Fire on Ice (Fire on Ice Series) (9 page)

“He’s headed this way,” I exclaimed in a voice that sounded much higher pitched than my own.

Zelda’s head whipped around so she could see out the picture window behind her. “That’s definitely Kian. Who’s the guy with him?”

“I think he’s one of the other players,” I replied.

We were both gaping out the window like fools as the guys got closer to the coffee shop.

“I think they’re coming into the coffee shop,” I whispered.

“Why are you whispering?” my sister whispered back.

“I have no idea,” I said but I was still whispering.

“What are you going to do?” my sister asked.

I shook my head. I swear I was starting to sweat. “I’m kind of trapped now. They’ll see me if I try to sneak out.”

“Why don’t you just walk right over to him and lay a big wet one on his lips?” she suggested.

“That’s a terrible idea,” I replied.

“Why?” she challenged.

I had no idea why. The thought of kissing him again was very appealing. But did I have something like that in me? Could I just walk right up to him and kiss him? My sister did say I needed to start taking risks. Maybe this was my first opportunity.

“Grab our wraps,” I said. “We’ll take them to go.”

My sister’s eyes were so wide they looked like serving plates. “You are not seriously going to do what I just suggested. I was kidding.”

“You know what they say about things said in jest.”

She shook her head. “No, I haven’t had that one as a quote of the day yet.”

“Many a true word is spoken in jest,” I stated as I rose. My sister grabbed our wraps and stuck then in her large purse. “Grab our smoothies, too,” I reminded her.

My sister did as I asked and then we took the tray over to a pile of them next to the garbage.

“Are you sure about this?” I couldn’t believe my sister, Ms. Throw-Caution-To-The-Wind, was trying to talk me out of doing something bold and daring.

“I’m not sure at all but I’m going to do it anyway.” I took a deep breath and marched towards the door, my sister following a few steps behind.

Zelda and I exited the coffee shop but remained standing near the door. A few second later, Kian caught sight of me and stopped dead in his tracks. His friend continued walking until he realized Kian had stopped then he backtracked a few steps.

Kian’s
gaze held mine and the exchange between us was so intense, it nearly brought me to my knees. Kian didn’t say anything. He just stared at me. It was as if he couldn’t believe I was real.

Despite feeling so nervous I could faint, I held my resolve. For the first time in years, I was going to move beyond my fear and take a risk. I was going to kiss
Kian.

I took a deep breath then closed the distance between us. When I placed my hands on
Kian’s muscular chest, he took in a sharp breath. I looked into his searing blue eyes for a moment then I stood on my toes and placed a gentle kiss on his lips.

I swear to heaven that the earth completely stopped at that moment and the two of us were frozen in time. Everything I had felt the previous time he kissed me was magnified a thousand-fold and my entire body was electrified.

“Thanks for the flowers,” I whispered as I withdrew my mouth from his.

He brought his fingers up to his lips but he looked too shocked to utter a word. I gave him a shy smile then I turned and walked away with my sister on my heels.

Nine

Kian

“What the fuck just happened?” Runt said as the two of us watched Taylor and her sister walk down the street.

I couldn’t say anything. For the first time in my life, a girl had left me completely speechless.

“Do you know that chick?” Runt asked. He looked confused.

I glared at him. “Of course, I know her, bonehead. That’s Taylor. The girl I bought all the flowers for.”

“Dude, she’s smoking hot. No wonder you want to get in her pants.”

Runt was partially right. I did want to get in her pants. But it was more than that. Much more.

“I guess the flowers worked,” Runt stated.

I curbed the urge to run after Taylor and take her into my arms. I wanted to hold her so badly. And I wanted to kiss her again. I wanted to put my mouth all over her body.

“So,” Runt said. “When are you going to see her again?”

I shook my head. “I don’t know.”

Runt let out a laugh. “You put out five hundred dollars on flowers and you have no idea when she’s going to put out.”

“I’m taking things slow,” I replied.

“You’re taking things slow?” Runt laughed again. “I never thought I’d see the day when
Kian Kavanagh took things slow. Do you remember what your nickname was in high school? The guys called you the
One Date Wonder
because you always got laid on the first date.”

“I’ve grown up a lot since high school. I’m not the same guy I was back then.”

“You were the same guy last week with Shawna.”

Runt was really starting to piss me off. “Taylor is different.”

“If she’s got a cooch and tits, she’s not that much different.”

Before I could stop myself, I grabbed Runt by his shirt collar and nearly lifted him off the ground. “Don’t ever talk about Taylor that way again,
understand?”

“Yeah,” he managed to choke out. “Put me down.”

I dropped him then tried to compose myself. I was so mad I was practically shaking. I didn’t really want to hurt Runt but he was really getting under my skin.

“What the fuck was that about, dude?” Runt spat as he tried to smooth out his shirt collar.

I pointed an index finger at him. “I don’t want to hear you talk about Taylor that way.”

He shook his head. “That girl is making you nuts, man. I hope she’s worth it.”

“Right on both counts,” I said. She was making me nuts too but she was so worth it.

***

I spent most of the night acting like a complete pussy staring at my cell phone wondering if I should call or text Taylor. I wanted to contact her but I was afraid. I wanted to keep that little bit of hope alive just in case she rejected me again. For this moment, I still had a chance with her, and I savored it.

But it didn’t stop me from thinking about that kiss.
That tiny, bold girl marching up to me and placing her soft lips on mine. The heat of our intense connection seemed to instantly melt away all of the misery I’d felt when I thought I’d lost her forever.

I wasn’t sure I could wait an entire day to talk to her again but that’s what we agreed to and I didn’t want to do anything to blow it again. And truth be told, I was afraid to let her know how absolutely crazy I was
about her already. It seemed way too soon and I didn’t want to scare her away.

So I just stared at my phone and thought about what it would be like when I did get to see her again.
When I got to hold her in my arms. And when I got to place another gentle kiss on her lips.  

***

“You’re playing like complete dog shit,” the coach yelled at me. “Get your head on the ice, Kavanagh.”

I rarely had any trouble at practice. I was usually single-minded and focused on the game. But whenever I looked out towards the bleachers, I remembered the look on Taylor’s face right before she ran out of the arena. I had to know more about the guy who hurt her. I had to know what happened to her. And I had to figure out what I could do to make it right.

We got out of practice early. Mostly because I couldn’t get my head straight and the coach knew that he’d kill me if he didn’t let me go for the night. The only thing on my mind was talking to Taylor. I waited until exactly eight and then counted another thirty seconds, so she wouldn’t think I was waiting to phone her.

“Taylor?” I asked when she answered her phone. “It’s
Kian.”

I could hear her sweet little laugh. “I know.”

“How are the flowers doing?”

“My suite smells like a garden. I think I could get used to b
eing surrounded by flowers. Too bad these are only temporary. I’m thinking about getting a few plants.”

I put plants in my memory bank for possible future gifts. I’d slept with more girls than I could
count, probably a few hundred, but I never had a girlfriend. I had no idea how any of it worked. I’d never given any thought to having a real relationship until I met Taylor then it was all I thought about.

I was hesitant about asking her to watch another hockey game.
Not only because of what happened with Shawna after the game, which was bad enough, but also because of whatever made her so upset that she had to leave the arena before the game ended.

“I was wondering if you wanted to go out to dinner with me
one night this week.”

I held my breath waiting for her reply and the wait was longer than I expected.

“Okay,” she said finally and I exhaled in relief.

The team was on the road until Thursday, so Thursday night was the only night I had free. I hoped that would work for her.
“How about Thursday?’ I offered.

“Thursday is good,” she said. “I have a Stats exam on Wednesday, so I’ll be done studying for the week. I can take a little break.”

“Where would you like to go?” I asked, hoping she wouldn’t suggest another place with mostly rabbit food.

“How about someplace with meat?” she suggested and I could hear the humor in her voice. I imagined her grinning at me on the other end of the line.

I thought about all of the places I could take her. I didn’t go out to eat very much mainly because I didn’t have to take hockey whores on dates to get laid but also because nearly every penny I made went into my sports bar savings account. I knew I didn’t want to take her to some run-of-the-mill place that every asshole she’d ever gone on a date had taken her. I wanted the place to be unique and different enough to make an impact.

Then I had an idea. There was one place that I thought would be a lot of fun for a first real date. It was very laid back but it also provided an opportunity for entertainment.

“How about pizza?’ I asked.

“Pizza is good,” she said.

“Great. I’ll pick you up at seven.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

***

My heart started pounding in my chest as I approached the door to Taylor’s suite. It was still a few minutes before seven and I wasn’t sure if it would be better for me to arrive early, so she’d think I was eager to see her, or arrive a few minutes late, so she’
d think I was cool and collected.

I didn’t feel cool and collected, though. I felt more nervous than I ever had playing hockey, even when I was being scouted
for the team. For someone whose teammates called fearless I was a big pussy when it came to anything to do with Taylor.

I wiped away the sweat that was starting to drip down my forehead but then my hand was all wet, so I wiped them on my only pair of black dress jeans.

“Okay, Kian,” I said to myself. “Don’t fuck this up. You’ve got one more chance to score a goal. Don’t blow it.”

I let out a long breath of air then inhaled deeply.

It’s go time, I thought as I knocked on the door. Then time stood still as I waited for her to open it.  

When her door finally did open, my breath caught when I laid eyes on her. She was wearing a sexy sapphire colored top that fit just snug enough for my imagination to catch fire and tight black jeans that hugged her sexy little curves and made her ass scream grab me.

I knew I had to be a gentleman but I didn’t want to be one. I wanted to do things with Taylor the right way and all of them involved sex.

She looked up at me with her big brown eyes and my heart started to melt in my chest. She could ask me for the moon and stars and if she looked at me with those big brown eyes, I would do whatever it took to get them for her.

“Hey,” she said shyly and averted my gaze.

“Hey, yourself,” I replied. I didn’t expect her to let me into her suite but I kind of wanted to see all of the flowers and balloons.

“Let me get my purse,” she stated and left the door cracked open as she walked back inside.

I took the opportunity to push open the door a little wider and peek in. The unit was small, kind of what they called a studio apartment. I’
d lived in my share of those although none this upscale. She had expensive looking dark wood furniture and the place was spotless except for all of the flowers and balloons that lined every surface of the place. It was a little overwhelming. For a minute, I thought I may have overdone it, until she said, “Don’t you just love how the place feels with so many flowers? It’s almost like spring in here.”

She inhaled. “And the fragrance makes me feel like I’m in a garden. I’m sure going to miss it when they die.”

I remembered what she said about wanting to get some plants for her place and made the decision to help her fill the place with stuff that would make it feel like a garden again, if I could figure out exactly how to go about it. It’s not like I had a lot of experience with plants or even gardens for that matter. It was all concrete and asphalt in the slums and unsavory neighborhoods where I grew up.

She grabbed a small handbag from her desk then gave me a quick smile.

“Ready?” I asked.

When she nodded, I put out my hand for her
to grab. She looked at my outstretched palm for a minute as if she was trying to decide whether to take it or not. Then she tentatively placed her small hand in mine. I could feel my heart start to pound again as I felt the warmth from her hand heat mine.

I’d been driving the same Honda Civic for years. I bought it when I’d saved enough cash and never had a car payment. I put aside money for repairs when they were needed but I planned on
driving the thing until it fell apart. Some of the guys on the team had invested in fancy sports cars or luxury vehicles before the ink on their contracts had a chance to dry but that wasn’t me. I never needed a set of wheels to show how cool I was and I
definitely
didn’t need a penis extender.

Taylor’s eyes went wide as we got closer to my ride. Then she actually started to giggle.

“Is something funny?” I asked as we stood next to the passenger side of the car.

She shook her head but she was rubbing her lips together nervously like she
trying not to say something.

I looked down at her and furrowed
my brow. “Spill it.”

She looked up at me with her big browns and I could feel my heart skip a few beats. Then she swallowed. “I guess I just expected you to have a different car.”

“What’s wrong with my car?” I prodded.

“Nothing,” she said quickly. “It’s just—well—a lot of jocks drive muscle cars. And a lot of professional athletes spend their money on fancy ones.”

“I guess I’m not like most jocks,” I said matter-of-factly. I wanted her to get the idea that I wasn’t like the guy, or guys, from her past who hurt her.

I opened the passenger door for her and she slid into the pa
ssenger seat. I hurried around the back of the car and hopped into the driver’s seat.

As I started the engine, she asked, “So where are you taking me?”

“It’s a surprise,” I said as I backed out of the parking space and headed out of the lot.

Fifteen minutes later, we were parked outside of
Jabberwockey’s. It was an all-you-can-eat pizza place that was also advertised as a family fun center. They had all kinds of carnival games, small rides and mini-golf.

I wasn’t sure if I had made a huge mistake not taking her to a fancy restaurant but I wanted to do something different and memorable. And I also felt very uncomfortable with the idea of having to make several hours of dinner conversation with a girl who was obviously smart. I wanted to impress her not make her realize she was out on a date with an ignorant asshole who barely finished high school. Not that I wasn’t smart in my own way. I had plenty of street smarts. I just wasn’t book smart. I knew I couldn’t impress her with dazzling conversation but I thought I might be able to impress her with some athletic ability in carnival games.

When I saw a small smile creep across her face, I knew I had made the right choice.

“I haven’t been here in years,” she said. “I used to love this place.”