AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Are you lost?”
I jumped at the sound of his voice. Low and husky. It abruptly ripped me out of my head and I spun on my heel to face the stranger who had crept up on me.
As I turned in his direction, heat instantly crept up my neck and spread across my face. He was shirtless, his body damp from the shower he just took and a towel secured around his waist as he leaned against the doorway. I couldn’t help myself as my eyes traveled across the planes of his body, trailing over the lines of his muscles. His hair was dark, hanging just above his eyebrows with droplets of water falling onto his temples.
“I—uh—I was just looking for my father,” I choked out the words as I forced my gaze to meet his. His crystal blue eyes were burning holes through my own with a smirk situated on his lips.
He pushed away from the doorjamb and took a few steps closer to me. “Ah, you’re Coach Anderson’s daughter, aren’t you?”
I narrowed my eyes as I stared at him. I wanted to smack the stupid cocky grin from his face. He was looking at me the same way I had seen plenty of other guys look at me. There was a burning curiosity in those blue eyes of his and I needed to extinguish the fire before it burned deeper.
“I am, and you are?”
He raked his hand through his hair, messing up the damp curls. “Mac Sullivan.”
I pursed my lips and hummed as I cocked my head to the side. “That’s not a familiar name to me, I’m sorry. You must not be important enough for my father to ever mention your name.”
It was a lie, but I wasn’t about to show my cards. He didn’t need to know that my father spoke highly of him and the high hopes he had for him on the team. This man didn’t need me to feed his ego when clearly he could feed it himself.
His expression didn’t falter. If anything, he grew more amused and raised an eyebrow as he studied me for a moment. “Fair enough,” he said with a shrug of indifference. “As you can see, your father isn't here. It’s just me.”
“I’ve gathered that much.”
Mac stood where he was and his eyes followed me as I took a step toward the door. “I saw you out on the ice. Rumor has it you used to play hockey. What happened?”
My brows furrowed, my spine straightening as I stopped mid-step. I swallowed roughly over the lump that formed in my throat. It wasn’t something that I enjoyed talking about and I wasn’t about to discuss it with someone who was living the dream I envisioned for myself. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Sure it does,” he said matter-of-factly. “I saw you out there. It’s clear that you have talent. What’s keeping you from playing?”
“I don’t think that’s any of your business,” I clipped as my gaze hardened on his. “I coach youth hockey now. That’s enough for me.”
He didn’t look convinced. “Sorry for asking. I’ll remember in the future that it’s a touchy subject.”
I rolled my eyes. “There won’t be any future conversations between us.”
“Why’s that?”
He was beginning to grate on my damn nerves. “I know your type and I’m not interested. I grew up in a hockey rink, I know how guys like you operate. Trust me… anything you’re about to say or try has already been done before, so just save it for one of the girls that worships you like you’re a hockey god and falls at your feet like an idiot.”
“Damn, are you this mean to everyone you meet?” He laughed it off and shook his head. “For the record, I never said I was interested. I was merely making polite conversation and figured I’d see you around here again sometime.”
I ignored his question and his statement about not being interested. “That’s doubtful.”
“I’m not your enemy, you know,” he said softly as he closed the distance between us. His lips parted and a soft breath escaped him. “It doesn’t hurt to be nice to people.”
I stared at him for two heartbeats as his words swirled around in my head. He was insignificant in my life. Just another player on the team my father coached. He’d probably end up being traded in a season or two and I’d never hear of him again except while watching highlights on TV.
“I need to go find my father.”
Mac pursed his lips and nodded. “He’s out in the parking lot.”
“Why didn't you tell me that when I first walked in here?” I demanded, feeling the irritation prickle my skin. Moving to Orchid City was my mother’s idea. I was content back in our hometown in Maine. She insisted I move here to be closer to my family and I agreed when I was able to get a job at the local hospital.
The corners of his lips twitched. “Because then I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to talk to you.”
I snorted. “Was it everything you imagined it would be?”
He smiled, flashing his straight white teeth. “Oh, it exceeded my expectations.”
