Skating, playing on mini mites, was all Daisy could talk about—and “Mr. Cage.” Mr. Cage was making his first appearance today in over two weeks, having flown in early this morning after an extended road trip. Lily felt a lift of excitement as her eyes searched him out on the ice. They caught on Derek at the bottom of the bleachers, laughing with one of the hockey moms.
He gave a start when he spotted Lily. “Hey, didn’t see you come in.” The mom withdrew with an eyelash-fluttering, “See you soon, Derek.”
Lily bit back a smirk. “Thanks for bringing Daisy. I really appreciate it.” She stared into his eyes for a beat, trying to recall if Jack’s had been the same shade of gray.
“Yeah, no problem. I’m always there for you, Lil. You know that.”
A figure clad in black warm-ups, sporting a backward Blizzard ball cap, skated at them and loomed on the other side of the glass. She’d recognize that dazzling smile anywhere, and her heart knocked a little harder against her ribcage. She beamed back at “Mr. Cage.” His eyes strafed Derek, who gave him a frosty chin jerk before turning and leaving.
Gage yelled through the glass, his muffled voice asking if she wanted to lace up and join them. His grin broadened. She shook her head adamantly. Yeah, she hadn’t done that yet, self-conscious as she was by her wobbly ankles next to Gage’s smooth, even strides. The man was silk on ice.
Once more alone, Lily began a slow walk around the perimeter of the rink, taking pictures from different angles with her phone. Careful not to record the kids’ features or jersey numbers, she threw herself into capturing candid shots for social media. Number Six doing his part for the kids and the community.
Lingering a moment, pondering a different vantage point, she watched Daisy skirt a series of orange cones. She laughed inwardly at the huge helmet that seemed three times too big for her little body. All the mites wore them, reminding Lily of a gang of Dark Helmet clones from Spaceballs.
Daisy toppled to the ice and slid into oncoming skaters like a bowling ball heading for quaking pins. Lily sucked in a breath. Before she could let it out, Gage was there, easily scooping Daisy up and out of harm’s way. He set her upright on her skates, his big hand splayed across the width of her tummy. Bending over her, almost cradling her, he was telling Daisy something because her huge helmet bobbed vigorously. He released her, and she flew toward her teammates lining up for the next drill.
Lily’s heart stuttered for a beat before liquefying into a warm puddle of glop. Tears rushed up her throat and throbbed behind her eyes. She blinked furiously to keep them in check. Gage chose just that moment to look up at her, wave, and send her another smile that was probably meant to reassure her but about cut her off at the knees. What was wrong with her? Crap. She was so damn emotional lately.
Shaking it off, she told herself it was nothing more than a monthly surge of hormones. Except her monthlies never affected her. Not like this.
The session ended, and the kids corralled pucks before filing off the ice. Gage and two other men stacked the cones, skated the nets to the side, and gathered assorted debris. Lily made her way to the waiting area outside the locker rooms, glancing at the chattering mothers too absorbed to notice her.
“Goldilocks!” a rich, deep voice called playfully behind her. She wheeled, oddly gratified that Gage’s eyes were fastened on her. Only her. “Glad to see you could make it,” he breathed as he drew up beside her. He sent the moms a smile and a quick head bob.
“Derek was watching her, and he offered to bring her so I could finish up some errands.”
“Ah. That explains—”
“Would you like to grab some coffee somewhere?” she interrupted.
One side of his mouth hitched up in another smile. “Absolutely.”
They stopped at Caribou Coffee, where Gage let Lily treat him to a latte. Seated at a small round table by a fireplace, Daisy took turns drinking her hot chocolate and talking animatedly about the fluky goal she’d squeaked in during the scrimmage.
“That was a beauty five-hole, Daisy. You slid that sucker in right between his pads before he could close it down. Way to show the other kids how it’s done.” He held out his fist for a bump, then high-fived, middle-fived, and low-fived her.
Daisy beamed. “That’s Mr. Cage’s and my special handshake, Mommy.”
“It’s the goal-scorer’s handshake.” Gage winked at Lily before turning his eyes back to Daisy. “You can call me Coach, Daisy. All the other kids do.”
A very solemn nod. “I will, Mr. Cage.” She slurped her drink.
He reached out, hovering his hand by her cup. “You’re running low on whipped cream, kiddo. If your mom says it’s okay, why don’t I ask them to add more? Goal-scorers should get extra whipped cream.”
His heart-melting sweetness shot straight to Lily’s heart.
Daisy flashed her a gap-toothed hockey smile. “Can I, Mom? Pleeeeeeease?”
Lily wasn’t sure what touched her more: Daisy’s plea, Gage’s waggling eyebrows, or the fact the two seemed to be conspiring against her in good fun … like a family would.
She put up a mock protest and gave in quickly. Unable to stop herself, she tracked Gage as he headed to the counter, his powerful thighs visible in gym shorts, a long-sleeved, body-hugging T-shirt showing off his fine chiseled torso. The man had muscles on top of muscles; muscles in places Lily hadn’t known existed on the human body. Maybe she needed a refresher course in anatomy herself.
He still sported the backward ball cap, and his hair poked through the hole in front, tempting Lily to tug on it when he returned with a full cup of whipped cream. He sat and braced sculpted forearms on his impossibly thick thighs.
Is it hot in here, or
