Page 33 of Cold As Ice

Austin: And here was me thinking you were trying to blow me off.

Madison: Sorry about that. Christmas is always a really busy time for me.

Austin: Relax, I’m joking. You don’t owe me anything.

Ouch. His words struck harder than they should have. But I couldn’t really blame him. I had pretty much pulled back, and I couldn’t tell him why.

Austin and my daughter were two paths that never needed to cross.

She was my world, and he was a temporary distraction—a fleeting moment for just myself.

Madison: I’d like to make it up to you, if you’ll let me.

Crap, I sounded desperate. Putting myself out there like that. But there was no use beating around the bush, pretending that this was something it wasn’t.

I liked how he made me feel, and now that I’d had a little taste, I wanted another. I could own that. Ideservedthat.

Austin: Let me know when you get to Lakeshore.

My brows pinched. It wasn’t quite the response I expected. Gone were his flirty, teasing replies, his sharp-witted humor, and something cold and indifferent was left in its place.

I wanted to ask him what was up with that, but I didn’t. Because I was a coward and so out of my depth that I knew if I pushed him, he might retreat altogether.

Besides, this was what I wanted, wasn’t it?

Hooking up with the gorgeous hockey player without the risk of catching feelings.

Too late.I ignored the little voice.

So what if I liked Austin? I couldn’t imagine fooling around with someone Ididn’tlike, and besides, I knew it couldn’t go anywhere. I didn’t have the time or the emotional capacity for a relationship, and he’d made it clear where he stood.

He was the perfect distraction.

One I planned on enjoying.

* * *

“What time is he getting there?” Fawn asked as I paced her living room, clutching my cell phone to my ear.

“In like twenty minutes. If he shows.”

“He’ll show.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because he’s a guy, and you’re offering—” She stopped herself, and I muttered something about this being a terrible idea.

“It is not a terrible idea,” she huffed. “It’s sex, Mads. Hot, no-strings, drama-free sex. It doesn’t need to be any more complicated than that.”

“Just sex. Right. I can do that.”

“Mads…”

“I can’t do that, can I? I have a four-year-old child, for God’s sake. I’m amother.”

“You’re also twenty-one, Mads. You deserve to get laid occasionally. Choosing to put yourself first for once doesn’t mean you’re neglecting your responsibilities to Immy. She’s with her grandparents. She’s safe and probably eating way too much candy. It’s okay to do something just for you.”

“He is very nice to look at.”

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