The Mighty Quinns: Thom (17 page)

“Malin! How’s life on the road? Where are you?”

“Grand Forks, North Dakota.”

“Exciting,” she said.

“Could you to do a little snooping for me? There are rumors of
a trade going down between New York and Montreal. Don’t be obvious about it. And
don’t let on that it came from me.”

“Is it Thom?”

“Maybe.”

“Montreal. Two trades in one season. That’s not good.”

“How is the job going?”

“All right. We’ve had a few fires to put out. One off-color
joke made by one player, one naked woman with another player, and two
accusations of animal cruelty involving a goldfish. Other than that, it’s been
all right.”

“Hang in there. I’ll be back in the office the day after
tomorrow, and I’ll help you out if you need me to.”

“Thanks, Malin. I’ll see you soon.”

Malin glanced at the clock on her phone, then closed her eyes.
She had another fifteen minutes to herself. She could lie in bed and think about
all the things that were going wrong. Or she could get dressed and do the job
she’d been assigned to do.

She sat up and swung her legs off the bed. Grabbing her bag,
she searched through the contents until she found her long underwear. Malin
couldn’t help but laugh.

A few years ago, she’d dressed in designer clothes and worked
for a top fashion magazine. Now she was putting on her long underwear to attend
a college hockey game. Then again, a few months ago she was in the midst of a
wildly passionate affair with a bad boy hockey player. Now she was all
alone.

She’d been happiest on those days with Thom when she hadn’t
been trying to improve his reputation or impress her father. When they’d just
been two people in love.

How had she lost sight of that? When her father had blindsided
her with news that Thom had accepted the trade to New York, the doubts had
started creeping in. Doubts about Thom. Doubts about how they could ever make a
relationship work. She’d accused him of not fighting for their relationship, but
had she fought for it? She hadn’t even admitted to Natalie that they were a
couple.

Malin looked around the room and took in the peeling wallpaper,
the hideous motel bedspread and the stained carpet. What was she doing here?
What was she trying to prove?

Her father had asked her if it was really Thom she didn’t
trust, or herself. He’d told her to do only what she wanted to do. But she’d
never allowed herself any chance to do any proper soul searching. She’d been too
busy impressing her father, then her new colleagues.

That ended now. She was done worrying about what other people
would think. She was done hiding her head in the sand. It was time to fight for
what she wanted.

* * *

“I
S
IT
M
ONTREAL
?”

Thom glanced over at his teammate, Eddie Cooper, and shrugged.
“Still not sure. I called my agent and he said it was all very hush-hush.”

He and Eddie had played on the Olympic hockey team five years
ago and had also spent two seasons together with the Blizzard. Eddie had been
the first one to welcome him to New York, and since then they’d rekindled their
friendship.

“You have a no-trade clause, don’t you?”

“Not on this contract. We switched to a modified trade. Ten
teams. But Montreal isn’t on the list. Maybe it’s not me.”

“I don’t know, man. Your name keeps coming up. I’m really
sorry. I think you’re good for this team. You bring a lot of wisdom.”

“Thanks,” Thom said. “I hope I don’t have to go. I’m just
getting used to the system here.”

“Any plans for Thanksgiving?” Eddie asked. “My family is
staying in town. If you’re not leaving, you’re welcome to join us.”

“I don’t have plans.”

“Not going to see the girl?”

“No, she has to work the day after.”

“What does she do?” Eddie asked.

Thom hadn’t told any of his new teammates about Malin. He’d
referred to a girlfriend in vague terms that no one seemed to question. “She’s
in marketing. She travels a lot for work.”

“How is she going to take it if you end up in Montreal?”

“I’m not going,” he said. “This time, I’m putting a stop to
it.”

“This time?”

“You’ve got my number,” Thom said. “Text me the details on
Thanksgiving. And let me know if I can bring anything.”

Frank Pritzker, one of the assistant coaches, walked into the
locker room and nodded at Thom. “Coach wants to see you.”

“Right now?” Thom asked.

“Yep, right now.”

Thom glanced over at Eddie. “Here we go.”

“Call me and let me know what happens,” Eddie said. “Good
luck.”

The head coach, John Norris, was waiting for him in his office.
“Come on in and shut the door,” he said, his voice gruff, his expression
unreadable.

“Just tell me where,” Thom said. “I’ve heard about the
trade.”

“Your agent is waiting for you outside. He’ll explain the whole
thing. They’ve arranged a car that will take you to the airport. All you have to
do is gather up your gear. We sent someone to your hotel room to pack up, and
that’s already been loaded on the plane.” Norris stood and held out his hand.
“It’s been a pleasure, Thom. Wish you could have stayed with us a little
longer.”

“Why couldn’t I?” Thom asked.

Norris chuckled softly. “We got an offer we couldn’t
refuse.”

“Thanks, Coach.” Thom walked back into the locker room and
grabbed his duffel, then began to throw his gear inside. The equipment manager
brought in a bag with his sticks and gloves, then shook his hand and wished him
luck. As he walked out of the practice rink, Thom couldn’t help but wonder how
Malin would take the latest news. He already felt like he was on thin ice with
her. She’d always been cagey about defining their relationship, and the distance
had only eaten away at her confidence.

Maybe he’d been wrong to leave her. He could have stayed in
Minneapolis and convinced her that she could trust him. He could have fought
harder for his spot there. But he’d taken the easy way out. He’d been afraid
that he wasn’t equipped to love her the way she deserved to be loved. He
certainly wasn’t shining in that department lately.

Jack was waiting at the door, and he waved as Thom approached.
“What the hell is this all about, Jack?”

Jack grabbed the bag of sticks. “We’ll talk in the car.”

A black Lincoln Town Car waited at the curb. The driver stepped
out and helped them put the bags in the trunk before opening the passenger door
for Thom and Jack. They slid into the comfortable interior, Jack taking the seat
beside Thom. The door slammed shut and Jack leaned forward to shut the privacy
screen.

“What the hell is going on?” Thom said.

“That’s what I’ve been asking myself all day,” Jack said.

“Why didn’t you call and let me know this was going down?”

“Because I didn’t have any answers,” Jack said. “They didn’t
give me any information until all the deals were done.”

“Am I going to Montreal?”

“No,” Jack said. “You’re headed back to Minneapolis.”

Thom gasped. “What?”

“You heard me. The Blizzard got you back as part of a three-way
trade. And they’ve offered a second signing bonus to your original
contract.”

Thom shook his head. “I don’t get it.”

“I don’t, either. They’re going to have to explain what the
hell they’re thinking.”

It couldn’t be this simple, could it? Thom mused. Taking the
New York trade had been a colossal mistake. And now, out of the blue, that
mistake had been fixed. He was going home. He was going back to Malin and to a
life that was as close to perfection as he’d ever experienced.

He pulled out his phone, anxious to call her and tell her the
news. But when he rang her number, she didn’t pick up. Frowning, Thom tried a
text, but after a few minutes, there was still no response.

He glanced out the window and noticed they were headed west,
across the Hudson and away from the city. “Where are we going?”

“From what I understand, Pedersen is sending the corporate jet.
The Blizzard’s playing tonight in Minneapolis, and they want you on the ice. I
think we’re heading to the airport in Teterboro.”

Thom sank back into the leather seat and closed his eyes. It
was hard to believe that he’d be sleeping in his own bed tonight. He wanted to
believe that Malin would be there waiting for him. But she’d struggled with
their separation. For all he knew, she was waiting to see him in person before
she ended things.

“Thanks for getting me back home, Jack. I really appreciate
it.”

“Don’t thank me,” he said. “You should probably thank Davis
Pedersen.”

Thom looked out the window and watched as the scenery passed
by. “I’ll do that.”

Thirty minutes later, the Town Car pulled up to a hangar on the
outskirts of the airport. The driver helped Thom remove his bags from the trunk,
and a steward appeared to help load the bags into the cargo hold of the jet.

Jack said goodbye and got back in the car. Thom headed up the
steps to greet the pilot, who was waiting for him by the cockpit. “Good evening,
Mr. Quinn. Welcome aboard.”

“Thank you,” he said.

The steward closed the door as the pilot returned to the
cockpit. Thom glanced around the luxurious cabin. The team usually traveled in a
nicely appointed charter jet, but this was way beyond their travel
accommodations.

“Can I get you anything to drink, Mr. Quinn?”

Thom looked up at the steward. “A water? I’m playing tonight,
so I can’t have anything to drink.”

“I could make you a sandwich. We have turkey, ham and
beef.”

“Turkey would be great,” he said.

“We’ve got another passenger. I’ll go get her order and be
right back with your drink.”

Thom peered around the edge of the seat, wondering who else was
on the jet. Once they took off, he’d wander back and introduce himself.

Thom watched out the window as they taxied out to the runway. A
few seconds later, the plane began to accelerate and then gently left the
ground. The engines roared as they climbed, the snowy landscape of New York
State stretching out below them.

The steward returned with his sandwich and drink, setting them
both on a tray that flipped out from the arm of the seat. “If there’s anything
else you need, just push that button,” he said, indicating a button above Thom’s
head.

Thom nodded and pulled out his phone to try Malin’s number. But
as it rang, he heard a soft echo of her ringtone.

“Hello?”

“Malin?”

“Thom?”

“Where have you been? I’ve been trying to call but you didn’t
answer.”

“I’m on a plane back to Minneapolis,” she said. “Where are
you?”

“You’re not going to believe this,” Thom said, “but I’m on a
plane back to Minneapolis, too. I’ve been traded again. To the Blizzard.” A long
silence met his declaration. “Malin? Did you hear me? I’m coming home.”

“I heard you just fine.”

Thom twisted around to find Malin standing behind his seat, her
arms braced on the headrest, her chin resting on her hands. He got up and knelt
on the aisle seat, pulling her into a long and delicious kiss.

When he finished with her lips, he moved on to her cheeks and
then her eyes and her nose and her chin, raining kisses all over her pretty
face. Malin tipped her head back, laughing, and Thom attacked her neck.

“When did you find out?” he asked.

“I accused you once of not fighting to stay. But I realized I
hadn’t done much fighting for what I wanted, either. It wasn’t you I didn’t
trust, but myself. So I called my dad and told him my idea. He recognized that
it would be good for the team, and he made it happen. I want us to be together,
Thom. As in a real couple. I want to tell the world that I love you.” She
paused. “If that’s all right with you, of course?”

He kissed her again, cupping her face in his hands. “Of course
it is. Malin, I never should have left you. It’s the stupidest move I’ve ever
made in my entire life. And I’ve made a lot of stupid moves. I just got scared
that I wouldn’t be able to make you happy.”

“You do make me happy,” Malin said.

“Happy forever,” he said. “I want us to be together, too. But I
want an entire lifetime. I want to know that when I wake up in the morning,
you’re going to be right there beside me. And I want to introduce you to my
brothers and my grandmother. They’re going to love you.”

“I want that, too,” Malin said. “I’ve missed you so much.”

“God, you’re so damn beautiful.”

Laughing, Malin crawled over the tall seat back, then sank onto
Thom’s lap. He pulled her close, nuzzling his face into her neck.

Malin drew back, ran her fingers over his chin and found a
fresh bruise. “What’s this?”

“I got hit by a puck last week.”

“I’m going to be glad when you decide to retire.”

“I’ve been giving that a lot of thought, actually, and I’ve
realized what I’m going to do after hockey. I want to start a nonprofit to help
troubled or underprivileged kids get into hockey camps.” She pulled away from
him slightly and stared at him. “Malin? What do you think?”

“I think that’s a wonderful idea. You’ll be great at it.”

“Yeah? Thanks.”

“Plus, once you get off the ice, there’ll be less abuse to your
pretty face,” she said with a grin.

“What about my pretty body?” Thom asked. “I’ve got a sore
shoulder, a tweaked hamstring and a twisted ankle.”

“How are your hands?” she asked.

“Good.”

“And what about your lips? Do they still work?”

Thom chuckled. “Yes.”

“And the manly parts?” she asked. “Are they functioning
properly?”

“Which parts are the manly ones?”

Malin wriggled in his lap, creating a warm friction against the
front of his jeans. He responded almost instantly, his shaft pushing against the
faded fabric. “I think they’re doing just fine.”