Chapter 20 Henrik
HENRIK
Iwait until I hear the bathroom door shut and then I stride over to Lee, resisting the urge to smack him in the back of the head. “What the fuck, man? Are you in or not?”
“You’re crazy,” he retorts in a low, furious whisper. “I’m not going to risk ruining this for you.”
Ren joins us. “You’re going to have to give him the same pep talk you gave me.”
“No way.” Lee huffs out a laugh, shaking his head. “You’ve never needed a pep talk in your life.”
“I can put on a good show with the best of the best, but I’m smart enough to know sometimes it’s easier to not even take the shot for fear you’ll miss it.”
“Or fuck it up,” Lee says, his eyes turning serious. “You know my past. Besides, she isn’t interested in me anyway. Not with the Mighty Zon taking charge and the Hotshot in his back pocket.”
“The past is the past,” Ren says in his best “Hakuna Matata” voice, but Lee doesn’t even crack a smile.
I get it. None of us are the type of men to sit around a campfire and share our feelings just for kicks and giggles.
He saw shit as a cop on the streets of Chicago that would scar me too.
Shadows still haunt his eyes. I’d invited him to come here to heal after he left the force, hoping he’d stay.
Grateful when he did—especially when Ren got his harebrained idea.
Changing my strategy a bit, I said, “You haven’t even given her a chance to get to know you.”
Lee rolls his eyes, avoiding meeting my gaze. “She ain’t missing much. I’ll be around, sure. But there’s no reason to risk scaring her off when you obviously care about her so much.”
“I do care about her. But I care about you too.”
His eyes widen. He laughs awkwardly, embarrassed but also touched. “I’m fine, dude. I’ll take Ren up on his offer next time.”
“There won’t be any more offers from me if Darby stays,” Ren replies.
Lee laughs again, shaking his head, but Ren cuts him off. “I mean it. I’m all in. I’m not going to fuck this up for any of us. If Darby gives me a chance, I’m done playing the field.”
“Not the tomcat hanging up his skates.”
Ren seizes a handful of Lee’s shirt, pulling him up on his toes. Leaning into his space. As serious as I’ve ever seen him. “I mean it, Leland. I’ll hang up my skates forever before I’ll fuck this up.”
With a low growl, Lee tries to shove Ren in the chest, but he doesn’t budge. “Then why the fuck would you want me to fuck this up?”
I consider stepping between them, but something tells me they need to get this out.
“The same reason you’re here. The same reason you joined us on the Ice. We need you.”
A harsh laugh cracks Lee’s voice. “You don’t need me. There are a million others just like me. Solid, decent wings but you’re the star. Both of you were players ten times better than me.”
“A hundred,” Ren retorts though his face softens. He still leans in, making himself vulnerable to a chip shot. Not that Lee would ever take it. “But the center’s nothing without his wings.”
I step closer and clamp my hands on both of their necks, giving them a solid scruff shake as if I was fighting the urge to knock their heads together. “And the team is nothing without the best goalie in the league. We made a promise to always be a team.”
“We were kids, for fuck’s sake.” Lee rolls his eyes again, but I don’t miss the deep shaking breath he sucks in. “We’ve all got our separate lives now. We don’t have to do everything together. That’s ridiculous.”
I open my mouth, but Ren beats me to the punch. “Separate lives—that we’ve fucked up. This is our chance to do it right. Together. The way it was always meant to be.”
“You’re fucking crazy.” Lee finally looks me in the eye. “Especially you. This is your big shot, Zon. I’ve never seen you so head over heels for a woman before. Don’t fuck this up by trying to make a team of what should be a one-man job.”
I squeeze my fingers harder on his neck, letting my upper lip curl. “I’m man enough to give Darby everything she wants, and something tells me this is right. This team is what she needs. Even if she doesn’t know it yet.”
“What’s she going to need me for? Flying? Sure. No problem. But—”
I release them both but cross my arms over my chest so I can level my trademark Zon stare on him. “I don’t remember seeing cashmere sweaters on the list.”
“Women like pretty, soft things,” he starts to protest, then sees the knowing smirk spreading across my face. “Fine, so I improvised a little.”
I wracked my brain for hours to make a list of all her practical gear—never once thinking about something pretty just because. A stupid mistake, now that I think about it. “Send me the bill.”
“Fuck you, I picked them out, I get to pay for them.”
“You little shit—” I growl, reaching for him again.
Skadi barks, getting my attention, and then she starts running all over the fucking living room. On the sofa. Off. Around the boxes. Knocking them over. Grabbing another glove. A hat. Shaking them furiously.
“Not the cashmere, doggie,” Lee bemoans.
“You’re safe.” Ren laughs. “She took them with her to the bathroom. I’m pretty sure that’s the first thing she grabbed.”
I arch a brow at Lee, and he heaves out a sigh. “Fine.”
“I mean, unless you’re not interested…” Ren starts to say then pauses dramatically. “Though we all know that’s not true.”
“I’m about as interested as the dog is in tearing shit up. What’s her name, anyway? I don’t think I caught it.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Skadi, Norse goddess of destruction.”
“Fitting.”
“Hey, before I forget, I want you to do some digging on a man named Michael who just opened up a bakery somewhere in Denver.”
Now I have Lee’s full attention. “Sure thing. You know I love a good mystery. Is that all you’ve got?”
“The bakery’s called Darby’s Too but it sure isn’t run by her.”
Some men get loud and blustery when they’re riled up. I go silent and grim.
Lee goes cool and sneaky. “Got it. I’ll have the bastard’s shoe size by tomorrow.”
I slap him on the back. “That’s what I’m talking about.”
“So what’s the plan?” Ren asks, though when I shoot him a narrowed look, he shakes his head and laughs. “I mean for this ‘golly gee, let’s have fun in the snow’ adventure, not ‘let’s hunt down Darby’s ex and make him a deal he can’t refuse’ hit.”
“I’m planning to drag out the snowmobile and take her on a tour of all the most beautiful spots and trails around Mooseville.
I’ll swing by each of your houses if you want to give her a tour, or just join us on the trail.
We’ll end up back here in time for me to throw everything into the pressure cooker for dinner. ”
“Just go to Lee’s today,” Ren says. “I’ve got the Ice tonight.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
DARBY
It’s probably a stupid choice to wear outside after a blizzard, but I can’t resist the cashmere.
Both sweaters are gorgeous, but one is chef’s kiss blue.
Not too bright to be sapphire, not too weathered, but heathered and comfortable like well-worn denim.
The long johns are light enough to go underneath the sweater for an extra bit of warmth.
No bra unless I want to head upstairs. Oh well.
Thick wool socks on my feet. The fleece-lined pants probably make my hips look as wide as a barn but at least I’ll be warm and dry.
I should probably wash everything before wearing it. How does one wash cashmere and wool anyway? The hell if I know. Henrik got me all this to wear. Today. Now.
Because I might be gone tomorrow.
My heart immediately protests. No, wait, you can’t leave. Not yet! We just got here.
Skadi’s not in here for me to talk things out, and even if she were, the guys might overhear and change their mind about the crazy lady who talks to her dog like she’s a person. So I have to give myself a firm—silent—talking to in the mirror.
A day or two more is fine. But we are going to Vegas. And I’m not moving into the mountains to live with a man I just met. End of story. Right? Right. Good talk as always.
By the time I’m dressed, only Henrik waits for me in the living room. A relief, honestly. So many men seem to take up all the oxygen in the room, especially when Ren’s around. That man’s dangerous as fuck.
Henrik’s still wearing the same soft flannel from this morning, but he changed his pants into thick cargo-type material. Not ski pants, at least, so hopefully he took me seriously when I said I don’t ski even bunny hills.
“Come here, babe, and I’ll help you.”
He bends down to help me with the heavy boots, letting me hold on to his shoulder for balance. Then the brand-new jacket, though he doesn’t zip it all the way up to my chin yet. A hat that’s going to give my hair terrible static.
“This one doesn’t match the coat as nicely, but the other one had some slobbers on it.”
I shudder dramatically. “I love her, but I’ve seen what she does with that mouth.”
A low rumble escapes his throat, drawing my gaze to his face. His eyes focus on my mouth, which makes me feel like I’m melting.
“I like those words coming out of that very pretty mouth.”
It takes me a minute to track.
I love her.
Not very distant from… I love you.
“It gives me… ideas.”
Or maybe he’s envisioning exactly what I could do with my mouth.
Naturally, I can’t help but lick my bottom lip, making him groan.
“Maybe I can show you what I do with this mouth tonight.” Though said mouth might be writing checks my body can’t cash.
I’ve given head a couple of times, but I wouldn’t say I’m spectacular at it.
I’ve never really gotten into it. But if he’s having dirty thoughts about my mouth, then by all means, I’m willing to try.
He tucks some of my hair behind my ear and adjusts the cap on my head. “I’d like that, absolutely, but I had a very particular scenario flash in my mind.”
“Yeah?” I lean against him, tipping my head back. “What’s that?”
He rubs his thumb lazily over my bottom lip. Making me remember the way we met. His finger in my mouth. His words, “Good girl,” echoing in my head. “I don’t know that you’re ready to hear it.”
“I’m game, as long as you’re involved.”
“Oh, I’m involved all right.” He leans down, holding my gaze, filling up my vision with impossibly broad shoulders and thick chest and sultry eyes.
His hands weigh heavy on my shoulders, like he thinks he needs to prevent me from bolting.
“I want you to look up at me, my dick in your mouth. While Ren fucks you from behind.”
I blush so hard I sway. My throat tightens. Guilt. He saw me staring at Ren’s mouth. He saw the way his friend looked at me this morning. His head so close to mine.
He knows.
Of course he knows. He dared me last night. Or was it this morning? I can’t even remember.
“You— I—” I’m so flustered I can’t even speak a coherent sentence. “No.”
Nodding, he straightens but his fingers knead my shoulders gently and his lips quirk. “Okay, babe. No pressure. It was just a thought.”
I can’t help but scowl at him—which only makes him grin wider. “Sure it was.”
Because now I can’t get the image out of my head.
And the smug bastard knows it, too.