14. Intermission

CHAPTER 14

INTERMISSION

BIG D

I'm pumped. My cowgirl is supposed to be here tonight at the first of two games in San Antonio. But I haven't spotted Kallie yet. I get a text during the break at the first period.

Kallie: I made it. You look hot on the ice.

A goofy grin can't help but hit my lips.

Cody: Hot for you. Meet me at the next intermission. I need your lips.

Kallie: I think I'll make you earn it, cowboy.

Cody: Tell me how. I'll do it.

Kallie: Score.

Cody: Get your lips ready.

I imagine her with red lipstick and don't give a fuck if I end up with it all over me as I play on the ice. The pressure is on because I'm dying to kiss her again, but I can handle it.

The entire second period, I chase the puck, eager to score and claim my prize. When I get the round rubber disk, I hoard it and shoot, but it deflects off the goalie's glove. Beau and Saint grumble at me, because I could have passed to them, as they might have had better shots. Before the period ends, though, I rack up two assists to Beau's goals.

Coming up scoreless at the second intermission in the locker room, I check the texts.

Kallie: Nice assists. But no score no lips. Until later.

I hate her teasing. I'll find her now and take what I want.

Cody: Where are you sitting?

Kallie: Up in the nosebleeds.

Cody: Why didn't you take the seat I had reserved for you?

I pulled some strings to get her a seat near our bench, although being Campbell's daughter, she could probably have gotten any seat in the house she desired. With her front and center, I wanted to show off, to blow her kisses and winks as I flew by.

I would have easier access to kiss her between periods.

Kallie: I like the view from up here and I didn't want to distract you.

Little does she know it is distracting. She's here and I can't see her beautiful face.

I put up with it, and charge ahead into the final period. We're tied and going for it, not giving the San Antonio Stars any breathing room. In the last minutes of the game, we're on the power play and Duke pulls Storm out of the net, putting an extra player on the ice. Beau has the puck and charges down as we get into position.

He sends it across to Saint, who doesn't see a shot, so he ricochets it to me. I definitely don't have a shot with two Stars players on me like glue. I sail it around the boards, and we all adjust and move closer. Their goalie fights to keep an eye on the puck as we keep it moving.

Our center, Miller, comes away with it from the boards. He and Beau play a passing game, back and forth, until they finally see an opening. Miller shoots, but it hits high on the bar of the net and curves toward me. It smacks my shoulder pad, then lands in front of me, perfectly mating with my stick. In a split second, I see a clear path to the net. One slap shot will do it nicely.

I shoot, sending it flying under the crossbar at top-notch speed, right as the buzzer sounds. We win.

"Yeah!" I fist pump the air. The guys pile around me, all of us yelling, happy to advance in the standings. So far this season we've stayed at the top of our division. Barring any changes to our lineup, which can happen anytime since we send up players to the Vipers when they need it, if we keep playing like this, then we'll end up in a solid run for the cup.

I scan the nosebleeds before I exit the ice, but don't see any sign of my auburn-haired beauty.

"Nice work tonight, team," Duke applauds us in the locker room once we all settle down from celebrating the win. My knee bounces, waiting for him to finish his speech, knowing Kallie is out there somewhere. My cock can hardly stay down; he's about to reunite with the best cowgirl pussy on the planet.

Finally, we're released, of course, with the usual warnings from him to keep out of trouble until our second game here tomorrow.

The guys stay out of my way as I bully into the showers. They've been warned I want to be the first in, first done, and why. Of course, my request came with a lot of ribbing from them all, but they'd do the same if they had a chick they were dying to meet. These are the best friends and teammates I could have ever asked for. They all wish me well as I dress and leave.

I rush out to find Kallie. When I spot her at the players' entrance, she appears differently to me. Her hair is drawn up under a gray stocking cap, not a speck of auburn showing. Her black trench coat collar stands up, like she's hiding her face. And her top isn't visible, but jeans with a hole in the knee and a pair of tennis shoes peek out below the black hem of the coat. I almost think she doesn't want anyone to recognize her as the daughter of a very rich man.

But someone must, as she stands there, speaking with an older couple. Their backs are to me and all I see is white hair above green and yellow sweatshirts, the colors for the San Antonio team.

Kallie catches my eye, a warning in hers as I approach, giving her head a slight shake. I'm not sure what's going on, but I slow up and stop about five feet behind them, and listen in on the conversation.

"Mom's fine. You know, busy with her various charities," she grins. We've talked little of Mrs. Campbell. I make a mental note to do so soon.

"Well, give her our best. Tell her to come on down to San Antonio to visit soon. Oh, and we're looking forward to your wedding. We heard from our daughter, Patricia, in Austin that your father contracted with her to plan the event. I'm glad to hear you worked things out with that fellow of yours. Take care, dear," the woman replies and squeezes her arm. Then the pair walk away, leaving both of us stunned and staring at each other.

Did I just hear that right? I don't make a move to close the distance, my jaw too heavy to scrape off the floor. She doesn't move to me either.

"Say something," she whispers after a minute.

"Wedding?" My eyebrows raise to my hairline and I snort.

Her mouth opens and closes, with the sorriest facial expression, like she came here to break my heart.

I don't know what to think, and just shake my head, sauntering past her. I jam my free hand into my pocket so I won't grab her and hold on to her tightly. My other hand holds the bag I'd packed for our romantic weekend over my shoulder. It holds fancy bath bubbles, candles, and more.

"Cody stop. Talk to me. Where are you going?" Her footsteps chase after me. For every one of mine, I hear four of hers.

"Well, seeing how I rented us a little Air BNB for the weekend that's supposed to have a beautiful bathtub, I'm going there. I paid for it. I might as well use it," I gripe, walking faster, and shift my hold on the bag. The two glasses and bottle of champagne clink together in it.

Jeez, I went all out for her. A chef should show up to the rental soon to cook an intimate dinner for two tonight. I have roses being delivered in the morning for her. A fresh box of condoms is in the bag, of course. I even bought her a gold necklace with a horseshoe charm on the end of it. Nothing too fancy, but all I could afford right now.

Yeah, I had our entire time planned together. Wine, dine, sixty-nine, plenty of talking, a helluva lot of sex. With every intention of claiming my cowgirl for three days straight when I'm not on the ice.

But she's not mine. Probably never was to begin with.

"I'm not marrying him," she cries, catching up to me, tugging at my sleeve. "Please stop."

I halt in the middle of the parking lot, most of it empty now after the game. Facing her, I can hardly bring myself to look into her eyes. "What, Kallie? What am I missing here? Am I just a plaything? He cheated on you, so you're getting back at him with me?"

"No. Absolutely not. I told you I'm done with him."

"You say that, and yet there's a wedding planner apparently circling some date in red on her calendar for you to merry the asswipe."

"That's all my father's doing. I haven't agreed to merry Jeremy."

"I told you about his past, Kallie. You told me how he's treated you. Do you want to end up like Zoe?"

"No, but I can't just pick up and go. I have a plan?—"

"What do you want, revenge?"

She crosses her arms under her breasts, heaving from our argument.

"Jesus. You do."

"For all the crap these two men have put me through… Yeah, sometimes I see red. I want to get back at them." She points off to the side like they stand right there.

"Come on. You're beautiful and smart. You could live anywhere else, get a job, and be free of them?—"

"I'm doing it for the money, okay?"

I blink. My head jerks back. "What the hell are you talking about?"