Page 5 of Broken Ice, Mended Hearts

“A shame Miami eliminated the Congressmen. You played better than they did, but the refs were for shit.”

Never one to handle nerves very well, I laughed.

He turned his head to the side. “What?”

“I was thinking about something Simon said in a game.” Drew Simon was the Congressmen’s captain.

Gagné held out a hand for me to go on.

“It was game six, and we were all frustrated as hell. If we lost, we’d lose the series, and the officials seemed dead set against us. When they sent another Congressman to the box, Drew got furious and yelled, ‘Hey, ref? Does your wife know you’re screwing us?’”

Gagné broke into a belly laugh, and I couldn’t resist joining in. When we stopped, he asked, “What’d the ref do? Kev Moore used that chirp once, and they threatened to throw him out of the game.”

“The guy just shook his head and told Simon to fuck off.” As Gagné chuckled, I thought about his nickname again and couldn’t resist asking, “How did you get the nickname Gags? It’s… unusual.”

“It started when I was playing in juniors. I’ve always enjoyed telling jokes, and one year I started pulling pranks. The boys said I had way too many gags, and the nickname stuck.”

I smiled and nodded, but there was still no way I could call him that. Thankfully, Alex reappeared and handed him a bottle of Trappist Ale. “Glad to hear you’re getting along.” She nodded at the beer. “That okay?”

“Nothing but the best. Why am I not surprised?” He held up the beer, and we all toasted.

Alex led us to the living room, where we settled into the plush surroundings. She and Gagné took places on an ivory velvet sofa, and I sat on a matching chair facing them. While they discussed summer plans, I sipped my drink and tried to focus on the view outside Alex’s forty-fifth floor windows. It was no use, because I couldn’t keep my eyes off Gagné.

His physique was impressive, his face gorgeous—things I’d already known. There was also an elusive magnetism about him, an animalistic charm that had my heart caught somewhere between palpitations and thudding against my ribs. The soft light in the room played on one side of his body, leaving the other in shadow. The concealed side captured my attention, perhaps because it represented the mysterious quality that drew me in.

Whatever had happened when he and I fought last March, it couldn’t have been what I’d thought then. It had been late in the game, so we were both tired. Caught in the heat of the moment, I may have imagined something that wasn’t real. What I’d taken for mutual attraction was likely a product of proximity, adrenaline, and testosterone.

Despite playing defense, I’d never liked fights. Clinging to Gagné may have been my way of avoiding any real fisticuffs. What I’d perceived as a lustful glint in his eye could have been nothing but confusion about my hesitation.

But what if it was more? I’ve seen that look before, and it has never been mere confusion.

While my mind reeled, I sneaked more glances at Gagné than I could count. He was like a tractor beam for my eyes, and while I tried to tell myself it was the way his gray outfit accentuated his features, I was captivated by the fit of his clothes. Even in his seated position, they showcased the sculpted beauty of his biceps, pecs, thighs, and special offerings. What lay under the fabric was on display for all to see—especially nosy gay hockey players who hadn’t had sex for too long.

He must have sensed my interest, because while Alex talked about her upcoming trip to Italy, Gagné glanced at me, then looked me over. As he had earlier, he torqued one side of his mouth into a quizzical smile. I was breaking out in a sweat when our eyes locked, exactly as they had that night on the ice. He tilted his head, and after flicking his tongue across his lower lip, he gave a single nod and turned his attention back to Alex.

My mind cannonballed. He was flirting, but that didn’t mean he wanted me. His reputation as a charmer preceded him, and he’d likely been trying to make me feel included in the conversation. Or maybe he’d sensed my attraction and was letting me know he’d busted me.

Keep telling yourself that. Since when does shamelessly checking you out come under the heading of involving you in a conversation? Or licking his lips while his eyes bore a hole into yours?

Fuck me a thousand ways!It made zero sense paying so much attention to someone I shouldn’t want and couldn’t have, so after emptying my glass, I asked Alex and Gagné ifthey wanted another round. I set to work after they nodded, crafting a shaker of martinis and finding another Trappist Ale in the fridge. Drinks in hand, I returned to the living room and rejoined the conversation. Halfway through the drinks, Alex led us to the kitchen, telling Gagné and me to make a salad while she grilled salmon fillets.

It didn’t take long to prepare the meal, and we soon moved to the dining table. After Alex poured us generous glasses of California chardonnay, Gagné turned to me. “How do you like living in Washington?”

I finished chewing a bite of salmon before answering. “Not sure, to be honest. I miss New York, and the spring was too busy for me to get to know DC.”

“What did you do?” Alex asked. “Tell me you didn’t just sit at home.”

That’s exactly what I’d done in my free time, but I didn’t want Gagné thinking I was boring, and if she knew the truth, Alex would spend the rest of the evening scolding me. A sip of wine gave me a moment before I had to answer. “I saw some things down there. But Gagné can tell you that hockey players need to rest when we can. We get beat up doing our job.”

“What did you see?” Alex watched me while Gagné munched through a bite of salad.

I tried to remember, then answered as vaguely as possible. “Most of the monuments and memorials, and of course I went out to eat.” I didn’t say I’d only driven around, taking in the sights from my SUV.

Before Alex could respond, Gagné jumped in and saved me. “Where do you live, Holmer?”

“I’m renting a condo at the waterfront. It’s beautiful down there, and I thought it would be a good home base until I can look for a house. Which I need to do when I go back to DC this week.”

“Where on the waterfront? There are some great places down there.”

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