Free Just In Time: An Alaskan Nights Novel by Addison Fox Page B

them are as good as you.”
    “Maybe if they played in a half-decent rink they might be. The kids must be scared half the time to take a hit or to play hard.”
    “I doubt that. Don’t you remember being fourteen and invincible?”
    “I’m thirty-four and I still feel that way.”
    “Modest as always.”
    He only grinned, finally relaxing now that the immediate threat of discovery was well past. “Did you expect anything less?”
    “No.”
    “Good.”
    The cool air felt good on his skin and that sense of invincibility roared up and grabbed him as he stared at her. The friendly camaraderie fled on swift feet as something deeper and more intense took its place.
    He wanted her.
    It was so simple, really. And once acknowledged, he was forced to accept the fact that the feelings for her—his need for her—had never really gone away.
    He’d simply buried it in hopes it might vanish with enough time and distance.
    His gaze roamed over her face, the lines so achingly familiar. The vivid, interesting brown eyes. The soft flush of pink that perpetually rode her cheekbones. The long, solid strength of her athletic body that was both strong and feminine at the same time.
    He reached for her hand, the simple gesture a tentative question as he tested the waters.
    “Roman!”
    The moment of awareness vanished as if it had never been. Avery pulled her hand away and turned toward the greeting, all the while putting a few feet of distance between them.
    Roman held back a curse and turned to face the interruption.

Chapter Six
    I f given the opportunity, Avery would have gladly strangled John Wilcox Jr. to within an inch of his life. His poor timing, coupled with that odd, worshipful expression the entire damn town seemed to take with Roman, chafed at her like sliding across the rink naked.
    He wasn’t a bad guy, per se, but he’d always lumped around town with about as much personality as his father. And now that he had a bona fide sports star in his rink—an event he could bandy about town for the next few days—he was sure as hell not going to let the moment go without a long, drawn-out conversation.
    “You had a good season, Roman. Damn good. I was sorry to see the Metros kicked out of the play-offs.”
    “Not as sorry as I was,” Roman quipped with a good-natured smile to round it out.
    The tall form and stature she’d noted before grew impressively aloof as he shifted into what she often thought of as his “on-camera” mode. His vivid green eyes lost their luster, and the pitch of his deep voice altered. What came out the other side was a guarded, near-automaton set of responses she’d have bet her last dollar had been used before.
    “What do you think next year looks like?”
    “Management’s working on some acquisitions over the off season. We’ll see when training kicks off again.”
    “You like your odds?”
    Roman’s smile amped up until he practically glowed like a hundred-watt bulb, and patted John’s shoulder. “I always like my odds, buddy.”
    Lost in the glow, John just nodded and smiled back, and Avery marveled at the change in the guy. Where he usually barely tolerated everyone, John was practically ready to do figure eights down the ice.
    “Look, John. I wanted to ask a favor of you, if I could.”
    “Of course. Anything.”
    “I’m going to be giving the kids a few lessons over the next couple of weeks and I noticed the boards are looking a bit rough. I’d like to talk to Sophie about getting the town rallied around this place to help fix things up.”
    “Sure thing.”
    “Great. You’ll be hearing from me.” Roman gave him a quick handshake and turned for the door. “We’re going to get going. I’ll be in touch.”
    “I look forward to it.”
    Roman ushered her out the door, and Avery didn’t even bother with a backward glance. She might have been invisible for all John cared.
    “He looks like you just asked him to the prom,” she muttered as they cleared the front