“Mom. Mom!” Aiden grabs my attention away. “The Zamboni was awesome. Coach Mason said I can stay late every time and get another ride. Isn’t that cool?”
“Very cool. Did you thank the coaches?”
All four are standing there, with Eli in front, waving.
“Thank you. See you next time,” he calls. We’re halfway out when I see Eli’s reflection in the glass doors, coming up behind me.
“See you next time, buddy. And Stella…” his voice drops, only for my ears. “It wasreallygood to see you again.”
I focus on putting one foot in front of the other until we’re in the car. In my rearview mirror, Eli doesn’t go back inside until we’re on the road, driving away, as if he waited for me to change my mind about that coffee. My hands twist on the steering wheel, keeping the car pointed straight ahead, because there’s no use going backwards.
CHAPTER 7
THE SLOW BURN
ELI
I tossand turn all night thinking about how one touch of Stella’s skin re-ignites my desire for her. That opens the floodgates to college memories I’ve never been able to shut down. Easily, my favorite is the time I showed her just how sexy the supply closet in the locker room could be. Damn, we were good together. But does she remember our times together as fondly as I do?
Either way, by two in the morning my stiff rod needs attention, so I haul my tired ass to the shower for some quality me time.
When Renae’s call comes in bright and early, interrupting what little sleep I manage to get, I don’t bother to get out of bed.
“Yeah?” I put her on speaker.
“Good morning, sir,” her voice is bright and chipper. Then she pauses. I hear the familiar hiss of a can opening, and her slurp.
“More Mountain Dew?” I croak.
“Yep. I drink the stuff like water.”
“Are you sure that’s healthy for you? The team nutritionist has soda drinks on the strictly off-limits list.”
“As a workaholic widow with kids, it’s my only vice. Do you mind leaving it alone?” I could picture her now with that typical glare of hers, brown eyes over the rims of her glasses with a quirked eyebrow. “So, how did the first night of hockey classes go?”
“I loved every minute of it, and my teammates did, too. The parents and the kids are amazing. And of course, being around Aiden and Stella was the highlight of the evening for me.” I tell Renae how her ‘missing document’ idea worked. “It gave me a few precious moments with her alone.”
“See, that’ll be key to convincing her you deserve a second chance. You need more time alone together.”
“Which might be more difficult since she told me Aiden’s grandmother would be the one bringing him to the hockey class from now on, unless their shop gets busy and the grandmother can’t get away.”
There’s a pause and another long gulp of her drink. “Sounds like you need her shop to be busier, then. Didn’t you tell me once that the wives and girlfriends group for the Aspens are really crafty, making signs and glittering up their jerseys and such? A few well-placed mentions to your teammates about the store wouldn’t hurt. They tell the WAGs and boom, the store gets busier.”
“Fuck, you’re a genius, Renae.”
“Yes, I am. Would you like me to brainstorm some more ideas to get you and Stella together?”
I sigh and scratch the stubble along my jaw. “I don’t know. This is kind of tricking her into it, don’t you think? I’d feel better if she and I naturally found our way back together.”
“So you’re completely relying on fate?”
I answer immediately. “Yeah. But until then, twice a week hoping to see Stella isn’t enough. I need to be in Boulder every opportunity I can be, so I mighthappento run into her often. I’ve got the van there; now I need you to find me a house to buy. Just a block or two from where the shop is. I’ll stay there when I’m in town and commute in for practices and games.”
I hear her clicking away at the keys on her keyboard. “Hmm. I’m looking at housing prices and available properties. What’s your budget? A million?”
“No. Nothing over the top. I’m pretty sure that’s not Stella’s style. I’m thinking a modest family home would be best. Maybe 4 bedrooms, 2 baths. A nice fenced yard for Aiden and a dog.”
“You don’t have a dog,” she points out.
