Free Home Ice by Rachelle Vaughn

less, he couldn’t for fear of looking like a complete raving lunatic.
    Crazed, Lunatic Hockey Player Chases After Strawberry Goddess.
    Thank goodness for Dom and his charming Don Juan personality. His rugged good looks were like a magnet for chicks and their phone numbers. It was because of Dom that he had acquired the Strawberry Goddesses best friend’s phone number. Those seven digits were better than any winning lottery numbers. They had brought him one step closer to his mysterious blonde. All he had had to do was make one phone call.
    And now he knew that her name was Ally. Ally Monroe. It sounded like a movie star’s name. He also found out a few other bits of information from her chatty best friend. Izzy had been happy to divulge the information. Come to think of it, Izzy had been very happy to divulge the information. She seemed like the type of girl who liked to share a little too much information. But it didn’t matter, Izzy was his link to Ally.
    Ben could imagine getting to know Ally and being comfortable around her. He didn’t know what had come over him, but it was a new feeling. A good feeling. Besides, it had been a long, tough season and he had a few months off that he sure didn’t want to spend alone.
    And now, if he played his cards right, he might not have to.

Chapter Seven
    Moose and Coffee
     
    Every time the vet’s door opened and the little bell signaled someone coming in to Kaufmann Animal Hospital, Ally’s heart dropped to her feet. And then when she looked up and saw it wasn’t him, she would scoop it back up again and remember how to do her job.
    Ally didn’t even know when, or more importantly if , Ben was coming in anyway. She had been silly to think that their thirty second conversation had meant anything to someone of his stature. Why would he want to give her the time of day when she had ran into him like a linebacker?
    Ally hadn’t had a chance to look at the appointment book to see if he had made an appointment for today. Lynn’s handwriting was nearly impossible to read anyway. Ally didn’t even know if he had any pets. Oh well, the element of surprise would be a good way to shake things up. This whole situation had been a complete surprise, so why not continue the fun? Why stop now?
    Things started to pick up around late morning at the hospital. There was a steady stream of cats and dogs coming and going for appointments as well as phone calls and people coming in to purchase flea and heart worm medication. Business was definitely doing better.
    By the time things in the office started to die down from their busy morning, Ally forgot all about her conversation with Izzy.
    Once again, the bell jingled as an older woman came in looking pensive.
    “Hi, Mrs. Bradford,” Ally greeted her with a smile from behind the counter. “You’re here to pick up your cat, Lolly, right?” Mrs. Bradford answered with a single nod. “Let me just go and get her for you. I‘ll be right back.”
    Ally went to the back room to retrieve Lolly, a fluffy white Persian who had an unfortunate run-in with an angry Rottweiler. While she was in the back, Ally heard another customer come in the door. She hoped the day’s business was a good sign for the Kaufmann’s future. Talking softly to the frightened feline, Ally loaded Lolly into her carrier and went back up to the front desk.
    “Here she is, Mrs. Bradford. Just try to keep her indoors for a few days while everything heals.” She handed the old woman the pet carrier and Mrs. Bradford snatched it away from Ally, paid her bill and hurried out the door.
    Ally turned her attention to the customer standing off to the side who had come in while she was in the back room. He had his back turned to her and was looking out the window at the cars passing by. “May I help you?” she asked sweetly in her ‘work voice’.
    The man turned around.
    Ally gulped.
    It was him .
    Ben. Ben Price. Hockey Player Extraordinaire.
    “Hi.” He stood there looking