Page 60 of Cold As Ice

Madison: Err, thanks

I bit my lip, fighting a smile. This version of Austin was endearing. If not, a little irritating.

Madison: How did you get to Olin Bay by the way?

Austin: I took the bus.

Madison: The bus?

Austin: Yeah, is that so hard to believe?

Madison: You don’t drive?

It occurred to me then how little I knew about the Lakers goalie.

Austin: I do, yeah. But everything in Lakeshore is pretty local so I don’t have a car right now.

Madison: It’s late, I need to sleep before Imogen wakes me.

Austin: Is she a good sleeper?

A trickle of unease went through me. I could deal with him askingmequestions and the strange banter that existed between us. But I couldn’t deal with him pretending to care about her.

Madison: Good night, Austin.

Austin: Night, pretty girl.

I dropped my phone on the nightstand and tucked my hand under my pillow, closing my eyes.

It wouldn’t be all that difficult to keep Austin at arm’s length. He would grow tired eventually and move on to his next conquest.

Because that’s all this was to him.

A challenge.

A game.

Like he said, he was the goalie for one of the best teams in college hockey. He wasn’t used to losing.

But I wasn’t some trophy or prize he could win.

My life was complicated and messy. And the sooner Austin realized that, the sooner he would walk away and never look back.

CHAPTER11

AUSTIN

Austin: Tonight?

Madison: I can’t. I have another shift at the bar.

Austin: Tomorrow night?

Madison: Why is this so important to you?

Good question.

But I was trying not to look too closely. The bottom line was I wanted to see her again. Any way I could get her.

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