Page 73 of Cold As Ice

“I think you need to get a better job.”

“Yeah, well, some of us don’t have the luxury of options.” Indignation burned through me as I marched away from him.

How dare he.

How fucking dare he.

“Mad—”

I kept going, moving right to the other end of the bar.

Rationally, I knew he didn’t mean it in the judgmental way I’d taken it. But Austin’s presence confused me. His unwillingness to walk away when he had the chance made me wish and want and hope.

It was a dangerous game, though.

One I wasn’t sure I wanted to play.

I’d lost part of myself before to a guy who said and did all the right things.

I vowed I wouldn’t do it again.

CHAPTER13

AUSTIN

I watchedMadison storm away from me and had to fight the overwhelming urge to go after her.

This was her place of employment. She was right. I couldn’t just turn up and act like I had some kind of claim on her.

But hearing that asshole demean her had ignited a violent storm inside me. And if the hulk of a security guy hadn’t stepped in, I was pretty sure I would have done something reckless.

I didn’t make it a habit of fighting. Not even on the ice, where every game was full of testosterone, competitiveness, and anger. Aside from getting into trouble a couple of months back for fighting before the puck dropped, I usually kept my cool.

Not tonight, though.

Tonight, I wanted to go to war with every fucker who so much as looked at Madison.

Which was a bit of a problem, given she worked in a strip club and the place was crowded, not to mention the fact she wasn’t mine and didn’t look all that happy to see me here.

Fuck.

Deciding to give her some space, I grabbed my drink and headed for one of the booths at the back of the room. The majority of the male patrons were seated up front, with a clear view of the stage. But I wasn’t here for the entertainment.

I was here for her.

I couldn’t explain it; all I knew was I couldn’t stay away.

Friends. More than friends. I’d take any scraps of what she was willing to give me. Because for the first time in my life, I felt at ease around someone.

It occurred to me that maybe I liked her so much because she didn’t know me, not really.

I could be someone else with her. The guy who didn’t keep people at arm’s length. Who didn’t hate himself and the person he’d become.

With Madison, I could push all that shit aside and just breathe.

So I sat there in a darkened corner of the room and watched her. Soaking up every smile and laugh as she moved from table to table, taking orders and delivering drinks.

Some people might have judged her for being a young, single mom working in a strip club. But all I saw was a mom who would do anything for her daughter.

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