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The Ice-Breaker Ch. 01

By: MugsyB



This is usually the spot where I mention who the story is dedicated to, or who requested the story featuring whichever player and team. However, this time, this story is all for me. He's my favorite player on my favorite team and that's all there is to it. ;)

One funny point to share first... I started writing this story early in January and there's one game I mention the actual score of (Flames vs. Hurricanes on Feb. 3). I wrote the score and outcome before they ever played the game. Then they go and win, 4-1. How crazy is that? LOL, I just had to share with everyone.

Oh, and one more thing... this is a romantic story involving someone who happens to play hockey. If you're not interested in either topic - you know who you are - then don't read any further. Wouldn't want to injure your eyes with another sub-genre romance.

As always, Happy Reading!
M. ;)

***

Easy... easy. Hold your speed. OK... now!

Shiff, shiff... scrape... crunch... Boom!!

The crowd leapt to its feet as Alex Perdue soared into the Edmonton Oilers forward, sandwiching him between Alex's shoulder and the boards. The glass rocked and groaned above them. Alex caught a glimpse of fiery red jerseys beyond the glass before spinning and skating after the puck. The Oiler slumped to the ground, stunned but he gamely got to his feet again. Instead of joining the scramble for the puck in the Flames zone, the Oiler headed for his bench.

Alex noted the absence of the forward with barely a glance, focusing his attention on clearing the zone. It was a frantic penalty kill and his heart was beating double time.

Here it comes, he thought as the frozen disc of rubber shot out from under his teammates' legs.

With long strides, Alex crossed the empty space. He swung his stick and lifted the puck into the air, sending it flying across the ice to the Oilers' zone. As he skated for the bench, he glanced up at the big screen, grinning when he saw the last three seconds of the Oilers' power play count down. Several of his teammates jumped over the boards, and the Flames were back to full strength.

Alex watched the action on ice as he reached for the water bottle, dousing his neck and then swallowing generous mouthfuls before setting it down again.

"Good PK, Alex," one of his teammates said from his right.

Leaning his head forward, Alex grinned at Max Tournet. Alex didn't get a lot of time on penalty kills; that honor went to the more experienced defensemen. Over the course of the season, Coach had started throwing him in there more often. He must be doing something right and he wasn't about to sit it out.

Alex had always been a competitor, up for any challenge.

There was another five minutes of play left in the second period and the Flames and Oilers were tied with a goal apiece. The pace was furious, as it always was with the Battle of Alberta. The fans were more intense during the Flames-Oilers games and half the time, the crowd was almost evenly split between Edmonton and Calgary fans. It certainly made things more interesting.

By the time the teams headed into their locker rooms for the second intermission, Alex and the rest of the team felt confident of their success.

"Perdy!" one of the assistant coaches hollered as the team filtered into their locker room.

Alex jerked his head up and nodded when the other man waved him over. He hobbled over on his skates, towering over the coach. At 6'2" without his skates, Alex became downright monstrous when he suited up for games. "What's up?" he asked.

"You're up for the 'Favorite Flame' tomorrow night before the game," the assistant coach told him. "Make sure you come in early enough."

The Favorite Flame contest was run by one of the local newspapers and all season long, each player had had their turn as the grand prize, so to speak, of the draw. Each winner of the weekly contest got tickets to a game, as well as a meet-and-greet with a player, their favorite player. Apparently this week was Alex's turn. He flushed as the coach told him the deal, even as he nodded along.

He'd never been the kind of guy to flourish in the limelight. He was more of a behind the scenes player, leaving his flashier teammates to soak up most of the attention. Perhaps that was why he made such a good defenseman; he hung back and stepped up to make a hit or set up a play only when it was required.

"I can be here early, no problem," Alex assured the assistant coach before returning to his spot on the benches.

"All right, everyone listen up!" the head coach barked as he walked into the room.

The intermission flew by and soon they were all heading back out to the ice. The last period was as fast and physical as the first two and in the end, the Flames prevailed.

Alex was exhausted by the time he got home. He collapsed on the couch and flicked on his TV after making himself comfortable. Of course, this late at night, there wasn't much on but he didn't usually last long, even after such a tense game.

Some of the guys had suggested going out for drinks after the win but with another game the very next night, it didn't seem like a smart idea. Alex declined the invitation, knowing that even though they'd beaten their provincial rivals, they had a long way to go before making the playoffs. It was still early February and all the talk was about trades. After trades, all the talk would turn to the playoffs and the final push for positioning.

With a sigh, Alex rolled over and shut off the TV. He took himself to bed and fell asleep, dreaming of crunching hits and shaking plexiglass.

***

"Why the hell do you think I'd want to go?" Kaitlyn Walker asked her cousin, and best friend, Joel.

"Because you love me and want to see a live game?" Joel replied.

They were on opposite sides of the bar inside the restaurant lounge he bartended at. He was working and she'd come in for a drink after her horrific shift at the bookstore across the parking lot.

"I'm not Jules," Kaitlyn replied with an eye roll, referring to their friend, Julia. Julia was working on the night in question, otherwise Kaitlyn was more than certain their friend would be suiting up in her red jersey before Joel had even finished asking. She sipped her drink and brushed a strand of dark hair out of her eyes. "I'm the one who doesn't care about hockey." Her sharp tone drew a few curious looks - and one hostile one - from the patrons nearby.

"And you call yourself a Canadian," Joel grumbled, tucking the nozzle for soda water back under the counter as he finished mixing a drink. He turned and moved a few steps away to deposit the finished drink on the counter for the waitress waiting there. He came back a minute later and gave Kaitlyn a searching look.

"What?" she demanded.

"You're working too much," he told her.

"I'm the manager," Kaitlyn replied. "If I don't do it, no one else will."

It was Joel's turn to roll his eyes. He leaned his hands on the bar and smiled at his cousin. "So take a break. Come to the game with me tomorrow night and meet one of the Flames."

Kaitlyn huffed out an annoyed sigh and glared at Joel. "Which Flame?" As if that will make a difference, she added silently. Sure, she was Canadian, born and raised in the prairies where hockey was just a part of everyday life. She'd watched her brothers and cousins play hockey for years and had even skated a frozen pond a time or two herself. As an adult, she no longer had any real desire to watch, listen or even discuss hockey. There was no specific point in her life when she'd lost interest. It was more like she'd grown out of it and no longer understood the obsession.

"It's Alex Perdue," Joel told her.

She wrinkled her nose and gave him a blank stare. "Who the hell is Alex Perdue?"

"He's a defenseman," Joel explained. "Third line."

"And that's supposed to mean something to me?"

"God, stop being such a crotchety bitch and just say you'll come to the game with me," Joel said with a heavy sigh.

"Oh wow, when you talk sweet like that, it makes me want to agree," Kaitlyn snapped back, in no mood for Joel's humor.

"I'm sorry for calling you a bitch," Joel apologized. "Even though you are," he added under his breath.

"I'm sorry you're an asshole, but what can you do?" Kaitlyn replied, waving a hand dismissively in his direction. Neither of them meant what they said; name calling was a part of their rapport and nothing so little as weak insults would ever come between them. They were family, after all.

Joel laughed and grabbed her hand, giving her fingers a squeeze. "Come out with me. I'll buy you a couple drinks, you can get an autograph and then I'll even drive you home."

Sighing, Kaitlyn looked into her cousin's brown eyes and gave up. He was obviously determined to take her to this game, whether she wanted to or not. "Fine, but I want an ice cream, too."

"All right!" Joel exclaimed and yanked her close to kiss her noisily on the cheek. "You'll have a great time, wait and see!"

"I don't know about that," Kaitlyn replied, laughing as Joel kissed her again. "If I have ice cream and a Molson, I'll be on the right track."

"I'll make sure you can't see straight by the end of the night."

She laughed and shook her head, sitting back on her stool. "Don't get carried away."

Joel just winked at her and moved away to fill a few more orders, leaving Kaitlyn alone at the bar. She propped her chin in her hand and stared mindlessly at the television screens hanging over the bar. Sportscentre was on and the highlights from last night's games were playing. Kaitlyn watched without really paying attention.

Now that Joel had convinced her to go out tomorrow night, she was already planning her workload for game day and the day following. The book store was short-handed and she'd been covering a lot of the vacant shifts. Mostly, she felt like she was helping and other days, like today, she just felt like a chicken running around with its head cut off.

Maybe it will be good to go to the game and have a night off, she thought and absentmindedly sipped her drink.

She stayed at the bar for another half hour, until Joel got busy. Before she left, she promised to call him the next day so they could meet up before the game.

At home, alone in her apartment, she shuffled around in her slippers, putting in a load of laundry and washing the dishes from her breakfast. By the time she settled down on her couch with a book, she could barely keep her eyes open.

Joel expects me to stay awake until midnight tomorrow? she thought with a jaw-cracking yawn.

She gave the page in front of her another try and gave up in five minutes. Yawning again, she tossed the book aside and went to bed.

***

The following night she pasted a smile on her face as she walked beside Joel from the train station to the Saddledome. The crowd was thick around them; it was half an hour before the puck dropped. Kaitlyn kept her thoughts to herself, putting on a happy face for her cousin. She could tell how excited he was to be there. He was spouting facts and statistics and making a prediction for the outcome of the game.

Kaitlyn couldn't bring herself to ruin his mood, however much she wished she was somewhere else. She'd had another harrowing day at the bookstore and just wanted to have a hot bubble bath. However, she'd made a promise and Joel was her best friend. She'd at least make an effort.

"When are you supposed to meet the player?" she asked as they moved along the walkway. The night air was crisp and Kaitlyn shivered, pulling the collar of her jacket up higher around her neck.

"Uh, now?" Joel replied, glancing at his watch.

"Joel!" Kaitlyn laughed and shoved her shoulder into his. "You're late for the big meeting? They might pass you over for someone who's on time."

Joel shook his head with a grin. "They won't do that."

Kaitlyn just rolled her eyes and picked up her pace. "Why didn't you say something? We could have left right away." She'd come over to the bar to meet Joel after her shift was done and he'd served her dinner before they left. Now that she knew they were supposed to have arrived early, she felt bad for causing them to be late.

"It's all right," Joel replied and slung his arm over her shoulders. She was shorter than him by several inches, being five-foot-three to his five-foot-ten. He used the arm around her to propel her forward a bit faster, making her laugh as she scrambled to keep up. "You needed to eat. I know you hadn't eaten since the morning."

"What? You have a video camera in my apartment or something? You're a spy now?"

"No. I just know you. You work too hard."

"I do what needs to be done," she replied. She always did. Like dropping out of college when money had become an issue for her parents, or sacrificing her European vacation to stay home with her mother as she went through chemotherapy. It was never something she thought about, it wasn't a conscious decision each time to take on the extra burden. She just did it.

"Well, tonight you don't need to do anything, Kait," Joel told her and gave her an extra squeeze before reaching for the door to the Saddledome. He held it open as she walked through. "I'll fetch your beer and ice cream all night."

Rolling her eyes, Kaitlyn took the ticket from him and they made their way to the inner arena. The crowd inside was thicker, milling in every direction. The concession lines were several bodies deep and workers shouted over the din, selling programs and 50/50 tickets. Kaitlyn stuck her hand in Joel's as he weaved his way through the crowd.

"Do you even know where we have to go?" Kaitlyn asked when they paused near a restroom.

"The lady on the phone told me to find customer service and then someone would escort me to the locker room," Joel replied, looking around.

"Customer service was way back where we first came in," Kaitlyn said with a laugh. "Before they took our tickets."

Joel glanced down at her. "I thought that was just the box office."

Shrugging, Kaitlyn looked around as well. She'd only been to the Saddledome a handful of times and never for a Flames game. Eventually they found their way around and located someone in customer service. Sure enough, an usher appeared to take them below the main concourse.

"You'll have about ten minutes with Mr. Perdue," the usher, an older, bald man, explained as he led them down a set of stairs. "If you'd been here earlier, you could have had more time."

Joel smiled sheepishly back at him and Kaitlyn smothered her laughter with one hand. Joel poked her teasingly in the ribs as they reached the lower level.

Down below all the action of concourse, it was quieter, but no less busy. Arena employees and team staff moved everywhere. Voices rose and orders were shouted back and forth. Kaitlyn stuck close to Joel's side as the usher continued to lead them through the hall.

"Here we are," the usher announced, coming to a stop. "Here are your guests, Alex."

Kaitlyn looked up - and up, and up - into the friendly, smiling face of a hockey player in full gear. "Oh wow," she breathed and blushed when his dark eyes flashed to her face.

"Hi, I'm Alex Perdue," the player said, extending one hand towards them.

"I'm Joel Sanderson," Joel said and shook Alex's hand. "This is my cousin, Kaitlyn Walker."

"Pleased to meet you," Alex said and held his hand towards Kaitlyn.

Timidly, Kaitlyn shook his hand, amazed at how it encompassed her fingers. She couldn't get over how big he was. Sure, he was wearing his skates and his full gear but he was positively intimidating.

"I'm supposed to ask why I'm your favorite Flame," Alex said to Joel, a wide smile spreading across his face, dimples appearing in each cheek.

"Oh, that's embarrassing," Joel replied with a laugh. "Do I have to?"

"I'd like to hear it," Alex told him. "As long as it's not something like, 'he's no one else's favorite so this way I get free tickets.'"

Joel laughed and shook his head. "That's not it, trust me."

As the two men chatted, Kaitlyn took the opportunity to study Alex. She guessed that he must be over six feet - without his skates - and without his gear, he was looked still a big guy. Kaitlyn knew enough to know that hockey players were generally large guys; except, of course, for Theo Fleury. He'd been an exception, the only one Kaitlyn could recall from her teenage years in Alberta. Alex had a friendly, open smile and those dimples were definitely appealing. His hair was dark and messed up from wearing a helmet during the warm-up skate. His eyes were a grey-green hazel color, surrounded by dark, thick lashes that most women would kill for. When he spoke, it was with a deep voice and a thick Newfoundland accent that Kaitlyn found incredibly appealing.

His eyes came back to her face after a few minutes and he grinned. "Are you a Flames fan, too?"

Kaitlyn opened her mouth to respond but her cousin beat her to it.

"She's a closet Flames fan," Joel replied.

Kaitlyn narrowed her eyes at Joel, who smirked back at her. Alex chuckled and nodded.

"Don't worry," he said. "I'm not offended. If we start playing the way we want to play, then you can come out."

Kaitlyn flushed at his choice of words. "Joel is joking. I've never been a huge fan of any team, not since I was a kid."

"Who did you cheer for as a kid?"

"The Jets," she replied and smiled.

Alex's eyes widened. He was clearly surprised by her response. "Wow. You must have been born there, then."

"How'd you guess?"

"Only natives of Winnipeg still talk about the Jets," Alex replied. "Don't tell me that you cheer for Phoenix now?"

Kaitlyn laughed and shook her head. "I refuse to cheer for a team in a city that doesn't even have naturally occurring ice."

"Calgary has its own troubles producing ice sometimes," Alex commented and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I can't believe how warm it was in January. I think most frozen ponds ended up melting halfway through the month."

"I think so, too," Kaitlyn agreed. It had been an unusually warm winter so far, with temperatures above freezing for weeks at a time. It made it difficult for community associations to maintain their outdoor rinks.

"So you're going to cheer for the Flames tonight, right?" Alex asked, his dimples appearing again.

Kaitlyn couldn't help but smile back at him. He was so friendly, not at all the arrogant, flashy athlete she'd assumed they all were. "I'll try. You going to give me something to cheer about?" Wait a second, she thought, feeling heat suffuse her face. Am I flirting?

"I'll damn sure try," Alex replied and drew himself up to his full height, towering over her and Joel.

"Then I guess I will cheer for you," she replied. You, she repeated silently.

"Perdy!" someone called from behind them.

Alex glanced over to see one of the assistant coaches waving at him. "Oh, I guess I'd better get back to the team."

"Thanks for doing this, man," Joel said, shaking his hand again.

"No problem," Alex replied, shaking his head. "It's always nice to know there are some real fans out there." As he said this, he glanced at Kaitlyn and winked.

She laughed and shook his hand, this time taking an extra moment to appreciate how his palm warmed against hers.

"I'll do my best, Kaitlyn, to give you something to cheer for." Alex said, his accent clipping the first syllable of her name. She found she liked the way her name sounded coming from his mouth.

"I'll be watching," she replied with a grin.

He gave her fingers one more squeeze before letting her hand go. With a grin and a wave, he ambled along the rubber carpet, disappearing into the locker room a minute later. Joel and Kaitlyn watched him go before turning to follow the usher up to the concourse.


The Ice-Breaker Ch. 01



"Are you glad you got to meet your favorite Flame?" Kaitlyn asked as they settled into their seats a short while later.

"It was great," Joel answered with a grin. "Are you?"

"Well, he wasn't my favorite, but it was nice to meet him." Was it ever, she added silently.

She gazed around her, taking in their surroundings and smiled. They were low in the second tier, row six, and just behind the players' benches. The arena was mostly filled with spectators now and almost as soon as she made herself comfortable, the lights went out. Her eyes went to the jumbotron overhead and she watched the intro video. As the video finished, the players filed out of the tunnels behind the benches, skating onto the ice.

Kaitlyn watched, caught up in the cheers in spite of herself. Her eyes automatically sought out the big black number seven, finding him sailing smoothly around the ice.

"Who are they playing tonight anyway?" she asked Joel as the lights came up and the singer came out to perform the national anthem.

"Carolina," Joel replied and cupped his hands to his mouth as he whistled.

Kaitlyn laughed and clapped her hands.

It didn't take her long to get into the game. It brought up vague memories of attending games in Winnipeg as a child before her family had moved away. She'd forgotten what it was like to sit in a full arena, the draft brushing her face as the players raced back and forth on the ice. The 'C of Red' was loud tonight and she couldn't control her reactions as she watched the Flames battle the visiting team. She tried to locate Alex several times but ended up distracted by the on-ice action. By the first intermission, she was exhausted.

"I think I need a coffee," she said around a yawn, making her cousin laugh.

During the final two periods of the game, Kaitlyn forgot about being tired and was once again caught up in the excitement. The Flames won, 4-1, and she was hoarse by the time they made their way to the train station.

"Did you have a good time?" Joel asked her.

"I did," she replied, smiling up at him. "I really did. Thanks for taking me."

"I knew you'd have fun. You need to relax more."

Kaitlyn rolled her eyes. He was always telling her to relax and have more fun. She didn't think she was built that way. Fun wasn't part of her daily routine anymore.

***

Alex was amazed he didn't just fall over on the ice when he skated out before the start of the game. He hadn't expected to meet a gorgeous woman before the game and it had thrown him for a loop. Whenever he'd come off the ice, he'd found himself looking through the nearby crowd, searching for soft brown hair and shining green eyes, which was an absolutely useless exercise. He'd done his best during the game to not make a complete fool of himself. He recalled his words to Kaitlyn before the game and had tried to give her something to cheer about. In the end, he wasn't sure if he had but at least the team had won.

Doesn't matter anyway, he told himself as he showered. It's not like I'm ever going to see her again.

Days later, on a road trip to sunny Florida, he still couldn't get her out of his mind. He played his games, the thought always in the back of his mind, wondering if she was watching on TV. Of course, he had no way of finding that out. The thought bothered him night after night. By the time they were back in Calgary for the last two games before the Winter Olympics break, he was exhausted.

Thank God we have a two week break, he thought as he let himself into his quiet, empty house the night he arrived home.

Practices would continue but they wouldn't be traveling every few days or playing a game every other night. The schedule had been grueling for the past month and he was sure they weren't the only team feeling it.

He set his bags down in the bedroom and wandered back out to turn on the TV. It wasn't very late, only just past seven and as he flipped through several channels, he realized there wasn't anything on that he wanted to watch. So he tossed the remote aside and stared at the blank screen.

I don't have practice in the morning, he told himself. I could go out for a drink.

There was a restaurant with a decent lounge just a few minutes from his house. He'd been there a few times during the season, and liked the service, and the fact that no one ever knew he was a Flame. Either that, or they just left him alone if they did.

A short while later, he was sliding onto a stool at the bar in the restaurant lounge. It was quiet tonight, a Wednesday, and the dinner rush was over for the evening. He sat there for a few minutes before the bartender made his way over.

"Hey!" the bartender exclaimed, drawing Alex's attention away from the screens showing the Oilers-Kings game. "You're Alex Perdue!"

Alex smiled at the bartender, who looked vaguely familiar. "Yeah, that's right. Do I know you?"

"We met at the game last week," he said. "I'm Joel. I won the 'Favorite Flame' contest."

"Right. I remember you now. You work here?"

"Yeah, I've been here for a few years. You come in here a lot?"

Alex shook his head. "Not a lot. Most nights I'm either playing or just too tired."

Joel chuckled and nodded. "I can understand that. What can I get you to drink?"

"You got Keith's?"

"Sure do." Joel walked away and returned with a bottle of Alexander Keith's. "You want anything else? The full menu is available in the lounge."

Alex waved the food off. He didn't want to eat so late at night. "I'm fine with this."

"Joel!"

Both men turned to see a woman come running into the lounge. Alex's eyes popped wide open and he gaped as she whipped her toque off.

Oh man, he thought. It's her!

"Joel, you won't believe the day I've had!" she exclaimed, hurrying to the bar and all but throwing herself onto a stool.

"Easy, Kaitlyn," Joel laughed and waved a hand at her in a 'calm down' gesture. "Tell me what you want to drink and I'll let you tell me all about it."

"I can't drink now," Kaitlyn replied as she unraveled her scarf. She glanced at Alex, who was still gaping, and turned back to Joel. "The regional manager came in today and we had a meeting. She told me that I've been doing such a great job and our store is bringing in more revenue than the next three closest stores."

"That's awesome, Kait!" Joel said.

"I'm not finished! She also said because we were doing so well, she authorized me to hire three new people so I won't have to work sixty hour weeks anymore."

Alex was transfixed as she talked about her day. He'd thought she was pretty when they'd first met, but now she was positively stunning. Her cheeks were flushed - either from excitement or the cold air outside - and her eyes were shining, reflecting the lights above the bar. Her hair was messy, flattened where she'd been wearing her toque and flailing around her shoulders from the static electricity. He found himself smiling and was caught checking her out when she turned to look at him.

"Do I know you?" she asked. Her tone wasn't sharp; she sounded more curious, and Alex indulged himself by believing that she sounded interested.

"Alex Perdue," he answered and shifted closer; there were two bar stools separating them but he didn't want to move right next to her. No sense in looking overeager, he told himself. "We met at the Saddledome last week."

She blinked, her dark lashes catching Alex's attention. Then a smile spread across her face and it was she who moved over two stools so they were now sitting right next to each other. Alex told himself to remain calm but his body had a mind of its own; his heart increased its beats per minute and he felt warmth settle low in his abdomen. Another few minutes of her smiling so prettily at him, and he'd have a hard time hiding his erection.

"I remember," she said. "Joel dragged me to the game that night."

"Dragged?" Joel protested. "I didn't drag you. You offered!"

Her head snapped around and she narrowed her eyes playfully at her cousin. "Liar! You couldn't find anyone else to go with you!"

Alex winced and Kaitlyn turned back to him. "Sorry," she said. "That wasn't a dig."

Alex shrugged it off, smiling weakly at her. He knew as well as the next person that the Flames hadn't exactly been in top form over the past month. It would come as no surprise if people started turning tickets away.

"Kait, you gotta let me get you a drink," Joel said, leaning over the bar and clasping Kaitlyn's hand. "You need to celebrate."

She turned to look at him, a laugh falling from her full lips and Alex swallowed with some difficulty. "Celebrate? It's hardly something I need to celebrate. I just get to hire more employees."

"So you don't have to kill yourself working anymore," Joel reminded her, his face serious.

Alex assumed, from what he'd heard them say to each other so far, that Kaitlyn worked most of her waking hours. That's impressive, and kind of sad, he thought, taking another pull of beer from the bottle in his hand. He looked over Kaitlyn's profile, noting for the first time the lines around her eyes and mouth, the darkness under her eyes, and the sag to her shoulders. No one should have to work so many hours in a week, he thought, feeling inordinately protective of her.

"I'll get you something good, Kait," Joel said and patted her hand once before releasing her.

As he strode away, Kaitlyn turned her face back to Alex with a shy smile. "I didn't think I'd ever see you again," she said, her tone friendly. "I hope there's not a game on that you're skipping."

Alex chuckled and shook his head. "No. I'd never miss a game. Even when we're doing terribly, I love to play."

"That's good," Kaitlyn replied. "That you love what you do so much."

"You don't love your job?"

Her eyebrows lifted and she smirked. "Love is a strong word. I'd say it's a good enough job for now."

"What would you rather be doing?"

This time she laughed, sounding a little breathless. Alex felt the blood draining from his head and heading south. Still, he tried to focus on what she was saying. "Isn't that a loaded question?" she said and smiled at him. "I'd rather be lying on a beach, or dancing in the rain, or browsing through the books in a store, instead of wondering why they're misplaced. Sometimes I wish I was in university again, sitting in a lecture hall or even writing a paper."

Alex lifted his eyebrows in surprise. He hadn't been expecting all that for his simple question but he was glad that she'd shared.

She met his eyes and flushed. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said all that."

"Why not? I asked."

"But I... that was all... it was too much information."

He chuckled and sipped his beer, keeping his eyes on her face. She looked embarrassed and he supposed most women went with the general rule of not talking too much about themselves with a new guy. It wasn't like they were on a date. "As long as you weren't telling me things you normally only tell your girlfriends, it's fine."

She blinked and laughed at his words as Joel returned with a fruity purple drink for his cousin. With a grin, she thanked him and watched him head off to help another customer at the corner of the bar.

"So, do you come here often?" she asked with a smirk as she lifted the straw of her drink to her mouth. She took a sip and cringed, smacking her lips together. "Good God almighty, that's sweet."

Alex laughed at her expression. "Looks sweet. Is it your favorite?"

"Hardly," Kaitlyn replied and set the glass down on the bar. "More like Joel's favorite joke. I'm more of a Keith's girl myself."

Alex held up his bottle. "Me too. Well, not a Keith's girl, of course."

"Of course." As she spoke, her eyes dropped to his hands and then leisurely traveled back up to his face. He felt thoroughly scrutinized by the time their eyes met again. "Not a girl."

"Nope."

For a second, neither of them said anything. If asked to describe what was happening, and if he was feeling poetic, Alex would say there were sparks.

"So really," she broke the silence. "Do you come here a lot? I don't think I've ever seen you in here."

"You come here that often?" Alex asked, shifting his position to hide the bulge in his pants. "Maybe you'd just never notice a hockey player."

"A hockey player, maybe not," she agreed and tossed a smile his way. "But a behemoth like yourself, I would."

"Behemoth? I'll have you know I work out five times a week and have a very physically demanding job."

"It shows."

Her words, coupled with the look she cast down his body again, had Alex clenching his teeth and willfully turning his thoughts to old men in Speedos. Calm the hell down, man, he told himself. She's going to think you're a pervert. "Well, good, then." It was all he could think to say out loud.

He was rewarded with her bright laughter. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I come here most days after I'm done at the bookstore," she told him and pointed out the windows that faced the large parking lot. The restaurant shared the lot with several other businesses; Kaitlyn's bookstore, a theater, a small pizza joint, and a few other shops. "That one there. When Joel's working, I'll come and sometimes eat dinner here."

"Late dinner," Alex replied, glancing at his watch.

"Well, I don't keep regular hours. I eat and sleep when I can."

"Sounds rough."

"It can be." She paused and gave him a silent look, lifting her purple drink to her lips again for a second try. "I don't think you want to listen to me whine about my work."

"Why wouldn't I?"

"Because you've got a game tomorrow night and can't stay out late enough to hear it all."

Alex grinned and downed the last of his beer. "I thought you weren't interested in hockey?"

"I'm not," she replied with a nonchalant shrug.

Leaning close, Alex spoke in a low voice. "Then how is it you know about my game tomorrow night?"

He watched her back stiffen and the color rise from her throat to her cheek. She met his gaze and her lips parted as they sat there, breathing each other's air. Alex wanted very badly to kiss her and would have if he could be sure she wouldn't sock him in the jaw. Now that he knew where to find her, he could be patient.

"Are you working tomorrow night?" he asked, not moving back. He might be patient but he was also greedy. He wanted to inhale more of her feminine scent before going home alone.

"T-tomorrow?" she echoed, sounding confused. She shook her head and frowned. "Uh... no, I don't, for a change. I work the early part of the day and that's it."

"Maybe you can meet me for a drink after the game then."

Her eyes widened. "OK."

Alex drew back, surprised. However much he'd managed to fantasize about this in the past several minutes, he'd never thought she'd agree, or so quickly. "OK."

Now she was smiling. "What time?"

"I should be done about ten-thirty, maybe eleven."

"You expect me to wait up that late just for a drink with you?" she asked, a playful smile teasing her lips.

Alex quirked a smile at her and leaned in again. "You want more? I can offer more than just a drink," he told her.

Her responding intake of breath had him clenching his jaw. They exchanged phone numbers and agreed on a place to meet after the game. Then he straightened, sliding off his stool. As he moved a step away from her, he smiled and held his hand out. She shook his hand, still looking a little stunned.

"So I'll see you tomorrow night?" he asked, not all that surprised when his voice came out thicker than anticipated.

She smiled and nodded, not speaking.

"See you tomorrow," he said. As he walked away, he hoped no one noticed how funny he was walking in an effort to conceal his arousal.

***

Kaitlyn told herself later that she'd just been imagining the sparks between her and Alex. She went home that night after running into him at the lounge and got ready for bed, but she was unable to shake the image of Alex's hazel eyes. He'd been so big next to her, and his voice was so deep, she could still feel the vibrations. Pushing it out of her mind, she went to sleep.

Plenty of time to freak out over meeting him tomorrow, she told herself before drifting off.

The next day at work, she was mostly useless. She restocked the same shelf three times before passing the job off to someone else, and barricading herself in the office for the rest of her shift. She tried to focus instead on writing out a job posting, which she sent off to the local newspapers and posted on the website. After that, she double checked the schedule for the rest of the weekend and went home on time for the first time in her life.

When she got home, she wasn't sure what to do with herself. Normally she'd be so exhausted at the end of a shift that she'd just fall into bed and sleep. Now, it wasn't even four in the afternoon and she didn't have anywhere to be until ten thirty that evening.

Shower? she thought as she paced past her bathroom. Then she stopped and walked into the small bathroom with a grin on her face.

It had been a long time since she'd had free time like this and even longer since she'd last indulged in a bath.

Far too long, she thought as she twisted the taps on. Baths in the middle of the day were a luxury she hadn't let herself enjoy for longer than she could remember. So she got the water good and hot, poured in an inordinate amount of scented bubble bath and stripped down. The water soothed her nerves and she relaxed against her bath pillow with a contented sigh.

All too soon, the water cooled and she got out, smiling at her wrinkled reflection in the mirror. Then she wandered into her bedroom to find something to wear. She was standing before her closet in her bra and panties, finger stressfully tracing her bottom lip, when the phone rang. She hurried across the room to scoop it up from her nightstand.

"Hello?"

"Kait, what are you doing?" Joel asked, sounding almost panicked.

She laughed. "I'm at home getting dressed. Why?"

"You're at home?" Now he sounded confused.

"Yeah, I worked early today. What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I just can't believe... you worked the early shift? And you didn't stay late?"

Rolling her eyes, Kaitlyn carried her phone back over to her closet. As she spoke to her cousin, she yanked out a pair of dark jeans that she'd always thought made her butt look good. "No, I didn't work late, which is why I didn't come to the restaurant for dinner."

"You should have called me. I was worried."

"I'm sorry, dad, but I was under the impression I was an adult and didn't need to check in."

"Don't give me any attitude, missy. I'll start charging you for your dinners."

"Pfft," Kaitlyn scoffed as she yanked the jeans over her hips and fastened the button at her waist. "Idle threats."

A pause. Kaitlyn looked down at the phone, thinking Joel had hung up on her. "Joel?"

"I'm here. You sound different."

"Do I? Maybe it's because I had a bath this afternoon."

Joel laughed. "Oh my. One early shift and you turn into a lady of leisure?"

"Hardly. I just had some time to kill before I go-" Kaitlyn stopped herself short. She hadn't told Joel about her date with Alex and still wasn't sure if she wanted to share. She should have known better to even mention it; Joel latched onto her cut-off sentence and starting grilling her.

"Where are you going?" he demanded, cackling like he'd just discovered a pot of gold. "Is he someone I know? What are you wearing?"

Kaitlyn couldn't help but laugh as she turned to face her closet again. She had the bottoms done, but needed a top now. "I don't know what to wear," was all she said in response to Joel.

"Hmm, if you give me some details, I could help."




The Ice-Breaker Ch. 01



Kaitlyn rolled her eyes and reached out to flip through some of her colorful blouses. "You're not gay, Joel, or even a metrosexual. What makes you think you could help me pick out an outfit?"

"Isn't that what best friends are supposed to help with?" Joel asked, not sounding wounded in the least.

"Best girlfriends," Kaitlyn replied. "It's no big deal. I'm just going to a bar downtown. I'll just wear my red sweater."

"A bar downtown? Which one?"

"Do you think my red sweater will make me look too pasty at this time of year?" Kaitlyn again ignored Joel's pointed questions. She turned to face her full length mirror, holding the wine-colored turtleneck sweater up to her chest. Then she shook her head; too dark, she thought.

In her ear, Joel groaned in frustration. "Kaitlyn, come on!" he pleaded. "Give me something to go on here."

She giggled, enjoying torturing her cousin. "Am I not allowed to have any secrets?"

"Not from me!"

"Joel, you don't tell me who you go out with every weekend. Why do I have to tell you about my dates?"

"Because you don't date," he replied. "This is a rare occasion and I'm curious."

"You're nosy," Kaitlyn countered and flipped through a few more of her shirts. Nothing I have is nice enough, she thought, chewing on the inside of her cheek.

"Only because I care," Joel said. "If you don't tell me everything, Kait, I'll just come over and hang out until he picks you up."

Kaitlyn laughed, because she knew her cousin would do exactly that. "He's not picking me up. We're meeting downtown."

"Ah-ha!" he exclaimed and Kaitlyn could picture him shooting a finger into the air in a 'eureka' gesture. "So you are going out with a guy."

Laughing, Kaitlyn conceded the point. "I'm still not going to tell you anything." Joel fell silent and Kaitlyn could practically hear the wheels in his head spinning. "You're not going to follow me, either," she said, earning a mischievous chuckle from her cousin.

"All right," he agreed. "I'll let this go this time, Kait. If you have a good time tonight, you have to come to the bar tomorrow and tell me everything. Maybe bring your date along, too."

Kaitlyn laughed at his suggestion, cutting herself off before she could say there was a good chance her date would come to the bar anyway. "Well, thanks for the fun chat, Joel, but I still have to decide on something to wear."

"Wear your new shirt," he said.

"What new shirt?" Kaitlyn asked with a frown, her eyes going over her hangers again. "That one Jules made me buy?"

"Yeah. It looked great on you."

"I don't know," Kaitlyn replied, reaching for the shirt in question. "It's got short sleeves."

"Good. Show as much skin as you can."

Kaitlyn laughed and thanked her cousin for his advice. Then they ended the call and she tossed the phone onto her bed. She held the shirt up before her. It was a soft, loose material that remarkably hid her wobbly parts, as she affectionately referred to them. It was short sleeved, just capping her shoulders, and was a dark color with bright swirling colors patterned overtop. She shrugged as she stared down at it.

One is as good as another, I suppose, she told herself and pulled it off the hanger.

A short while later, she was downstairs, munching on a light dinner, killing more time before she left. She tried to find the game on TV but it wasn't being shown on any local channels. So she gave up and watched a drama until she felt she couldn't sit still anymore. At around nine, she left, telling herself she'd need time to get downtown and find parking.

***

Alex couldn't believe how fast he showered and changed following their game against Dallas. The other guys raised their eyebrows at him and when he sat down by his locker to pull his socks and shoes on, one of his teammates sat down next to him. Barely glancing in Eric's direction, Alex continued to pull his shoes on.

"What's the rush, Perdy?" Eric asked nonchalantly, rubbing a towel over his shaved head. "Hot date?"

Alex couldn't stop the grin from spreading across his face and he didn't mind at all when Eric hooted with laughter at his expression.

"Oh, man. Is she hot?" Eric asked in a loud voice, drawing the attention of a few other teammates.

"Perdy's got a date?" Brian asked. "What's her name?"

"I bet she's a Newfie!" Craig added, sidling up on Alex's other side.

Alex straightened, still grinning. He met his teammates' curious stares with a shrug. "What makes you think I'll tell you guys anything?"

"Because if you don't, we'll kick your ass," Brian replied with a wicked grin. Brian was the team's resident enforcer and currently led the league in fight minutes. A dubious distinction, but something he was definitely well known for.

Alex met Brian's steady gaze but shook his head. "I'm not telling you guys anything. Wouldn't want to jinx myself."

This drew more laughter from his teammates.

"Perdy doesn't want us to jinx his chances of getting laid tonight," Eric laughed and looked around at the others standing nearby.

Alex shook his head again. He wasn't worried about jinxing his chances for that. He knew if he laid it on thick enough, he could most likely get Kaitlyn to go home with him. However, he didn't want to rush things. For whatever reason, he was more than willing to take his time getting to know her. Of course, his raging hormones might affect his decision-making abilities later, but he'd deal with that as it came.

"I'll see you guys tomorrow morning," he said and pushed his way through his teammates.

They continued to razz him until the locker room door closed behind him. He greeted a few lingering reporters with a smile but when no one asked to speak with him, he moved past them. He hurried to the player's parking lot and got into his vehicle, his blood already roaring in his ears at the thought of meeting up with Kaitlyn. As he waited for his car to warm up, he checked his cell phone for messages, just to make sure she hadn't cancelled at the last minute. There were no calls, so he headed out of the Saddledome parking lot with a grin on his face.

Finding parking near The Rose and Crown on 15th Avenue was tricky. It was a Thursday night but since the game had just ended a lot of bars in the area were busy. Alex circled the blocks near the bar for a few minutes before locating a spot. He pulled in and forced himself to keep from sprinting to the old-fashioned three-story funeral home that had been converted to a bar.

Inside, the crowd was thick, colored by many Flames jerseys. Alex ducked his head, hoping he wouldn't be recognized. He kept his eyes peeled for Kaitlyn's familiar face and when he didn't find her on the first floor, he hurried up to the second floor. It was a little quieter up there and he found her sitting in one of the big easy chairs by a fireplace.

"Kaitlyn," he breathed, hurrying over to her. When he stopped by her chair, she looked up, startled.

"Oh, Alex," she gasped and smiled. "You scared me."

"Sorry about that," he replied and leaned down to kiss her on the cheek before he lost his nerve. It was impulsive, and possibly a big mistake, because as soon as he inhaled her sweet, feminine scent, all his blood pounded through his veins to settle in his groin. She froze as his lips brushed her cheek but she didn't pull away and, as Alex sat in the chair across from her, he saw the pale blush in her cheeks.

"How was the game?" she asked.

Alex glanced around as he pulled his jacket off. He didn't know if the bar had been showing the game or not, and maybe she'd just arrived and missed the final score. "We lost, 3-1."

"I'm sorry," she replied and offered him a small smile. "You must be upset."

He was, but he tried not to let it get to him. It would be great to win on their home ice but they'd struggled with that all season. "How long have you been here?"

"About a half hour," she replied and glanced at her watch. "Oh wow, I can't remember the last time I was out this late."

Alex chuckled. It was just past ten-thirty. "I'm not keeping you up past your bedtime, am I?"

She grinned. "You are, but that's all right. Joel tells me all the time that I need to get out more, have more fun."

"Then I'm just glad I could help," he replied. Just then, the waitress stopped by their table and Alex ordered a beer. "She'll take another of what she's having, as well," he added, indicating the bottle in Kaitlyn's hand.

"Oh, I don't know..." she hesitated, glancing at her nearly empty bottle of Big Rock Traditional. "I have to drive myself home later."

Alex grinned and waved her off. "If you need to, I'll buy you a cab ride home."

Kaitlyn's eyebrows shot up and she smirked. "Well, all right then, Mr. Moneybags."

Chuckling, Alex relaxed back in the easy chair and looked around. "This is a great place," he commented. "Have you been here before?"

"Once, a while back for my friend Julia's eighteenth birthday," Kaitlyn replied, following his gaze. The building had originally been a funeral home, before being converted to a bar in the mid-eighties. The owners of the bar had maintained as much of the original structure and style as they could, wanting to keep the old-fashioned look.

"Where did you spend your eighteenth birthday?" Alex asked, smiling at Kaitlyn.

She met his smile with a grin. "Is that your subtle way of asking how old I am?"

"No one ever accused me of being subtle," Alex replied with a laugh. "If you want to share, I won't stop you."

It was her turn to laugh. "I think I've already shared too much with you, remember?"

"Of course," he agreed. "We can't go to a beach right now, and it's definitely not raining." He paused, considering and leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. "We could hit a bookstore so you can browse, if you want. Although, at this time, they must all be closed."

She didn't respond right away and Alex watched as she drew her bottom lip between her teeth to chew delicately on it. He swallowed around the sudden thickness in his throat and kept from reaching for her. Don't rush, he reminded himself. There's no need to rush.

"I can't believe you remember all that," she murmured at last, smiling shyly at him.

"Why wouldn't I?"

She shrugged, picking at the label on her beer bottle. "Guys aren't exactly the greatest listeners, and I was just some strange woman in the bar that night."

"You're not strange," he replied with a grin.

He was rewarded with her bright laugh and straightened, feeling like he'd just won the lottery. The waitress returned with their drinks and Alex paid for them, rather than starting a tab. If the urge to carry her home came over him, he didn't want to have to wait to clear the bill.

"So how was your day?" he asked.

"It was... strange."

He lifted his eyebrows as he took a long pull from his bottle. "Strange? Why do you say that?"

"Well, I'm used to running around like crazy, trying to take care of everything, and then working an extra two or three hours, too," she replied and looked up with a smile. "It's just a bookstore but I guess I'm a bit of a workaholic."

"No, you're not. You're just someone who likes to have things done right."

"That's a polite way of putting it."

"It's the truth, isn't it?"

She laughed and shook her head. "You don't even know me!"

"Well, that's why we're here, right?"

She met his eyes and nodded. They fell silent for a moment, just staring at each other as the orange glow from the fire beside them cast flickering shadows over their faces. Alex studied her, taking in the way her wavy brown hair brushed her shoulder every time she moved. Her eyes were dark inside the dim bar, but still sparkled as the fire lit her from one side. She looked comfortable and relaxed in her seat. Her arms were bare and he saw goosebumps rise on her skin.

"Are you cold?" he asked, surprised when his voice came out hoarse.

She lifted her eyes to meet his gaze and blinked. Alex swallowed as he watched her, unconsciously leaning closer. As he moved, she lifted the bottle to her lips and downed the last two-thirds of her beer in one big swallow. Alex's eyes widened and he smiled as he watched her catch her breath.

"Do you want to stay here?" she asked.

"I... what?" he stammered, caught off guard.

She flushed but didn't look away from his eyes. "I... uh, I don't... I mean, we don't... have to stay here... if you... want to go." She spoke hesitantly and Alex could hear the underlying question.

"We can leave," he replied. "Where do you want to go?"

She shrugged and put a hand to her cheek. "I don't know," she breathed and shook her head. "Do you have to be up early tomorrow?"

Another unexpected question. Alex grinned at her and downed the remainder of his beer. "Not very early."

She watched him swallow and bit her lower lip again, making Alex choke back a groan. "Are you being purposefully vague?" she asked.

"Not purposefully," he answered and stood up. He pulled his jacket on swiftly and reached a hand out to help her to her feet. "I was trying to be a gentleman and leave the choice up to you."

"What choice?" she asked as she set her little hand in his.

He closed his fingers over hers and lifted her up beside him. She didn't move back and Alex could feel her body brush against his as she shifted on her feet.

"I don't think I need to say it, do I?" he asked, his voice husky.

She shook her head, not taking her eyes from his face. Grinning down at her, Alex released her fingers and reached around her to grab her jacket from the back of her chair. As he pulled it over her arms, Kaitlyn gazed up at him.

"How about you follow me to my place?" she suggested and Alex nodded solemnly. A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. "You're being vague again."

He chuckled and closed his hands on her arms, leaning down so their faces were close together. "I would love to come to your place, Kaitlyn," he told her in a low voice, pleased when her eyelashes fluttered nervously. "Is that clear enough for you?"

She nodded and moved past him, leading the way downstairs and out of the pub.

***

Kaitlyn had plenty of time to second guess herself on the drive to her apartment. Every time she looked in her rearview mirror and saw the headlights tailing her vehicle, she got a wicked fluttering sensation in her stomach.

I'm going to pass out before he even kisses me, she thought and a nervous laugh bubbled out of her mouth.

She clamped her lips together and ordered herself to focus on the road and the other vehicles around her. In another few minutes, she pulled into the parking lot of her apartment building and stood near the main entrance, waiting for Alex to park and follow her.

"I thought I'd lost you," she said as he walked up to her.

He chuckled, the deep sound doing strange things to her body. "I didn't take my eyes off you for a second."

She quirked an eyebrow at him. "That's dangerous," she murmured, tipping her head back to look into his face when he stopped right next to her. Lord almighty, is he tall! she thought. Turning, she unlocked the door and led the way inside.

The elevator ride was quiet and Kaitlyn chewed her bottom lip nervously. She couldn't remember the last time she'd brought a guy home. The more she thought about it, the more she realized she couldn't even remember the last real date she'd had. A self-conscious blush covered her cheeks and she scowled at the murky reflection on the elevator doors before they parted.

"Your floor?" Alex asked when she made no move to walk off.

Glancing around, Kaitlyn nodded and walked down the hall to her apartment, Alex's heavy tread close behind her.

"Is everything all right?" Alex asked as she unlocked her door and brought him inside.

"Sure, why?" she replied, not looking at him. She moved into her apartment, taking her coat and shoes off, and leading the way to the living room.

Alex followed, gazing around curiously. Kaitlyn glanced at him as she sat down on her couch, glad that she kept her place so tidy. I'm not home enough to mess it up, she added silently, frowning at the floor now.

"Kaitlyn, there seems to be something bothering you," Alex said, coming to sit down next to her. He gave her a friendly smile and Kaitlyn noticed that he sat apart from her, allowing no part of their bodies to touch. For some reason, it bothered her, making her feel even more self-conscious.

Maybe he's changed his mind, she thought, looking away from his face. Maybe he doesn't want to be alone with me.

Then he leaned towards her, his long arm stretching across the back of the couch behind her head. "Kaitlyn," he murmured her name in a low voice that sent a shiver up and down her spine. "What's wrong?"

She let her breath out slowly, giving him a weak smile. "Nothing," she replied.

He cocked an eyebrow at her, his full lips curving up in a smile that made her stomach flutter with renewed strength.

"I'm fine," she insisted, her voice sounding thick even to her own ears. She cleared her throat and smiled again. "I am. I just..." she paused and laughed, shaking her head. "You know, this is the first time I've been alone with a guy in this apartment?" 

"Yeah?"

"Well, except for Joel but he doesn't count," she said and waved her hand dismissively.

The couch creaked and bounced under her as Alex moved closer. She looked up to find him barely a foot away now, his muscular arm sliding further behind her. She swallowed, watching Alex's face and trying to tell herself not to freak out.

You're not some eighteen-year old virgin, for crying out loud, she told herself.

"Do you want me to go?" Alex asked.

Mutely, Kaitlyn shook her head. At his answering smile, she felt the fluttering in her stomach move lower. Still, he studied her quietly, his face relaxed, his smile easy and unassuming.

"You want to watch a movie?" he asked.

Kaitlyn let her breath out, not even aware until then that she'd been holding it in. She wrenched her gaze away from his face and looked at her TV, with the small stand full of DVD's next to it. A movie, she thought. That's good. I can do a movie. If something else happens... well... the thought trailed off and she managed to nod at Alex's question.

He rose from the couch and crouched in front of her movie collection. Kaitlyn smiled, wondering what his reaction would be to the multitude of 'chick flicks.' She was a big fan, mostly because they were excellent for taking her mind off of work. She had a few fun action movies but preferred romantic comedies. Standing up, she moved across the room to stand beside him.

"You can pick," she told him.

He glanced up at her and grinned. "Wow, thanks," he replied with a touch of sarcasm that made her grin back at him. "Looks like my options are kind of limited. It's a toss-up between The Lake House and Just Like Heaven."

"Oh, those are good ones," she said and clapped her hands. She laughed at his expression, feeling her tension ease away. I can do this, she thought and watched him run his fingers over the titles. He might not even be thinking about the same thing as me.

Yeah, right, was her mind's own sarcastic response.

"OK, this one looks the least feminine," Alex announced, straightening to his full height with a movie in hand.

Kaitlyn grinned at his choice of words as she took the movie from him. "Troy," she read aloud and nodded approvingly. "One of my favorites." She glanced at her movie collection before grinning up at Alex. "I think you found the one movie that's not a romantic comedy."

He rolled his eyes and exhaled in relief. "Thank God," he muttered and chuckled as she swatted his arm playfully.

"The only reason I have this movie is because of the rippling abs and enormous biceps on the men," Kaitlyn couldn't help adding.




The Ice-Breaker Ch. 02



When Kaitlyn walked into Joel's lounge on Friday night, he rushed to her, ignoring the calls of other customers at the bar.

"Tell me everything!" he exclaimed, grasping her arms and shaking her a little. "Starting with his name."

She laughed and shrugged his hand off. Moving to the bar, she removed her layers of winter clothing and sat down on a stool. "Bring me some nachos and I will," she replied.

Gasping, Joel nodded and hurried away to do her bidding. It took him some time to get back to her. He placed her order with the kitchen and then worked through the crowd lining the bar before coming to stand in front of her. He wiped a cloth against his forehead, mopping some of the sweat. Kaitlyn smiled sympathetically at him. She didn't always come into the lounge on Fridays but she knew he'd want to hear about her date.

Although she wanted to share her news with Joel, she was still apprehensive about telling him that it was Alex Perdue. Especially since he'd spent the night. Maybe I could leave that part out, she thought as Joel poured her a draft beer.

"Don't be mad if I have to run away," Joel told her as he leaned his hands on the bar in front of her. "I want to hear everything but it's an absolute zoo in here tonight."

"Pay day," Kaitlyn replied, sipping gratefully at the ice cold beer.

Joel nodded in agreement and then grinned. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the bar and bringing their faces close together. "So..."

Kaitlyn grinned back and shrugged. "So what?"

"Don't be coy with me, Kait," Joel growled and bumped his fist against her shoulder. "I know where you live."

"All right, all right," she grumbled and rubbed her shoulder. "I went out with a guy last night."

Joel rolled his eyes. "I know that already. What's his name? What's he do? Where'd you go? Did he pay?"

Shaking her head, Kaitlyn had to laugh at Joel's rapid-fire questions. "Whoa!" she exclaimed, holding a hand up. "One thing at a time."

"Name?" Joel said through gritted teeth.

"Alex."

Joel lifted his eyebrows. Kaitlyn could tell from his expression that he wasn't going to let it go.

"Alex Perdue," she said and winced when Joel burst out laughing.

"I knew it!" he cried, pointing a finger at her.

She scowled and swatted his hand down. "Stop that! People are staring."

Glancing around, Joel waved and apologized to those nearest to them.

"What do you mean, 'you knew it?'" Kaitlyn demanded.

"I saw you guys talking the other night. I knew something was going on." Joel grinned at her. "Where did he take you?" He paused and frowned. "Wait a sec, wasn't he playing last night?"

"Yeah, we met at The Rose and Crown on 15th for drinks after the game."

Joel's eyes popped wide open and he whistled. "He got you to stay up late on your night off?"

"It wasn't that late," she protested but flushed at his words. It was true; on her nights off, she was generally out cold on her couch, or in bed, by nine.

"Late enough," Joel countered and smiled again. "Well, that's good. A neutral date, drinks and all. How late did you stay out with him?"

"Not very late," she replied, chewing on the inside of her cheek and averting her eyes. Not late at all, she added silently. Since we moved on to my place where we slept together. Sort of.

Joel knew her too well. He started to chuckle and opened his mouth to pepper her with more questions but someone called his name. He shot her a sly smile before moving off, letting her know that he wasn't done with her yet. She sighed and drank some more beer.

Kaitlyn let her eyes wander to the big screens around the room. There were a couple different games being shown, as well as some highlights from the Super Bowl last Sunday. A few minutes later, a waitress stopped by in front of her with a plate of nachos. Smiling and thanking her, Kaitlyn dug in, feeling ravenous. Eventually her cousin came back to her, looking even more run off his feet, but he smiled when he saw her nacho plate picked almost clean.

"You sure know how to pack it away, Kait," he said and poured her another drink, a soft drink this time.

"Bite me," she replied without malice. She was full and relaxed and didn't mind her cousin's jokes.

"I want to hear more," he said.

Kaitlyn glanced around before answering. The lounge had quieted down some, most of the noise in the building now coming from the main dining room. There was no one sitting on either side of her. She figured now was as good a time as any to share.

"There's not much to tell," she told her cousin, who raised his eyebrows at her. "We had a couple drinks and then went home."

"Whose home?" Joel demanded.

Kaitlyn opened her mouth to protest his insinuation but felt her cheeks coloring. Joel knew her too well and knew her expressions as well as she knew his. He stared open-mouthed at her before laughing and slapping a hand on the bar.

"Kaitlyn, you little slut!"

"For crying out loud, Joel, keep your voice down!" she hissed at him.

"I'm sorry," he said and leaned forward to pat her hand. "Don't feel embarrassed about going home with Alex. He seems like a good guy. You could do far worse."

"I didn't go home with him," she snapped, still feeling embarrassed by his outburst.

"Oh? He came to your place then? I hope you didn't make him late for practice this morning."

At her silence, Joel laughed again.

"Shut up, shut up!" she muttered, shaking her head and holding a hand to her forehead.

"I'm sorry, Kait. This is just so unlike you."

Kaitlyn looked up and saw that Joel was no longer laughing at her. She smiled weakly and glanced around to be sure no one else was staring.

"You don't have to tell me everything, if you don't want."

Kaitlyn blew her breath out noisily and shook her head. "There's not much to tell. He came to my place and we watched a movie. Well, we started watching a movie and then I fell asleep. That's all."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

Joel studied her for a moment, not saying anything until Kaitlyn threw her hands up in the air.

"All right!" she exclaimed. "He spent the night on my couch and we had breakfast together this morning, too. Happy now?"

Instead of laughing at her again, as she'd expected, he leaned forward and spoke in a low tone so no one could overhear. "Kaitlyn, you didn't do anything wrong."

She glared at him. "I know that."

"Then why are you acting like this is a bad thing?"

"Isn't it?"

"Going on a date with a nice guy?"

"No, going on a date with a hockey player."

Joel blinked and straightened. "Well, not everyone has dated a hockey player, but there's no reason you can't deal with him the same way you would any other guy."

"Oh no? What about when he's away for days at a time?"

Joel shrugged and wiped a spot on the bar with his cloth. "How is that any different from a couple where one travels for business?"

"That's not the point."

"Sounds like that's what you're saying," Joel replied and met her gaze steadily. "Don't use that as an excuse." He paused and shrugged as a smile came across his face. "Besides, the league is taking a break for two weeks, for the Winter Olympics."

"Alex mentioned that. So the whole league just stops?"

"Basically. A bunch of players from all across the league will be competing in the games."

"I didn't know they did that."

Joel cocked an eyebrow at her and smirked. "If you paid more attention to sports, you might know about it."

Now it was Kaitlyn who landed a playful punch on his shoulder. He grinned and caught her hand in his before she could draw it away. He gave her fingers a squeeze and released her.

"Give yourself a few more dates before you write him off as a carousing hockey player."

Kaitlyn met her cousin's eyes and nodded. Carouser wouldn't be the first word that came to mind when she thought of Alex. Or the tenth, or even hundredth. He did seem like a good guy, funny and relaxed. And downright sexy, she added, ignoring the look Joel gave her as her cheeks colored.

"Thanks for dinner," she said and hopped off her stool.

"Wait a minute." He held up a hand. "You didn't finish telling me about your date."

"You said I didn't have to."

"Well, I was just trying to be nice," he scoffed and leaned against the bar. "I want all the juicy details."

Kaitlyn laughed as she pulled her jacket on. "No details for you, my friend."

"Oh, come on, Kait. Are you even going to see him again?"

Shrugging, Kaitlyn wrapped her scarf around her face and slid her fingers into her gloves. "I don't know. He said he'd call me so I guess we'll see."

"Kait!" Joel called her name as she turned to walk away.

She threw a kiss over her shoulder and waggled her fingers in a good-bye wave, laughing when she saw the disappointed look on Joel's face.

***

Alex grinned as he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and called Kaitlyn. He was sitting in his car following the last game of the month against Anaheim, waiting for the car to warm up. He'd promised Kaitlyn he'd call and so he did, wondering if she'd even still be awake. When the phone rang several times with no answer, his smile dimmed and he figured she'd gone to bed. He was about to give up and end the call when the ringing was interrupted with a clatter and mumbled oath. Alex chuckled and waited for the sound of Kaitlyn's voice.

"Hello?"

She sounded husky and Alex stirred in his seat, telling himself not to get too excited. "Hi, Kaitlyn."

"Alex?"

"Yeah. Were you expecting another call at eleven o'clock tonight?"

She laughed. "No. I just... I wasn't sure if you'd call."

"I said I would, didn't I?"

"Yes, you did."

They fell silent and Alex listened to her breathing for a moment. "Uh, so... did I wake you?"

"Yes, you did," she replied and laughed again. "But I'm just an old lady who can't seem to stay up past nine P.M."

"You're not old," Alex said with a laugh.

"It's the old people who can't stay up past nine on a Saturday night."

"Well, you've got me there."

A pause. "Thanks, Alex. You do know how to make a girl feel good about herself, don't you?"

Alex laughed, enjoying her playful tone. He wished he'd called her the day before but he hadn't wanted to push it. She was friendly and had kissed him back yesterday morning before they'd parted, but he was still unsure. He worried all afternoon and all day Saturday if he'd crossed a line by sleeping on her couch. Since she didn't sound upset now, he figured she didn't mind.

"I try not to overwhelm a woman with my many talents," he told her. "It can be dangerous."

"Oh yeah? How's that?"

"Well, if I lay it on real thick, women can't help falling all over me."

"Hmm, I can see how that would be a problem for you."

In spite of the fact that he couldn't see her face, Alex knew she was rolling her eyes. His groin started tingling and he shifted again.

"So now that I've woken you up, can I come over?"

"What for?"

"Ouch!" he exclaimed with a mock wounded gasp. "I'm not the only one who knows how to sweet talk the opposite sex."

Kaitlyn's bright laughter filled his ear and Alex rested his head against his seat, shutting his eyes. "I guess I don't have as much practice as you do."

"Even though you're an old lady?" he tossed back.

Again, she rewarded him with a laugh that had his pants constricting him. "I'm twenty-four, thank you very much."

"Hmm, then that puts us on even footing."

"You're twenty-four?"

"I turn twenty-six next month."

"No wonder you're so well versed in women. All that extra experience."

Now it was Alex's turn to laugh. He straightened in his seat and reached for the gear shift; the car was more than warm enough for him now. "I think you just called me old."

"You think? Oh dear, have you taken one too many hits over the years, Alex?"

"Maybe," he murmured. "So..."

"So...?" she echoed, a question in the word.

"You're not going to invite me over then." He said it as more of a statement than a question.

"Is that what you're waiting for? An invitation?"

"A gentleman usually does."

"What about you?" she asked with a snicker.

Alex rolled his eyes but couldn't help grinning. She was being so lively for someone he'd just woken up. "Well, I'm just driving up to your front door, gorgeous."

"Really?" She sounded surprised and excited, which gave Alex a sense of relief. He listened to some rustling and then she was asking where he was. "I can't see your car."

Alex laughed outright as he turned his car onto MacLeod Trail, just leaving the Saddledome. "I'm sorry. I lied, Kaitlyn. I've just left the 'dome."

"Oh."

Was that disappointment he now heard in her voice? He grinned like an idiot and pressed his foot down heavier on the gas pedal.

"It should take me about fifteen minutes to get to your place," Alex told her, racing beneath a yellow light as he spoke.

"From the Saddledome?" She laughed. "All right, but don't blame me if you get a speeding ticket."

He laughed and promised he wouldn't. They hung up and Alex worked hard to not go too fast. Just as he had guessed, he pulled into the parking lot of Kaitlyn's building fifteen minutes after their conversation ended. He forced himself to walk at a normal pace across the parking lot to the main doors, not wanting to look like a fool in case she was watching from her apartment. After she buzzed him in, he bounded up the stairs, choosing not to wait for the elevator.

"Hey," he greeted her breathlessly as he hurried down the hallway.

She was peering out of her doorway as he approached. Alex swept her form with his eyes, eagerly taking in her appearance. She was dressed comfortably in loose black pants with a drawstring waist and a blue fleece pullover with a zipper at the neck. Alex grinned as he took in her bare toes peeking out from under the pants.

"You weren't kidding about how long it would take you to get here," she said and waved him inside, locking the door behind him. "Did you even stop once?"

"Nope," he replied as he toed his shoes off and unzipped his jacket. He gave her a wink, pleased when he saw color creep into her cheeks. "I probably should have."

With a laugh, Kaitlyn led the way into her apartment. He walked in close behind her, admiring the way her bottom filled out her pants.

"Can I get you something to drink?"

"You got any beer?" he asked.

Her eyebrows lifted and she smirked. "At this time of night?"

"God, you are old," he laughed. "It's Saturday! Do you know how many people are just starting their nights?"

Kaitlyn smiled sheepishly at him before walking into her kitchen. "I guess I'm a little out of touch." She returned a minute later, carrying two bottles of Keith's Red Amber Ale.

Alex accepted his with a 'thank you,' and slid an arm around her waist before she could move away. He bent low and brushed his lips over hers. Keeping it brief, Alex watched her face for her reaction, crowing silently when she sucked in a surprised breath and didn't push him away. When she stared at him, a hint of expectation in her eyes, Alex kissed her again.

This time, he pressed more firmly, sliding their lips together before stroking her bottom lip with his tongue. Her mouth dropped open on a sigh and he took the kiss deeper, gladly sliding his tongue inside. She held onto him with her free hand as Alex lazily explored her mouth, teasing her tongue with his. He felt his body responding to the warmth of hers and the sweet silkiness of her mouth.

Only when he was afraid they'd both drop their bottles did Alex pull away. He eased out of the kiss, planting soft, teasing kisses on the corner of her lips before straightening. She met his gaze with a cloudy look in her eyes and he bit back a groan.

"Well, hello to you, too," she murmured, her voice husky.

Alex chuckled and brushed his thumb over the flush in her cheeks before sliding his hand down her arm to grasp her fingers. When she didn't seem inclined to move, he led the way to her couch, gently tugging until she sat down next to him. Silently they each raised their bottles to their lips and took a long sip. Alex was grinning as he set his on the table in front of them.

"Well," she said, taking another long sip before setting hers down. "You want to finish watching Troy?"

"I already did," he reminded her. "Sort of. I fell asleep with about ten minutes left."

"Oh." She sucked her lower lip into her mouth and Alex watched the way her brow furrowed. "Well, you can pick out a different movie."

He lifted his eyebrows and shook his head. "No, thanks. I've already seen your selection. I'll pass."

She rolled her eyes at him. "Then what do you suggest?"

He grinned then and watched her eyes widen as he reached for her. "I can think of something much more fun," he murmured against her lips.

Her body bent against his and he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close. She braced herself against his chest, her palms warm. Teasing her at first, he brushed his lips over hers, licking the corners of her mouth and sliding away before her tongue could touch his. She made a noise of protest and her fingertips pressed into his chest.

Chuckling, he drew back and looked into her foggy green eyes. "Something wrong?"

She shook her head mutely, her mouth hanging open as she inhaled rapidly.

Alex brought one hand up and laid his palm against her warm cheek. She exhaled and leaned into his caress, a smile touching her full pink lips.

God, she's gorgeous, he thought, taking in her heavy eyes and pretty smile.

"You're beautiful," he murmured out loud, feeling his cock stir at her answering giggle.

"Who are you trying to impress?" she asked coyly.

"No one," he replied and brushed another kiss over her lips. "I'm just letting you know what I think."

She blinked at him and he swallowed around the sudden thickness in his throat. The corners of her mouth curled upwards and she slipped her hands up his chest to wrap around his shoulders.

"I think..." she started to say and then paused.

"What?" he prompted, eager to know what she was thinking.

"I think we should watch a movie," she finished and smiled apologetically when his smile disappeared.

"Did I do something wrong?" he couldn't help asking.

Shaking her head, she leaned forward to kiss him. He tightened his hold but she broke away with a breathless laugh before they got carried away.

"I just... I don't want to rush," she whispered, glancing away shyly. "We just met."

Alex nodded, understanding her hesitation. He hadn't meant to take things too far, not that he'd have minded. He hadn't even meant to kiss her until the end of his visit. It was all her fault. She was just too damn sexy for him to be able to think clearly.

"All right," he agreed. "You pick a movie this time."

She laughed and nodded, giving him another quick peck before moving off the couch. A few minutes later, they settled comfortably against each other as the movie started. Alex was relieved to see that it was more comedy than romance. If he had to sit next to her while some good-looking couple on TV got busy, he couldn't be held responsible for his own actions.

As it was, he had a hard time concentrating on the movie. At first, Kaitlyn held herself rigidly at his side, barely allowing them to touch along on the outside of their arms. Then he shifted, putting his arm around her shoulders and stretching his legs out to rest on the table in front of them. She reclined against his side, taking a deep breath and Alex stared hard at the television screen, willing his body not to react. After what felt like ages, she moved again, curling even more against him and giving a contented little sigh that had him clenching his jaw. He slid his hand from her shoulder down to her elbow, then all the way back up again. When he did it a second time with no reaction, he froze and angled his head to peer down at her.




The Ice-Breaker Ch. 02



Damn, he thought with a rueful smile. She's fallen asleep on me again.

He supposed he should be flattered that she was so relaxed around him that she could do this. Mostly, he was frustrated. He told himself that it was just a result of her working so much. They hadn't talked about it, but he still recalled her conversation with Joel that first night in the restaurant lounge. Still, he wasn't going to take advantage. Just as he had two nights ago, he carefully moved off the couch and lifted her into his arms, smiling when she barely stirred.

God, she's a heavy sleeper, he thought, figuring she could sleep through the apocalypse.

He carried her to bed and managed to nudge the covers out of the way with his knee. It was a less than graceful maneuver and he jostled Kaitlyn so badly that she woke, her dark lashes fluttering as he laid her down.

"Alex?" she murmured his name sleepily.

He crouched down beside her bed, smoothing her hair away from her forehead. "Yeah?"

"You can sleep here tonight," she murmured and yawned.

His heart leapt within his chest and he flicked his eyes to the other half of her double bed. Smiling, he touched her cheek and shook his head. "I don't think I'd fit."

"Oh," she sounded confused. "But I want to have breakfast with you again."

Oh, she meant I can spend the night at her place again, he told himself, kicking his mental ass for assuming too much. "All right, gorgeous. I'll sleep here tonight."

She smiled and her eyes closed. "Good night."

"Good night, Kaitlyn," he murmured and brushed her lips with his before rising.

He watched her sleep, her soft lips parting on a sigh and her entire body relaxing at once. Clenching his jaw, he forced himself to step back and leave her alone in her room. He shut the door and leaned against it, resting his forehead against the cool wood.

In all his life, he'd never have thought a woman could hit him this hard.

With a deep sigh, he walked back to the living room and the empty couch. His sleep that night was fitful, to say the least.

***

"I can't believe you made him sleep on the couch both times," Julia said to Kaitlyn as she reached for another piece of bread.

Kaitlyn, Joel and their friend Julia were having their monthly dinner together, the Monday following Kaitlyn's second 'sleepover' with Alex. Kaitlyn was fielding questions about Alex and had a feeling she'd be doing the same thing all evening. "I didn't make him sleep there," she replied. "He carried me to bed both times and then slept out there himself."

Julia and Joel exchanged a look and Kaitlyn sighed noisily.

"Maybe if you offered your bed, he'd stay there," Julia suggested with a smirk.

Kaitlyn rolled her eyes and lifted her water glass to her lips. "He's like ten feet tall, Jules. He couldn't fit in there even if he wanted to."

"What makes you think he wouldn't want to?" Joel asked.

Swiveling her head around to glare at her cousin, Kaitlyn shrugged. "He hasn't suggested it."

"Kait," Julia laughed and reached over to pat her friend's arm. "Alex isn't going to climb into bed with an unconscious woman. You have to try to stay awake and then invite him to bed."

Kaitlyn blushed but laughed along with her friend. After a second late night with Alex, she'd fallen asleep against his side. Just like the first time, he'd put her to bed and then slept on the couch. She had a vague memory of talking to him before falling asleep in bed but she'd been too embarrassed to ask him about it in the morning. They'd made breakfast together, since neither of them had anywhere to be first thing, and again, their conversation had been relaxed and easy. Kaitlyn was really starting to like him.

"Where is he right now anyway?" Joel asked. "I thought the team was off for the Olympic break."

"They are," Kaitlyn replied and set her water glass down. "They're still having practices to stay on top of their game. I think Alex went out with some guys from the team tonight."

"Well, with all the new players the Flames got in the past few weeks, it's no surprise that they're having regular practices," Joel said.

A few seconds later, the waitress appeared with their meals and they sat back to allow her the room to set everything down.

"I can't believe you're dating a Flame," Julia commented as they enjoyed their first few bites.

"I'd hardly call it dating," Kaitlyn replied with a smile. "Two coincidences and two late nights don't count as dating."

"Yeah, but there were also two breakfasts and some phone calls," Joel added, ignoring Kaitlyn's glare.

"Totally," Julia agreed. "Kait, if you want to get him into bed, you need to go on a real date."

Kaitlyn sputtered, nearly choking on her bite of steak. She reached for her water and dabbed at her running eyes with her napkin. "Geez, Jules," she wheezed. "When did I say I want to get him in bed?"

"You didn't have to say the words," Julia replied, winking at Joel who laughed.

"I'm not seeing him just to get laid, you guys," Kaitlyn told them, glancing back and forth between Joel and Julia.

"Then why are you seeing him?" Joel asked, leaning forward.

Kaitlyn shrugged, summoning an image of Alex laughing as they'd prepared eggs Sunday morning. "I like him," she replied and smiled. "He's funny and laid back. He's the complete opposite of me."

Joel and Julia exchanged another pointed look that Kaitlyn chose to ignore. For a short while, they all fell silent, concentrating on their meals instead.

"You want to know what I think?" Joel asked, breaking the silence.

Now it was Kaitlyn and Julia who exchanged a pointed look. "No," Kaitlyn said. "But you'll tell me anyway."

Joel raised his glass in a mock salute, smirking. "I think you should spend as much time with him over the next two weeks as you can."

Kaitlyn stared at him, wondering if he was joking. When he met her gaze steadily, she patted her napkin against her lips and set it down beside her plate. "How would I manage that?"

"Take a few days off of work."

Laughing out loud, Kaitlyn shook her head at her cousin. "You're crazy. You know what it's like for me there. I can't just up and take off a week."

"I do know what it's like there for you, and I know how hard you work," Joel agreed, reaching across the table for her hand. She let him take it, her eyes going from his strong fingers to his friendly face. "Which is exactly why you deserve some time off and now is the perfect opportunity."

Kaitlyn smiled at him, her eyes flicking to Julia's carefully neutral face before coming back to rest on her cousin's gentle brown eyes. "I still can't just take off, Joel. I need to make sure there's enough people to cover for me."

"So do that," he replied. "Go in to work tomorrow, rework the schedule for the next two weeks and make sure you get a few days off together."

"I can't-" she started to say but Joel cut her off with a sharp hand gesture.

"You will, Kaitlyn. You need this, and not just because Alex is off as well. You work too hard and if you didn't have to sleep, you wouldn't."

"That's not true," Kaitlyn mumbled, feeling her cheeks flame. Was she that pathetic? Always concerned about work and only work?

"I love you, Kaitlyn," Joel said, his voice gentle. "You deserve a break."

"I agree," Julia added from her other side. "If it weren't for this monthly dinner, I'd never see you." When Kaitlyn opened her mouth to protest, Julia cut her off. "Don't deny it. I know how much it means to you to do a good job, so I never complain. But I do miss you sometimes, Kait."

Kaitlyn looked again at Joel and nodded, pulling her hand from under her cousin's. "I know you guys mean well, but if I was going to take a week off starting tomorrow, it wouldn't be for some guy."

Joel grinned. "Well, that's great. Alex is just a perk then."

Kaitlyn couldn't help but laugh. As the meal continued, and the conversation turned to Julia's work on her master's thesis, Kaitlyn let her mind wander. She mentally tallied the schedule for the next few weeks and chewed thoughtfully on a thumbnail. Even though it wasn't necessary, most of the time she had the schedule done weeks in advance. She figured that way she'd have more time for the rest of her work.

I suppose I could change a few things around, she thought, watching the candle flicker at the center of the table. Casey has been asking for some extra shifts and Tara came back from her holidays early.

There was also the fact that she wanted a break. Never mind the fact that she'd been defending her lifestyle a few minutes ago, she'd loved Joel's idea of spending more time with Alex. When would they get another opportunity like this? He was a hockey player, traveling all over two countries for most of the year. If they wanted to get to know each other, this two week break in the NHL schedule was the best time to do it.

She'd die before she ever admitted that to her two best friends.

"What do you guys say?" Joel's voice broke into her thoughts.

Kaitlyn looked up to see him holding the dessert menu.

"Shall we split the Chocolate Avalanche?"

***

Alex tried to keep himself from pacing but he was nervous. Kaitlyn was on her way over and then they were going out on their first real date. He'd never been so worked up over a simple date before. He considered the fact that he and Kaitlyn had already spent time together; although, she'd slept through most of it. The thought made him halt his pacing and he smiled to himself, recalling her soft weight in his arms as he'd carried her to bed each time. Suddenly, he didn't feel so nervous anymore.

Just then, the doorbell rang and he gave his appearance one more look before answering the door. His breath caught in his throat and he heard the sudden rushing of his blood in his ears. It was so loud, he almost missed her words of greeting.

"Good evening, Alex," she said with a wide smile. She was wearing dark jeans, so dark they almost looked like black dress slacks. Her jacket was snug around her torso, revealing her alluring feminine waist. Silver jewelry sparkled at her ears and throat and her eyes all but shone like emeralds from her porcelain face. Color touched her cheeks, chin and the end of her nose as a result of the cool air. It all added to her appearance, making her the most beautiful woman Alex had ever seen.

"Hi," he managed. You idiot, he thought. You can do better than that. "Come in. I was beginning to think you'd decided to cancel."

Kaitlyn glanced at her watch and blinked. "Are you kidding? I think I'm ten minutes early." She looked up as she stepped inside, her smile curving enticingly at the corners. "I was worried you'd think I was too eager."

"No such thing," he scoffed. "Hasn't anyone explained how a man's mind works?"

She lifted her dark eyebrows and shook her head. "No. Please, enlighten me."

"Well, I don't want to offend you," he hedged, thinking that this wasn't how he'd wanted to start the evening. She had a playful glint in her eye so he figured it might be all right. "Women require more... effort to impress."

At his words, Kaitlyn's eyes popped wide open and she laughed. "I can tell this is going to be good."

Grinning, and encouraged by her laughter, Alex continued. "They expect the man to wine and dine them, buy them flowers, talk to them, share their feelings, give them back rubs, and all that."

Kaitlyn nodded as he spoke, like she agreed that all those actions were appreciated.

"Men, on the other hand, don't need that much to impress them," Alex said. He watched Kaitlyn, all too aware that they were standing close together in his small entryway. "All the woman has to do is show up naked and bring beer."

She burst into laughter at his words and Alex soaked in the sound. He willed his body to behave. She thought he was funny; that didn't necessarily mean she'd strip naked and run her hands all over his body right away.

It's always fun to fantasize, he told himself, grinning at her.

"I've never thought of it that way before," she said. "I feel like I've just discovered a secret to the universe."

"It's hardly a secret," he replied with a dismissive hand wave. "Can I take your coat?" he asked, realizing then that she was still bundled up against the cold.

Glancing down at herself, Kaitlyn shrugged. "I thought we were going out?"

"Yeah, but our reservations aren't for another hour," Alex said. "I thought we could have a drink here first."

"All right," Kaitlyn agreed and unzipped her jacket. Alex took it from her hands and hung it in the closet as she pulled her boots off. As she straightened and faced him, he saw that she'd lost several inches after removing her footwear. She followed his glance to the black boots and flushed. "I like wearing heels."

"I like them, too," he replied and then laughed at his own words. "I mean, I like women who wear heels."

"Good thing you clarified," Kaitlyn replied and walked into his front room. "This is a nice house, Alex. It must be fairly new."

"It is," Alex replied and went on to tell her about having it built in the past year. He took her on a tour of the main level, telling her the story of shopping for all his furniture in one store, on one day. She laughed as they paused in the kitchen and she admired the decorating.

"I'm surprised you managed to put all these colors together," she said.

"I didn't. The homebuilder set me up with a designer and they helped."

Alex led her up the stairs to his little media room and then on to his bedroom. She gazed around, making comments and smiling broadly when she saw the enormous bathtub in his master bathroom.

"I'm so jealous!" she exclaimed, enviously running her fingertips over one edge of the three-sided tub. It was one of those gigantic tubs that a person could practically swim in. Alex wasn't even sure why he'd selected it, not being a bath guy himself. Watching Kaitlyn's reaction made him glad he had it.

"Well, if you ever show up with my favorite beer, I'll let you use it," he suggested in a low tone, bending close to her. He laughed when her face colored and she worked her mouth to try to speak.

"I had no idea you were such a womanizer, Alex," she said as they moved back downstairs to his kitchen.

"I'm not a womanizer," he protested with a chuckle, offering her a drink.

They sat at his kitchen island, making small talk as Kaitlyn's eyes wandered over the walls of the kitchen.

"You have a great house, Alex," she said.

"Thanks." He was pleased with her compliment and glad that he'd suggested she come to his place tonight instead of the other way around.

"You could use some more decorations," she said, flashing a smile at him.

Chuckling, Alex had to agree. His walls were bare except for a clock across from them, and a framed picture of the Flames '08-'09 lineup that was upstairs in his media room.

"What are you doing tomorrow?" she asked, sipping her drink.

"Practice in the morning and then nothing for the rest of the day. Why?"

"I think we should hit a few stores and find you something to cover the walls," she said, glancing around again.

"You'd want to do that?"

"Sure." She shrugged and downed the last of her drink. "Who doesn't enjoy spending someone else's money?"

He chuckled and finished his drink as well. "Don't you have to work?"

He was surprised when her cheeks colored and she looked away. "No. I'm off for a few days, actually."

"You didn't mention that you were taking a holiday."

"It was sort of... unplanned. I have to go in tomorrow morning just to check a few things but then I'm off until next Friday."

"Wow. More than a week off." He grinned. "That's great."

"Yeah," she agreed, her tone hesitant.

"What?"

She shrugged and fidgeted on her seat. "I just... I haven't had this much time off in... I don't even remember how long."

He nodded in understanding. A two week break in the middle of the hockey season was rare. At first, he hadn't been sure how he'd fill his time. Then he'd met Kaitlyn and it now felt as if all the pieces were falling into place. With her off work as well, they had seemingly endless days to spend together.

***

Kaitlyn told herself not to rush as she parked her car in Alex's driveway and walked to his front door. Their dinner last night had been great. She'd had so much fun talking and laughing with him. Then he'd pinned her against his front door, kissing her senseless for what felt like an eternity. When he'd released her, her knees were wobbly and her underwear was damp.

I'm not going to be able to hold out forever, she thought with a grin as she pushed his doorbell. The thought of surrendering to his kisses, of dissolving into the desire she felt around him, made her feel hot all over.

"Hey!" he greeted her warmly a second later, bringing her out of her passion-soaked haze.

"Hi. Are you ready to go?" she asked, stepping just inside his doorway.

He nodded and reached for his jacket. They were going shopping for artwork today.

"I'll drive," he said, grabbing his keys.

She rolled her eyes. "What a very male thing to say," she mocked and laughed when he chased her out of the house.

"Where are we going first?" Alex asked as he backed out of his driveway.

Kaitlyn suggested a few places and sat back as he directed the car towards the nearest mall to start. They chatted casually, Alex telling her about his practice that morning and Kaitlyn explaining what she'd done at the store.

"It feels like I'm abandoning my child in daycare for the first time," she confessed, smiling ruefully at Alex. She'd been very careful with her schedule on Tuesday morning after her dinner with Joel and Julia. Other than making sure the assistant managers and shift supervisors were up to date on everything, she hadn't needed to be there that morning. It had been a personal thing, to make herself feel more comfortable about not working for several days. She wasn't sure if she'd be able to keep herself from dropping by in another few days as well.

"It'll get easier," Alex assured her with a smile, reaching over to lay his hand on her thigh.

She suppressed a shiver at the contact, laying her hand overtop of his. When she felt him try to pull his hand away, she held on, keeping his hand where it was. She saw him glance at her but she kept her face forward, smiling as the warmth from his hand seeped through her pants.

Definitely not going to be able to hold off much longer, she thought.

They'd only known each other a short while but Alex ignited her body in a way she'd never felt before. It was foolish to jump into anything so quickly and she'd been holding off for that very reason. She wasn't the type of girl to date around, she never had been, and she liked Alex. She wanted to be sure they knew each other before taking that next step. Now, she didn't know if it was the time they'd spent together already, or her giddy sense of freedom at having nine days off that made her want to climb inside his clothes.

"What's going on in there?" Alex's deep voice broke through her thoughts and she turned her head to see him smiling at her.

"What?"

"I can practically see you thinking," he said and chuckled, the sound going straight through her. He squeezed his fingers on her thigh, sliding his hand infinitesimally higher. Kaitlyn let him, liking how his touch felt.

"I was just trying to think of what would look good on your walls," Kaitlyn lied and smiled at him. "You're going to want movie posters or something, aren't you."

He laughed and shook his head, facing forward as the light before them turned green. In another few minutes they were parked and walking into the mall. Kaitlyn smiled and gladly let Alex take her hand as they walked inside. She felt like she'd won the lottery and all they were doing was holding hands, like any normal couple in the city.




The Ice-Breaker Ch. 02



Normal couple, she repeated to herself and bit her bottom lip, sneaking a glance at Alex. Are we a couple? She liked to think so and since Alex had been calling her every day since they'd run into each other in Joel's lounge, she thought he'd agree.

They hit the big department stores first, Alex giving careful consideration to every piece Kaitlyn suggested. He didn't want too much, afraid of making his place look cluttered. She agreed, more of a minimalist person herself. As they worked their way from store to store, Alex ended up selecting just one or two pieces for each room. They left the mall behind and Kaitlyn laughed all the way back to his house over the fact that he'd refused to try another stop.

"I've got all I need," he told her firmly.

Back at his house, Alex offered her something to drink and she gratefully accepted. She'd eaten lunch around eleven that morning and was starting to feel hungry.

"Do you want to go out for dinner?" she asked and drank almost half the bottle of water in one long sip.

Alex smiled at her and downed some of his own water. "I didn't think you had this kind of energy."

Laughing, Kaitlyn nodded in agreement. "Must be the vacation. Why? Are you too tired to go out now?"

He shrugged and Kaitlyn moved past him to open the fridge. "Why don't we see what we can make here," she suggested and laughed when she saw the nearly empty interior of his fridge. "Wow. Nothing but beer and condiments. How do you even survive?"

"I order in a lot," he told her, a sheepish smile on his face.

Kaitlyn looked over at him and grinned. "Well, I guess we can do that. But tomorrow, we're going to the grocery store."

"When did you get so bossy?"

"I've always been bossy," she replied, which was the truth. "I just know you well enough now that I'm showing my true colors." Pausing, she shut the fridge door and gave him a shy smile. "Do you still like me?"

Instead of answering out loud, Alex set his bottle of water down and stepped close to her, crowding her against the front of his fridge. She sucked in a breath as she looked up at him, watching his eyes darken just before he bent low to kiss her.

As always, his kiss swept away all rational thought. She held onto his arms, loving the feeling of his muscles bunching and relaxing beneath her touch. He parted her lips deftly with his tongue and swept inside, turning Kaitlyn's knees to jelly. The arm around her waist kept her on her feet and it was all Kaitlyn could do to remind herself to keep breathing. She met his tongue with a tentative stroke and, when she felt his arm squeeze her, she did it again.

He broke away from her lips and pressed his forehead to hers, breathing hard. Before she could draw enough breath to speak, he was kissing her again, moving so that he had her pinned more firmly against his fridge. She felt the hard muscled length of his thighs pressing into hers and raised herself to her toes when his arms lifted her. Helpless in his grasp, she slid her hands to his shoulders and weakly circled their broad width.

This time, his kiss was ruthless, stealing her breath clean away and making her body sing in response. He twisted his mouth over hers, tasting and teasing her. She felt his fingers open against her back and then he was pushing his hand beneath her shirt. When his fingers brushed her bare skin, she jerked against him and gave a tiny moan when she felt the rigid length of him pressing into her abdomen.

With a strangled sound of his own, Alex tore his mouth from hers and stared at her. His expression must have been a mirror of her own bewilderment. Neither of them spoke for a moment. Alex kept his hand splayed across the slope of her lower back and she held onto his shoulders, still shocked by the throbbing muscle against her stomach.

As though realizing his physical state, Alex flushed and took a deliberate step back. He lowered his hands to her hips and swallowed hard, the muscles in his jaw flexing as Kaitlyn looked up. She straightened in front of him, dropping one hand to pull the bottom of her shirt down self-consciously.

"Are you..." Alex began but stopped, his voice hoarse. He cleared his throat and tried again, smiling at her. "Are you hungry?"

God, yes, she answered silently, licking her lips and recalling just how he'd tasted to her. "Sure," she said out loud.

Chuckling, Alex dropped a kiss on the corner of her mouth, careful to keep some space between them. Then he turned and opened a drawer beside the fridge. He listed the places nearby that delivered and let Kaitlyn decide. She chose pizza and they decided on a large pepperoni and mushroom.

While they waited for the pizza to be delivered, Kaitlyn followed Alex around his house as he hung his new pictures. He used her to make sure everything looked straight and then they did one more walk-through once everything was done.

"It looks great," she told him, touching his arm as he scrutinized the picture he'd hung in the kitchen.

He smiled and nodded. "Thanks for all your help."

"Of course. Men need a woman's perspective for this sort of thing."

He chuckled and bent to kiss her just as the doorbell rang. After digging into the pizza, they decided to watch a movie upstairs. He had one couch upstairs but Kaitlyn was more than happy to settle back against him as the movie started. She told herself she wasn't going to fall asleep this time.

However, her body seemed to have a mind of its own and she felt her eyes growing heavy as comfortable warmth settled over her. Alex was cradling her against his chest and the steady thump of his heart under her head was hypnotic. He eased his palm up and down her bare arm and the room was very dim, the only light coming from the television in front of them.

When Kaitlyn's head lolled to one side, she jerked back to full awareness. She sat up straight and looked down at Alex, who gave her a curious smile.

"Sorry," she mumbled and touched her cheek, still warm from his body. "I was falling asleep."

He chuckled and sat up beside her. "I know." He eyed her and gave her a playful wink. "I should be insulted."

Laughing, she shook her head and laid her hand against his chest. She leaned close, smiling as she watched his eyes darken. "Don't be. I can't seem to help myself around you. You make me feel so relaxed."

Alex grasped her hand and drew it up to his lips, pressing a warm kiss to the underside of her wrist. She followed the movement with her eyes, shivering when she met his hot gaze. Sitting back, she pulled her hand away and smiled at his pout.

"I need to use the restroom," she said. "Do I have to go back downstairs?"

"No, go ahead and use the one in my room," he told her, waving a hand in that direction.

She thanked him and walked away, grateful for any excuse to put some distance between them. She may be hot, and more than ready for him to jump her, but it was disorienting being so close to him. As she shut the bathroom door, she looked over at the big tub and smiled. She chewed her lip, considering and then decided she didn't have anything to lose.

Walking back out to the other room, she stood shyly in the doorway and smiled at Alex as he flipped through his movie selection. "Hey, Alex?"

He looked over and grinned when he met her eyes. Straightening to his full height, he turned and walked towards her. "What's up?"

"This may sound like a strange request," she said, looking down. "But I just have to ask."

"Go ahead and ask me anything," he encouraged, coming closer. To her, his voice sounded husky and she had to fight the urge to laugh out loud.

"Can I use your bath?"

He drew back and gaped at her. "My... bath?"

"I told you it was strange. It's just, you have such an amazing bathtub and I've always been a bath person but my apartment has the shallowest, crappiest tub you can imagine."

Alex stared down at her, a muscle working in his jaw. Kaitlyn kept her face serious, kept herself from giggling like a ninny. "You want to have a bath." He paused and she nodded. "In my bathtub."

"Can I? I promise to make it up to you."

He barked out a laugh and turned away from her, running his hands through his hair. "Christ almighty, gorgeous," he groaned.

Kaitlyn had to cover her mouth to contain her mirth. His reaction was stronger than she'd expected but it was still going according to her plan. "Please, Alex?" She resisted the urge to take his hand, knowing that if she touched him, her sexy plan would go down the drain.

"All right," he grumbled, giving her a lopsided smile. "I'm going to go downstairs while you do. Just... just let me know when you're done." Without another word, he walked away.

Letting a little giggle escape at last, Kaitlyn watched him go before darting back into his bedroom.

She shut the door and turned the water on over the tub. She watched it filling for a minute before looking around. Running her hands over the towels, she bit her lip, anticipation making her feel weak. First, she began to undress, carefully folding her clothes and placing them in a neat pile on the counter. She swept her medium-length hair into a ponytail high on her head, leaving several short strands sticking out around the nape of her neck. Last, she grabbed a towel off the rack and bent to check the water in the tub.

The drawback to these gigantic tubs was how long it took them to fill up. It left Kaitlyn with far too much time to second-guess herself. She perched on the edge of the tub and dipped her feet into the water that filled the bottom half. Her thoughts wandered until the water reached her calves then she turned her mind to how she wanted to arrange herself.

God, Kaitlyn, you're being ridiculous! she told herself, stifling another semi-hysterical laugh.

Her mind was racing and her heart was pounding furiously. When she held a hand up before her eyes, she saw her fingers trembling. All over, from head to foot, she was vibrating. She hadn't been so worked up since she'd gone through puberty. Oh, she'd had lovers as an adult, a couple good ones, a couple not-so-good ones, but Alex felt different. She didn't know what it was about him but she liked it. In spite of her frazzled nerves, she liked what he did to her.

As the water at last neared the top of the tub, Kaitlyn turned the taps off and drew in several fortifying breaths of the steamy air. Then she stood up and crept to the door, holding the towel closed at her chest. She opened the door a crack and peered out, then leaned her head around the side, listening. She thought she could hear him moving downstairs.

"Alex?" she called. Clearing her throat, she tried again, louder. "Alex?"

***

Alex paced around his kitchen aimlessly. He wasn't even aware he was doing it, focused instead on keeping his thoughts innocent. Not that it did any good; all he could think about was Kaitlyn naked, reclining naked in his big bathtub, naked as the steamy water softened her skin and made her... wet.

God help me, he thought, dragging his hands through his hair for the tenth time since she'd asked to use his bath.

He should have refused her. So far, they'd always been honest with each other, if somewhat more than playful at times. She would have blushed and maybe made some joke back at him. Then they would have sat back down on the couch and Alex would have held her close, not caring if she fell asleep or not.

He'd take that over this God-awful torture any day.

Then, as if it couldn't get any worse, he could hear her voice crying his name. Groaning, he sagged against his kitchen island and covered his face with his hands.

"Alex?"

There, he heard it again, and this time he knew he wasn't imagining things.

"Alex? Are you there?"

"Yeah?" he called back, already heading up the stairs.

"I think there's something wrong with the fixtures," she told him and he paused near his bedroom door, not wanting to just burst in.

"Oh. OK, I'll come have a look." He tapped on his bedroom door before entering. "Are you decent?" Please, please have some clothes on, he begged silently, not sure if he'd be able to stop himself from having his way with her if he found her naked. 

Her soft laughter reached his ears and he pressed a closed fist to his eye. "I'm in the bathroom," she replied.

OK, not exactly a confirmation of her state of dress but he didn't think she'd let him parade in if she wasn't. He walked into his room and felt the brush of steam against his skin as it leaked from the barely open bathroom door. He walked over, tapped again on the door - to be polite - before pushing it wide open.

He stopped short just inside the doorway, his body frozen in place as his eyes took in the sight before him.

She must have had the water on full hot as she filled the tub, because steam had already misted the mirror over. He saw the steam first, curling over the edge of the tub and over her knees - her bare knees. Gradually, he took in the rest of her, bare thighs resting on the porcelain edge of the tub and bare arms holding one of his towels around her body. She held the corners of the towel in front of her and looked over her right shoulder as Alex entered the bathroom. The towel dipped down in the back, revealing the full expanse of her creamy skin from shoulder to waist.

Alex sucked in a breath and blinked, almost afraid the vision would disappear. His eyes met hers and she grinned, a glow in her eyes that had him hardening instantly.

"You... said... you... what's the problem?" he stammered, trying hard not to move.

Kaitlyn bit her lip and lowered her lashes. Alex took a step closer before he even knew he was doing it. "The problem is that I was in here alone," she murmured.

Again, all Alex could do was stare. She'd caught him completely off-guard and he wasn't even sure he could recite his own name if asked at that moment.

Then her words sank through the fog of his desire and a slow smile spread across his face. He watched her eyes pop open wide and then she smiled back. As he continued to stare at her, she lifted one hand and crooked a finger at him, beckoning him closer. 

"Can't have that," he muttered and closed the distance between them with two long strides. He lifted her into his arms, choking back a groan when the towel slipped from her grasp. She laughed and didn't struggle against him as he covered her mouth with his. He carried her blindly out to his bed, glad when he didn't run into the wall.

As he laid her down on the bed - she was wonderfully naked - he knelt beside her, drinking in the sight of her.

"You're just going to waste a good bath?" she asked, propping herself up on her elbows.

He nodded mutely, incapable of speaking. He'd always known she was gorgeous, it's why he called her by that endearment, reminding her every time. Here and now, naked, pink from her knees down from the hot water, she was more than gorgeous. She was breathtaking. Apparently his avid scrutiny was making her uncomfortable because she drew her knees up together and rolled to one side, hiding her face against a pillow.

Oh no. She wasn't going to get away that easily.

Alex stretched out beside her, forgetting that he was still fully clothed. He pulled her into his arms and sighed when she went willingly into his embrace.

"You're beautiful," he murmured, brushing delicate kisses over her forehead and down her cheek. He cupped her jaw in his hand and kissed her on the mouth, parting her lips with his tongue and sweeping inside. She moaned, her fingers fisting in his shirt and her body arching back over his arm. He groaned into her mouth to feel her breasts pressing against him.

Wrenching himself away from her, he raked her naked form with his eyes before meeting her foggy gaze again. "I don't want to rush you, gorgeous," he murmured, still so close that their breath mingled.

"I know," she whispered and smiled, her fingers playing with the collar of his shirt.

"I want you so badly," he added and kissed her again, losing himself in her warm, soft mouth. She lapped at his tongue with hers, teasing and tracing his lips until he again broke the kiss with a sharp breath.

"Take your shirt off," she demanded breathlessly, and he complied with a grin.

Leaning away from her, he went on to pull his jeans open, shoving them, and his underwear, over his legs. She reached for him, hauling her body over his before he'd pushed his pants all the way off. He laughed and caught her close to his chest, happily kissing her back when she sought his lips with hers.

He held the back of her head, tangling his hand through her hair. He yanked the hair elastic free and smiled apologetically when she yanked her mouth away with a startled sound.

"You could have asked," she muttered.

Chuckling, Alex pulled her head down and kissed her temple. "I'm sorry," he whispered and slid his lips across her cheek to kiss the corner of her mouth. "I'll make it up to you."

"Mmm," she murmured and opened under his seeking tongue.

He kicked his legs, jostling them both as he removed his jeans altogether. Free at last, he rolled, pinning her under him. She stared up at him, her face flushed, her eyes so darkly green in the light pouring from the bathroom. Looking away from his face, her eyes flittered down his throat, over his shoulders to his chest. There, she placed her palms flat and slid them out.

He watched her hands move over his body, holding himself off of her and giving her room to touch him. Her touch was soft, taunting, and it raised the hairs on his arms. She slipped her hands around his ribs to his back and then down until she was lightly scraping her nails across the top of his ass.

"Oh Christ," he moaned and kissed her, pressing in fiercely and swallowing her sound of surprise as he claimed her.

Drawing her bottom lip between his teeth, he nibbled and then licked the same spot. She gasped, her mouth falling open as he did it. Grinning wickedly, he thrust his tongue inside as he slipped his hand down her side, digging his fingers possessively into her hip. She jerked against him and wrapped her arms around his waist, pulling him close. The move caught him by surprise and he fell on top of her with a gasping laugh. Their lips parted and Kaitlyn met his cloudy gaze with an impish smile.

"When did you get so demanding?" he asked breathlessly, brushing a kiss on her lips before moving lower.

As he sucked on her throat, she sighed and tipped her head back, letting him have more room. "I told you before," she murmured. "I've always been bossy."

He nipped the skin where her neck curved into her collarbone and she gasped, her arms squeezing as tight as she could. Lifting his head, he put a hand against her cheek and met her eyes. "I think I like it when you're bossy," he told her.

She laughed and shook her head. "Liar."

"I'm not," he insisted and kissed her to punctuate his remark.

"All right," she breathed when he released her. "Then kiss my neck again."

He obliged, dropping his head as he stroked her jaw with his thumb. Using his hand, he tilted her head back and lapped at her warm skin, savoring her sweet scent. She shuddered as he traced swirling patterns over her skin with his tongue. At first he just used the tip of his tongue, teasing her with gentle strokes. Then, when she squirmed beneath him, he pressed his tongue flat and started to suck at the pulse point just under her chin.

Lifting his head, he smiled at her. "How's that?" he asked smugly, seeing the color high in her cheeks.

"Good," she replied, her voice hoarse.

"Now what?" he asked, his hand tracing similar patterns on her naked hip.

"Now what, what?"

Laughing, he squeezed her waist and rested on one elbow just to her side, easing some of his weight off of her. "Now what do you want me to do?"




The Ice-Breaker Ch. 03



Kaitlyn skimmed a hand over the steaming bath water before relaxing her head against the edge, expelling a deep sigh. It had been an amazing, mind-blowing three days since she'd last worked. All spent with Alex, mostly in his bed. They hadn't been together the entire time; even now he was at a midday practice at the Saddledome, which was why she was indulging in her second middle-of-the-day-bath in seven days.

Has it only been that long? she wondered, her eyes sliding shut. Her time with Alex felt surreal, like a dream. She hadn't even spoken to or seen Joel in four days, not since they'd had dinner with Julia.

A smile touched her lips and she opened her eyes. Joel must think she'd died or something. They typically talked every other day, mainly because she went to his lounge after work. Since she hadn't been working, or even home at night, she'd been neglecting Joel something awful. A groan slipped out of her mouth as she thought about the multitude of messages she would have on her cell and home phones. She'd been ignoring her cell phone altogether, keeping it turned off the entire time she'd been with Alex.

With a sigh, she got out of the tub and wrapped a towel around herself. A glance at the clock told her Alex would be back within the hour and she wanted to be dressed before he came home. If she wasn't, she'd never get out of his house.

Not that that's a bad thing, she thought and a shiver chased up her spine at the memories.

Shaking the thoughts from her head, she got dressed and walked downstairs. She had gone home the day after their first night together, wanting fresh clothes and some other necessities. After that, Alex hadn't let her leave. He'd all but held her captive; willing captive though she was.

Kaitlyn started to hum as she let her mind wander. She made herself a cup of tea and sat on one of his couches in the living room, making herself comfortable. Glad that she'd brought herself a book, she cracked the cover and began to read.

Ah, this is much better than navigating that stupid game, she thought, another smile touching her lips. The video game was only fun when Alex was there to 'help' her. Shaking her head, she re-read the first line on the page and continued reading from there. It didn't take long before she realized she'd read the same page twice. Sighing, she closed the book and held her steaming mug of tea with both hands. Her gaze wandered over the big front window and the quiet street beyond.

It should feel strange to be in his house alone, she thought. It didn't, for whatever reason. Every morning, Alex had left her there for a few hours while he went to practice. Then he'd come home, they'd talked and laughed and made love for hours afterward. A blush crossed Kaitlyn's cheeks at the memories. She hadn't been so turned on by a man in years. It was wonderfully refreshing and more than a little unnerving.

The more her mind wandered, the more she wondered what it would be like when they both went back to work. Alex would be back to traveling every few days, sometimes for a week at a time or more, and she'd be back to a full week at the book store. Granted, with her extra employees, she wouldn't be putting in anymore sixty hour weeks, but it would still be different for them.

Can this work outside this house? she wondered, chewing on her bottom lip. They hadn't even ventured out together since that day at the mall, except to go to the grocery store as she'd threatened. Are we even dating? Or is this the start of a friendship with benefits?

No, she shook her head firmly and sipped her tea. We're more than friends.

They talked about everything under the sun and were comfortable being silent together. In the mornings before he'd gone to practice, they'd shared breakfast and he'd read the newspaper while she did the crossword, all without any awkwardness or need to fill the silence with small talk.

Kaitlyn groaned and covered her eyes with one hand. She had no idea what to think about what was happening between her and Alex. She wondered if they should maybe have a talk before either of them went back to work.

Oh, that's a great idea, Kait, she thought as she rolled her eyes. Scare him off with 'the talk' before you've even known each other two weeks.

Still, however awkward it might be, she knew they needed to figure it out. For some reason, it didn't scare her as badly as she thought it would. Maybe in the back of her mind, she already knew they'd figure it out.

Or she just hoped badly enough that they would.

***

"Perdy, dude, what happened to your back?"

Alex turned and looked over at his teammate, Eric, gaping at the back of his shoulders. Grimacing, Alex faced forward again, reaching for his towel to mop the water dripping from his wet hair. They'd all finished practice a short while ago and a few guys were still in the locker room, changing after their showers. Alex knew, without looking, exactly what Eric was referring to. Some small part of him had hoped his scratch marks from Kaitlyn would have healed by now but another part of him, the very male, Y-chromosome infused part of him, was glad for the marks.

"Oh shit," Brian spoke up, peering around Eric to check out Alex's back. Then his face split into a grin and he barked out a laugh. "How much time have you been spending with your lady, Perdy?"

Alex grinned and rubbed his hair dry, not caring if it looked haphazard when he set the towel down again. "Not nearly enough time," he answered.

"That's from your woman?" Eric asked incredulously. "It looks like you wrestled with a cat."

Alex's smile turned sly and he winked at Eric. "That's one way of putting it."

Eric met his eyes and howled with laughter. Brian laughed along with him, both of them drawing the attention of the other guys in the room. A few guys looked over and whistled at Alex's scratched back.

"She's an animal!" someone called.

Alex just shook his head. Kaitlyn wasn't an animal. She was a warm, sensual and passionate lover, who just happened to scratch his back terribly when she came. The memory brought a secret smile to his lips that had the guys teasing him relentlessly for the next several minutes.

"Does she purr like a cat too?" Eric asked with a smirk.

Alex scoffed. She purred, growled and screamed like a woman, because she was a woman.

"Is this why you haven't come out with us this week?" Brian asked. They'd all been going for lunch or evening drinks since the start of the Olympics. They'd been watching the events at the bars and restaurants, spending downtime together and cheering on their respective countries at the games. Alex had declined every time, much more eager to get home to the beautiful woman he knew he had waiting for him.

"Yup," he said to Brian. "And I don't feel bad about it, at all."

Brian snorted. "I wouldn't either."

Alex raised an eyebrow at him and smirked. "Aren't you married?"

"Am I? I just thought that was my housekeeper at home."

Alex laughed and Eric shook his head at Brian's words. "Brave man, talking like that without your wife around to hear it."

Brian shrugged, looking utterly unrepentant. They all knew he was devoted to his wife, he just had a wicked side they all knew too well.

"Just don't let your lady injure you," Eric said, eyeing the red stripes on Alex's shoulder and lower back. "Maybe get her to put some disinfectant on you."

"Yeah, Coach'd have your ass if you got sick when we head back to our regular schedule," Brian added with a laugh.

Alex nodded and pulled a shirt over his head. He wasn't worried about getting sick. If anything, his time with Kaitlyn was energizing. Coach and the other players had commented on it in the past several days. His work on the ice was improving with each practice and his speed and accuracy had improved by leaps and bounds. The real concern would be if he could keep it up while away from her when he left the city for away games.

It wasn't the first time the thought had crossed his mind. This time with Kaitlyn was great, but not exactly how an average relationship would progress. At least, he didn't think it was. Him being off in the middle of February was definitely a one time deal, and he knew Kaitlyn well enough by now to know that this holiday of hers was rare. Once the week was over, and the NHL got back into the swing of things, they'd be lucky to see each other every three days.

He wasn't afraid that they'd lose touch. They'd bonded in the past few days and he wasn't just thinking of their physical compatibility; it did bring a smile to his lips every time he pictured her face, flushed with passion and her eyes hazy with lust. He talked to her more than he'd ever talked to any of his friends. They talked about everything; family, work, stories of their youth, what they wanted to do with their lives.

Time wasn't a factor when he thought of Kaitlyn. He shouldn't feel so attached to her after such a short time. He should be nervous about her spending time alone in his house but he didn't. He trusted her and couldn't wait to get back to her every day. Maybe their time together this past week was unusual and maybe they'd never have a chance like this again. Either way, he felt lucky that they'd been able to do it and maybe, just maybe, it would be enough of a foundation to make it last.

With that thought rolling over and over in his mind, he finished getting dressed and hurried from the Saddledome.

***

Kaitlyn jumped when the front door opened and Alex walked in. She turned her head from her mindless stare at the dark fireplace and smiled when she saw him enter. "Hey," she greeted him, shifting and setting her half-empty mug down on the table.

"Hello, gorgeous," he replied as he hung up his coat and kicked his boots off.

As always, his deep voice greeting her made her insides warm. He hurried towards her, dropping onto the couch and hauling her into his lap. She sighed and went willingly, melting against his broad chest when he bent his head to kiss her. The brush of his lips was soft and swift against hers, then he moved on to kiss the fading mark he'd left on her neck. She shivered as he kissed her, his warm tongue sliding over the sensitive spot before he drew back.

"Hi," he murmured, close to her lips.

Grinning, Kaitlyn looped her arms around his shoulders and pulled herself closer. His hands grasped her waist and helped, until they were pressed together from hip to chest.

"I was just about to leave," she said, stifling a laugh at his immediate pout.

"Good thing I took the shortcut home then," he replied, running his fingers through her hair. "Can't have you escaping."

Kaitlyn laughed out loud and shook her head. Alex smiled and brushed her hair over her shoulders, leaning forward to kiss her again. Kaitlyn let him, enjoying the way he lazily explored the inside of her mouth. When he released her, she sat back with a sigh.

"That's not fair," she mumbled.

He chuckled deeply and she shivered when the sound vibrated through her body. "I think it's too fair." He cupped her cheek in his hand and smiled. "You were going to leave?"

She giggled and turned her head to kiss his palm. "Not forever, Alex. I should get home and check my messages, water my plants, do some laundry..." she trailed off when she saw his pout reappear. "Don't give me that look," she scolded in a light-hearted tone and nipped the end of one of his fingers. "It's not like I'm going to another city."

"I don't want you to go," he said, his voice devoid of his usual playful tone.

Kaitlyn's heart melted a little bit more when she took in his expression. He did look forlorn at the idea of her going home, even for an afternoon.

"Why don't you come over to my place tonight?" she suggested. "I'll make dinner and you can even rent some gory, war-torn movie for us to watch."

He brightened a little at her words and she had to laugh. He'd been right days ago when he explained how men and women differ in their attempts to woo each other. Alex liked his beer, his manly movies and he definitely liked his woman naked.

Kaitlyn shuddered as the thought crossed her mind. She leaned against him again, purposefully bringing her breasts flush against his hard chest.

"What are you doing?" he asked, his voice dropping an octave.

"Alex," she murmured, tilting her head and nibbling at the strong line of his jaw. "Can I ask you something and will you promise not to make fun of me for being a girl?"

His answering chuckle made her bite back a moan. His hands slid up and down her back, making her tingle and she sighed a little bit when his hands found the bare flesh exposed at the bottom of her shirt. "I like the fact that you're a girl, gorgeous," he told her. "And if you keep this up, I'll promise you anything."

Kaitlyn smiled, fully aware of her substantial power over him. It was a heady feeling that she wasn't sure she'd ever get used to. She pulled her mind back to the question she had. "Am I your woman?" she asked, feeling her face warm at the words.

Alex's hands stilled on her back and she stopped kissing him, but she didn't sit up. Then Alex continued to stroke her, his palm warm on the bare skin beneath her shirt. "Do you want to be?" he asked.

"What an infuriating answer," she laughed and rested her head on his shoulder. She looked up as he turned his face down to her. "I wouldn't have asked if I didn't."

"Then I guess that's that," he replied with a grin. He touched her cheek, easing his fingertips over her features and across her lips. "You're my woman."

She smiled, inordinately pleased by his simple words. Lifting herself up, she planted a sloppy kiss on his cheek, making him laugh. Then she pushed herself off of him, standing beside the couch.

"What the hell?" he asked, looking confused as she walked away. "You ask me that and you're still going to leave?"

She laughed and nodded. He grumbled as he rose to his feet and followed her to the entryway. He watched as she pulled her coat and shoes on, a scowl on his handsome face and his big arms crossed over his chest. With a smirk, Kaitlyn stood on her toes to kiss him good-bye.

She should have known Alex wouldn't let her go without a struggle.

Before she knew it was happening, he crushed her in his arms. He pushed her back several steps until she felt the wall press against her shoulders. His mouth came down on hers, hard, and he ruthlessly shoved his tongue between her lips. She moaned into his mouth and jerked against him when his hands pushed beneath her jacket. As he stroked hot hands over her skin, she trembled, barely keeping up with his wicked tongue.

All too soon, he released her, parting their lips and taking a full step away from her in one move. She stared up at him, dazed by the kiss and by the dark look in his eyes.

"You sure you still want to go?" he asked.

Kaitlyn blinked and came back to herself. She fixed Alex with a weak glare and pushed his hands from her waist. "Jerk," she hissed but then reached up to kiss him to take the sting out of her word. "I'll see you tonight. Six o'clock sharp." With that, she opened the front door and walked out.

***

As she'd suspected, there were about a dozen messages on each of her phones when she checked them. One or two from Julia, wanting to know how her date with Alex had gone; the rest from Joel, demanding to know where the hell she was. Kaitlyn was clearing the messages on her cell phone when her home phone rang. Jumping, she glared at the caller ID and rolled her eyes when she saw Joel's familiar number.

"House of love, Aphrodite speaking," she said in a falsetto voice.

"Oh, so you are alive," Joel grumbled, not responding to her joke at all. "I was just wondering if I should call the police and tell them my cousin has been kidnapped by a Calgary Flame."

"Hmm... well, is it still considered kidnapping if she goes willingly?" Kaitlyn replied, closing her cell phone and tossing it on the couch beside her.

"No. I guess that's just abandonment."

"Abandonment?" Kaitlyn repeated with a laugh. "When did you get so dramatic?"

"Around the time my best friend dropped off the face of the earth."

"I didn't fall off the planet," Kaitlyn retorted, unable to keep from smiling. "I was just-"

"In a black hole? Also known as Alex's house?"

"Sure. Let's go with that."

"Kait! I can't believe you just disappeared for four days. I was starting to get worried."

Kaitlyn rolled her eyes and tucked her feet up under her body. "There was no need to worry, Joel. I'm an adult, for crying out loud. You're the one who told me to take a vacation."

"Not from me!"

"Oh, stop being such a needy friend."

"I'm family, Kait."

"You're also my best friend and I didn't think I'd need to remind you of that."

A pause. "So you've been with Alex this whole time?"

"Yes."

Another pause, then Joel huffed out an annoyed sound. "You still could have called."

Kaitlyn couldn't help but laugh at Joel's wounded tone. "For heaven's sake, Joel. What can I do to make it up to you?"

"A chocolate cake smothered in cream cheese icing?"

Wrinkling her nose, Kaitlyn knew she'd never hear the end of it if she didn't. She rarely had time to bake, even though it was one of her favorite hobbies. Joel's favorite was her scratch chocolate cake and homemade icing. It was easy enough to do, so she agreed and Joel announced that he was coming over today.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because I want to hear all about it, Kait. You're not going to get rid of me so you might as well just make enough dinner for me and Julia and accept it."

"You and Julia?" Kaitlyn repeated. "Dinner? I have plans tonight already."

"\Alex won't mind if we're there too, will he?" Joel correctly guessed her 'plans,' making Kaitlyn frown.

She didn't think Alex would mind, and knew enough of her cousin's stubborn streak to know he was serious. Exhaling in annoyance, Kaitlyn agreed.

"I'm at home now, just cleaning and doing laundry so you can come over whenever," she told him.

"Cool. I'll pick up Julia around three and then we'll be over."

"OK. See you then."

They ended the call and Kaitlyn glared at her phone. With a sigh, she tossed it on the couch beside her, getting up to see to her chores. She started with laundry and while that was going, she cleaned the kitchen and bathroom. Lastly, she showered and changed, and then got to work on the cake.

As promised, Joel and Julia showed up shortly after three and the three of them sat around her living room with drinks as Kaitlyn confessed about her time with Alex.

"I'm not going to tell you everything," she warned, unable to hide the blush that stained her cheeks.

Julia giggled at her expression and Joel rolled his eyes before making a gagging motion with his finger.

"We don't want all the gory details," Joel assured her. "I just can't believe you took time off work. You never take my suggestions."

Kaitlyn shrugged. "You were right. I was ready for a vacation and it was just good timing for Alex."

"You didn't just take a holiday because you knew you could see Alex every day, did you?" Julia asked, leaning forward.

"Of course not," Kaitlyn replied. "It was just a perk!"

They all laughed at her repetition of Joel's words from their dinner together.

"You've been with him this whole time?" Julia asked.

"Mostly," Kaitlyn answered. "We went for dinner on Monday, then I helped him shop for some artwork for his house on Tuesday, and I ended up spending Tuesday night at his place." She blushed, memories of their first time swamping her mind.

"Would you have spent the night if you'd been working?" Joel asked.

"No," Kaitlyn said. Then she shrugged as she amended her answer, "maybe. He's very convincing." This she said with a secretive smile that had Joel gagging again and Julia laughing.




The Ice-Breaker Ch. 03



"You promised no details!" Joel exclaimed.

"Those weren't details!" Kaitlyn retorted with a laugh. "Details would be how he made his move, what we were wearing-"

"Stop! Stop!" Joel cried and fled from the room.

Kaitlyn looked over to see Julia almost rolling on the floor with merriment. Kaitlyn joined in her laughter and when Joel came back into the living room, he gave Kaitlyn a fierce scowl.

"No more sex talk," he ordered.

She relented and shared a few vague details about how she'd spent the next few days with Alex. Then they all chatted about their lives, Joel sharing how he'd been promoted to a shift supervisor at the lounge and Julia talked about a breakthrough on her thesis. Kaitlyn went into the kitchen after a little while to ice the chocolate cake, smacking Joel's knuckles with the spatula when he tried to get an early taste.

"Meanie," he grumbled and managed to scoop some icing onto his finger anyway.

Kaitlyn was prepping the salad for dinner when the buzzer to the apartment sounded. Glancing at the clock, she realized it must be Alex. She felt nervous, wondering if he'd be upset that her friends were there. She'd meant to call and warn him but had been caught up in her conversation with Joel and Julia.

Ah well, she thought as she walked to the intercom.Nothing to be done about it now.

A few minutes later, Alex's heavy knock sounded on the door and she answered it. He grinned at her, his eyes twinkling and she sucked in a breath. To her, he looked more handsome than ever. Maybe it was the fact that they'd been apart for several hours now. She didn't care and she didn't care that her two best friends were peeking down the hall as Alex pulled her into his arms.

She allowed him a brief kiss, stepping back deliberately and willing her heart rate to slow down. "I'm sorry," she murmured to him, smiling when his face fell.

"For what? Are you going to make me leave?" he asked, looking truly worried that she would kick him out.

She covered her laugh with one hand and shook her head. "No, but we're not alone tonight."

"Hey, Alex!" Joel's boisterous voice broke into their embrace and Alex jumped in surprise.

Laughing, Kaitlyn stepped out of his arms and walked back into the kitchen.

"I hope you don't mind. Me and Julia invited ourselves for dinner tonight," Joel said, coming forward to shake Alex's hand.

"No, I don't mind," Alex replied, throwing a look in Kaitlyn's direction.

She merely smiled and shrugged one shoulder in apology. Joel led Alex into the living room and introduced him to Julia. Kaitlyn followed in a few minutes, after making sure everything was on track for dinner.

"So Kaitlyn tells us you like to play hockey?" Julia joked as Alex sat down on the couch.

He laughed and nodded. "That's true," he agreed. "Not that Kaitlyn would know anything about it."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Kaitlyn replied and smacked his arm with one hand.

Grinning, he reached for her hand, clasping it in his and drawing her close. Under Julia and Joel's curious gazes, Kaitlyn flushed but didn't pull away. After a moment of silence, Joel cleared his throat and started asking about Alex's practices.

"I think we're doing all right," Alex said. "The practices are helping us all get organized again. The new guys are settling in well, I think."

"That's good," Joel replied. "You never know how trades will affect your roles."

Alex nodded. "They're great guys and we all get along. So far, it's been a smooth transition."

They all continued to chat and laugh together until Kaitlyn announced that dinner was ready. Since her little kitchen table wasn't big enough for all four of them, they carefully loaded their plates and sat around the living room.

"If anyone spills anything, I'll make you pay," she threatened, pointing a fork at her cousin.

"What? You think I'm going to make a mess?" Joel asked, looking insulted.

"There are very few things I'm sure of in this world, Joel, and you being tidy is not one of them."

"You wound me, cuz," he replied and scooped a sloppy forkful of rice into his mouth.

Shaking her head, Kaitlyn chose to ignore him. They ate their meals, talking occasionally between bites and Kaitlyn relaxed even more. Again there was this strange feeling that she should feel awkward, and just didn't. In spite of the short amount of time that they'd been dating, Kaitlyn didn't feel embarrassed. From the way Alex spoke to Joel and Julia, she didn't think he felt out of place either. All together, it gave her a wonderfully satisfied feeling and she couldn't stop the smile from curving her lips.

She caught a look Julia was giving her and her friend winked at her. Smothering her laughter, Kaitlyn looked away and kept eating. When everyone was done, Kaitlyn and Julia carried the dirty dishes into the kitchen and left the guys debating the merits of off-season training.

"He's seems real nice, Kait," Julia said in a low voice as they scraped the dishes clean and loaded the dishwasher.

Flushing but smiling, Kaitlyn nodded at her friend. "He's great."

"Well, I know you think so, but he's very friendly and didn't seem upset at all that we just sprang ourselves at him."

"Yeah, I meant to call and warn him but time just got away from me," Kaitlyn told her with a rueful smile. She straightened and wiped her hands on a towel.

"You were going to warn him? What, did you think we'd give him the third degree or something?"

Kaitlyn giggled and shook her head. "Not you." She crooked her finger at Julia and they tiptoed towards the open doorway. Both women peered around the corner to find Joel and Alex speaking in low tones. They could just make out their words and could easily see the stern look on Joel's face.

"She's amazing," Alex said, giving Kaitlyn a secret thrill.

"You don't have to tell me that," Joel replied dryly. "She's been my best friend since we could walk."

"I know. She talks about you a lot."

"All good, I hope."

"Mostly," Alex agreed and they both chuckled.

After another moment, Joel leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees as he fixed Alex with a firm look. "You know I think you're a good guy and a great hockey player but Kaitlyn's my family."

Alex said nothing but he nodded at Joel's words. Kaitlyn bit her lip. She felt her heart go out to the hockey player, growing a little bit wider with her growing affection for him.

"I don't want to see her get hurt," Joel went on.

"I don't want that either," Alex agreed, his voice flat and serious.

"I'd hate to have to stop watching the Flames because something happened between you two."

At this, Alex chuckled and he leaned forward, meeting Joel's hard gaze head on. "I won't let anything bad happen, Joel. Kaitlyn is..." he paused and shook his head. "She's... amazing. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make this work."

Joel seemed appeased by Alex's words and he sat back, a relaxed look coming back over his face. As their conversation again turned to hockey, Kaitlyn and Julia moved back into the kitchen. Kaitlyn didn't know what expression she had on her face but Julia covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes dancing.

"What?" Kaitlyn hissed.

"Kait, he's in love with you!" Julia whispered.

Kaitlyn laughed and whirled away from her friend. "Don't be ridiculous, Jules. We've only known each other for two weeks."

"It's not ridiculous," Julia insisted. She followed Kaitlyn as she pulled down small plates for the cake. "Don't you believe in love at first sight?"

Kaitlyn threw Julia a look over her should but her friend wouldn't stop grinning. "I can't believe you're even saying this, Jules. Aren't you the one with the ten point rating system for the guys you date?"

Julia laughed and waved a dismissive hand in Kaitlyn's direction. "That's me. I've always known I'd have to work through the losers before I find my soulmate."

"Soulmate?" Kaitlyn repeated and shook her head. "That's enough, Julia. I don't want to hear anymore from you."

Julia didn't let up. She continued to whisper to Kaitlyn, telling her that she could already picture Kaitlyn in a white dress and Alex in a handsome tuxedo. Their wedding song was going to be Amazed, by Lonestar, and they'd get married in July at the Wedding Pavilion in northwest Calgary. Kaitlyn stopped trying to cut the cake because she was shaking so badly with laughter. Eventually, Joel popped his head into the kitchen to see what the hold-up was.

"I want my cake!" he announced and marched forward to take the knife from Kaitlyn's hand. "Go check on your boyfriend, Kait. I think he's shellshocked from meeting us."

Still grinning from her ridiculous conversation with Julia, Kaitlyn hurried from the kitchen. She walked over to where Alex was resting his head against the back of the couch with his eyes closed. She studied him for a moment, taking in the strong line of his jaw and the darkness of his eyelashes against his cheek. As though he could feel her eyes on him, he opened his and grinned at her. When he lifted his hand towards her, she walked over and slipped her hand into his. He pulled her down and she couldn't do anything but sit in his lap.

"I've missed you," he murmured and brushed his lips over hers as he slid his fingers through her loose hair.

She shuddered at the caress and laid her hands on his broad shoulders. "We've been in the same room for hours," she replied with a smile.

"Yeah, but I haven't been able to touch you or kiss you."

"That's a problem, is it?" she asked playfully.

His mouth quirked at one corner and Kaitlyn stared into his twinkling eyes. Her stomach exploded with butterflies when she saw his pupils expanding to overtake the beautiful hazel irises. "It's a huge problem," he told her and cupped the back of her head in his hand. "I can't help but kiss you when we're together."

"Then you'd better do it now before we get caught," she whispered, already sliding closer.

Alex grinned wickedly before pulling her head down, claiming her mouth. She sighed a little and opened when she felt the moist touch of his tongue on her lips. He delved inside, sliding his tongue languidly around hers. He teased her, going deep, then backing off until he was barely touching her lips.

With a sound that was half-sigh, half-groan, Kaitlyn clutched at his neck and pressed their lips together. She wanted more. She'd thought he was joking when he'd said he'd missed her but she realized she'd missed him too. Even the brief physical distance between them since that morning made her want him more. So she slid her tongue into his mouth, tangled with his and dragged her nails through the hair at the back of his head. He made a sound in her mouth and his arms tightened around her waist, stealing her breath.

A nervous cough broke into their embrace and it Kaitlyn a few seconds to remember that they weren't alone in her apartment. Alex let his head fall back as she broke the kiss, and the look in his eyes told her he was equally as frustrated with the interruption as she was. Looking over her shoulder, she saw her friends each holding two plates of chocolate cake and uncomfortable looks on their faces.

"Sorry," Kaitlyn mumbled and made a move to get off of Alex's lap. His hands clamped down firmly on her hips and she looked back to see him giving her a meaningful look. That was when she felt the hard muscle beneath her thigh. Blushing, she twisted in his grasp so she was at least no longer straddling him. "I'm ready for cake," she muttered and held her hand out for a plate.

Laughing, Joel handed her a plate and Julia handed one to Alex, who thanked her. After a minute, the awkwardness in the room dissipated and conversation picked up from where it had left off. Eventually, Alex gave Kaitlyn a gentle nudge, letting her know that she could move. There was still intense heat radiating off of his body but no longer the insistent pulse under her bottom. As Joel and Julia discussed her latest workshop at university, Kaitlyn looked into Alex's eyes and he smiled. His fingers gave her waist a squeeze and she eased herself onto the couch next to him.

"I could sure go for some coffee," Joel announced when a lull entered the conversation.

"I could, too," Julia agreed. "Do you have decaf? I've got an early shift tomorrow and I don't want to be up all night."

Kaitlyn nodded and stood up. She took Alex's plate from him, smiling when he winked knowingly at her. Studiously ignoring the pointed look her cousin gave her, she took Joel's plate as well. This time, no one followed her to the kitchen and she was grateful for the quiet moment to collect her thoughts.

It wasn't so much that she was embarrassed about being caught kissing Alex. Maybe it was the fact that Julia had insisted they were meant to be together mere minutes before, or maybe it was the way Joel had given Alex the 'talk;' that talk that older male family members felt compelled to give potential boyfriends. Kaitlyn shook her head at the thought, a smile slipping over her face. She'd never wanted or needed an older brother, always having Joel around to pick up the slack.

Her thoughts turned to what Julia had said and she frowned. She didn't believe in love at first sight. Kaitlyn had always been the practical one. She'd been attracted to all kinds of men before in her life, dated a few, slept with even fewer and she'd never had that feeling of wanting to take it to the next level. Now here she was, wondering if she could imagine doing all those things with Alex. Her heart skipped a beat when she realized she could.

Christ almighty, she thought, staring at the coffee mug in her hand. Have I gone completely insane

"Kait?" Joel's voice broke into her thoughts. "Everything all right?"

She turned and nodded at his inquisitive look. Smiling, she said she'd be out with the coffee in a minute. Joel nodded, leaving her alone again.

Later, Joel said that he and Julia had invaded Alex and Kaitlyn's private time for long enough. Kaitlyn snorted and reminded him that he'd been the one to insist on the invasion in the first place.

"That just means I care," he told her as he stood up. Stepping close to her, he gave her a warm hug and kissed her on the forehead. "I'll call you tomorrow."

"I might answer," she replied and pushed him away with a smile.

Alex stood up and walked Joel and Julia out to the door with Kaitlyn. He wrapped an arm around Kaitlyn's waist and winked at her when she looked up. With an inward sigh, she relaxed against his side, smiling when his arm slid further around her. She'd be lucky if he didn't rip her clothes off the minute Joel and Julia closed the door.

"It was very nice to meet you, Alex," Julia said. "I can't wait to see you play now."

Alex's eyebrows went up as he shook her hand. "You didn't before?"

"Well, now I know you so when I watch the games, I can say, 'that's my friend's boyfriend!'"

They all laughed and Kaitlyn covered her face with one hand.

"It was great to talk to you again," Joel said, shaking Alex's hand as well. "I'm sure we'll all see each other again soon."

"I hope so," Alex replied and when Kaitlyn looked up at his face, she thought he truly meant it.

How did I get so lucky? she wondered, sliding her arm behind him and giving his backside a surreptitious pinch. She smothered a giggle when he jumped and shot her a wide-eyed look.

They waved good-bye to Joel and Julia and Kaitlyn locked the door after they were gone. She was about to turn and go into the kitchen to clean up, but Alex was having none of that. He swept her right off her feet and carried her into her bedroom.

"Alex," she gasped with laughter as he tossed her onto her double bed and climbed over top of her. "This bed is too small for you."

"It'll do just fine for what I have in mind, gorgeous," he replied and kissed her.

As always, his kiss scattered her thoughts and she kissed him back. She ran her hands over his shoulders and down his back as he explored her mouth. His tongue was hot and insistent and she felt the tremble in his arms as he held himself over her. It made her feel wonderfully powerful that she inspired such a reaction in him. He was such an amazing guy and she was perfectly average. It never got old when she felt his body rise to her touch, letting her know that at least one person found her attractive.

With that thought in her mind, Alex licked her lips before lifting his head to stare into her eyes. She saw how dark they were, the pupils making up almost the entire center and it made her shiver when his thick lashes dropped low over his eyes. His mouth curled up in the corners as he gave her a dark smile, filled with intention. He let his eyes travel over her face, down her neck and on to the neckline of her sweater. Lifting a hand, he ran a fingertip from the center of her collarbone down to the bottom of the sweater's V.

Kaitlyn felt her heart thudding rapidly inside her chest and swallowed anxiously as Alex pushed his entire hand into her shirt. She shuddered when he brushed his fingers over the swollen tips of her breasts.

"You aren't cold, are you?" he asked, his voice hoarse and his accent thick.

"N-no," she stammered and squeezed her eyes shut as he cupped her breast. She was still fully clothed and her temperature was rising with every passing second. It never failed to soar when Alex looked at her this way and touched her so possessively.

"Why are you shivering?" he asked, his grin turning positively wicked.

Kaitlyn shook her head, incapable of forming a coherent sentence. Alex chuckled darkly and pulled his hand from beneath her sweater. She groaned before she could stop the sound from escaping and blushed when Alex lifted his eyebrows at her.

"You're not going to get bossy on me again, are you?" he asked. His face was so close to hers that his warm breath caressed her cheek as he spoke. His deep voice rolled through her and she shuddered when moisture exploded between her thighs.

"You know I love it when you try to get bossy," he added and his voice was much thicker, deeper.

Kaitlyn couldn't speak. She could barely suck in a weak breath and stared at him as he continued to rake his gaze over her body. His eyes met hers again and something seemed to snap inside of him. In an instant, he was yanking at her clothes, shoving her shirt up over her chest. She twisted, lifting herself up to pull it over her head as he bent his head to kiss the swell of her breasts.

She shivered and reached behind her to undo the bra clasp. As she fumbled with that, Alex continued to kiss her and slide his hand to the button on her jeans. He yanked it open, jerking her hips toward him in the process. With a laugh, Kaitlyn tore her bra off and lay down as Alex hauled her pants and panties from her body. He looked her over for one tense second, her naked body exposed to him.

Just as Kaitlyn was about to reach for his shirt, Alex knelt between her legs and spread her thighs wide. Sucking in a sharp breath, Kaitlyn couldn't even fend him off as he stared at the most intimate part of her. She shouldn't feel so vulnerable; they'd had sex before, for hours on end, it seemed. He'd never done this; stripped her naked while he remained clothed and then stared at her as she all but dripped with desire for him.

She forced herself to look into his face as he studied her. His eyes were shadowed and the muscles in his jaw were tense. He swallowed once, his eyes flicking to her face before he bent down, bringing his mouth to her soft core.

Kaitlyn cried out at the contact of his mouth on her. She buried one hand in the pillow under her head and gripped the bed covers in the other. Alex licked her, his gentle fingers parting her folds and opening her further to his ministrations. With a moan, Kaitlyn shut her eyes and turned her face to press her cheek into the cool fabric of her pillowcase. She was utterly helpless as he explored her, dipping inside and retreating to stroke the tiny nub of nerve endings.




The Ice-Breaker Ch. 03



He wasn't stopping, wasn't giving her any chance to even draw a breath. Her eyes popped open when he sucked her into his mouth, sending her careening into an orgasm. For a moment, there was a roaring sound in her ears, her blood rushing fast through her veins and then she was crashing, moaning and crying out as he continued to taste her.

She felt him move after a minute - or an hour, she wasn't sure - and turned her head to see him pulling his shirt off over his head. She came back to herself in a rush and grinned when he rolled to his back to push his pants off. Before he could move, she pinned him down, kissing him. His arms came up as he continued to try to kick his pants off. Laughing, she pulled back and helped him, moving down the bed so she could grasp his jeans and boxers.

Now they were both naked and it was Kaitlyn's turn to peruse his hard body with her keen gaze. She touched his face, smiling so sweetly at her, and then slid her hands down the line of his jaw, scratchy with day old stubble. Then she moved on, splaying her fingers as wide as she could as she stroked his broad shoulders and down over his firm pecs. His muscles jumped under her touch and she grinned as she stroked lower, scraping her fingernails over the ridges of his abs.

"Kaitlyn," his voice sounded strained as she reached her final destination.

She ignored the plea in his voice, just as he had with her, and cupped him in her hand. He was hard, more than ready for her, she knew. She circled him with her fingers, glancing into his face in time to see him throw his head back. With a wicked giggle, she lowered her head and took him into her mouth.

"Christ, oh... Kaitlyn!" he growled, one hand lifting to tangle in her hair.

Still she stroked him, sliding her hand up and down as she teased him with her tongue. His fingers flexed against her head, never pulling and part of her realized that he didn't want to hurt her. As warm affection for him flooded her, she released him and crawled up his body to kiss his mouth.

She tried to keep the kiss gentle and slow, wanting to convey with taste and touch what she couldn't articulate out loud. Alex let her lead for a second, his touch on her waist loose and his mouth relaxed. Then she shifted, her thigh brushing against his hard-on and he tensed, that part inside of him that wanted her so badly snapping again.

His hands grasped her waist and lifted her over him as his mouth pressed harder. His tongue was insistent as he plunged inside her mouth, licking her. She moaned, sliding one hand up to bury in his hair. His head came off the pillow to take the kiss deeper and she sagged over him, his lips and tongue sapping her strength. His arms pulled her more insistently, hauling her over him until her thighs were on either side of his.

She felt all his hard length against her lower abdomen then, and she smiled against his lips. He broke the kiss to stare up at her and one of his hands slid between their bodies. He cupped her and she rose above him, arching at his touch.

"God, Kaitlyn," he moaned as she moved, rising and rocking against his hand. "You're... unbelievable."

She laughed breathlessly and braced herself on his chest, unaware that she was pressing her nails into his skin. Dimly she registered his hiss of discomfort but couldn't move her hands. It was all she could do to stay upright as he stroked her. Somehow, she managed to drag one hand down his torso and around his rigid length. His fingers froze against her and they both moaned in unison, identical sounds of desire and need filling the room.

"I need you, Alex," Kaitlyn said, her voice raspy.

He nodded weakly, his eyes focused on her. She lifted herself onto her knees and slid his cock between her lips. He gripped her waist and Kaitlyn could feel him trembling with the force of not pushing his body up and into hers. She smiled, her heart expanding a little bit more with the knowledge of the care he took with her. Even now, with his body ready and hard, he still held back, letting her lead.

So she did, easing herself down and taking every inch in a languorous move that had his fingers digging deep into her flesh. Dimly, Kaitlyn thought he might leave finger-sized bruises but it was very hard to care with him pulsing deep inside of her. No other man had ever filled her like this and ignited her from within. For a long moment, she didn't move, and neither did he. She just settled against him, her hands fluttering over his torso until they came to rest against his shoulders.

At her touch, a strangled sound escaped Alex and he pulled her hips down as he pushed up. The movement jarred her and she gasped out a breath, her eyes locking on his face. He wasn't smiling, his eyes were too dark to read and his forehead was wrinkled in a fierce scowl. Kaitlyn shuddered at his expression and again when he pulled out a little bit. Then he thrust in again and she sighed, arching like a bow over him.

One of Alex's hands left her waist, sliding up her side until his thumb caressed the underside of her breast. She lifted her hand and closed it over his, drawing his hand in until he was cupping the entire globe. Sighing in satisfaction, she rocked her hips and grinned wickedly at the sound it drew forth from Alex. His other hand went around her waist to press against the small of her back. His strength was too great to fight and she sagged over him, her chest brushing against his.

Moving his hand and lifting his head, he drew her erect nipple into his mouth, sucking hard. Kaitlyn moved her hips again, riding him and falling into a delicious rhythm as he met her movements with his own. She sank around him and rose to his touch, rocking up and down as his body moved with hers. His teeth grazed the sensitive flesh around her nipple and she whimpered, cupping the back of his head with her hand.

She wanted more of this, of what he was doing to her, even as they were in the midst of doing it. She wanted to always have him around, ready to take her, to claim her with love bites and dark bruises on her skin.

"Alex..." she hissed out his name as he released her nipple with an audible sucking noise.

At the sound of his name falling from her lips, he wrapped both his arms around her, twisting their bodies until she was tucked underneath him. In the space of a breath, she was blinking up at him instead of rocking over him. With a wild look in his eyes, he grasped her thighs and pulled her legs up. Groaning, Kaitlyn pushed her head back into her pillow and clutched his shoulders as he began to pump into her.

The angle took him so deep and he ground against her, making her see stars with each deep thrust. She was breathing hard, her fingers opening and closing on his shoulders until there was that single moment of stillness. Then she was sliding down the other side, coming apart as he thrust into her, making her come hard. She squeezed her eyes shut, moaning and making weak, inarticulate sounds. All the while, he kept moving, plunging himself deep into her.

"Alex!" she cried, her voice rough.

Grunting, Alex reared up over her, pushing deep and pushing hard as he came. He growled, something that sounded like her name, and pressed his face to the crook of her neck as he pumped into her a few more times. Eventually, he released her legs and she let them fall to the bed with a sigh.

Alex lifted his head and trailed kissed up the side of her neck until their lips met again. Kaitlyn opened to his questing tongue and smiled when he pulled away.

"You..." he started to speak and stopped, shaking his head feebly.

Giggling, Kaitlyn pulled him close, hugging his body to hers. She didn't mind the sweat that clung to their skin and between them, making their bodies stick together as they moved. "I know," she agreed.

She wasn't entirely sure what she was agreeing to. This was all so crazy. Her thoughts twisted and jumped between memories of their meeting - two weeks ago! - and her conversation with Julia. She cared deeply for Alex and knew he was at least very interested in her. That thought made her smile. It was an inadequate description of how he felt. She didn't need to ask to know that he was as amazed by what was happening between them as she was.

"I know," she murmured again and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

***

Alex watched Kaitlyn sleep. He watched her chest rise and fall with each breath and listened to the soft snore that left her lips. A smile crossed his face and he brushed an errant strand of hair from her forehead. She stirred a moment, rolling away and showing him the bare curve of her shoulder. His breath caught as the sheet slipped low, revealing more of her sloped back to him. Pushing the air from his lungs, he traced the dip of her spine with one finger before settling close behind her, his chest warming against her back.

It had been a crazy couple of weeks and every time he acknowledged the actual number of days that had passed since he'd met Kaitlyn, it didn't seem right. This closeness, the intimacy they shared was unlike anything he'd ever known and he told himself that it should feel odd to feel this way after only a few days. It just didn't feel weird. It felt right. Maybe that should scare him but it didn't.

"What have you done to me, gorgeous?" he murmured, and pressed a soft kiss to her shoulder.

She didn't stir. One thing he'd learned was how deeply she slept. It was unreal. No matter how he touched her, rocked her shoulder, poked her ticklish ribs, she rarely stirred. She woke when she woke and that was all there was to it. Just one more thing he loved about her.

Love... The word rolled through his mind and he blinked into the darkness surrounding them. Not yet, he thought and chewed on his bottom lip. Just about.

With a sigh, he settled against his woman and closed his eyes, deciding to revisit his worries about what would happen when their holiday ended. Was their chemistry together going to carry over to days and even weeks of separation when his hockey season continued? Would she go back to overworking herself and being unable to stay awake when he got home after games?

Shoving the thoughts aside, he counted sheep until sleep took over.

***

Their time together passed so swiftly that Kaitlyn almost forgot about her first shift back at the bookstore until it was the next day.

"I wish we had more time," she confessed to Alex as she dressed on Thursday morning.

Alex watched her, his eyes following the movements of her arms as she covered her body. He shouldn't, but he knew he could indulge in her again. They'd taken an unbelievable amount of time to rise that morning. He didn't have practice and had managed to wake her up. They'd followed up their time in bed with a shower together before ending up back in bed. It was a wonder he'd ever let her get up at all.

"We have all the time in the world, gorgeous," Alex replied, tearing his eyes away from her chest to smile into her eyes.

She raised her eyebrows at him and smirked. "Right. All the time in the world," she repeated. "In between my work and your games and road trips..." she let her voice trail off, giving voice to both their concerns at last. She sat down on the edge of the bed as she reached for her jeans.

Moving quickly, Alex slid behind her and hugged her back against his chest. He kissed the side of her neck and grinned when she shivered at his touch. "OK, it won't be the same kind of time we've had so far, but it's still time."

Kaitlyn twisted her head to look at him and Alex clenched his jaw at the worry he saw in her emerald eyes. "I don't know how it'll be to be away from you," she confessed, pink touching the curves of her cheeks.

"It'll be hard," he said and laughed at her eye roll. "That's not what I meant, dirty woman. I just mean, it'll be different and we'll have to talk on the phone a lot more. We'll figure it out."

"Will we?" she asked and pulled out of his arms to stand up. She pulled her jeans over her hips and turned to face him as she fastened the button in the front. "I don't want it to become a chore."

"A chore?" he echoed and frowned. He sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. "You think us being together would become a chore?"

She bit her lip and shook her head. "That's not what I meant."

"Then what?" Alex wanted to sound playful but he wasn't sure he kept all the hurt out of his voice. He knew she was trying to be honest and open but it bothered him that she would even think that about them.

"I just... our worlds are so different," she said and smiled shyly at him. "You travel all over the place and I work different shifts at the store all the time. It's going to be difficult for us to see each other in the future."

Alex lifted his eyebrows. "Are you breaking up with me?"

"No!"

Her immediate and emphatic reaction soothed him somewhat but he still felt a little surprised by her words.

"Alex, I want to keep seeing you and I want to figure out a way to make this work," she went on. She moved to stand between his legs and placed her hands on his shoulders. "We have to be realistic. I can't take days off work every time you come back to Calgary and you can't skip practices or games to be with me on my days off."

"Don't you make the schedule at the bookstore?" Alex asked, holding onto her waist loosely.

"Yes."
"Then can't you work the schedule so that we have some evenings or days together?" he suggested, unprepared for the flash of anger in her eyes.

She stepped out of his arms and turned around. "I can't always have the schedule do what I want," she said in a tense voice. "I have employees that need days off and other supervisors that can't always work when I need them to. It's not as simple as matching my schedule to yours."

"Kaitlyn, don't be mad," he said and stood up. He walked to his closet to grab some clothes and gave her a conciliatory smile as he passed her. "It was just a suggestion."

"Would you change your schedule if you could, just so you could be with me?" she asked, annoyance still evident in her tone.

Walking back into the bedroom, Alex took in her pose; arms crossed over her chest and chin jutted out stubbornly. He'd never seen her this way and maybe it should have annoyed him. Instead, he found his body reacting to the glint in her eyes just like it did when she stripped for him. "In a heartbeat," he answered, meaning it. Then he grinned crookedly at her, both of them knowing he had as little control over his schedule as the next guy.

Kaitlyn softened at his words, the hardness leaving her face and she sighed. Alex pulled his clothes on while he waited for her to respond.

"I don't know what to do with you, Alex," she murmured, making him laugh.

He gathered her into his arms and gave her a firm squeeze, bending low to drop a kiss on the top of her head. "You can answer the phone when I call," he replied. "Especially when I'm out of town. You can agree to see me on your nights off, as long as they match up, and you can try to believe me when I say that I'm not going to let you go."

For a long moment, she said nothing. Alex felt her draw in a deep, shaky breath and let it out, her body trembling slightly. He held her against him until she moved her head, tipping it back to look up at him. She was smiling and his heart stopped when he saw the unshed tears in her eyes.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing," she answered and wrapped her arms around him. "Nothing at all."

Eventually they parted, Alex still worried about the tears he'd seen. She sniffled and smiled, but kept the tears from spilling out and so he left it alone. He hadn't thought that she was that worried about them returning to the real world, so to speak.

Well, he thought as he walked her downstairs. I'll just have to do my best to convince her that I meant what I said.

They kissed good-bye at the door and he watched her walk away, already formulating a plan in his mind. He'd do everything in his power to make her understand what she meant to him. No matter how much it scared either of them, he couldn't let something like this get away from them.

***

Saying good-bye to Alex before he left on his first road trip following the Olympic break was harder than Kaitlyn thought it would be. They went out in the evening for an early dinner, since he was leaving early in the morning, and then Alex drove her home. He came inside for a little bit but they decided not to spend the whole night together.

"It'll just make it worse if you're naked when I wake up," Alex joked but Kaitlyn could tell from his expression that he meant it. "I won't want to leave without saying good-bye the proper way."

Kaitlyn laughed and held him close, cuddling with him on her couch as they watched TV. He held her, rubbed her back and kissed her face. It didn't take long before they were horizontal and Alex was unbuttoning her top. Laughing at the swift craziness of it, Kaitlyn reached for the fastening of his pants and they were hot and sweaty before they knew it. Later, both of them still half-dressed, Kaitlyn reclined on top of Alex and ran her fingers over his arm.

"I'll call you every day," he assured her, giving her a firm squeeze.

"I believe you," she replied. "I'll give you my work number, too."

They fell silent then, touching each other and breathing slow and easy. It was strange but Kaitlyn supposed it was because they'd spent so much time together for the first two weeks, that made them feel like they were being parted for good. They didn't argue about the future anymore but Kaitlyn couldn't shake the awful negative feeling that they wouldn't last.

"Stop it," Alex growled into her ear, breaking her away from her thoughts.

"Stop what?" she asked and lifted her head to look into his face.

He was scowling at her but there was a light in his eyes that told Kaitlyn he wasn't truly upset. "Thinking about what'll go wrong," he replied. "Nothing will happen. I'll be away for four days and then we'll see each other again."

Kaitlyn nodded, believing that he was convinced of that.

"I'll sure miss you, gorgeous," he added in a low voice that reverberated through her body.

She shivered and drew herself up to kiss him on the lips. "What, for four days?" she teased. "You said you'd talk to me on the phone every day. What's there to miss?"

With a grin, he touched her cheek and kissed her noisily. "That's my girl."

She laughed and pushed off of him. They straightened their clothes and Kaitlyn walked him to the door. He bent low and put his arm around her waist to give her a kiss good-bye.

"Don't get too dramatic on me, gorgeous," he told her. "I'm coming back to you, whether you like it or not."

Kaitlyn, never one to enjoy taking orders, couldn't help but melt at his words. Some of her doubts were eased by the conviction in his tone and she nodded. "All right."

"Good." He kissed her again and then was gone.

***

"I can't believe you're skipping work to watch the game," Joel said in a hushed tone to Kaitlyn. As he spoke, he kept looking towards the lounge entrance, like her boss was going walk through any minute.

She laughed at his antics and patted his hand comfortingly. "I'm not skipping," she told him. "I'm just taking an extended lunch." It was Sunday afternoon and the hockey game was being shown in Joel's bar. It had been two nights since she'd last seen Alex, and they'd spoken on the phone three times, but Kaitlyn felt almost giddy at the prospect of seeing him on TV.

Joel shook his head and asked if she wanted a drink. Rolling her eyes, she reminded him that she was on a break and wouldn't be drinking. "I'll take a Coke," she added and he walked away to get it for her.

The lounge was quiet, even though the game was being shown. It was a Sunday afternoon and most people were at home because of the recent downturn in the weather. Kaitlyn had no choice, having to cover two shifts for the day since one of her people had called in sick. She hadn't hesitated to accept when one of her shift supervisors offered to cover for her so she could have lunch.