Page 4

“Oh, Melanie!” Mrs. Windell calls.

“How can I help you, Mrs. Windell?”

She takes a few steps toward me. “Please, call me Odette.”

Mr. Windells chuckles behind her. “Sweetheart, I’ve been telling her for a year to call me Madden and she still calls me Mr. Windell.”

His wife places a gentle hand on my shoulder. “I appreciate your professionalism, but please call us by our first names. I insist.”

Madden nods in agreement behind her.

I hesitate but then reply, “If that makes you both more comfortable, then Madden and Odette it is.” I grin but feel a little weird calling them by their first names. Hopefully, I’ll get used to it. They are, after all, only about ten years older than me.

Odette has a satisfied expression on her pretty face and pushes her glasses up higher on her pert nose. “Melanie, we’d love to take you out this week. I’m not in town very often now that we have the boys, but you work hard and I’d like to spoil you a bit.”

“Oh, um, that’s really not necessary—”

Madden interrupts, “Odette won’t take no for an answer, trust me on this.” He glances at his wife and winks at her. “We were hoping you might be free Friday evening for dinner? You’re welcome to bring a date with you if you’d like.”

I look down at my feet, feeling sheepish since Jeff and I broke up a few days ago. I quickly remind myself I’m an independent and self-sufficient woman and square my shoulders.

“It will just be me, but I’d love to have dinner with you both on Friday.”

“Wonderful!” Odette claps her hands together. “I don’t know if Madden told you, but I got my degree in political science as well, so we have lots in common.”

A genuine smile tugs at the corners of my mouth. “Really? I didn’t realize that. Well, I look forward to Friday.” Odette smiles back at me and I turn my gaze back to my boss. “I emailed this week’s schedule to you last night. Did you receive it . . . Madden?”

He smirks and crosses his arms. “See, calling me Madden wasn’t so bad, now was it?”

I wrinkle my nose in response and they both laugh.

“Yes, I got the schedule and everything looks great. Thank you, Melanie,” he says.

I take a few steps toward the door. “Great, let me know if either of you needs anything. I’ll be at my desk.”

They smile at me before turning back to each other. I catch a glimpse of Odette reaching for Madden’s tie once again and straightening it for him.

CHAPTER TWO

WEST

I walk into my new house after a long and grueling hockey practice. After having the summer off, I couldn’t wait to get back on the ice.

Hanging my car keys on the hook by the front door, I walk to the large window and admire the view from my new home. The foliage in Washington D.C. is beautiful this time of year, but I’m mostly excited that they don’t get much snow here. After living in Quebec City for the last five years, I’m thrilled to have a break from the frigid weather.

My phone vibrates from the back pocket of my jeans, and I pull it out and see my best friend, Harrison, is calling.

“Hey, Harry,” I answer with a grin, knowing he hates that nickname.

He scoffs. “I was about to ask how my favorite NHL player is settling in, but now I’m thinking you might be my least favorite NHL player.”

I chuckle. “Sorry, man. I miss seeing the scowl on your face when I call you Harry though.”

“Now that you live in the same city as my sister, you’ll get to see that scowl more often.”

I can hear the smile in his voice as he says it, but the reminder of Melanie makes my breath hitch.

“Ha, yeah.” I try to disguise the nervousness in my voice.