Page 4 of Curves of Steel

Ash wiggles his eyebrows. “Mountain man life, huh?”

I narrow my gaze. “Aren’t you a mountain man too, now that you’re living in Colorado?”

“Not like you,” he volleys back. “My commute home isn’t even remotely death-defying.”

“The road up to my cabin isn’t death-defying,” I mutter into my drink, letting the hot steam thaw my nose. “Not if you have a proper vehicle.”

Ash laughs. “You mean a diesel truck,” he says, growling the word diesel. He gestures at the small television shoved onto a counter like it’s an afterthought. “You mind if I turn that on?”

I shake my head. “Be my guest.”

He switches the small T.V. on, then fiddles with the antennae to get the picture to clear.

Yeah, that’s right. Antennae. Even I know that means this television is practically old as the hills.

The picture clears, revealing a segment ofRise ’n’ Shine, Colorado! “I can’t believe this show is still running,” I grunt. “My mom used to watch it when I was a kid.”

“I know, isn’t it great?” Ash practically gushes.

Chuckling to myself, I shake my head.

I’m about to turn away when chestnut curls and luminous brown eyes pull me close to the television. There’s a woman wearing a white dress chatting with the two hosts. She’s smiling and laughing, but there’s a tension around her mouth and in her eyes that makes my belly twist.

She looks trapped, I think, taking her in. My eyes trail to the caption. I read,Michelle Sincero, Retired Figure Skater.

“Remember when she got hurt?” Ash says, shaking his head. “It was a damn shame. She and her partner would’ve gone to the Olympics.”

“I don’t follow figure skating,” I answer gruffly. I’m not above keeping my eyes glued to the luminous skin of Michelle Sincero, Retired Figure Skater, though.

Ash gapes at me, shocked. “Dude, you coach hockey.”

I raise a single eyebrow. “And?”

“And you don’t follow skating sports?” He looks genuinely surprised.

I shrug. “I didn’t know I had to.”

“But the hockey team—“ Ash sputters

“It’s a high school team,” I counter. “And we’re volunteers. When our team starts winning and the school administration starts paying us, then I’ll consider keeping up with current skating events.”

That seems to placate him. “Fair enough.” He stabs a finger at me, eyes twinkling. “But if you ask me, it’s about time we start winning. After all, we’re a winning combination, right?”

I can’t help but smile at Ash’s heartfelt words. “Sure, man. I’m the Gretsky to your Messier.”

Ash shakes his head. “Nope, other way around. I’m Gretsky, you’re Messier.”

I snort. “In your dreams.”

“Is that a challenge?” Ash volleys back, eyes dancing.

“Sure, but a challenge for another day,” I say, knowing that we’ll never duke it out. He’s too busy with his wife and teenaged step-daughter, and I’m too much of a curmudgeon.

“Fine, fine,” Ash concedes with a wink, knowing we’re really calling a truce rather than a deferment. “I should get home, Isla and Guin will be expecting me.”

I duck my head in acknowledgement, wondering what it’s like to have a woman who loves you waiting back home for you. All I have waiting for me at my cabin is an unending list of chores.

Ash claps me on the back. “Have a good weekend, Dan.” He hesitates, looking up at me with genuine care. “Maybe consider trying something new, like going out on the town or something?”

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