Blue Lines & Chrismukkah Nights (Holiday Sparks #1)

Chapter 1

ASHER

Irefrain from stabbing the pumpkin-shaped butter, even though it’s tempting.

The fall season and especially Halloween are not for me.

Kids in superhero costumes annoy me. And I don’t have time for goblins and candy.

It’s the start of the hockey season, and we need to start strong.

No distractions. I hate the marketing department when they steal one of my players away for a hot minute for some ridiculous social media post. The other day it was for our rookie to paint a pumpkin.

Alas, hockey isn’t only on the ice, which is why I’m sitting at the Dizzy Duck Inn in Lake Spark with the Spinners team owner and one of our major sponsors.

Charm. Obligation. And tableware and food saluting the autumn season in a small town.

That’s my life right now.

I’m well aware that my name does not match the impression people have of me. Asher means “happy one” in Hebrew, and for the most part, I believe people see me as anything but. Not exactly grumpy, but determination can come off wrong.

“I’m glad that you’re on board, Asher. I was getting worried last season.

The guys didn’t seem the same,” Hudson Arrows reflects as he cuts into his steak.

Seems like a man who needs his protein supply, as he is in good shape for a guy the same age as my father.

He’s one of the major families in Lake Spark.

For years he was one of the best coaches in professional football.

Imagine the world’s surprise when he decided he would sponsor a hockey team.

But his reason is compelling; watching hockey was always his relaxing pastime, and now Lake Spark is his home.

Technically, we are a Chicago team, but we train a good distance outside of the city. It makes it easier to focus, to be honest. Small-town life mellows out the guys too. Maybe even me on occasion.

“They just needed a coach with new direction.” Declan Dash grins at me. He is younger than Hudson but has kids in college. He’s the team owner and used to play hockey himself. He lives and breathes our team.

I take a quick sip from my glass of wine.

“We still have work to do, but there is only one way to go.” No shit we have a lot of work to do.

Their former coach had no strategy, always changed plays and lines, and couldn’t be professional in any press conference.

The team was fed up, which means a few unrestricted free-agent players escaped over the summer, and the coach was fired.

The former coach left nothing positive in his trail except the job opportunity for me.

“That’s the spirit.” Hudson smiles.

Thankfully dinner hasn’t been miserable.

Hudson and Declan are laidback and invested.

It’s just that I could use the downtime to gear up for the next two away games.

I didn’t want to stay with the expansion team in northern Wisconsin, and being closer to my parents in Chicago was appealing.

Plus, teams that are used to not doing well tend to see a light at the end of the tunnel eventually, and then the thirst to win is unstoppable. That’s why I’m with the Spinners.

“It will be great at the team Halloween party. Seeing the guys with their kids is always a laugh. I forget if we are doing the puppy adoption booth this year. They normally use those photos for the holiday calendar.” Declan is so damn happy that it nearly causes the corner of my mouth to stretch an inch.

Nearly.

“I’ll take off my coach’s hat, I promise.” I’m only half joking, but he probably doesn’t realize. I don’t hear his reply because my eyes have latched on to a woman who just entered the restaurant.

Sure, she is probably a little younger than me, late twenties maybe to my forty but age has never been a deterrent to me.

Long legs highlighted by a mocha-colored dress, light brown hair that falls to just below her breasts, which are perfectly pert and full.

I sense that her smoky brown eyes that latch on to mine are dangerous, an instinct of mine.

I’ve seen her a few times before at hockey events.

It’s only a brief moment until we lose the connection, but she walks with purpose straight to our table, which has me wildly curious. She arrives with a friendly smile before leaning over to hug Hudson.

“Hey, Daddy.”

Ah, his daughter.

The man looks elated by this surprise. “Why am I so lucky today to see my beautiful daughter? This is my daughter Gracie,” Hudson quickly mentions to me.

“Or just Grace because I’m no longer a child,” she humorously reminds her father.

She gives Declan a friendly nod hello before her eyes land on me, not even blinking, and she gives me the once-over real quick before turning her attention back to her father.

“Mom said you would be here, and I wanted to say hi, as I have a yoga class at the spa next door.”

For some reason, everything about that sentence is ripe with privilege. I have visions of her being spoiled and having life handed to her on a silver platter.

“You’ve met our new coach, right?” Declan directs his assumption to Gracie.

“I have not. But the team actually won a game recently, so I figured that we probably have a new coach.” Her sass is a little brazen, but Declan seems to be used to it and only chuckles.

Me? My brows rise from her candor.

Hudson clears his throat. “Excuse my daughter. Her humor is from... I’m not sure which side of the family.”

I smirk smugly at her when her lashes flutter at me. “No apologies needed. At least she acknowledges a win.”

“It was one. I think you still have about eighty more games this season before we can throw the confetti.” Her fire is refreshing.

“Gracie,” her father mutters her name as a warning.

Declan just chuckles under his breath. “She reminds me of the days she would babysit Willow, my daughter, and she would be a protective wolf at the playground. A little ruthless with the parents, too.”

Her eyes narrow in on me for a few seconds, as if she is pinning me to a bulletin board, right before she slides her gaze back to her father.

“I really just wanted to stop by. The cons of being an adult is I don’t live under your roof and get to see you every day.

Also…” She winces. “Mom kind of sent me here to remind you that she’s contemplating inviting the rabbi over for Hanukkah this year, and even though it’s only October, he’s in popular demand, so we need to get ahead of the line. ”

Hudson’s face completely falls in a humorous way. “I thought we were going all-in on Christmas this year?”

She shrugs. “Take it up with the missus. I’m just the cute messenger.” Her voice is floaty.

Grace and her dad begin to chat about something while Declan grabs my attention when he leans into my space. “How is it with your cousin on the team?”

“He’s my second cousin, and it makes no difference,” I clarify.

Tyler Ives is only somewhat related to me.

His mother’s brother is married to my aunt.

Tyler is younger than me by a few years, so we never grew up close.

He’s at least a solid player, and as such, I’ll treat him like one.

Same with my little brother Shaw who also plays hockey.

He’s on a team out in California, and when we play against them, then he is my opponent, not a relative.

My eyes drift back to Grace, and maybe and that’s the reason Declan leans in a little closer to me. “We keep our sponsors happy. We don’t go near certain things that might not make sponsors happy. Got it?” he warns me with a low voice and a tight smile on his face.

Translation: Stop eye-fucking the woman at the table who is feisty and gives me the feeling that she would probably be in agreement with every scenario in my head that involves no clothes.

I throw him an agreeing smile. “Of course. The focus is the team, and we will bring home a cup this season.”

He pats my shoulder. “That’s what I love to hear.”

We both return our attention to Hudson and Grace who are ending their conversation.

She gives us a goodbye too before dashing off.

A little disappointment pings inside me because I think I wanted to experience more of her banter or simply admire the gleam in her eyes that would for a brief few seconds get caught in my gaze.

I’m quick to bury the last few minutes away in my head and return my focus on my steak and the conversation about the league’s latest gossip and an explanation about the local holiday traditions.

The holiday market a few towns over in Everhope is apparently worth a visit if I actually ever decide to be social on my seldom days off.

I’m a people person, I have to be with what I do.

It’s just there are very few days off during the season, and I need to refuel my engine.

As we wait for a round of scotch, I excuse myself and go to the men’s room, but when I turn the corner in the hall, I nearly run into someone.

“Sorry.” I’m quick to steady the arm of the woman in an oversized sweater and yoga pants, only to realize when my eyes flick up that it isn’t just any woman. It’s her.

Grace straightens her posture, only for a smirk to slowly draw on her lips, glossy with a fresh layer of balm, and I notice because she makes no effort to step back, nor do I. “You again. Mr. Saving the Team.”

“Someone has to do it.” I’m not going to win the fight to control my cocky smirk.

I’m sensing playfulness, it’s a sort of vibe she emits. “You know.” She leans against the wall and crosses her arms. “I have a theory about you.”

“What would that be?”

“You think I’m just a daddy’s girl. First impressions and all.”

She’s not exactly wrong. “How intuitive of you.” I keep my face stoic.

“But it’s quite hypocritical, since you are Asher Tate, the son of Cole and Ruby Tate. You were not exactly struggling on your road to success.”

This woman. Is she part devil?