Body Checked E-Book

Melody Heck Gatto

• Herausgeber: Melody Heck Gatto
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018

Beschreibung

Matt had one talent – putting the smackdown on dirty players on the opposing teams.
If they stepped up on one of his guys, he was there to tear them right down.
Romance was not his forte. It wasn't even in his wheelhouse.
He was a professional hockey league enforcer. A fighter. A goon.
Matt enjoyed being at the top of his game, the Renegades' lead tough guy.
But years of fighting have taken a toll. His body is finally turning on him.
Only Matt isn’t ready to hang up his skates just yet; his heart is still in the game, and hockey is his world.
Women find the bad-boy on-ice aggression sexy, but they aren't prepared to deal with his after-game pain. Love has been cruel, redemption is out of reach, and Matt feels he doesn't deserve happiness. He's developed a talent for driving people away, never allowing anyone to get too close.
When his whole world starts to spiral out of control, someone unexpected finds her way past his tough-guy exterior. But is she strong enough to melt his icy heart and force him to let her in?

Leseprobe

Body Checked

After the Buzzer

Renegades 9

A Renegades Novel

By Melody Heck Gatto

Body Checked – After the Buzzer – Renegades 9

By Melody Heck Gatto

Copyright © 2018 by Melody Heck Gatto

License Notes

All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite e-book retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

The Pittsburgh Renegades™ is a fictional sports team. Their name and logo are created for the sole use of the owner and covered under protection of trademark.

Editing by Bree Scalf - Vivid Editing

Cover Art by Kat McCarthy - Aeternum Designs

Proofreading by Shore to Please Proofreading

Dedication

For my friend, Jennifer DiCenzo.

We were brought together over books and hockey (Go Pens!)

And you grew into a shoulder to lean on, an ear to bend, and an irreplaceable part of my process. You became my Girl Friday, and the person I trust to tell me like it is. Thank you for your honesty, your friendship, and your hard work.

CHAPTER ONE

Madison

Madison Briggs glanced at the timer on the table in her massage room, happy to see there was still a solid twenty minutes left in Matt’s half-hour session. Dabbing additional massage cream from her forearm, she continued to work out the knots and tight muscles in her friend’s back. She couldn’t help but stare a little too long at his defined muscles, and the towel that hung low on his hips. After all, Matt Jasper was a professional hockey player, and he worked hard to keep in good physical condition. Even though they were forming a strong, strictly friends, relationship, that fact was not lost on her.

She didn’t mind being asked to come to Wilkes-Barre to help out with the therapy and conditioning team. Firstly, the temporary position was a nice change of scenery from Pittsburgh. Secondly, it was nice being able to hang out with Matt again. He’d been sent back to the minor league team in November, so not only had she missed her best client, she’d missed her friend.

It was always fun when Matt had an appointment at the chiropractor’s office where she worked. His lighthearted joking brought a pleasant break to any day, and he often brought lunch or goodies for the staff. But the best part was that he requested to only see her, which made her feel special. Maybe he just preferred her massage style, but whatever the reason, she welcomed it.

“How are things going with the Falcons? You doing okay here in Wilkes-Barre?” He’d been here since November, and called her almost daily, just to chat. It worried her that he was spending his free time on the phone with her and not with the guys from the team, but secretly, she had missed him terribly, and the calls made the distance between them more bearable.

When she got the offer to move out here for a few months and help the medical and PT staff, she jumped at the chance. She might not see Matt every day, but she would at least be working in the same building. Luckily, her boss back in Pittsburgh had been fine with her taking the time off to go. It was a stepping stone for her career, and maybe someday he’d consider expanding his practice.

Matt sighed heavily, and she watched his back rise and fall as her fingers slid along his skin. His muscles tensed until he spoke. “I guess. The guys are all so young, you know? But at least I’m getting ice time in every game for the Falcons. It’s better than riding the bench or sitting in the team suite.”

Maddy didn’t disagree. Matt was having a rough season, riddled with nagging injuries and in the longest scoring drought of his career. When guys weren’t producing, they got sat.

“I’ve been so busy getting settled in, I haven’t been out to see any sights. So, what’s there to do in this town? Anything fun I should make sure I check out?”

Matt did his best to shrug his shoulders. “Dunno.”

“You mean to tell me that you’ve been here since fall, and you have no idea what’s fun to do here?” Madison wasn’t surprised at his answer. She hadn’t expected him to be out on the town, since he’d been, in fact, on the phone with her most of the time.

His silence answered her question, and a pit settled in her stomach. Matt was too nice of a guy to be alone. But then again, it had been less than a year since his divorce became final, and probably too soon for a new relationship. What he needed was a friend, and that’s where she came in.

“I’ve been busy. I’m just glad you’re here, Maddy.”

He sidestepped her question, like always.

“There’s that one guy who plays for the Falcons, Thomas. Isn’t he around your age?” She didn’t mean to imply that Matt was old. Yes, he was older, but she never noticed it. He was just Matt, and he was her friend. Before he could react, she tried to clean up her question. “Not that you’re—”

Matt frantically waved his hand around in the air. “Stop right there, Sugar. I know how old I am, and yes, Thomas is a year older than me. So as perfect as it sounds for us to be BFF’s, he is also a family man. The guy has three little ankle biters at home. That’s not really my scene, you know that. But thanks for the thought.”

“You’re not interested in ever having kids?” For some reason that thought caused a pain in her heart. He’d make beautiful babies.

“Well, sure. I mean, I was.” He hesitated, and she waited for him to go on. “You have to have the right woman for that, and I think that ship has sailed for me.”

The groan he let out when she pushed on a tender part of his back made her toes curl. She shouldn’t have reacted that way, but there was something about him, and she couldn’t help it. Madison took a quick breath and regained her composure. Sure, Matt was attractive, but he was her client, and more importantly, her friend who was still getting over a divorce. And that was why it had to be this way. Cooled off enough to talk, she chuckled at him. “You’re awfully sensitive for a tough guy.”

“Please. The only thing sensitive about me is my aching muscles. Like the ones you’ve been purposely poking at.”

“So, you’re not hanging out with Thomas. Then what have you been up to?”

“Lots of takeout, beer, and Netflix. Oh, and I’ve increased my time at the gym since being here in Wilkes-Barre. You should definitely check out my gym.” He paused and added as if he knew what she was thinking. “And no, I haven’t been hitting the bars. They’re full of college-aged kids here. I only drink in my apartment, and I’ve been keeping it to one a night. The Falcons coaching staff is a little stricter about coming in hungover. You only make that mistake once.”

She cringed at his words. They’d touched briefly on this before. He knew and respected her dislike for alcohol. “Right. So, you’ve just been taking it easy while you’ve been here?”

“I can’t say I haven’t had my moments— Ow! Are you doing that on purpose?”

“Me? No.” She lessened the pressure and continued to work on a large knot Matt had in his shoulder. “I’m shocked you can play at all with this giant knot, my god.”

“I call bullshit. And I deal with a troublesome separated shoulder; I think I can handle knots.”

“Right. And your neck; it’s so tight. It’s like cement.” She leaned her hips against the table, touching his bare skin, as she pushed her weight towards his upper torso. His body was warm against her thighs, sending an unfamiliar rush through her as she leaned against him. It was something she’d never experienced before with any other client. Pushing the response way down and doing her best to lock it away, she knew she couldn’t let herself have those feelings. Matt was her client, and her friend.

“Stress doesn’t help, either. Damn divorce had me tense as hell. At least while I’ve been here, the lawyer finally sold the house. That was the last thing that needed done, thank god. The only thing that makes me feel relaxed anymore is being on the ice.”

She didn’t mean to bring up his divorce; it was evident he was still working through everything. Poor guy. He and Lindsay had been together for a long time; his stress was normal. “Sounds to me like playing with the Falcons has been a positive change for you.”

“Sure. I’m getting ice time every game, and even better, you’re here now.” His words warmed her heart. “So, sugar, how’s that dating pool in Pittsburgh treating you? Did you leave a lovesick boyfriend behind to come hang with these old bones?”

“Me? Nope. I’ve told you; the guys my age are so lame. All they want to do is drink and party. I mean, at twenty-two, shouldn’t we be thinking more about our futures and less about frat parties? It’s just me, my romance novels, and Mr. Whiskers.”

“Good choice. You’re young, too young to settle down. Have fun while you can.”

“Okay, grandpa,” she teased. “You’re not that much older than me, you know.”

“Oh please. I’d hardly call thirty-two not that much older. I’m ancient,” he scoffed. “I just can’t believe that you aren’t dating anyone at all? A pretty girl like you has to have men falling at her feet.”

“Yeah, right.” After she kicked her ex-boyfriend, Justin, to the curb, she couldn’t stand the thought of dating. It is a scary thing to think you know someone, only to find out they have a monster lying dormant inside of them. Putting myself out there again was terrifying. She didn’t need the hassle or the stress of it all. Then Matt walked into her life. “I don’t need to date. I prefer to spend all my free time with you.”

“That’s sweet, I think.”

“My sister did try to sign me up for an online dating site once.” She winced at the thought of that painful experience.

“Yeah? How’d that go? Did you find your perfect match?”

“Hardly. I went into it with an open mind, even though dating services were not my thing. But none of the guys I was matched up with looked anything like their photo. It was just…no. Some people have great success with those companies, but it’s not for me. I want to meet a guy and like on the cartoons, be hit with a ton of bricks and just know that he’s the one that I was meant to be with.”

“Sounds painful.” Matt joked.

“I guess.” She laughed. What she wasn’t telling him was she felt exactly that way the first time he came in for a massage and was on her table. She knew after that first hour that she didn’t want any other girl in that office having an appointment with him. Jealous? Maybe. She tried telling herself it was for his benefit, that the other ladies would fan-girl over him, but it was all for selfish reasons. “The only thing people really need in life is a good friend, and a person they enjoy spending their time with. And I have that in you.”

“By the way, how is Mr. Whiskers? I’ve missed that orange fur ball.”

“He’s good. He wasn’t very happy with the long drive here, but he’s settling in just fine. And by the way, age is just a number, Matt. You know the saying, you’re only as old as you feel.”

“Yeah? Well, I feel prehistoric.”

“It’s these rock-hard muscles. You come see me twice a week and I’ll fix you up. I’ll have you feeling like a spring chicken in no time.”

“Oh, really? I didn’t know you were a magician.”

“Ha, ha. Didn’t you know I have magic fingers?” After she said it, she realized how her words could’ve been taken the wrong way, and she was hoping his mind wasn’t wandering to the gutter with thoughts about all the things her “magic fingers” could do, because her mind sure was. An awkward silence hung between them for a few moments.

Madison moved to the head of the table to get a better angle at his shoulders and neck. Normally, leaning over a client like this didn’t bother her. On a typical massage, with a typical client, she would barely notice. It was her job. But right now, with Matt, she was completely aware of where his head was, and it brought all those suggestive thoughts and steamy feelings to the surface.

Luckily, he picked just that moment to break the silence. “Maddy, I’m really glad you’re here in Wilkes-Barre with me. It’s nice to have a friendly face around. And better yet, in the same building.”

His friendly words helped her shove those feelings back down in the dark, where they belonged. “Aw, that’s sweet. If I had to be stuck here with anyone, I’m glad it’s you.”

“Well, I’m glad you feel that way—”

The buzzer sounded, noting that Matt’s half-hour massage was over, and after the way her thoughts had derailed, she was almost relieved. “Time’s up.” she wiped her hands off on a towel, then ran it over Matt’s back, doing her best to wipe off all the massage cream. “I don’t know where you’re headed after this. Do you want me to spritz some alcohol on your back? That way your back won’t be as greasy?”

“Sure.”

Madison squirted a little alcohol and ran a fresh towel over his back. Her eyes followed the towel, and she couldn’t help but admire his gorgeous physique. The ripples of his muscles, and the curves of his body. When she was done, her eyes lingered until he squirmed to sit up.

“Actually,”—Matt sat up, so he was facing her— “I’m not doing anything but going home to an empty apartment. How about we do something together tonight? C’mon Maddy, have dinner with me?”

His eyes were dark and heavy. Dinner? Is he asking me out? Her heart thudded against her chest. Sure, he was older than her, but he had a charisma about him that drew her in. That was why she enjoyed spending time with him. And she always enjoyed the view, which she was trying not to stare at as he sat in front of her, shirtless.

Matt lightly chuckled, shaking his head, almost looking embarrassed as he took in her wide-eyed gaze. “Sorry, that kind of came out wrong. Let’s go to dinner, you and me, as friends. And no alcohol, I swear.” He smirked as he used his finger to draw an imaginary X over his heart.

Funny thing was, his confirming that he meant dinner as friends should’ve made her feel more comfortable; that was what he intended when he clarified his invitation. So why did she feel disappointed? But it was for the best. She plastered on a smile. “Sure. That sounds nice.”

CHAPTER TWO

Matt

It had been a fun few weeks with Maddy in town. Since she’d arrived at the beginning of January, they’d been to the movies every Friday, on the team’s days off Matt still went into the arena to take her to lunch, and breakfast dates had also become a thing as soon as he realized her love for omelets.

Maddy enjoyed dragging him to the museum and theatre and had him hiking every weekend—things he thought he’d never do. He hadn’t realized how lonely he’d been before Maddy got here. She really was a blessing in disguise.

Matt knocked on Maddy’s front door, ready for another movie night. It was Valentine’s Day, and they were having an anti-Valentine’s Day movie date. In one hand, he had the largest bag of popped cheese popcorn he could find, and in the other, a cardboard carrier containing two extra-large vanilla milkshakes from the local fast food place.

Even through the closed door, he could hear music blaring from her living room. Curious, since she wasn’t answering as quickly as usual, he looked into her living room window. He didn’t want to try the handle in the hope that the door was unlocked; he was afraid of scaring her, and the girl threw a mean left hook.

He would know. Over the last month, they’d been going to the gym together a few times a week.

There was Maddy, dancing around her living room, doing a poor, and albeit hysterical, imitation of Beyoncé, and belting out “Single Ladies.” Matt did everything he could to hold in his laughter, because her moves were about as far from the actual choreography as one could get. But the comedy wasn’t why he couldn’t look away. Dancing was not her forte, but her singing voice was decent, and the girl was athletic. He couldn’t help but watch the way her body moved, his gaze transfixed on the swing of her hips, and the sensual curve of her spine as she arched and swayed to the music.

Even though Matt loved watching her dance, his body started to respond in ways he knew he shouldn’t. Dragging himself from the window, he went back to the door and knocked again. This time, she turned the music off and answered.

“Hi! Come on in, make yourself at home like usual. Mr. Whiskers has been sleeping on your spot on the couch, waiting for you.” The orange cat stretched out and yawned. “You’re just in time, the pizza was just delivered. Ooh, milkshakes!” Maddy took the milkshakes from him and stuck a straw in one of them, before taking a long drink.

“Geez, save some for the movie!” Matt tried to pull the cup out of her hand, but she slapped his hand away as she kept trying to sip the frozen drink. “Maddy, don’t drink that too fast, you’re going to get—”

“Oh shit!” She slammed the Styrofoam cup onto the coffee table and dropped into a squat, covering her face with her hands. “Owwwwww.”

“As I was saying, brain freeze,” Matt said, with a chuckle.

After a few minutes of her groaning, which for some reason he found really hot, she shook her head and crawled onto the couch beside him.

“It wasn’t that funny.” Maddy tried to scold him, but she kept cracking up in the process.

“Your poker face sucks, know that?”

“Whatever.” She snickered at him. Letting out a large sigh, as if she was finally recovered from her brain freeze incident, she grabbed the remote and flipped to Netflix.

Matt patted the oversized plastic bag. “Cheese popcorn sounded like the perfect movie snack.”

Maddy tilted her head and looked between him and the popcorn. “Orange fingers and kernel skins stuck in our teeth? Yep, sounds like a perfect anti-Valentine’s Day treat!”

He knew she was making sure they were on the same page, that this was not a date or a romantic setup in any way, despite it being Valentine’s Day. And he was fine with that, so that niggle he felt couldn’t be disappointment. The way his body had reacted so quickly to seeing her earlier had temporarily confused him, but he had to stop that train of thought. It was normal for any guy to respond, seeing a beautiful woman making sexy dance moves. He could push that aside.

“What movie is on tap tonight?” Matt plated a slice of pizza for each of them. As he sat back on the couch to eat his, he was accompanied by his buddy, Mr. Whiskers. The orange cat sat on the arm of the couch, purring and hoping Matt would send some pizza his way.

“Say Anything.”

“Really? The late eighties romantic comedy?”

“Problem?” She tilted her head and batted her eyes at him.

“Nope, no problem. I just never saw it.”

Maddy gasped. “You never saw it? How is that even possible? Were you living under a rock?”

“Nope. But then again, I wasn’t much for television. I played hockey, don’t forget. Pretty much every second that I wasn’t eating or sleeping, I was on the ice or in the street with a stick in my hand.”

“Huh.” She twisted the side of her mouth and looked at him out of the corner of her eye. “No television? I don’t think we would’ve been friends.”

“Why? What were you busy doing when you were a kid? Besides watching classic rom-com movies? Were you dreaming of being a massage therapist?” he teased.

Maddy shoved him and laughed. “No. No one dreams of being a massage therapist. I was probably playing dolls and dreaming of being something fabulous, like a princess or something.”

“A princess, huh?” He studied her and could see that. “So, princess, did you figure you’d be married by now?”

“Oh, I don’t know. I never really had an age in mind, just once I found my Prince Charming. Then I grew up and found out he doesn’t really exist. What about you?”

He knew all about adulting and shattered expectations. “I thought I’d be a hockey star, check. And I guess I assumed I’d be married, and I’d make enough that she didn’t have to work. She could travel with me or stay home with the kids… But as you can see, that didn’t work out the way I had planned.”

She turned sideways to face him and leaned her elbow against the back of the couch. “What exactly happened with you two?”

“We got together young, maybe too young. She’d follow me to whatever town I ended up playing for. Once we settled in Pittsburgh, she and Kat Torella were like peas in a pod. I thought we had found our niche in life, and that it would be smooth sailing from there on out, as cliché as all that sounds.”

He stopped to consider his words. Lindsay walking out on him hadn’t come as a surprise, but he’d never really gotten answers from her, either. “And I’m not really sure what happened. I guess she got bored, and maybe annoyed when I started being plagued with injuries and I wasn’t playing so consistently anymore. Maybe I wasn’t that trophy athlete husband anymore? And maybe that was important to her. At some point, I became more of an ATM than a husband, and no one deserves to be treated like that. At that point, the end for us was near, and I was just waiting to see what was going to come to an end first, my marriage or my career.”

“Ouch.” Maddy grimaced.

“Yeah, well, it is what it is. And here I am, still playing, albeit in Wilkes-Barre for the minor league. But hockey is hockey, and I’m grateful the Falcons will have me.” He finished his third piece of pizza, and swiped his mouth with his napkin. “I think we need to put that movie on now. I’m dying to see it.” Matt made sure to add the dramatic sarcasm to his voice after all the seriousness.

“I bet you’ll love it.”

Matt tilted his head, interested. “Oh, we’re betting? What’s on the line?”

“How about if I win, and you love the movie, then you take me out to a nice dinner? Suit and tie, all that jazz.”

“And if I’m not impressed, and I win?” He had no intention of winning if losing meant taking her out to dinner without her insisting on paying for half the bill. It would be kind of like a date. The sudden idea surprised him, but he didn’t stop to think too much about it.

“Trust me, that won’t be an option,” she said, with a wave and a smug smile.

“We’ll see about that. Grab that popcorn and let’s get this anti-Valentine’s Day movie started.”

“I hope you’re ready for an all-nighter, because I have two more movies lined up after this one.”

Matt droned sarcastically, “Seriously?”

“As a heart attack. So, get comfortable. Speaking of comfortable…” Maddy grabbed her milkshake and moved close to him, settling in under his arm so he had no choice but to put his arm around her. “This is much better.”

“Popcorn?” He offered her the open end of the oversized bag.

It really didn’t matter if he liked the movie or not. This beautiful girl was curled up in his arm, and they were sharing pizza and a huge bag of cheese popcorn, while sipping on vanilla milkshakes. This was the best anti-Valentine’s Day he ever had.

CHAPTER THREE

Madison

Madison had waited long enough to collect on their bet. Over the last two weeks there had never seemed a perfect time to go on their dinner “date”. But Matt’s time with the Falcons was at an end, and he was recalled to Pittsburgh on Monday. The team had meetings and practice tomorrow, so she’d be working as well, and Sunday he’d be doing whatever last-minute things he needed to do to move back home.

So tonight had to be the night. She hadn’t realized how much she was going to miss him until it was a reality that he was leaving. She, on the other hand, was still needed on the Falcon’s therapy staff without any indication as to how long she’d have to remain.

She had bought a new dress just for tonight. It was the perfect black lace dress with see-through sleeves, short enough to show off her shapely legs, and it looked great with the new black heels she treated herself to. Not that she expected this dinner to be any different than any other time they had gone out. They were stuck in the friend zone for good reasons, but at least she would look good. But although her brain told her it was too soon for him to get involved with anyone, her heart hoped he’d make a move.

Madison heard the roar of Matt’s truck engine as he pulled up to the curb. It was the end of February in northeastern Pennsylvania, and a fresh snow had fallen last night. She opened the front door and unlocked the glass storm door as Matt approached her front porch.

He let himself in while she grabbed a coat. Fumbling to pull the jacket on, she turned and caught the oddest look on Matt’s face. “You okay?”

Matt continued to stare, as the corner of his lips curled into a half smile. “Damn.” He shook his head and took a quick breath. “Sugar, you look... Wow.”

Her cheeks warmed at his unexpected compliment. “Thanks.” She was saved from his stare when a piece of her lace sleeve got caught on her jacket, and she awkwardly tried to fix it, as well as slide her jacket on.

“Here.” Matt grabbed her jacket while she fixed her sleeve, then he slid it over her shoulders, his fingers lingering a moment on her shoulders. “There. I knew we were dressing up, but… Wow.”

“Yeah, you already said that. But, thanks. You clean up pretty nice, too.” Staying light and comical was the only way she knew how to act right now, because in that suit, he looked better than just “pretty nice.” Matt was hot, with those strong, broad shoulders filling out the jacket, and slacks that showed off his powerful thighs. The sight of him was doing all kinds of strange things to her insides.

“Well, uh, ready?” The way Matt tripped over his words added to her nervousness.

Why am I nervous? It’s just a nice dinner between friends. Taking a deep breath, Madison relaxed. It was just dinner. Sure, they were dressed up, but nothing had changed between them. But when Matt’s strong hand pressed gently against the center of her lower back, to lead her out to his truck, a rush ran through her body.

She glanced up at him and found him tenderly smiling at her.

He watched her for a moment before he spoke. “You good?”

It was a smile she hadn’t seen before, as if he couldn’t get enough of her. “Yeah, good.”

Dinner was even nicer than she expected. Matt had gotten reservations at a top trendy restaurant in the area, and they’d ordered a three-course meal, and a deliciously decadent dessert that they shared.

On their way out of the restaurant, even though she insisted that he didn’t have to, Matt had bought her a single rose from a vendor on the corner.

Nightfall had brought on a cold wind, and it kicked up a dusting of snow, throwing it at her bare legs. The gust whipped through the parking lot with a fierce chill, sending a shiver through her body.

“Cold?” It seemed like a rhetorical question, because he acted before she could respond. “C’mere.” Pulling her to his side, he wrapped his strong arm around her.

His wool jacket was open, and she gratefully cuddled into his chest. His body heat warmed her, and his strong arms that held her set a fire deep inside. She didn’t mean to feel that way, but she also couldn’t stop it.

“Better?” His voice was tender and calming, as he held her close.

Words wouldn’t form as she tried to respond. It was as if she were seeing him for the first time, this side of him, at least. Madison laid her cheek on his chest and breathed in his warm, classic, masculine scent.

His very subtle cologne caught her nose. Maybe it was aftershave. The woodsy scent, edged with some delicious spice, played on her senses and added to Matt’s rugged appeal. Whatever it was, she couldn’t deny that she liked it. All she could do was grin and nod.

Her heart thudded against her chest, as she weathered her turbulent emotions. As much as she was attracted to him, and hoped he would make a move tonight, of all nights, she was also terrified that taking this next step might ruin the close friendship they had formed.

As another cold breeze lashed by them, Matt slid his muscled arm tighter around her waist. As anxious as she was, she still felt safer in his arms than anywhere else.

He pointed up into the night sky. “See that bright star right there? That’s part of the constellation Gemini. Also known as the twins. It’s one of the most famous constellations.”

Maybe he was as nervous as she was, because the very sensual moment that could’ve been, now cooled off quickly with talk about the stars. Is it possible I misread him?

“Famous among whom?”

“Um, people who like constellations, I guess?” Matt chuckled. “See what happens when I try to wow you with my knowledge of the stars? It backfires on me.” The seriousness in his eyes was now gone, and he was back to his lighthearted self.

Her glance landed on him, catching an embarrassed little smile. “Okay, so wow me. How do you know so much about the Gemini constellation?” It could’ve disappointed her that they were spending their last night standing out in the cold, talking about stars. But it felt so normal, because this was just the kind of thing they did.

“My Grandpa. When I’d stay over their house, he and I would lie outside on the hood of his old car and look at the stars. Grandma would pester him about getting me out of the cold and in bed, but he’d ignore her long enough to point out important stars and constellations.” He turned his attention back to the sky. “See, you look for the two bright stars, right there. That’s Castor and Pollux. They signify the heads of the twins, while the weaker stars create the bodies. It sits right between Cancer and Taurus. Gemini is one of the few constellations that resembles the figure it represents.”

He paused, and they both stared into the darkness for a few moments.

“Nice. Consider me wowed. Do you have any more astrology knowledge to lay on me?” Madison looked up at him, waiting for more space facts, and instead met his dark eyes.

He held her glance for a moment. There were no more words spoken about the stars. “You’re beautiful, you know that?”

Her heart pounded, as his strong hand caressed her jaw, his fingers warm against her chilled face. She looked from his eyes to his mouth, where his lips were turned up slightly into a small grin. She wanted to know what his lips would feel like against hers. Would they be warm? Would his kiss be soft and gentle, so contrary to his on-ice personality? She felt safe with him, as though this was where she was meant to be.

Her body tingled with heat and desire, while the cool air danced around them. Until his lips softly brushed against hers. She returned the brief kiss, every nerve ending sparking across her body. But then he took a step back, releasing her from his embrace. A blast of cool air hit them again, bringing to light what they just did. His heavy stare was now filled with uncertainty. The same uncertainty that now filled her stomach.

The silence surrounding them was deafening. As much as she enjoyed the soft kiss, worry filled her. Did we just make a mistake? She swiped her finger across her bottom lip, the feel of his kiss still lingering.

Matt laced his fingers in hers. His words came out in barely a whisper. “It’s cold. I think we should go.” A small smile fought to form on his lips, but it didn’t hide the obvious confusion he was feeling.

His kiss stayed on her lips the entire ride home. At her house, his body language was hesitant and uncharacteristically uncertain as he said goodnight.

“Sure you don’t want to come in?” she asked, not sure what else to say, but not wanting the night to end like this.

“No, I, uh… Early meetings tomorrow, then practice.”

“Right.” She did her best not to sound disappointed. “But I’ll see you for lunch, right?”

“Absolutely.” Matt smiled. He cleared his throat and added with the jovial tone she was so used to, “Give Mr. Whiskers a scratch under the chin for me. Tell him I’ll see him whenever you guys get back to Pittsburgh.”

“Yeah. Sure. Um…” Regardless of what had happened tonight, she was going to miss her friend, and the droopy look on his face made it seem as though he was questioning that. Madison refused to let him leave feeling that uncertainty. “These last two months have been more fun than I’ve had in a long time. It was nice being here with you. I’ll miss you, Matt.”

Madison threw her arms around him and hugged her friend. He has no idea how much I’m going to miss him.

“I’m sure I won’t get a chance to tell you tomorrow, not without a bunch of hockey players watching,” she said, “so you have a safe trip back, and I’ll see you soon.” She left him with a single kiss on his cheek.

CHAPTER FOUR

Matt

Matt needed to forget their kiss. Not because he hadn’t enjoyed it—nothing could be further from the truth. But because he’d known, as soon as his lips left hers, that it was a mistake. The shocked and worried look he’d seen on Maddy’s face had told him that much. He was a fool, letting his attraction get the better of him. What had he expected? That such a gorgeous, vibrant young woman would just throw herself at him, as damaged and worn as he was?

Thankfully, she hadn’t seemed as affected by it as he was, and the next time he saw her, she’d acted like it had never happened. That bruised his ego, but it was the smart thing to do. They were friends, and he shouldn’t have overstepped. So Matt went along with that, and pushed it out of his mind—or tried to—as he started to settle back into life in Pittsburgh.

But he was not having a great first week back with the Renegades in Pittsburgh. His shoulder was a wreck, and with Maddy still in Wilkes-Barre, there was no one to loosen him up. And that thought only reminded him again of the kiss he couldn’t forget, as he drifted off to sleep for the last time in the house he’d shared with his ex-wife.

Shaken out of a dead sleep, Matt woke up startled and anxious. Sweat dripped down his face, and his heart raced. In his dazed state, he reached to Lindsay’s side of the bed, but the bed was empty. His subconscious was playing wicked games with him tonight. His ex-wife hadn’t slept in this bed since the day she left. That was over a year ago. And that was the day he seemed to live repeatedly in his nightmares.

Matt had been at the bar, like so many other nights after a game. Too intoxicated to drive his own car, he’d had to grab a taxi home. After fumbling with his keys and dropping them a few times, he finally unlocked their front door and stumbled into their home. The house was quiet and dark; Lindsay must’ve already been in bed.

Pausing at the bottom of the stairwell, all he could hear was deafening silence.

This wasn’t the first time he’d gone drinking after a game. Nights like this had become more and more frequent, but Matt didn’t want to think about all the reasons why he avoided going straight home to Lindsay lately. Instead, he tried to think back on their early days together, before things had gone sour. As he took a few steps up the carpeted stairs, his eyes landed on a framed photo of their wedding day on the wall. That happy, victorious smile on Lindsay’s face was now, more often than not, a sneer in his direction. His heart squeezed painfully at the realization. It was more obvious to him than ever that the love they once shared was gone.

He glanced back at the living room. Nothing had seemed out of the ordinary, but a weird feeling sat like a rock in his gut. He’d surely get hell for staying out so late again. But that wasn’t why he felt like something was off.

When he reached their bedroom, his fears were realized. Lindsay was gone. The closet was wide open and her side empty, drawers left pulled out and cleared out, everything that was hers—gone.

He should’ve seen it coming. But then, if he were honest with himself, he had known for quite some time. The last few months she’d been short with him, disdainful toward him when they were together, if she was even home at all. Their relationship had been over long before now.

The divorce came quickly after that.

Matt rolled onto his back and rubbed a rough hand over his shaved head. At least the nightmares weren’t so frequent anymore. He looked over at the clock and groaned when he saw it was three in the morning. His head was heavy, still spinning from too many beers, and his shoulder ached from the game tonight. His heart rate slowed as he begged for sleep.

But sleeping wasn’t so easy of late. The game he loved had been on his mind these last few weeks. He’d been working with the Renegades’ minor team in Wilkes-Barre since November, rehabbing and trying to get back into game shape. Wilkes-Barre was about four to five hours east of Pittsburgh, and the home of the Wilkes-Barre Falcons. A lot of the Renegades started their professional careers with the Falcons.

He didn’t mind being sent “down” to the Falcons, as players referred to it. At least there, he got ice time each and every game. He didn’t hurt while he was playing there. Maybe it was adrenaline, or maybe it was all in his head.

Matt had been suffering through some injuries over the last year, as well as low performance. Not that as an enforcer they expected much out of him. He wasn’t a goal scorer, and he wasn’t fast. He was simply muscle. An enforcer. A fighter.

But even at that, he was underperforming, according to the Pittsburgh bigwigs. Riding the bench as a “healthy scratch” wasn’t helping. That led to his being sent down to the minor league to get some ice time that he wasn’t going to see in Pittsburgh.

His body wasn’t responding to the hard activity the way it used to in his younger days. The aches and pains lingered longer, and he didn’t bounce back from the hits as fast. Regardless, the Wilkes-Barre Falcons were satisfied with his performance, and decided he was ready to return to Pittsburgh. Matt wished he could be as sure of himself. Being with the Falcons had been a safety net for Matt. He still had a job. Pittsburgh may not be so kind to him, if he couldn’t step up his performance.

He looked around the stripped-down room that had boxes piled up in every corner. During the divorce proceedings, Lindsay gloated as if she were showing him an act of charity by delaying the sale of the house. She let him keep his truck, but all of his other assets were split down the middle, including everything he’d earned before meeting her. He knew he had his faults, that he wasn’t always easy to live with, and although he’d tried in his clumsy way, somehow his efforts had always fallen short of pleasing her. He’d hoped that Lindsay would be satisfied with all he could provide for her, but in the end, he had sat helpless, while she broke his heart, damaged his ability to let anyone get close to him, and still came out of it with half of his hard-earned money.

His lawyer had handled the sale of the house while he was staying in Wilkes-Barre. Court mandated or not, Matt couldn’t live here anymore, in the house that he and Lindsay had shared together. She was a painful memory that he needed to leave in his past, and he hadn’t realized how much he needed out of this house until it sold.

The house was the last thing that was theirs as a couple. His agent had suggested that once it was sold, maybe Matt would be able to climb out of his funk. But Matt knew things weren’t that simple. As run down as he felt, the aches and pains dictated more of his life than they used to. He wasn’t sure this was a fresh start as much as the beginning of a new phase of his life.

And that scared him, and if he thought about it too much, it sent a cold dagger of fear into his heart. Moving on was one thing. Retirement was another. He wasn’t ready for it, and sure as hell didn’t welcome the change that lay in his near future.

When he rolled onto his side, Matt’s shoulder screamed and his hip ached. He closed his eyes and tried to get some more rest before morning. The team had practice early, and then the guys were coming over to help him move. It was time for him to put this stage of his life behind him. The sooner he got out of here the better.

Matt looked around the almost empty house. He pulled at his shoulder, trying to stretch it out, but to no avail. He’d taken a bump into the boards this morning, courtesy of one of the newer guys, Harrison Dash. Dash had just been following through on the play and doing his job by protecting the net and going after the puck. It just so happened that he had run Matt into the boards in the process. Matt’s shoulder was still aching, and lifting all these boxes wasn’t helping, but at least the activity kept him from wallowing in regrets.

Matt was not a complainer, and he was no quitter. He couldn’t even count the number of times he’d played through the pain, and real life was no different. He lifted a box from the living room floor, carried it out the front door, and down the porch steps.

“Yo, Matt!” Tyler Kidd called from the back of the moving truck. Tyler, the Renegades captain, was one of Matt’s best friends. “Bro, give me that box.”

Tyler snatched the heavy box from Matt’s hands and loaded it into the truck himself. Although younger than Matt by five years, Tyler was well aware of the physical struggles that Matt had been dealing with.

“Ty, I can carry it, you know. I might be older than you, but I’m not dead yet.”

“No one’s saying you are,” Ty called over his shoulder. “But I know that Harrison’s hit irritated your shoulder. And don’t try to BS your way out of it, because I know you better than that. Dude, take a breather, okay? Sit down and supervise for a few minutes. Let us do all the work for a while.”

Matt knew Tyler was being a good friend, but it just pissed him off. I’m not old, and I’m not going to sit and supervise. He shook his head and smiled as he gritted his teeth. “Ty, I’m good.”

“Hey, cut it out, you two,” Kris called. “I’m not breaking up any fist fights or pissing contests so Matt can prove he’s just as good as you are, Ty.” He turned to Matt and nodded his head toward the house. “Matt, you better go check on the kitchen. Harrison is more worried about moving cold beverages than getting boxes out to the truck.”

Kris Lafleur, Matt’s other best friend, was the star defenseman on the Renegades. Tyler may not have been as sensitive to Matt’s age worries as Kris was, but they had both stayed by his side when things got bad with Lindsay. And Matt wasn’t really mad at Tyler; he was madder at himself. His own body seemed to be turning on him. He wasn’t ready to hang up his skates just yet. He was thirty-two, but plenty of guys older than him were still playing.

Tyler shook Matt out of his thoughts when his hand clapped down on Matt’s shoulder. “Bro, you know I’m just teasing you. The dirty thirty ain’t nothing to worry about. But if Harrison is raiding the beer cooler, you better go stop that shit. I’m saving a cold one for when you’re all moved in and I can relax.”

“Don’t worry, Ty. The fridge at the new house is stocked and ready for you guys. But only after we get the truck unloaded,” Matt said. He loved these guys like brothers, even if Harrison Dash was being groomed to take over his job. “And if hotshot Harrison can’t pull his weight, all he gets is milk.”

Tyler was apparently appeased, and gave Matt a thumbs-up before grabbing another box out of the living room and moving it to the truck.

Taking Kris’s advice, Matt made his way to the kitchen, where Harrison Dash, one of the younger guys on the team, and specifically the man who would eventually take his place, stood leaning against the empty counter top, downing a beer.

“Harrison, are you here to help me move or what?” Matt asked.

“Absolutely, J-man!” Harrison nodded from his place at the counter.

“Then why does it look like you’re only here to drink my beer?” Matt jokingly grabbed the beer out of Harrison’s hand. Then to add insult to injury, Matt teased, “How old are you, anyway?”

“Dude! Not cool!” Harrison whined. “I’m legal, and I didn’t know you were carding.”

“You can have it back once you finish moving all the boxes to the truck.” Matt mockingly scolded the youngster like a child. He set the beer bottle on top of the fridge.

“Dude, you realize I can reach that, right?” Harrison shook his head as he took the beer back off the fridge.