Jaci Burton - Melting the Ice

When they took the ice for introductions, the home crowd went crazy. Drew soaked in all the energy. It fueled him for game time. He wished Carolina could be here, but he knew she was deep in her work, just like him. He hadn’t even asked her because he didn’t want to put her on the spot.

Besides, he had a date with her tomorrow night. He smiled as he skated around the ice for warm-ups. Tomorrow was his night with Carolina.

Tonight was his night to beat up on Colorado.

Trick took the face-off, and Drew waited, his body poised to go after the puck as soon as it dropped. Trick flipped it toward Colorado’s side, and Drew skated after it, Colorado’s defender shoving into him before he could get to the net. On the defensive, Drew hustled after him. Fortunately, the Travelers defense was right there to protect the net and Kozlow fought for the puck.

Drew had every confidence in Avery Mangino, the Travelers goalie, but he much preferred to be at the other end of the Garden, trying to shove the puck in Colorado’s net. So when Kozlow slid the puck their way, he and Trick volleyed it back and forth, then Trick passed it to Litman while Drew skated down the ice, beating Colorado’s defenders to get in position.

He took the pass from Litman and launched a shot at the net, deflected by the goalie.

Damn.

By the end of the first period, they were scoreless.

Unacceptable.

Colorado was good. But they were better.

In the second period, it was just as intense, with a lot of shots on goal by both teams and nothing to show for it. Time was ticking down and when Colorado got called for high-sticking, that gave the Travelers a power play.

This was their chance to make a charge at the goal. With Trick just past center, Drew and Litman drove down the ice with the puck, passing it to Trick, who volleyed it to Sayers. Drew got into position, shoving the defender out of the way just in time to receive the pass. He took a shot and swung it into the net.

They’d scored! Elated, they gathered to celebrate for a few seconds, and then it was back to work.

By the third period, they were up two to nothing, but Colorado was driving, holding them deep in their own end. Trick got a two-minute penalty, so that left them short on a power play.

It was time to dig deep and hold Colorado scoreless.

Sweat dripping down his face and back, Drew was determined to keep his focus on two of Colorado’s players. He dug in his skates and worked them, moving double time as they worked the net trying to score. He slung the puck down to Colorado’s side, but they quickly doubled up on him and forced it back down the ice. Kozlow pushed into the defender and wrestled for the puck. Kozlow won that battle, and shucked it to Drew. He skated away with the puck like he’d stolen it.

Fighting for breath, he moved as fast as he could to stay ahead of the Colorado players who were just as desperate to get hold of the puck as he was to keep it. At Colorado’s net, they jumbled up, a tangle of bodies and sticks wrestling for the prize. Drew took a shot and Colorado’s goalie swept it into his glove.

Damn. They went back toward the Travelers net. Drew took a quick look at the clock. Still too damn much time left on Trick’s penalty and Colorado was hungry.

They surrounded the Travelers net and then it was a free-for-all, a mass of players shoving in sticks to grab the puck. Drew saw a shot on goal, and when Avery came up with the puck in his hand, Drew expelled a giant sigh of relief.

By then the power play was over, and time was ticking down to end the third period. Normal play resumed, and though Colorado fought hard to score, they ended the game without getting the puck in the net. The Travelers won, and the team celebrated by high-fiving at center ice.

Drew was exhilarated, exhausted, and ready to eat a twelve-ounce steak. So were the rest of the guys. They planned to shower, do their media interviews, and they were all going to meet at the steakhouse for dinner.

He dressed and grabbed his phone, surprised to find a text message from Carolina.

Amazing game. You kicked butt. Congratulations!

He dialed her number. She answered on the second ring.

“I thought you’d be out celebrating.”

He grinned. “On my way. You saw the game?”

“Yes. I was doing some minor beadwork at home, so I had the game on while I worked. Though I have to admit for a while there, I was riveted to the television. Nice goal, by the way.”

“Thanks. I would have invited you to the game. I wanted you to come, but I figured you were going to be busy.”

“I am busy. Which doesn’t mean I can’t catch your games on TV. I just wanted to let you know I was cheering you on.”

He took in a deep breath. “Thanks for that.”

“You’re welcome. Now go enjoy your celebration.”

“Okay. I’ll call you tomorrow. Don’t work too hard.”

“I’ll try not to. Good night, Drew.”

“Night, Lina.”

He hung up, and grinned.

“What the hell, man? Get up and let’s get going. I’m starving here.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He put on his shoes and followed Trick out the door.

CAROLINA HATED NEW YEAR’S EVE IN NEW YORK CITY. Typically, she either hightailed it out of town, or hid in her apartment, content to let everyone else crowd the streets and celebrate.

She anticipated with dread whatever Drew had in store for her for tonight. Knowing him, he’d thrust some hideous party hat on her and drag her out to Times Square.

She was sipping her tea when her phone rang. Frowning, she looked at the time. It was only eight in the morning, and it was Drew calling.

“A little early for our date, don’t you think?”

“Not really. Pack a bag. We’re heading out.”

“Staking out our place in Times Square already?”

He laughed. “Do you really think I’d do that to you?”

“I have no idea.”

“Pack a bag. We’re getting the hell out of here.”

“Okay. And what should I pack?”

“Pack for the beach. I’ll be there in an hour to pick you up. Can you be ready?”

What did he think she was, some diva who needed three hours to prep? “Yes. I’ll see you in an hour.”

Pack for the beach? Where were they going? As long as it was out of here, she was game.

She headed into her bedroom and grabbed her bag, threw in some capris, a sundress, and, though it was a ridiculous notion, her swimsuit. It was winter. Even if they hopped over to the Hamptons, which sounded like a delightful idea, it was still winter. She added a sweater and her yoga pants, too, just in case.

She took a shower and got dressed, then grabbed a bagel to eat while she waited.

Drew showed up exactly at the time he said he would. She liked that about him. He rang the bell, so she grabbed her bag and went downstairs.

When she opened the door, he smiled. “I love a woman who’s on time.”

“Hey, I even had time to eat breakfast.”

“Well, aren’t you efficient. Is this it?” he asked, grabbing her bag.

“You’re not kidnapping me for a week, are you?”

He led her down the stairs toward the waiting taxi. “Nice thought, but we both have to work, so no. Just overnight.”

They climbed into the taxi.

“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?” she asked.

“It’s a surprise.”

“Seriously? You’re not going to tell me?”

“We’ll be there before you know it. Just sit back and enjoy the ride.”

The ride ended up being to one of the smaller airports, where she was surprised to see the Preston jet.

They boarded, and buckled in.

“How did you arrange this?”

Drew settled in next to her. “I talked to Gray, who talked to your dad.”

“Good morning, Miss Preston. Mr. Hogan.”

Carolina smiled at Oren, the captain of the flight crew. “Good morning, Oren.”

“We’ll be taking off shortly. We’ll have you into Daytona Beach in no time. Enjoy the flight.”

After the captain went into the cockpit, Carolina turned to face Drew. “We’re spending New Year’s Eve with Gray and Evelyn?”

“Not exactly. They had a change in plans and decided to go to Virginia to be with Evelyn’s parents. With the baby news, they wanted to spend some time with her parents and talk wedding plans. So I talked to Gray, and he’s letting us use his house.”

“Oh. This is fantastic.” An overnight in Florida trumped a cold New Year’s Eve in Times Square every time.

“I knew you didn’t want to be in the city for New Year’s Eve. I thought you might like to go someplace warmer. I actually was going to get us a hotel room there and asked Gray about the plane, but then he told me they were heading to Virginia and offered up the house. I didn’t refuse.”

“It’s a great house on the beach. And someplace warmer is a wonderful idea. Thank you.”

They took off, and Carolina busied herself with working on her line. She had models in place, and had pretty much decided on which clothes each of them would wear. There might be a few switches, but other than completing production, she was mostly finished. Now she just had to get advertising going, and she had to get Drew on board for that, along with one of her female models for the women’s line. She’d already talked to the agency and had selected one of the female models to do the advertising shoot for the women’s line.

She leaned back and closed her eyes, needing to rest and gather her thoughts.

The next thing she knew, Drew was shaking her shoulder.

“We’re getting ready to land.”