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"I should finish packing, see what my Mom is up to" But she didn’tglance at him "Drew We’re hardly seventeen"
"I know That’s what makes this so h shocks today"
He leaned back "Would it be so shocking to find out you and I are seeing each other?"
"Is that e’re doing? Seeing each other?"
He tunneled his fingers in her hair and gave her that wickedly devastating smile that never failed to curl her toes "I definitely see you Do you see aze darted down the hall, but she kneould be a couple hours before her father resurfaced She had no idea where her mother had disappeared to
"Carolina" Drew cupped her chin and turned her to face him "What are you so afraid of?"
She had no idea But when he leaned in and brushed his lips across hers, she forgot all about everyone else in the house He tugged her against hiht and easy, she wanted more She laid her hand on his chest and clutched his shirt, taking in his breath, the hard plane of his body, and how safe she always felt in his ar her dizzy and wanting one dark, filled with desire
"I want so much more than that, you know," he said
She sed, hard, and wondered if hemore
EIGHTEEN
DREW’S TEAM HAD THREE GAMES IN BETWEEN CHRISTMAS and New Year’s Eve The break had been great, but his head was fully in gaaood for them, because he felt fired up and ready to kick so Colorado, they were back in the Garden, and they were all confident this would be the push they needed to start on a winning streak
He loved being out on the home ice Loved the smell of it, the way he knew every corner of it, and the way the hoame with their noise
When they took the ice for introductions, the hoy It fueled hiame time He wished Carolina could be here, but he knew she was deep in her work, just like him He hadn’t even asked her because he didn’t want to put her on the spot
Besides, he had a date with her toht He smiled as he skated around the ice for warht was his night to beat up on Colorado
Trick took the face-off, and Dreaited, his body poised to go after the puck as soon as it dropped Trick flipped it toward Colorado’s side, and Drew skated after it, Colorado’s defender shoving into hiet to the net On the defensive, Drew hustled after hiht there to protect the net and Kozlow fought for the puck
Drew had every confidence in Avery Mangino, the Travelers goalie, but heto shove the puck in Colorado’s net So when Kozlow slid the puck their way, he and Trick volleyed it back and forth, then Trick passed it to Lit Colorado’s defenders to get in position
He took the pass frooalie
Damn
By the end of the first period, they were scoreless
Unacceptable
Colorado was good But they were better
In the second period, it was just as intense, with a lot of shots on goal by both tea down and when Colorado got called for high-sticking, that gave the Travelers a power play
This was their chance to oal With Trick just past center, Drew and Lit it to Trick, who volleyed it to Sayers Drew got into position, shoving the defender out of the way just in ti it into the net
They’d scored! Elated, they gathered to celebrate for a few seconds, and then it was back to work
By the third period, they were up two to nothing, but Colorado was driving, holding theot a two-minute penalty, so that left the deep and hold Colorado scoreless
Sweat dripping down his face and back, Dreas deter in his skates and worked the to score He slung the puck down to Colorado’s side, but they quickly doubled up on him and forced it back down the ice Kozlow pushed into the defender and wrestled for the puck Kozloon that battle, and shucked it to Drew He skated aith the puck like he’d stolen it
Fighting for breath, he moved as fast as he could to stay ahead of the Colorado players ere just as desperate to get hold of the puck as he was to keep it At Colorado’s net, they ju for the prize Drew took a shot and Colorado’s goalie swept it into his glove
Damn They went back toward the Travelers net Drew took a quick look at the clock Still too dary
They surrounded the Travelers net and then it was a free-for-all, a rab the puck Dre a shot on goal, and when Avery cah of relief
By then the power play was over, and ti down to end the third period Norht hard to score, they ended the ga the puck in the net The Travelers won, and the tea at center ice
Dreas exhilarated, exhausted, and ready to eat a twelve-ounce steak So were the rest of the guys They planned to shower, do theirto rabbed his phone, surprised to find a text ratulations!
He dialed her nuht you’d be out celebrating"
He grinned "Onsoah I have to adoal, by the way"
"Thanks I would have invited you to the ga to be busy"
"I aa you on"
He took in a deep breath "Thanks for that"
"You’re welcoo enjoy your celebration"
"Okay I’ll call you toht, Drew"
"Night, Lina"
He hung up, and grinned
"What the hell,here"