Home Ice (18 page)

Nervously, Ben chewed on his mouth guard as he waited for his shift on the ice. He looked up at the JumboTron scoreboard with dread. The score was 3-2 and there were five minutes left in the period. They were getting down to the wire. If the Razors didn’t score in the third period, it would all be over. The game, the season and their hopes of making it to the playoffs.

Unfortunately, someone had told the Greenbacks the same thing. And the Las Vegas team had their own agenda.

Combativeness rose in the last few minutes of the period as the Greenbacks weren’t budging. Tensions were high and players clustered against the boards fighting for control of the puck. The puck bounced off Ben’s glove and into the corner. He reached over and swiped the puck away and shot the puck towards the net, but the goaltender promptly flicked it away. Ben caught the rebound and sent the puck ahead to Dom. The next thing he knew, Ben was blinded by a green jersey knocking him down full force from behind. Ben crashed down to the ice in a heap of limbs and gear. The collision knocked the wind out of him and he struggled to get air back into his lungs.

After getting his bearings, he finally sucked in a breath. Ben’s chest heaved and his lungs burned with each breath he took. Sweat trickled down his face and into his eyes and he wiped it away with the back of his hand.

The referee blew his whistle and called a penalty for the illegal hit on Ben. Ignoring the whistle, Dom took off after Aleksi Nikkola, the player who had knocked Ben down. It was payback time. Dom was determined to settle things
his
way, referee be damned. Nikkola belonged in the penalty box, but not before Dom had his way with the dirty player first. His fists were itching for some action. The penalty box could wait.

Dom locked eyes with Nikkola and skated full force to where he was on the ice. Dom sized him up and spouted a few choice words his way, engaging his opponent.

“Oh, deed I knock down yer pritty boy?” Nikkola spat out the words, laced with his Finnish accent. That was all it took to get Dom fired up. This guy was going down.

“Nobody takes down my boy and gets away with it,” Dom growled in response.

“Do ye have de moves ta back dat up?”

“The only move I need is the one to shut up that hole in your face.”

Dom yanked off his helmet and threw his gloves down. Nikkola did the same. They circled around each other in a sort of fighting dance. The crowd went wild, cheering them on. Everybody loved a good hockey fight and Dom rarely disappointed. They grabbed hold of each other’s jerseys, swinging punches at each other in an impromptu boxing match. All of the players on the bench responded by banging their sticks on the boards in front of them. Dom got in a few good punches to Mr. Finland’s lip, make that
fat
lip, and Nikkola answered him with a left hook to the nose before the referees finally broke up the fight.

Dom glided over to the bench with blood dripping from his nose. The metallic taste of his own blood fresh in his mouth. He looked down at the blood on his knuckles and grinned. Jesus, he loved this game.

The team’s Head Athletic Trainer saw to his wounds before Dom went for his stint in the penalty box for fighting.

Little did he know, the Trainer’s night was far from over.

* * *

Gram took a turn for the worse before the first period of the game even started and sent the three women on a trip to the hospital. Apparently, according to the doctors, Gram had a bad reaction to her new blood pressure medication. Her age and already failing health didn’t help matters. It wasn’t serious, the doctor reassured Ally, Gram just needed rest. And Gram was doing just that in the hospital bed. While Ally was waiting for the release papers, she went into the waiting room to find a television.

She found the SportsCenter channel and waited for an update on the game. She was torn by guilt and responsibility. She should have been there in person to see Ben’s big game and now she hadn’t even been able to watch it on television. The game was so important to him, she wondered how it had gone since she couldn’t be there to see it. Finally, after a round of annoying commercials the anchor came on the screen. He showed highlights from some other games in the league and finally got to the story Ally was waiting for.

“One of the Red Valley Razors was taken to the hospital tonight after a hard hit during the third period. He suffered from a concussion and an upper body injury. We’ll have more details when we return.”

Ally’s heart sank. She felt like someone had poured a pitcher of ice water into her veins.

This can’t be happening.

How much bad news could one person endure in a single night?

She had to believe that Ben was okay. It couldn’t be him.

As fast as her fingers would let her, Ally dug her cell phone out of her purse and dialed Ben’s number. After what felt like fifty rings, when in reality it was only three, he answered. She had never been so happy to hear his voice in her life.

“Ben, it’s me. Are you okay? Is everything all right? Tell me you’re okay,” she shot out a succession of questions before he even had a chance to answer.

“Hey baby. Slow down. I’m fine. What
’
s going on?”

“I saw the news and they didn’t say who was hurt, but I thought…” she trailed off as the tears came burning past her eyes and down her cheeks.

“It was Cody. He has a concussion and a broken wrist,” Ben stated calmly.

“Laina and the kids…?” She tried not to let herself imagine what Laina must me going through. She must be a wreck from seeing her husband take a hit like that. Oh God, she had thought it was Ben.

“They’re okay and Cody’s gonna be fine. He’s got all summer to recuperate now.” Now that there would be no playoffs. The Razor’s season was officially over. Sebby made some great saves, but it wasn’t enough to pull ahead of the Greenbacks.

“Are you sure you aren’t hurt?” She refused to believe him until he was holding her in his arms.

“Ally, I’m fine.”

“What happened?”

“Aleksi Nikkola is what happened.” There was raw anger in his voice. He was still coming down from his adrenaline high during the game. “The guy just cold-cocked him.”

She knew she had heard that name before. But where?

“Who’s that? And why does his name sound familiar?” She pondered the name. Aleksi Nikkola. “He’s the one who gave you that scar on your leg, isn’t he?”

“Yeah. He’s just a dirty player. Dom took care of him, though. Once for me and then again in the third period for Cody. That guy is gonna be unrecognizable.” Ben chuckled to himself. The guys on the team had joked in the past about the Dom Devereaux Hat Trick, which consisted of three fights and three penalties during a single game.

“Good.” She paused. “Wait…what do you mean…once for you?”

What wasn’t he telling her?

“Nikkola knocked me down pretty hard in the second period and Dom had my back. It was the best fight of the season. Dom got in a few good punches before the Refs pulled them apart.”

“Are you okay?” Ally’s voice raised an octave.

“Yeah, baby, I
’
m fine. I just got the wind knocked out of me, that‘s all. Dom was just sticking up for me. He had a busy night, I’ll tell ya. We weren’t busy scoring goals, though. Too bad we didn’t spend as much time at the net as we did in the penalty box. The damn Greenbacks are such a physical team and we had so many penalties that it was hard to gain the momentum we needed to win. Hey, why don’t I stop by on my way home?” Ben looked down at his watch. It was after 10:30. It had taken him a little while to finish up post-game interviews and to take a shower. Now he was ready to leave NorCal Center and see his girl. “I know it’s late, but I’m too revved up from the game to sleep now anyway. I want to see you.”

“I’m at the hospital, Ben.”

“What?!” Now
he
was practically shrieking on the other end of the line.

“Gram was having trouble breathing and we had to bring her in before the first period started.”

That explained why she didn’t know about what happened during the game. He should have known she sounded distracted.

“Why didn’t you say something? Here I am yammering on about the game and you’ve been at the hospital this whole time?”

“I wanted to make sure you weren’t hurt and it was comforting to talk to you and not hear words like ‘wait, intravenous, MRI and Miss Monroe’.”

Here came the tears again.

“I’m on my way right now. What room is she in?”

Ally gave him the information and they hung up. She tried to focus on the TV while she waited. The anchor came back on the TV with highlights from the game including Nikkola hitting Ben like a Mac truck and sending him collapsing down onto the ice. Her stomach clenched at the sight. She said a silent prayer thankful he wasn’t hurt after such a hard hit. Then the camera flashed to Dom. He looked like a vengeful boxer. He was definitely someone you wanted in your corner. And she was glad he was in Ben’s.

The news anchor continued coverage of the game, “Among the excitement of tonight’s game versus the Las Vegas Greenbacks, Red Valley Razor captain Cody Lambert suffered a concussion during the third period. Lambert will be convalescing at his home in Red Valley during the off-season.”

They replayed footage of Cody being slammed into the wall and crumpling to the ice like a rag doll. Eventually, he was helped off the ice by the Razor’s head trainer. Then, once again, Dom was swinging his fists, sticking up for his teammate. And that time it was for his captain. The news coverage ended after showing the Greenbacks annihilating the home team with one more unanswered goal in the third period.

Chapter Twelve

Trick or Treat

Along with the rest of his teammates, Ben had gone to the Razors Ice Practice Facility the next morning to clean out his locker. Once inside, the players shuffled around like zombies and defeat could be heard in their voices and seen in their weary eyes. Reporters wanted explanations for the team falling short, but no one could give them the answers they wanted. Ben was devastated by the Razors’ defeat and it was tough to face the media.

The conclusion of yet another disappointing season was bittersweet for the team. They hadn’t made it to the playoffs, but on the other hand, it was officially the start of their summer.

That afternoon, Ben had begged Ally to come over to his house for some R&R. He told her, “You’re going to burn yourself out and run yourself into the ground, or worse, the hospital.”

As he expected, she had argued. “But Gram still isn’t feeling well and I feel horrible for leaving her.”

But he had an argument of his own and did his best to reassure her. “Ally, come over for a few hours. I’ll make you lunch. You could use a break and Gram needs to sleep without you hovering over her. She’ll be fine. The doctor said she just needs rest. Anyway, Ruby will be there if she needs something. Come on, it’ll just be for a couple of hours and you need to get out of the house for a little while. I miss you.”

Finally, she had agreed and now they were soaking together in his hot tub waiting for lunch to finish baking in the oven.

“I still can
’
t believe we didn’t make it to the playoffs,” he mumbled.

Reality had set in and Ben had been pouting ever since their loss. He was sitting behind her and his chin rested on her shoulder. He kept running through the last game in his head, critiquing his plays and reliving every pass he made.

“I’m so sorry,” Ally said.

“Now you won’t get to see my playoff beard.”

“What’s a playoff beard?” She had been trying to buff up on her hockey knowledge but wasn’t familiar with the concept of facial hair having anything to do with the game of hockey.

“It’s a tradition. Kind of a superstition that starts when a team gets ready for their first playoff game and nobody shaves until they lose or they win the Cup.”

“I can’t picture you with a beard.” She turned towards him and ran her fingers over his smooth jaw.

“I haven’t been able to grow one because we haven’t made it to the playoffs the last couple of years. I don’t like playing with one because it’s hot and itchy, but I could grow a big burly one if I really wanted,” he boasted.

“Oh yeah?”

“Mmmhmm.”

“Then I wouldn’t be able to do this.” She placed a trail of kisses from his chin to his ear lobe.

“No? Why not?”

“Too prickly.”

“Ah. Then I guess I won’t be throwing away my Schick anytime soon.”

“Good.”

“Well, I wish we could stay like this forever, but I have to check on lunch.”

“I still can’t believe you made me lunch,” she said as she reluctantly climbed out of the hot tub.

“It was only fair. Ruby’s been spoiling me over at your house, so it’s my turn.”

Once inside, Ben boiled water for the pasta while waiting for the timer to go off on the oven. He had made chicken parmesan and the heavenly smell wafted through the house.

Ally was perched on a barstool, watching him. “I didn’t know you could cook,” she commented. She was visibly impressed by Ben’s prowess in the kitchen and he was happy to prove that he had other skills off of the ice.

“Well, not exactly. Chicken parmesan is the only thing I can cook. But don’t you worry. I’ve perfected it over the years and you won’t be disappointed. It’s what I usually eat on game days.”

“I can’t wait.”

When he finally pulled the dish of chicken out of the oven, the marinara sauce was bubbling and the cheese was brown. Ally looked at him in awe and asked, “Is there anything you
can’t
do?”

He chuckled as he heaped pasta and chicken on her plate. “Gram’s jigsaw puzzles. I’m lousy at finding the right pieces.”

She rolled her eyes. “Seriously, thanks for this. You were right. I needed to get away for a little while and do something besides worry.”

Lunch was wonderful. The chicken was tender and the wine was delicious.

“Speaking of distractions…”

She eyed him wearily. “What?”

“Dom is having a costume party in a couple of weeks.”

Ally was intrigued, but also a little more than confused. “Are you kidding me? I haven’t worn a costume since the third grade!” She thought Ben must be out of his mind or playing a joke on her. Now that he had the summer off, there was no telling what he had up his sleeve in the way of entertainment.

“I’m serious. You have to come. Dom has a costume party every year after the season ends. He won’t let anyone through the door who’s not wearing a costume.”

“And where the heck do I find a costume in April? Tell Dom this isn‘t Canada. We do things a little differently down here in the States.”

Ben laughed. “There’s a place downtown that sells costumes year-round. Or you could always order something online. I don’t care if you wear a white sheet and come as a ghost. Just come with me. It is guaranteed to be a good time because Dom’s parties never disappoint.”

“What are you going as?” she asked picturing him in a number of different identities.

“Nuh-uh. It’s a surprise.” He refused to divulge the nature of his costume, but he did tell her what he’d gone as in past years. Last year, he went as Indiana Jones and he pulled off a great Elvis impersonation the year before.

“So, if Dom throws this party now, then what does he do for Halloween?”

“We’re usually on the road when Halloween comes around. Dom doesn’t like to do things the traditional way, anyway. So, will you please come with me?”

Ally was warming up to the idea. “Yes, I will. Now, if I could only figure out who I’m going to be.”

“I have a few ideas.” His voice was husky now.

When she threw her napkin at him, he wasn’t laughing. Instead, his eyes were glued to her face. Now napkinless, she lifted her hand to her chin and dabbed it carefully.

“Is there food or something on my face?”

Oh, no. Not again
.

“No. I just can’t help but stare. You’re so beautiful.”

Her breath caught in her throat.

Glad he didn’t have to worry about the no sex on game day rule, Ben took action. With one swipe of his arm, he cleared the table and made room for him to sit on it. He pulled Ally to her feet and she stood between his legs. He let go of her hands and gripped her waist, bringing her to him. She rested her hands
on his broad shoulders. When he leaned in to kiss her, she met his lips with fervor. Moving her hands up to run them through his silky hair, she drank him in. He slid his hands to her behind and squeezed her through the denim jeans she wore.

One by one, their pieces of clothing fell to the floor and they made love right there on the dining room table.

* * *

Now that her Biology final exam was complete and Gram was feeling better, Ally had time to focus on her next task: Who she was going to be for Dom’s costume party. Not usually one to procrastinate, Ally found herself shuffling through the racks of costumes at Wicked’s Costume Emporium “The Only Year Round Costume Shop in Red Valley,” with only one day left until the party. If she was going to find something, it had to be here. The Emporium was packed with endless rows of colorful feather boas, wigs, hats and makeup.

What or who did she want to be for one night? Spooky didn’t appeal to her. Gory wasn’t her style.

Vampiress?

No.

French Maid?

Definitely not.

Pirate Wench?

Hell no.

Nurse?

Hmm.

Ally held the white costume up to take a better look. It was actually kind of cute. The zippered dress was conservative enough so her breasts wouldn’t be hanging out for all to see, yet attractive enough to be sexy at the same time.

All right then. It was done. Ally would be nurse for the night.

* * *

After a long and rigorous season, Dom held his annual costume party. Yes, it was the end of April and no, he didn’t give a damn. It was how he wanted to celebrate the end of the hockey season, whether the Razors’ won The Cup or not. Dom went all out every year with a DJ, caterer and a full bar. The only conditions he had were: Don’t come as yourself or a hockey player and absolutely, positively No Kids Allowed. Dom hated kids. For him, they were a reminder of what could go wrong during sex.

On his way to pick up Ally for the party, Ben stopped by Cody Lambert’s house. He half wanted to pay his respects to his captain and half wanted to rub it in that Cody was missing the biggest party of the year due to his injury.

“Nice costume,” Cody smirked when he answered the door. “I thought for a second that the five-oh was here to arrest me.”

Ben laughed and puffed out his chest. “Is it too late for a career change? I think I like the idea of having some authority.”

“Dude, nobody would take you seriously with that face. Everyone would think you’re a male stripper.”

Ben started to look hurt at the comment, then he grinned. “Thanks Cap’n.”

Cody motioned Ben inside. “You’d better get in here and off my doorstep before the neighbors start talking.”

Cody tottered back to his recliner and propped his feet up. As if being bruised and battered from their last game wasn’t enough, the cast on his wrist was a constant reminder.

“Sorry you can’t come tonight,” Ben said and sat down on the couch. “Dom always throws a doozey of a party.”

“Yeah, well I’m in no shape for dancing anyway.”

“How’s the leg?” Ben asked.

Besides his recent concussion and broken wrist, Cody had been playing on a very painful leg. He had two bone spurs and a cyst on the back of his right leg. Cody played through the pain late in the season because he knew he would be looking at a two to three month recovery process, which would have ended his season.

“They’re doing surgery on it here pretty soon.”

“Good. I’m glad it’s finally going to get taken care of.”

Cody explained the two options of how his injury would be treated. “They’re going to either shave the bone down or take some of it out and put in a cadaver’s bone.”

Ben raised his eyebrows at the last part. “Nice.”

“Yup. Hopefully sooner than later. I’m tired of waiting around and thinking about it.”

“Well, you’ve got all summer now to rest and recuperate.”

The two teammates spent some time talking about what went wrong during the season and mostly with their last game. The tornado twins ran through the living room and a wistful look came over Cody’s face. “Ya know, Benny, there’s more to life than the game.” Cody took a swig from his beer. “It’s good to know that no matter how things go on the ice, I can come home and my kids put a smile on my face.”

“Yeah,” Ben agreed. “Someday, Cody,” Ben referred to himself. “Someday.”

“You and Ally getting pretty serious?”

“I think so. She’s really amazing.”

“That’s awesome. It’s about time you found a winner. She seems like a cool chick.”

Ben smiled at Cody’s analysis and got to his feet. “Speaking of Ally, I better go pick her up for the party.”

“Have fun, Benny. Hey, tell Dom he’s a shitface.”

“Will do. See ya.”

“This is the perfect night to celebrate.” Ben was ecstatic after he picked Ally up for the party. “You aced your Biology final exam and I made it through another season in one piece.”

Ally smiled over at him. He looked especially handsome tonight in his police officer costume. Lord knew she could never resist a man in uniform. She was glad he chose the role of a cop and hadn’t opted to cover up with a mask of some sort. His uniform accentuated all the right places and that suited her just fine.

Speaking of which, Ally was feeling especially sexy in her nurse‘s costume. It consisted of a low-cut mini dress, thigh-highs, a nurse’s hat and stethoscope. It was the most risqué thing she had ever worn, but it was easy to get caught up in the spirit of a party. And she had studied long and hard to ace that Biology exam.

Ben was also more than a little pleased with Ally’s costume of choice. If he were ever injured, he would want a dose of her bedside manners, stat. It was all he could do to focus on the road leading to Dom’s house.

Dom lived on the same side of town as Ben. But unlike Ben, Dom’s house was nestled against the Red Hills Golf Course. In fact, the fifth hole was located directly on the other side of Dom’s back yard.

Palm trees dotted the area and gave it a tropical feel as they swayed in the night breeze. They drove past the clubhouse and the Corvette wove through the streets passing a wide range of types of homes. Some were Colonial, French country, Mediterranean, modern. No matter what the style, they all looked like they belonged in an issue of
Magnificent Mansion Monthly
. The higher the house numbers, the bigger the houses got.