Page 96 of Wyatt

“Oh, Wyatt. You’re going to be in so much pain.”

“I’ll be fine.” He unzipped his backpack and pulled out his Blue Ox jersey and handed it to her. “You’re going to get cold.”

“No—what about you?”

He reached over and pulled her close. “I’m a hockey player, remember? We’re made of ice.”

Hardly. The man had molten fire living inside him. Especially when he looked at her like that.

A man—maybe the captain—came back and handed them earphones.

Right. Oh, this would be ultra fun.

Wyatt made another face.

And she just couldn’t stop herself. “This is the best ride home I’ve ever had.”

The airplane had rumbled to life around them. “Put on your headphones, smarty pants.”

That’s when the shivering had started.

And it was getting worse.

Around her, even the plane was shivering.

Next to her, Wyatt got up. She looked at him, and he held out his hand.

“What’s going on?” she shouted, but he said nothing, just pulled her toward the hatch at the front of the plane. He muscled it open.

Beyond lay the crew quarters and the door to the cockpit. The warmth of the crew quarters flooded around her. Wyatt shoved her inside and closed the door behind him, pulling off his earphones.

She did the same. “What are you doing?”

“Getting my money’s worth.” The compartment was empty and he gestured to a couple side-by-side seats with faded green velour covers that had seen better days, but at least they wouldn’t rattle her teeth from her head. She sat.

Wyatt eased down next to her.

“It’s bad, isn’t it?”

“I could use some ice,” he said quietly and gave her a half smile.

“What if it gets worse? What will you do?”

A flicker of what looked like panic flashed through his eyes, then he blinked it away. “I don’t know, actually. Being a goalie is all I am.”

“That’s not true. I’ve seen you in front of the camera. You’re funny. And super photogenic.”

“Ha.”

“What about the ranch?”

“No. I’m not a cowboy. I’ll leave that to Knox.”

“Apparently, your brother Reuben is taking over.”

“That’s what I heard. He and Dad were inseparable until he got hurt his senior year of high school. Was in a plane crash and broke both his legs.”

“I think I remember that.”