Chapter Nine #3
The sweetness of the whole thing made Alex want to swoon. And, if the goofy look on her co-coach, Lexi’s face was any indication, she wasn’t the only one.
What Alex hadn’t expected, though, was the depth of his reaction when he’d stepped on the ice for the first time.
It had been like a boulder had been lifted from him, the weight of expectation and guilt and all the other stuff he carried disappearing. It had been… magical? Was that really the word? Well, whatever it was, it had been incredible. The change in him had made something inside her shift.
And then, after he’d turned her inside out with that incredible hug and the heart wrenching thank you, he’d spent the last hour helping her and Lexi coach a gaggle of five- and six-year-old girls on the finer points of hockey.
He’d never once complained or gotten snappy or angry when they peppered him with questions, or forgot what they’d been taught just seconds before.
He picked them up when they fell, he jumped over lines with them while they were skating, he fetched rogue pucks when they went astray.
He was perfect. That was it. He was freaking perfect.
“Great job today, Sparkles.” She tried not to laugh at the name the team had voted on at the beginning of the season. That’s what happened when you let kindergartners choose. “We’ll see you next time.”
Most of the girls waved goodbye and then the chaos of getting everyone over to the players box and through the door on their way to the dressing room ensued. She was used to it. She’d been coaching the little ones since Em was this age. He took it all in stride, herding the stragglers off the ice.
She leaned with her back against the boards near the open door and watched.
He was so patient with them. It was… unexpected.
She always got the impression kids weren’t his thing, given the fact he was in his thirties and didn’t actually have any.
Granted, from what little he’d told her, his marriage had been a disaster.
But if he’d really wanted the two point four kids lifestyle, he’d had plenty opportunity since.
He ushered Chelsea through the door. The little girl’s brown eyes were wide as she stared up at him. “You’re really big,” she said.
“That’s because he ate his vegetables.” Alex couldn’t keep the laughter out of her voice. Chelsea scrunched up her little face, not getting the joke. Obviously, she wasn’t a fan of the idea.
She laughed and he chuckled. Chelsea looked between them, a confused look on her face. That made her laugh harder.
“Go on,” he said, giving Chelsea a little nudge to get her moving. He managed to keep his composure, but was still grinning like a fool.
Chelsea wandered away, leaving her alone with him. Suddenly, nothing seemed quite so funny anymore.
He was staring at her, the intensity in his gaze making her feel self-conscious. She smoothed her hand over her hair, although she knew it was still tightly pulled back in her requisite bun. “Thank you.” The words came out all breathy and rushed. “For helping with the team tonight, I mean.”
“You’re welcome.” His voice was all deep and sexy and normal. The jerk. “It was a lot of fun.”
“The girls seemed pretty smitten.” Why wouldn’t her stupid voice come out all relaxed and normal?
He glided forward, stopping right in front of her, not quite touching, just right there.
He planted his hands on the boards on either side of her, caging her in.
Her heart beat increased by a factor of ten.
The spicy scent of him wrapped around her, wiping out the cold, almost chemical smell of the rink.
She tilted her head back to look at him.
“Were they the only ones who were smitten?”
A question so innocent really shouldn’t send a full body shiver through her. “No.” She shook her head, took a deep breath. “I think Lexi was pretty smitten, too.”
“Hmm.” He moved forward just a fraction of an inch, caging her in a little more. The position shouldn’t make her feel safe, it should be intimidating. But it wasn’t. It made her want to move forward, press herself against him.
One side of his mouth lifted in that cheeky, sexy grin she loved. She swallowed down a moan. No point in giving him any additional ammunition. What she’d already revealed was bad enough.
“And what about you, Alex? Are you smitten, too?”
She gave a single shoulder shrug, feigning a nonchalance she definitely wasn’t feeling. “Maybe?”
He chuckled, the sound reverberating through her chest because he was so close. All she’d need to do was lift her face up a little and she could brush her lips against his. She wanted to kiss him so badly.
“Alex?”
The disappointment that washed through her at Lexi’s voice was so acute, she actually groaned. He pushed himself away from her. The cold air that rushed into the now empty space made her shiver. He looked over to the end of the player’s box and smiled.
She glanced over her shoulder. Lexi stood at the end of the bench. At least she had the good sense to look apologetic. Her cheeks were also flaming.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Lexi said, glancing from Alex to Nick and then back again. “But I need to talk to you about the year-end party for the girls.”
“Sure,” she said. “Just give me a second.” She turned back to Nick. The amused look on his face was so damn cute, she could barely stand it. “Why don’t you go and get your skates off. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
He nodded and spun around. Instead of heading directly for the door on the other side of the ice, he started skating another lap. The look of utter joy on his face was breathtaking.
She tore her gaze away from him and looked over at Lexi. She was staring at him with a bit of awe, and not a little bit of undisguised lust.
Alex got it. She was feeling a lot of awe and lust in regards to Nick Sadler herself. She stepped into the box and moved over next to Lexi. She gave the younger woman a congenial jab with her elbow. “You’re drooling, Lex.”
The color in Lexi’s cheeks deepened. “Sorry,” she said, and glanced at Nick again.
Alex laughed. “Hey, I get it. He’s pretty… amazing.” She couldn’t stop a goofy grin from spreading across her face. “Now, about the party.”