Ice Contact (Milwaukee Steel Riders #1)

27. Hayes

27

hayes

“ W hat time do you have to leave in the morning? And when are you back in town?” she asks, the two of us laying in bed. She’s nestled in the crook of my arm, her body pressed tight against me as her fingers idly trace shapes on my chest.

“I head out around seven, so not too crazy early. The nice thing about the team plane is we go through TSA screenings before we get on the bus, so we get dropped off right on the tarmac to board.

“Tomorrow is our travel day, then Monday we have our game in Dallas. After that, we fly to Columbus. Tuesday we’ll practice in Ohio, then have the evening off since the game is Wednesday. Then we fly back after the game, so I’ll get home super late Wednesday night. Actually, it will probably be Thursday morning.”

“Wow, that’s a long trip.”

“It is. Definitely the biggest downside of the sport. But I’ve been doing this for a while, so I’m used to it. Also, the insane amount of money they pay us makes it hard to complain,” I say, both of us laughing. Inside, I wince remembering road trips when I was with Chelsea, especially when I started to suspect something was up. The tension of wanting to trust her, but knowing maybe I shouldn’t was stressful. As much as I try to not let things like that affect my game, I will admit the last season in Tampa wasn’t my best. I quickly shake away those cobwebs in my brain, knowing that the most perfect woman is cuddled in next to me. She looks up with a smile, her eyes holding a serious gaze as they meet mine.

“You also love it,” she says, tapping her hand over my heart.

I smile back at her, knowing that she is different than any other woman I’ve been with. “Yeah, I do. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do with my life.” The words, ‘until I met you’ daring to spill out of my mouth. Play it cool Hayes.

“I don’t blame you one bit. You’re incredibly talented. You should enjoy this as long as you can.”

My sweet siren gets it. I lean down to kiss her forehead, the comfort of having her in my arms fills me with certainty that she’ll stand by me, no matter what.

“I appreciate that. Most players only play at the top of their game for a few years. I’ve really hit a groove the last few games. It’s great to be back on a team with Vladi and getting to know the other guys on the team. Even the rookies…shit even Bougie and his pompous ass has a lot of talent. We’re finally starting to gel as a team. I have a hunch it’s going to get even better here in Milwaukee.”

“As I’ve said before,” she replies, “Milwaukee is lucky to have you.”

“Just Milwaukee, huh? No one else is lucky I’m here?” I jab, lightly squeezing her arm.

“I mean, maybe a few interested parties might be glad to have you here in town. The team owner. The GM. The coach. The fans. You know…interested parties,” she says with a wink, a devilish smirk lifting her lips.

“You wouldn’t happen to be one of those ‘interested parties,’ would you?”

“Jury’s still out,” she teases.

“Olivia Brooks, you are such a lying little brat,” I say, leaning in to kiss her passionately once more. I can’t help it; the air is better when it’s surrounding Olivia Brooks.

“I think the jury might be leaning toward a yes on that one,” she says breaking the kiss. “But they need more evidence before they officially decide.”

“Good,” I say, capturing her lips once more. “Because, as of this moment, you’re mine .”

I flinch at my alarm going off. I try to silence it before Olivia wakes up, but I see her stirring. “Hey, sweet girl. I’m not leaving yet, just going to shower and pack. Stay here in bed; I’ll wake you up when I’m heading out.”

“Mmmffkay,” she mumbles as she snuggles in closer to me. God, I do not want to leave. She is so beautiful all curled up in my arms. Her red hair is adorably tangled, and her long eyelashes flutter as she struggles to try and open them this early on a Sunday morning.

But sadly, I have to get up. I sweep a stray piece of her hair off her face, leaving a kiss behind in its place, then torturously drag myself away from the siren lying in my bed.

When I’m dressed and ready to go, I check on Olivia still passed out in bed. I hop in bed sitting beside her gently stroking her back.

“Hi,” she says as she groans with a sweet morning smile, her eyes barely cracked open, “You can leave the money on the nightstand, big boy. I’ll call when I need you again.”

I can’t contain my laughter, the sound filling the room and lightening the weight on my chest. “You are such a little brat,” I say, reaching down to run my fingers over that ticklish place that makes her squeal.

“Hayes, stop it!” she begs, giggling as she tries, but fails, to wiggle free from my torment. “I can’t defend myself before coffee!”

“Good thing there’s coffee brewed in the kitchen; help yourself. How do you take your coffee, by the way?”

“Black. My favorite is an Americano.” She groans, her eyes going out of focus. “I just want pure unadulterated coffee,” she says. “How about you?”

I raise my eyebrows with the discovery of another similarity we share. “Same, actually. I was going to apologize for not having creamer, but seems I’m in good company,” I say as I give her a quick kiss. “Seriously though, help yourself to some coffee after I head out. Go back and sleep some more first.”

She starts to scramble out of bed, “Oh! I can go now if you’re leaving…” I place my hand on her arm to stop my spiraling little siren. My face falls, my heart crushed at how broken she is. It’s going to take some time to heal the scars of her past relationship. I’m going to show her everything she’s deserved for so long.

“Please, Olivia, stay. I left a spare key on the counter, next to the coffee pot. Sleep in and head out whenever you like.”

“You’re leaving me a key?” she says looking up at me with her eyes almost as wide as the lake outside. “You trust me to just stay here without you?”

“Were you planning to rob me?”

“I mean, you do have some nice stuff,” she says, making a show of glancing over my shoulder, “But I was a little busy last night, so I haven’t had time to fully case the joint.”

Why does this woman make me laugh more than anything else?

“I trust you, Olivia. Plus, you know what will happen if you misbehave.”

A blush spreads across her grinning face. “That’s not really an incentive to behave, Hayes.”

I drag my hand down my face, thinking of missed goals and extra killers across the rink. “Don’t get me all worked up in these unforgiving pants,” I grumble as I give her yet another quick kiss on the lips.

“Why? Do you have a Zamboner?” she teases as we both laugh again. I disrupt her laugh by pressing my lips to hers, my heart beating faster than it does on a breakaway on open ice. Our tongues collide as we collapse in bed and her arms wrap around me tightly, making it more difficult to leave. The team won’t miss me, will they? I’m sure Coach will understand. Her hands trail down my chest, and I gently grab her wrist, finally pulling back and giving her one last kiss.

“See you later, siren. I’ll text you when we get to Dallas.”

“Bye Hayes. I lo-” she stops herself. “I …loved the time we got to spend together yesterday.”

I fight back a smile, tightening my jaw to keep it in check. Her brows narrow as she bites her lip, glancing away. Did she almost say the words I’ve been wanting to say to her? It hasn’t been long since that night at Walt’s, but damn it feels like a lifetime. Is she feeling the same thing I am? I’ve always been told it’s going to feel wrong until it feels right, and in every relationship I’ve ever had, there’s always been something nagging at me. Even in the early ‘honeymoon’ phase, something has felt… off . But this? Somehow this just feels right. More than right, this feels perfect. This feels like home.