On Thin Ice (The Baltimore Banners Book 8) (8 page)

Chapter Ten

Kenny dragged the towel across his face, scrubbing at the water dripping into his eyes before drying off. He moved out of the shower room, ignoring the jokes and laughter echoing around him. He wasn't in the mood for jokes, not today.

Practice had been a bitch, taking more out of him than he had expected. It wouldn't have been too bad if his ribs weren't still hurting from the hit last night. He was starting to wonder if he had a target on his back. It was the third time in a month that he'd been slammed from behind, catching a stick across his ribs.

In the same damn spot each time.

At the rate he was going, his bruises were going to have bruises until summer. But the trainer had looked at it, merely shaking his head before taping it then clearing him to play. Wade Reyes, the Banners' newest assistant coach, had asked him if the injury was going to give him problems and Kenny had assured him it wouldn't. And then he proceeded to push himself, proving it without words.

Yeah, maybe he'd overdone it. But he still felt like he was proving himself, proving to the coaches and everyone else on the team that they hadn't made a mistake keeping him on the roster this year.

He was going to prove himself right onto the disabled list if he wasn't careful.

"How's the side?" Randy Michaels, another defenseman, stopped beside him, his eyes going directly to the bruise.

"I'll survive."

"Stop touching it."

"I'm not—"

"On the bench, during the games. I noticed you doing that the other night. The other teams notice and they go right for you when they see it."

Kenny grunted, knowing Randy was right. He hadn't realized he had been doing just that until Coach Stephenson told him the same thing. Which was embarrassing. Kenny may have been playing in the minors until last year, but he still knew better. Show no weakness.

He finished dressing then headed out of the locker room with Randy and Nikolai Petrovich. All three of them, along with Jens Ulfsson, had stayed a little later after practice, working some extra drills. He'd skip lunch with the team and head straight home to eat then take a quick nap before tonight's game. He'd probably need it, since they didn’t usually have back-to-back games like this. His mind was so focused on his plans that he was halfway through the practice rink before he noticed the eerie silence.

"Why is it so quiet? I thought they had youth hockey games scheduled today." He refused to admit that it was anything but simple curiosity behind the question. Yeah, he could lie to himself all he wanted but it wouldn't make a difference. He'd been thinking about Lauren nonstop since bowling Friday night. The night had gone surprisingly well after the awkward and uncomfortable start.

After the uncomfortable conversation when he learned she thought he'd slept with her sister. His anger spiked every time he thought about the accusation. He still wanted to know why her sister had made that claim, why she'd flat out lied. He didn't even know the woman. What on earth would possess her to say something like that? He should be surprised but he wasn't, not after what had happened at Casino Night. He hadn't told Lauren this, knowing it would only anger her more, but something about her sister made him wary.

He had walked around for a good thirty minutes that night looking for Lauren, thinking she was still there since her sister was. Kenny still couldn't believe the two women were related, not as different as they were. And not just in looks. In attitude, in personality. He had made the mistake of asking her sister where she was. Instead of pointing in one direction or the other, the sister had latched onto him, her hands entirely too free as she offered to go home with him.

Thanks, but no thanks. He knew some of the players were into the puck bunnies but that wasn't for him. Never had been. So he excused himself and left, not entirely surprised when the sister made her way over to Harland.

He wasn't sure if Harland had taken advantage of her offer or not. It wouldn't surprise him if he had. And if he had, more power to him. It wasn't his business what two consenting adults did.

All he knew was that if he ever saw the sister, Lindsay, again, he'd turn and run in the opposite direction. If he didn't, he didn't know if he'd be able to control whatever words might fall from his mouth.

No, he wanted nothing to do with the sister. Lauren, on the other hand, was a completely different story. There was something about her. Her dry sarcasm, the fact that she wasn't afraid to speak her mind. Their banter had been light and teasing, but not in a sexual way, not like some of the other women who had come up to him after games or at the Casino Night. He had fun talking to Lauren. Watching her facial expressions, the way she rolled those wide eyes whenever he said something she didn't agree with or the way a small flush would spread across her high cheekbones.

"He asks question but doesn't listen." Nikolai nudged his shoulder, his laugh echoing in the empty building.

"Sorry. I was—" Kenny snapped his mouth closed. There was no way he was going to tell them he'd been thinking about a woman. "So why is it so quiet in here?"

Nikolai laughed again, the sound bouncing back at the them in the surrounding quiet. "Again, he does not listen."

Randy frowned and Kenny figured they must have already answered the question. "I said: they cancelled the games because of the weather."

"What weather?"

They stopped by the double glass doors leading out. Randy zipped up his jacket and motioned his head.

"That weather. Apparently it's supposed to turn to all ice, if it hasn't already."

Kenny looked out the doors and muttered to himself. The sky was an angry gray, the perfect backdrop for the sheets of rain coming down in a steady downpour. A gust of wind blew the rain at an angle for a few seconds, cold air blowing in through the crack of the door.

"I didn't think they cancelled games because of weather."

"Every once in a while they do. Especially the younger kids. Why take chances, you know?"

Kenny grunted, his gaze still fixed on the downpour. This is exactly what he got for wearing nothing but a sweatshirt to practice this morning. "And this is supposed to turn to ice?"

"That's what they're saying. Ice, then maybe snow. Or maybe nothing. It's November. For all they know, it could be eighty degrees tomorrow."

Kenny didn't say anything. Tomorrow's weather here wouldn't matter, not when they were leaving for LA right after tonight's game. He pushed through the door, Randy and Nikolai following him, then made a run for his car fifteen feet away. He was soaked through by the time he slammed the door shut, water dripping into his face. He shook it off then started the engine, waiting for the car to warm up.

And grateful this new one had heated seats and steering wheel.

The car had been his only big splurge when he signed the new contract. One and half a million over two years might sound like a lot of money—and yeah, maybe it was—but he wasn't going to be one of those guys who went out and blew the whole thing. There were still too many unknowns with his career. So no, he wasn't going to blow it. Most of his salary was being invested, mostly long term for greater stability down the road. He didn't even buy a house. Hell, he hadn't even completely unpacked everything in his apartment. The spare bedroom still had about a dozen boxes stacked along the wall.

But he had splurged on the car. Nothing too fancy or extravagant—unless you called heated seats extravagant and he didn't. But it was new, and big enough so he didn't feel cramped inside. That was all he needed.

He turned the wipers on then headed out of the parking, aiming the car for home. The heater was going full blast and the seat was working its heated magic along his back and ass, but he was still chilled. He'd need to change out of his wet clothes and take another shower before grabbing a bite to eat and getting his nap in.

And it looked like Randy was right. The rain was starting to turn to ice. Nothing too bad yet, mostly a mix, but he could see it under the swipe of his wipers, just the barest film starting to build up.

The light at the corner turned red and he tapped the brakes, testing the road before coming to a stop. At least the roads were still fine. But the weather still completely sucked, especially if you were out walking in it like the solitary figure on the sidewalk next to him.

Kenny blinked then did a double-take.

"You have got to be fucking kidding me." He whispered the words in disbelief and blinked again, certain he was seeing things. No, it wasn't his imagination.

The light turned green and he pulled forward, easing the car over to the curb and hitting the button to lower the passenger door window before leaning over to shout.

"Lauren!"

The woman didn't stop and at first he thought maybe he had been mistaken, that it really wasn't Lauren he saw walking along the sidewalk. But no, it was definitely her. Her hair was plastered to her head and neck, the rain turning the dark strands to black. She was wearing a pair of jeans and nothing more than a sweatshirt, both of which were soaked through and clinging to her athletic body. A large bag was slung over her left shoulder, the same bag she had nailed him with the first time he had seen her.

What the hell was she doing, walking in weather like this?

He inched the car forward, stopping at angle before leaning over and calling her name again, louder this time. She must have heard him because she stopped and looked his way, confusion marring her face. Did she recognize him? Maybe not because she just kept walking. But he didn't miss the look of anger on her face, like she wouldn't hesitate to wind up her arm and slug whoever happened to get in her way.

What the hell was that about? Kenny ignored it, figuring now wasn't the time to ask. He inched the car closer, keeping up with her slow pace. "Lauren!"

She stopped again, frowning. Then her expression cleared and she blinked, almost like she didn't quite believe she was really seeing him. But she didn't move toward him, just stayed there on the sidewalk with the icy rain pouring down on her.

Kenny jammed the car into park, remembering to close the window before he jumped out. Icy rain bit into him, stinging his cheeks as he ran around the front of the car and caught up to her on the sidewalk.

"Lauren. Come on, get into the car. I'll give you a lift." He reached for her bag, saw her wince when she released it. Her hand was white and he couldn't even begin to imagine how cold she must be, completely soaked and freezing. Standing out here much longer couldn't be good for her. "You need to get out of this weather. Let me take you home, we can talk more in the car."

"I can't go home. Lindsay has my car. And my keys. And I have no idea where she is."

Anger surged through him on Lauren's behalf. Did her sister just take her car, or had Lauren loaned it to her? He couldn't imagine why she would, not after what he learned the other night, but he didn't say anything. He bit back the comments he wanted to make and guided Lauren to his car, opening the door for her. Then he moved to the other side and popped the trunk, hurrying around to the back so he could toss her bag in next to his. He hesitated then grabbed the fleece blanket shoved in the corner. It wasn't much, but maybe it would help get her warm a little faster.

"I'm getting your seat all wet."

"If it makes you feel better, so am I." He handed her the blanket, hoping his small smile would help put her at ease. She just sat there, watching him for a few long seconds. Then she took the blanket and wrapped it around her shoulders, using the corner to brush the dripping hair from her face.

"It's, uh, probably not very clean. I've always kept it in the trunk and—"

"Yeah, I don't think a little dirt or grease is going to make much difference at this point."

"No, guess not." Kenny leaned forward and cranked the heat up as high as it would go, both the interior heat and the seat heat. Then he put the car in gear and moved away from the curb.

"You can just take me back to my place. In Fell's Point."

"I thought you said you didn't have your keys."

"I don't. I'll just have to call a locksmith or something. Maybe someone from maintenance will be there and can let me in." She shifted, digging behind her for something.

"On a Sunday? In this weather? And what are you going to do, stand outside and wait?"

She pulled a phone from her back pocket and tapped the screen, frowning. "Uh, no. I live in a condo building. Renovated warehouse. I can probably get someone to let me in the lobby. And dammit." She banged the phone screen a few more times, a little harder each time. "Great. My phone's dead."

"Probably got wet."

"You think?" She reached behind her and shoved the phone back in her pocket then pulled the blanket more tightly across her shoulders. Kenny didn't miss the way her hands shook or the slight chattering of her teeth that she tried to hide.

"Do you really think you're going to get anyone to come out on a Sunday? In this weather? It's already starting to freeze." Kenny pointed to the windshield, at the thin layer of ice being pushed away with each swipe of the wipers.

"Then I'll go wait in one of the bars." She looked away, frowning again. "Lindsay has to show up at some point."