She tugged on a purple knit hat. "How was practice?"
"About what I expected it to be." He adjusted his grip on his travel bag, securing it on his shoulder.
Her foot slid forward and her gasp tore through him. He lunged to help her and skidded on the slick surface. They grabbed onto each other's arms. He widened his stance and shifted his body, grinning when she did the same. Years of being on skates had taught him how to control his center of gravity. Kelsey had no doubt learned that too.
Her grin matched his, turning her from a stunning ice goddess to something warm and radiant and real. He didn't mind the icy droplets hitting his face and neck. They clung to Kelsey's hair, melting like crystals into a dark lake. But after a moment, cold set in, stinging his hands and nose in a sharp reminder of the elements.
He made himself let go but he stayed close until they reached her car.
She turned the heater on full blast and urged him to make use of the car's heated seat feature. He set it on seventy-five, hoping the heat would help dry his clothes.
In the confined space, her perfume permeated his senses, teasing with hints of summer and sunshine. As she navigated the roads, she told him about the closest grocery store and shopping complexes by the hotel.
Impressed, he settled back, content to listen to her voice for hours. "Do you have the entire city memorized?"
"Not yet. I live near your hotel, so I know that area pretty well."
He filed that information away, both comforted and unnerved that she was close by.
By the time they reached the rental car place, the sleet had turned to freezing rain. Desperate to get out of the elements, Leo selected the first SUV he saw. "After years of being in L.A., all I want is something that'll be good in the ice and snow."
Kelsey inspected the car with him, then disappeared while he fiddled with the controls. Minutes later, she returned and thrust an ice scraper into his hand. "Here. Your car doesn't have one, and you might not think to buy one."
Touched, he turned it over, smiling at the purple leopard print. "Don't you need it?"
"I have three in my car." A faint blush crept into her cheeks. Or maybe it was just due to the cold. He couldn't tell. But the way her gaze held his... and the way she bit her lip... his fingers itched to dive into her hair and pull her close.
Footsteps crunched through the ice and slush. Leo forced himself to look away from the bewitching blue-gray eyes. He eased back as the rental car employee returned.
No matter how attractive he found her to be, he had to keep in mind her words. She didn't seem to have a problem with him professionally. But what happened with Dylan couldn't help but make her unhappy with him personally. He was only going to be in town until the end of the season anyway. No sense in trying to start something new when he was already picturing his exit.
THE FOLLOWING DAY, his first game as a member of the Bedlam, he stood in the tunnel, blood pumping as the PA announcer called each player's name. Celek was in front of him. The crowd cheered at his name and louder when he hit the ice.
Leo shifted his stance from skate to skate, anxious to get the game underway and curious about the fans' reaction.
Behind him, Vince tapped him with his stick. "Good luck."
He nodded.
"Number fifty-five, Leo Brennan!"
Adrenaline flowing, he hit the ice. Boos rained down from every direction, loud and long. He'd told himself to expect it. Told himself not to care. Told himself he'd show them.
But still, the reception deflated some of his energy. He skated to a stop next to Celek on the blue line. The dark-skinned player gave him a nod. "Let's kick some ass."
At Vince's name, the crowd again cheered. When he joined Leo, lining up for the anthem, he again tapped him. "In some countries, booing means they love you."
Right. Still he laughed. "Thanks, Vince."
He'd kept the spot on the first line, centering Celek and Kreider. The game was hard fought, and scoreless. Halfway through the third period, he used his size, battling with a defenseman for space around the goal crease. The puck flew by, followed by a rush of bodies. He out-muscled the Florida defender and poked the puck toward Celek.
The winger fired the shot. The puck sailed over the goalie's head and hit the back of the net.
The goal horn sounded and the crowd roared. Leo skated toward his celebrating teammates. Celek and Kreider hugged and then the defensemen, Vince and Dan, piled on. Celek turned toward him and extended his gloved hand for a fist bump. Grateful they weren't snubbing him, Leo returned the gesture.
"Goal by number twenty-one, Anton Celek." The PA announcer's voice rang out, and the crowd cheered. "Assist by number fifty-five, Leo Brennan."
A smattering of applause followed, along with a couple of boos.
Leo shook it off and skated to the bench.
When the game ended, in a Buffalo win of one-nothing, he still felt very much like an outsider.
Kelsey and her camera crew stopped him in the hallway outside the locker room. She wore a Bedlam T-shirt and jeans, and the overhead light teased red highlights hidden within her deep brown tresses. "Can I ask you a few questions?"
Breathing hard and dripping sweat, he wanted to shower, not stand there and deflect questions unprepared. Especially anything about Dylan... But if he could deal out the hits, then he could damned well take the questions. And it would be worth it to have a few more minutes with Kelsey. "Sure."
She stood close to him, lifted her microphone, and smiled at the camera. "We're live with the Bedlam's newest addition, Leo Brennan. Leo, how was your first game?"
He'd been
