goal. It was a beautiful one-timer from the point.”

Claire tried to look interested. “So what happens next?”

“Well, they’ll get some extra time off and then they go on to the Western Conference Finals.”

Cam laughed. “You don’t really care about this, do you?”

She chose her words carefully. “I always enjoy watching you play, Cam. But I have to admit that the fighting and the bad checks, like what happened to you, turn me off.”

“Hey.” Her father nudged her twin. “Tell Claire about that article in the paper.” He turned to his daughter. “It’s on the internet and everything.”

Cam rolled his eyes then turned to his father. “It’s called a blog, Dad.”

Don Collins laughed. “Whatever. Tell her, Cam.”

“Someone blogged in that West End newspaper about my accident.”

“Damn right. And someone else responded to it already.” He looked up as Claire’s mother cleared the dinner plates. “The newspaper editor said to watch for more columns.”

“Did they use your name?” asked Claire.

“No” he said with a frown, “but it was fairly clear they were talking about me.” He tilted his head. “Doesn’t that friend of yours work at the
Phoenix
?”

“Zoey? Yes, she’s Production Manager.”

He nodded. “Clever of them to start blogging about hockey right in the playoff season.”

“Zoey says they know their stuff.”

“It’ll be interesting to see where it goes.” Their father pushed away from the table. “Going to help Mother load the dishwasher.”

Cam and Claire knew not to get in between their parents when they loaded the dishwasher. They had been arguing about how to do it ever since they could remember; now it gave them a chance to talk.

Cam spoke in a low voice. “I told them I’m going back to my place tomorrow. You would have thought I’d said I was going to the moon, the way they reacted.”

“They care about you, Cam.” She laid a hand on his arm. “Although I know it must be stifling, staying here.”

“No kidding. Listen, I told them that we’d already spoken and that you agreed to drive me to the hospital for my MRIs. The doctor doesn’t want me to drive for a while yet.”

“Are you still getting dizzy spells?” This was worrying.

“Yeah, but it will eventually go away. Last night watching the hockey game I was having a hard time keeping things in focus. I didn’t tell Dad, though.”

“Of course I’ll take you for your MRIs. I’ll take you anywhere you want to go. I can do your shopping and stuff like that if you want me to.”

“No, don’t worry about that. There’s a market a couple of blocks away and the exercise will do me good. It’s just the trip to the hospital I need help with ‘cause I shouldn’t be driving. I have an appointment on Tuesday morning.”

“Come on, you two. Coffee and dessert in the living room.” Another tradition. Claire gave Cam’s arm a quick squeeze and got up.

It rained overnight, but the skies were blue on Monday and butterflies had taken up residence in Claire’s stomach. She couldn’t remember when she’d looked forward to a date this much...even though she didn’t know what to expect. She dressed simply, choosing tight fitting black slacks tucked into black knee-high boots. An emerald green turtle neck was topped with a supple leather jacket in a rich tan colour. Small gold earrings were her only jewellery and she pirouetted in front of the mirror, admiring the effect.

She left the apartment before she could change her mind and walked slowly along the seawall, soaking up the May sunshine. On a day like today Hawaii seemed far away and totally unnecessary. The snow had almost all disappeared from the North Shore mountains; only pockets of gleaming white remained, mute reminders of the ski season long past.

She looked ahead and saw him. He had his arms braced against the guardrail and was gazing out over the water. She’d forgotten how tall he was. As though sensing her arrival, he turned, smiled, and a fierce stab of desire left her light-headed and surprisingly breathless. How could he do this to her with a mere smile? She floated the last few feet.

“Hello, Claire.” His voice drew her closer and she went, willingly.

He leaned down and brushed his lips against her cheek. “How are you?”

“Fine.” She wished he could kiss her again. Properly this time.

“I can see that.” He smiled down into her eyes and then took her hand, threading his fingers between hers. Her hand disappeared into his. “Come with me.”

He led her through the parking lot and opened the wire gate leading to the marina. The tide was high, making the ramp easy to navigate.

She was dying to ask where they were going, but managed to bite back the question.

“Just down here,” he said when they levelled out on the dock. “My boat’s in the second to last slip on the right.”

He led her to the boat and stood aside.

“It’s a sailboat!” she cried, standing back to admire it. “I don’t know much about sailboats, but it’s beautiful. How long is it?”

He seemed pleased by her reaction. “It’s a thirty-two footer. I didn’t know much about sailboats, coming from Saskatchewan, but it has classic lines.”

She looked at her boots. “I’m not really dressed for sailing.”

“Oh, we’re not going out.” He offered her a hand. “Too much work. I thought we’d have lunch on board.” He gestured to a small table set up in the stern. “Not a lot of space, but the weather’s so nice I thought we’d try sitting outside.”

“It’s perfect.” She stepped unsteadily on board and he caught her in his arms.

“It’s good to see you again, Claire.”

“You too, John.” She looked into those dark blue eyes and her heart turned over. A breeze skipped across the water and blew her hair into her face. He brushed it away but his fingers lingered in her hair and suddenly he was kissing her with an intensity that took her breath away. He teased her lips open with his tongue and plundered her mouth, buckling her knees with the force of their combined desire.

“God, I’ve wanted to do that ever since I first laid eyes on you,” he said, pulling back. He brushed a thumb over her bottom lip. “It was every bit as good as I dreamed it would be.”

She stood there in the sunshine, her body aching with need. “I wanted it too,” she said, stunned at the force of her reaction to him. “And more.”

He looked at her for a long moment. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” The corner of his mouth hitched up in a grin. “Or is that just wishful thinking on my part?”

She looked up at him. “No, John. It’s not.” She raised her lips for another kiss and he complied. It was unlike any kiss she’d ever experienced.

“We could wait the requisite amount of time,” she said, wondering how she could possibly be so bold. The hatch above the companionway was open and she looked into the cabin of the boat. “Or we could go in there now and see if this attraction is as real as we both think it is.”

He held out a hand, indicating that she should enter first. She went down a couple of stairs but scarcely noticed the luxuriously finished cabin.

He closed up and turned to her. “You’re sure?” he asked, eyes hooded with desire.

“Oh yes.”

He picked her up effortlessly and carried her to a surprisingly large bed in the bow of the boat.

She reached down to remove her boots, but he stopped her.

“I want to do that,” he said in a husky voice she scarcely recognized. “I’d like to take all your clothes off. Come here and sit on the edge of the bed so I can undress you.”

He took his time with each item of clothing, stroking and caressing each inch of skin as it was revealed, his large hands surprisingly gentle. “You’re beautiful,” he whispered after removing her lacy new bra and panties. “I hope I don’t disappoint you.”

“I don’t think that’s possible,” she murmured, watching as he peeled off his shirt. His body was beautiful, toned and sculpted by exercise. Muscles rippled as he bent to remove his shorts and his erection sprang free.

She welcomed him into her body with a soft cry of pleasure and they moved together as if they had been making love forever. He held her gaze the entire time, watching her pleasure build, giving herself to him unconditionally. He was totally committed to her needs and brought her to the brink of pleasure several times before she peaked and cried out, holding him tightly as he groaned and thrust into her, his entire body convulsing, wracked by his own pleasure.

They lay with limbs entwined on top of the duvet, catching their breath. “My God,” he said eventually, and rolled over onto his back. He gathered her into the crook of his arm and she lay with her head on his chest and one leg flung over his. “Ditto,” she said, running her fingers over his chest. “I’m glad we didn’t wait.”

“It would have been difficult,” he said with a smile in his voice. “There were so many sparks between us I thought we might go up in flames.”

“We did,” she murmured, stretching languidly. “And now maybe we can do justice to lunch.” She gave him a lingering kiss. “What’s to eat?”

“I’m not really sure,” he admitted. “I had something sent over.” He got up and pulled on his slacks. “Let’s find out.”

They sat outside and munched on crisp fried chicken, homemade macaroni and cheese and individual salads.

“Not exactly gourmet,” he admitted, “but I like it.” He eyed the thick, moist brownies. “I’m being a good boy and cleaning up my plate so I can have dessert.”

Claire laughed. “My mom used to say that when we were kids.”

“Yeah, mine too.” His gaze drifted off over the water. “My parents are great. They were always there for us kids. When we were small, my dad used to run the hose in the back yard as soon as it got cold to make a surface to skate on.” He smiled at the memory. “We soon outgrew that, and we’d skate on a frozen slough just outside of town. I was thinking about that the other day.”

“It rarely gets cold enough around here for that.”

He wiped his fingers on one of the damp towels that had been provided. “One of the advantages of growing up in Saskatchewan, I guess.”