Page 88 of Cold As Ice

Madison made her way over and placed her palms flat on the table. “This is a surprise.”

“Is it?”

Her lips pressed into a thin smile as if she had trapped some sassy retort on her tongue. “You didn’t say you were going to stop by, so I thought…”

“Because I wasn’t going to stop by.”

“Oh.”

The air crackling between us cooled, turning a little icy.

“Shit, that came out wrong.” I dragged a hand over my jaw. “I just meant, it’s been a crappy day. I was going to stay home and wallow, but…”

“But?”

“You texted and said the place was dead.”

“You know, people are going to start talking. I already have one security guy,” she flicked her head over to the guy watching us, “I don’t need another.”

“I can go?” I went to get up, but she blurted, “No, stay. I’m glad you’re here, Austin.”

“Yeah?” A small grin played on my lips.

She shook her head, but I saw the laughter and heat in her eyes.

“Can I get you a drink?” she asked.

“I’ll take a water.”

“One water coming up.”

Madison sauntered off, and I really fucking hoped the extra little swish to her hips was for my benefit.

The vibration of my cell pulled my thoughts out of the gutter. I dug it out of my pocket and grimaced.

Connor: Where are you?

Austin: Out.

Connor: Hot date?

Austin: You wish.

Connor: Come on, Austin, don’t be like that. You deserve to find your happily ever after too, man.

Fucking idiot. Just because he and Ella had finally figured things out didn’t make him some kind of relationship expert.

I didn’t reply. I didn’t have anything to say to him. But, of course, the goofy asshole couldn’t let it lie.

Connor: If you’re not ready to share her with the world, that’s fine. But you can always talk to me. I know I like to turn everything into a joke. But I can be serious when the mood demands it.

Austin: Appreciate the offer, but there’s nothing to tell.

Madison was cool. We had fun together. But that’s all it was.

Fun.

She had a daughter, for fuck’s sake. Real-life responsibilities. And I had… Well, I had a hockey championship to focus on. The rest I would deal with later.

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