Free The Definition of Icing: A Dallas Demons Hockey Romance (Dallas Demons Series) by Aven Ellis

right.”
    Now there’s a weird feeling of dread and excitement coursing through me. We all get out of the car, with Amanda holding Bella on her hip and Claire grasping my hand.
    “Why is your hand wet, Auntie Kenley?” Claire asks.
    Lexi snorts. “Nervous much?”
    I feel my cheeks burn, and I ignore Lexi.
    “It’s hot,” I say simply. “I’m sweaty. I’m sorry.”
    We enter the coffeehouse, and it’s complete madness inside. There’s a huge cardboard cutout of Nate, explaining the promotion, and people are taking pictures with it. Then there’s a line of people at the counter, snapping pictures of him handing out drinks in the drive-through lane.
    And there are lots of Puck Sluts, all filling out forms and jamming them into the box to win a Date With Nate .
    “Oh, wow, this is a fundraiser for animal rescue,” Lexi says, reading the cardboard cutout with Nate’s image on it. “It says all the proceeds from today will go to a no-kill shelter.”
    Animals must be a passion of Nate’s, I think.
    “Ladies, time to fill out forms,” Amanda declares, waving a handful in front of me and Lexi.
    “Oh no,” I say, shaking my head. “Absolutely not. This is mortifying enough.”
    Lexi rolls her eyes. “Hello, Nate would be thrilled if you won.”
    “Mommy! Can I have a muffin?” Claire asks.
    “Sure, baby,” Amanda says.
    “We’ll get in line for the muffin,” Lexi says. “You can fill out forms.”
    “Great,” Amanda says. “Oh, Claire, see those people leaving up there? Let’s get that table.”
    Then Amanda takes the kids and races to the open table. I turn to Lexi, who is grinning at me.
    “You’re going to be dead to me after this day,” I tease.
    “I’m going to be your bridesmaid after this day.”
    “Would you please stop with that?”
    Lexi laughs. “Just calling it like I see it.”
    We get into the long line, and I watch as Lexi casually sips her iced mocha.
    “What on earth do you see, anyway?” I ask. “Nate gave us drinks. So what?”
    Lexi sighs. “Oh, I don’t know. The way Nate got on the mic the second he heard your name? The way he teases you? Paid for our drinks? Oh and stared at you the entire time we were in front of his face?”
    I begin blushing. “But he turned me down.”
    “Sometimes we all do things we don’t mean,” Lexi says slowly. “Because his eyes don’t match his words, that’s for damn sure.”
    We inch up in line, and Nate is chatting and taking photos with the drive-through customers. I watch how he interacts with his fans, and he genuinely seems to be enjoying himself.
    When we are about fourth in line, Nate switches to handing out orders at the counter. I shift my gaze to the menu board, trying to act cool.
    “He’s looking,” Lexi whispers in my ear.
    “Did I just flashback to high school?” I quip, thinking of how many times we whispered that to each other over a boy.
    “Trust me, Nate’s looking.”
    Butterflies shift through me at that thought. I don’t know what to think. Nate doesn’t want to date me, but he can’t stop staring at me?
    Now it’s our turn. I smile nervously at Nate as we stand face-to-face.
    “I didn’t know you were coming today,” Nate says.
    “I didn’t either,” I say. I turn and nudge Lexi on the shoulder. “This one here knew about it and suggested we go.”
    “Lexi, right?” Nate asks.
    “Yes, hi,” she says, her voice reflecting surprise he remembered her name.
    “Well I’m glad you came,” he says, shifting his attention back to me.
    Okay. Okay. He’s not acting like a guy who is disgusted and freaked out about my status from last night.
    The jazzy coffeehouse music cuts off overhead.
    “Hello, my name is Andy Gregson, the owner of The Roast and Grind,” a man up front with a microphone says. “Thank you to everyone for coming out to support Purr & Wag Rescue, and to welcome our newest member of the World Champion Dallas Demons, Nate Johansson, to our city.”
    A big cheer goes up