The Slot: A Rochester Riot Sports Romance (16 page)

Blinding him.

What the hell was happening? Sounds of crunching metal and shattering glass filled the air and ripped off the trees. Then, as if someone had turned off the lights, the air stood still and his world faded to black.

Chapter 2

“I hate you. I want a divorce. You are no longer my best friend, SueAnn Johnson. I mean, what kind of BFF sets her so called bestie up on a blind date with someone she’s never met!”

Julia Wales stomped out of the bathroom and yanked the hand towel from the hook by the door, swiping the water from her porcelain skin. The towel skimmed her sooty eyelashes, soaking the last remnants of the hot shower she’d just enjoyed. More like relished. The warm water caressing her smooth skin always made her feel better. More in control.

Julia flopped down on the edge of the pillow top mattress, scrunching her long, auburn hair with the towel. The puff of her breath expelled from her mouth as she flung the phone beside her and hit the button for the speaker.

“That’s why it’s called a
blind
date, plus you need to get out more and Andrew is a nice guy. Who knows, you just might hit it off,” Sue’s voice echoed through the speakers.

“I don’t even have anything to wear,” she grumbled, looking at her collection of clothes hanging in the closet.

A knock rattled Julia’s door almost as if on cue. She stood and grabbed her robe as she walked to the door of her suite. Once again, Sue’s voice came bellowing through the speakers.

“That’s why I had the perfect ensemble delivered to your room.”

Julia opened the door to find the bellman holding a white and gold foil box tied with a pale pink silk ribbon. She balanced the boxes on her forearms as she handed him a ten before closing the door with her bare foot. She laid the boxes on the bed and untied the largest one. She’d been enjoying the service of the Hotel Calpurnia while her house got new plumbing installed. It would be done Friday, and she almost hated to leave her luxurious quasi-home.

“Now, you have no more excuses. So get dressed. I love you. Bye.”

Sue hung up before Julia could open her mouth to protest. Not that she really wanted to. She was bored. She had to face it, that she’d been overwhelmed and overcome with work for months. Not that she was complaining. She loved her work with a passion. Creative pursuits were her life and always had been. They got the blood pulsing through her veins and hours could go by without eating or even going to the bathroom when she was consumed by a job.

Julia gasped in pleased surprise and held the sexy top up to her ample chest. It was light blue layers of delicate lace cascading down from the spaghetti straps. A thin, black leather belt accentuated her waist. A pair of silky black pants and strappy blue high-heeled sandals completed the look. Expensive. Julia wondered how much Sue had forked out to make her look presentable for her date with the elusive Andrew.

She didn’t like being beholden to her friend. To anyone really, but it would be rude not to accept and enjoy Sue’s gift. Especially on such short notice. Unless she wanted to traipse through the Calpurnia’s lobby wearing the hotel’s white terry bathrobe.

Julia chuckled to herself at the mortified look the front desk clerk of the exclusive hotel would have over that one. She trotted back into the bathroom to complete her makeup and hair, settling for a subtle look with soft colors and a half-up and half-down style that showcased her high cheekbones and vibrant brown eyes.

After donning her new outfit, she stood back and admired the effect in the full-length mirror. Sue had outdone herself because the baby blue color really did bring out the red in her auburn hair.

When she was satisfied she’d pass muster, even for a man she’d never seen before, she called down for her car and grabbed her purse. They were meeting at Tavern on the Hill, which had her favorite food and ambiance. Score one for Andrew for his selection. Unless he’d been coached by Sue. Either way, he had great taste or he was a great listener.

Tavern boasted Duluth’s largest outdoor dining and the temperate evening would be perfect to sit outside and enjoy the unseasonably warm weather. As well as the stellar view. Dusk was approaching and the waters of Lake Superior would be glistening in the soft glow of the approaching night sky.

***

Maybe he won’t be here, she worried as she approached the hostess stand. Stood up like some kind of pathetic loser. Julia hated these damn first date jitters. Probably why she threw herself into work with a vengeance. Nothing like avoidance behavior to keep a woman safe from unwanted embarrassment. Of course, the same avoidance also kept a woman safe from everything else. All the deliciousness that came with a romantic relationship.

Julia gave her head a firm shake and smiled at the young college student behind the podium. Andrew hadn’t yet arrived so Julia checked her phone and decided to wait in the bar.

The Caribou were on the flat screen across the room, skating their pre-game warm-up. Julia loved hockey and had ever since she was twelve and her brother had played in high school. She used to lace up her white figure skates and try to emulate Blake as she wobbled around holding a stick larger than her head. The Minnesota Caribou were her favorite team and some of the Duluth college players and other locals had made the professional team throughout the years.

Over time, she’d become too busy with her work to follow them like a true fan. She did know they had a superstar drafted out of Michigan State named Adam Spencer. The guy was so fast they said he was like lightning in a bottle.

She’d have to pay close attention until Andrew arrived to see if she could get a gander at the spectacular play of Mr. Spencer, a Duluth native who’d played varsity hockey with her brother. She’d met him once at her house and he’d left an impression. That guy was dreamy with a capital “D”.

The hostess returned a few minutes later, directing a blond haired cutie to her table in the bar. Around six feet tall, his hair was spiked up in the front and his blue button down complimented his eyes. Jeans and loafers completed his date look.

My God, we match.

Julia couldn’t keep herself from going there and wondered if Sue had coached him on what she’d be wearing as well. Jesus, could it all get any more obvious? He offered a smile as he took his seat across from her and ordered a local draft beer on tap from the waitress hovering at his elbow.

“Hi there, I’m Andrew,” he said, extending his massive hand across the table.

“Julia.” She smiled as she shook his hand, which was warm and inviting with just the right amount of pressure. Maybe there was hope.

“Wow, Sue said you were a knockout. She wasn’t kidding.” Andrew’s compliment was followed by a low whistle.

“Oh, thank you.” Julie blushed from the roots of her hair to the tips of her red polished toes. She had heard it before, but growing up with brothers, she had been more likely to get teased and tormented about every little thing than to get any validation of her looks. Blake had loved to call her elephant ears and Brock had called her Pigeon due to her slightly inward toes. Thank God she’d outgrown that one before high school.

“So, I hear from SueAnn you’ve lived here in Duluth your entire life,” Andrew commented. “I really like it here so far. The people are really warm and welcoming.”

“Totally. That’s why I started my business here. I’d never dream of leaving.” It was hard to keep the passion out of her voice over her hometown and she didn’t even want to try. Duluth, Minnesota was a wonderful place to live and work. Her only complaint was the harsh winters and the cold wind and weather that blew in straight off the lake.

Julia was glad that Andrew wasn’t firing questions at her like they were in some kind of crazy job interview. Dating had always sucked for her. If it wasn’t her own broken picker, it was her beefy and controlling older brothers jumping in to scare the shit out of any potential suitor who held real promise. They’d find something wrong with the guy and he’d bail. But now … Blake and Brock were married and starting their own families, so they’d backed off. A little. She probably used her family as an excuse, but her friends knew that her fledgling business was her life.

“So, Sue said that you’re a major hockey fan.”

“Yeah, I grew up in a small town and hockey was nearly the only entertainment we had. My brother, Blake Wales, played for UMD. He was a really great center and would have been drafted until he hurt his knee,” Julie sighed. “Career ending injury.”

“That sucks,” Andrew nodded. “Do you like any other sports or are you just a die-hard hockey chick?”

“Just hockey. I never got any of the other sports. Hockey just makes sense to me. And it’s such a rush to be outside in the winter air. You feel so free and alive.”

Andrew rubbed his chin and started droning on about the Vikings. After a while, Julia tuned him out and glanced at the game behind his head. The Caribou were getting murdered. They only had ten shots on goal to the Red Wings twenty-five and they were losing the battle in the corners.

Oh, Adam, where are you? Your team needs you,
she thought as she bit into her mozzarella stick dripping in marinara.

“So, do you have a favorite team?”

“Of course, the Caribou. It’s where my brother would have played if he’d been drafted.”

“Really? Even though they’re on a losing streak?”

She glanced at him, only slightly forgiving his ignorance for underestimating her team. What kind of Minnesotan was this guy?

“They’re struggling without Adam, but once he comes back…”

“Spencer’s not coming back,” Andrew said with a shake of his head in the negative.

“Oh, he will,” Julia argued.

Douchebag. Now she just wanted to get away from him as quickly as possible.

“What makes you so certain? With an ACL injury that bad, most are forced out of the game.”

“He’ll find a way. He loves the game too much. Doesn’t care too much for the fame though.” Julia thought back to the one time Adam had skated on their family pond with her brother. Blake had been a freshman with a serious case of senior worship. Adam had thrown Blake a bone because coach had said he had promise. Adam Spencer had loved skating outside so much he’d bent down and kissed the surface of the ice.

“You say that like you know him,” Andrew countered.

“I know of him,” Julia replied. “He was a senior the year my brother made varsity as a freshman. I don’t know him well and I’m sure he wouldn’t know me if he saw me on the street.”

You’re such a dick. Why did I even bother coming on this stupid date? Oh yeah, that’s right. Sue insisted I needed to get out more, complete with designer outfit from her boutique.

Andrew didn’t respond, which felt like a small victory for this tight-knit hockey community. One where outsiders weren’t always welcome. Especially, when they didn’t bleed the Caribou green and gold. Julia steered the conversation back to mundane small talk because she didn’t really want to hear any more of his opinions. She was over it all before it had even gotten started.

Julia glanced up to the screen where a special broadcast had interrupted the game. The big screen images showed a wreck involving a semi and a Dodge pickup. Suddenly, his picture appeared to the left of the screen in a small outlined square. What the hell? Had Adam Spencer been involved in an accident?

“Shoot! I’m so sorry. I forgot I was supposed to meet a client tonight about their barn conversion.”

“Now?” His face turned down in a confused grimace. “It’s almost ten and you haven’t even finished your cheese sticks.”

“Yeah, the client owns his own tech company and he works twenty-four seven since it’s a start up. I really have to go.” His face reflected his upset and understanding that she was feeding him a line of complete bullshit. He’d probably call Sue and tattle as soon as her back retreated out the front door.

Andrew stood and gave her a quick hug in a last ditch effort to hang on. “Maybe, we can do this again—”

“It was nice to meet you.” Julia cut him off as she grabbed her purse and started rummaging for her wallet.

“No, I’ve got it,” he said as he put a hand over hers to stop her.

“Thanks,” she mumbled as she turned toward the door. She had to get out of the restaurant so she could look up the accident details on her phone. And call Blake. She opened the door to her Ford Escape and tossed her purse on the center console. The iPhone felt like ice in her hand. She hit the button for Safari and quickly typed in
Adam Spencer Car Accident
.

Nothing. Probably too soon for an online report.

She turned the key in the ignition and hit the radio button, searching for KFAN, the local sports talk radio. The DJ was talking about the accident. It sounded bad and they didn’t know if Adam would even make it. Apparently, he’d been trying to drive from his farm to the neighboring property and he’d been drinking.

She shook her head, unable to believe it. Drinking and driving was so not like him. That guy always seemed to have his shit together. His folks were pillars of the community before the tragedy. Julie wondered what might have prompted him to do something so rash, stupid and dangerous as to get behind the wheel of a truck while impaired.

She reached a red light a block away from her hotel suite when they announced that Adam had been transported to Duluth General. The hospital was only a red light away from where she idled at the intersection. She sat and stared at the blue “H” sign, until honking notified her the light had turned green.