Page 29 of Love on Ice

Harper shakes her head. “There is no way on this Earth I was ever going to be disciplined enough to become a professional athlete.”

“I get it.”

“Plus, I hate working out. I like sleeping in and love champagne,” she explains.

“All valid reasons.” I chuckle. She swats me again, knowing I’m teasing her. “I get up between six and seven most mornings, have breakfast, and head to the training center by nine or ten then I’m in bed by ten at night. If I have a late game, then I’m probably not home till midnight as we work out after the game.”

“You have to work out after the game?” she asks.

“Yeah, for recovery. We cool down, five minutes on a bike, and then move into stretches. It helps our bodies to recover, and we sustain fewer injuries,” I explain.

“I had no idea. Can you party after a game?”

“Yeah, depends on the schedule. If we have to travel right away or have a back-to-back game, then we wouldn’t. Doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen, it depends on who we are playing and if we win or lose. But yeah, we can party within reason.”

“Never really thought about the life of a hockey player before. How long do you get off between seasons? Do you have to work out or can you just go crazy?”

“Depending on if you make the play offs or not. Unfortunately, this year we missed out so our time off is longer. Training camp will start up again mid-September, so you better be fit by then, otherwise, the coaches will make your life hell. If you maintain your fitness while on summer break it’s easier to get back into,” I tell her.

“Are you supposed to be working out now?”

“I’ve given myself the week off, but technically, I’ve been getting my cardio in.” I grin at her.

“Oh.” She giggles, realizing what I mean. “Glad I could be part of your gym plan.”

“You’re my favorite kind of workout,” I say, reaching out and cupping her neck as I pull her to me and kiss her softly. “But now I am truly starved. All this …” I say, rubbing my hand over my naked body “… needs fuel.” I grab the tablet and start swiping through the menu. “Did you want anything?”

“You want me to stay?”

I frown. “Of course, we can watch something on TV or whatever, while we eat.”

Harper’s face lights up. “Okay sounds great. Get whatever and I’ll pick from it.”

“Are you sure? I do eat a lot.”

“We can order more if needs be,” she states.

11

FELIX

We spent the afternoon lazing in bed, watching television, eating, chatting about nothing and everything, and we napped. It was nice. Now we are hanging out in the pool, naked because who needs to wear clothes?

“This is nice.” She hums as she floats on her back, looking up into the sky. “But I do feel like I’m distracting you from what’s on offer on the island.”

“What do you mean?” I ask her.

Harper places her feet back on the pool floor and looks over at me. “Have you explored the map on the tablet yet?” I shake my head. Haven’t had a chance. “There are so many places you don’t even know exist yet.”

“Then tell me. What are your favorite things to do on the island? You know it best,” I ask her.

“There are so many things, but it depends on what you’re into.”

“Are you asking me for likes and dislikes?”

“Not for me, for the island. How can I be a good guide if I take you somewhere that might freak you out?” she advises.

“Are there places that might freak me out?”

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