Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Gavin tried mightily to focus on his team through warm-ups, but his gaze wandered far too often to the beautiful blonde standing next to the glass straight across from his team’s bench.
She met his gaze a few times, smiled, and then looked away.
He’d probably upset her in the car when he hadn’t responded to her whole emotionally closed-off brooding hero line.
How was he supposed to respond to that? The woman was not only lethal with her gaze and fire with her touch; she was an overly imaginative romance writer who was liable to use him as fodder for her next book and then walk away.
He shook his head and focused on the boys. Luckily, Coach Trevor was giving the pregame speech and pointers, because Gavin couldn’t have talked rationally if they were playing in the championship tonight.
Austin shoved his helmet on and put out his fist to bump. “I got this, Gav,” he said, as overconfident and cute as any ten-year-old boy should be.
“Yeah, you do.” Gavin thumped his fist, then his shoulder pad. He liked the way Austin called him “Gav” so affectionately and told everybody Gavin was his best brother, but he often imagined how great it would be to hear the word “Dad” from Austin’s lips. “Go strong, bud.”
Austin gave a cackle of laughter, flipped over the barrier, and skated into position.
The ref blew the whistle, and the battle for the puck began.
Gavin focused on the game, but somehow, though the bleachers slowly filled and she found a seat, he knew exactly where Kari was and how she was reacting.
When Austin stole the puck, dodged a defender, and scored, she jumped up, hooted, and did the cutest dance Gavin had ever seen.
Luckily, she had his too-big coat on, so he couldn’t see the exact details of how her fit body moved during that dance.
When a player from the other team slammed Austin into the glass, Kari gasped and started screaming at the ref, “Penalty! Foul! Bad kid! He can’t do that!”
Gavin smiled as Austin skated on, unscathed, and Kari finally settled down.
The refs didn’t allow these little guys to get away with much, trying to keep them safe and focused on the skill and not the brutality of the game, but they still weren’t going to make a call every time somebody got knocked into the glass or onto the ice. It was hockey, after all.
“Gavin?” Trevor was eyeing him strangely. “You okay?”
Gavin nodded quickly, hoping his fellow coach hadn’t noticed where Gavin’s gaze kept going. “Yeah. Why?”
“Austin just got slammed into the wall and you were … smiling about it.”
Gavin forced his face into a serious expression.
He tried not to be overly protective of Austin, but it was in his nature, and everyone noticed it at one time or another.
He’d also been told that he rarely gave a full smile.
“No, I was smiling about a woman.” His lips tightened.
That was nothing he should be admitting to.
Now Trevor’s jaw dropped. “A woman? The woman who came in with you two? She’s beautiful, but I never …”
“Let’s go, boys!” Gavin yelled, focusing on the game. “Nix, Mace, you two get out there. Show us what you’ve got. Austin, Grey, you’re off.”
Gavin ignored his fellow coach, who was still staring at him. He had to get this stupid infatuation with Kari under control. She would probably be at the lodge for only a few days. After tonight, he’d avoid her, and soon his life would be back to normal.
Why did normal life sound like torture instead of freedom?
Kari cheered like a crazy woman during the hockey game.
It was fun doing real people stuff, and Austin was amazing on his skates and with his stick thingy.
He’d scored the only two goals for his team so far.
She caught Gavin looking her way a few times during the game, and she always tried to give him a big smile to reassure him that she was enjoying herself.
He looked so concerned about her—or was he concerned about her being here?
Maybe he didn’t want an unknown woman around him and his son. That stank.
She burrowed deeper into the too-big, warm, and delicious-smelling coat.
Definitely Tom Ford, but something about Gavin’s body chemistry made it smell even more appealing than any heroine had shared with her when she was writing that specific cologne into a hero’s rap sheet.
Her stomach felt warm as she stared at Gavin while he instructed the boys, and it warmed further as she breathed in his heady scent.
He looked her way, and the warmth went to scorching heat.
Oh my. She’d never been jealous of any of her characters’ connections or stories, simply happy to be part of their happily ever after, but if this was what it felt like to have an incredible man simply look at you? Wow. She really needed to get out more.
The game finished with Austin and Gavin’s team losing 2–4.
Kari cheered along with the crowd anyway, figuring it was a game well played.
Would Austin and Gavin be grumpy about the loss?
That might be awkward. She’d run track in high school and hadn’t really liked to lose, but she’d never been very competitive.
Her older brother had been on the water polo team, and she remembered that after a loss her parents would give him some space for an hour or two; he’d be back to himself after that.
The other fans filtered out, except for waiting parents. Kari smiled and waved at a few people who stared for too long. She’d noticed quite a few intrigued looks before and during the game, and they were increasing now. The small-town crowd wondering who the outsider was?
When Austin and Gavin walked her way, she forgot about any looks and concentrated on them.
What a pair. Austin was adorable with his golden-brown hair, dark brown eyes, a smattering of freckles across his nose, and a wide grin.
Gavin was miles past adorable, carrying Austin’s huge gear bag and looking tough and handsome—irresistible, really—in a long-sleeved T-shirt that showcased his strong build.
When he met her gaze, her stomach dropped out.
She couldn’t stop herself from rushing to them.
She wanted to throw her arms around Gavin’s neck and have him pick her off the ground, smiling up at her as he twirled her around and then …
She shook her head and leaned down to hug Austin instead.
Even the lovely scent of Gavin’s coat couldn’t negate the stink of Austin’s hockey jersey, which he was still wearing.
“You played so good, you scored all your team’s goals!
But you really, really stink!” These were the details she needed for her book, but she hoped her hockey heroes wouldn’t reek like moldy socks.
Austin laughed. “It’s bad luck to wash gear mid-season.”
Kari laughed with him. “I hate to break this to you, bud, but even though you played amazing, your team lost. Wash that gear and maybe it’ll give your team some good luck.”
Austin’s nose wrinkled with disgust at her, but Gavin laughed.
Gavin … laughed. It was a melodic and appealing sound that she wanted to record on her phone and play on repeat when she went back home and never saw him again.
That laughter could inspire and lift her through any bout of writer’s block.
She straightened and smiled at him. “I love your laugh.”
That wiped the mirth off his face. He looked down at Austin. “Ice cream?”
“Yes!” Austin seemed to forget about the loss and the suggested washing of gear as he grabbed her hand and tugged her toward the doors. “Can we go to Joe’s? Then I can get a sandwich too. I’m starving. Are you hungry, Kari?”
Kari shrugged. “I had a salad at lunch.”
Austin looked at her like she’d grown another head. “At lunch? A salad? It’s like … seven o’clock or something. You need food, pretty lady.”
Kari giggled. She loved this kid.
Gavin trailed behind them. When Kari glanced over her shoulder at him, he met her gaze and said, “You definitely need food. Look how my coat drowns you.”
“That’s because you’re this burly, tough dude.
” She smiled at him, and she hoped it was inviting.
Why hadn’t she thought to practice smiles and alluring looks in the mirror before she’d left for this trip?
Who knew if her face looked like a distorted grimace or a sultry model?
She hadn’t planned on meeting the likes of Gavin Strong, that’s why.
Hesitantly, he gave her maybe one-quarter of a smile back.
It wasn’t much, but at least he wasn’t avoiding looking at her like he had earlier.
Had she offended him with her stupid comments?
Possibly. She’d have to figure out how to bite her tongue, or she’d never get to play at being a heroine with this incredible hero.
Yet as Austin swung the door wide and Gavin held it for her to go through, she wasn’t sure that she wanted to play.
With a man as incredible as this, she wanted so much more than that.
Austin was talkative, rehashing different plays of the game, and got them to the deli and ice cream shop without either Gavin or Kari having to say much. They placed their orders for sandwiches and shakes and found a booth, but Austin dashed off.
“Where are you going?” Gavin’s voice held a note of panic as if he didn’t want to be left alone with her. Dang. She really must’ve offended him.
“I’ve got to pee!” he hollered back at them.
Gavin blew out a breath. “I’m trying to train him, but … you know ten-year-old boys.”
Kari smiled at that. She wanted to ask what had happened to Austin’s mother, but she figured she’d already been too open today. “So what do you do for work, Gavin?”
He focused on her, and her stomach did a roll. Dang, those eyes were lethal. “You didn’t know?”
“Know what?” She took a sip of water.
He tilted his head and said, “I own the resort.”