10. Nick

CHAPTER 10

NICK

D amn if Sydney Porter wasn’t the prettiest, sexiest, most amazing woman on the planet.

Too bad we worked together now. What could I do about that? I understood where Sydney was coming from—I was charming and all, but she wanted her career, too. She’d worked hard to get to where she was and didn’t want to blow that on a relationship.

Even if what we had was different, special.

I was gonna have to work this out—and fast—because Christmas was right around the corner and then we’d be back at the office and on the field and my time would be up.

I rolled my shoulders back, just like I did before a big game, took a few deep breaths. I could work this out, I just needed a minute to think.

“Nick, you ready to go?” my mom called up the stairs. It was almost time for the annual Ugly Sweater party at the Randall’s house down the street.

“Just a sec, Mom,” I said, sticking my head around the doorframe, then shutting the door behind me. I stared at the bathroom door, willing Sydney to come out. Nothing; quieter than a silent night.

“Syd? You ready?” I rapped lightly on the door.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” she said, her voice muffled.

“Does the sweater not fit?”

“Oh, it fits.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

Sydney opened the door and stepped out and my face broke into a wide grin.

“You look hot, what are you talking about?” I did a quick spin around her, nodding my approval. The sweater clung to her in all the right places and her ass looked great in her dark-rinse tight jeans.

“Meowy Christmas? Really?” She shot a disgusted look at the green sweater featuring a huge black and white cat wearing a Santa hat.

“What? I think that’s awesome. Mine’s not any better,” I said, pointing at the brown dog holding a microphone and singing “Feliz Navidog.”

She shook her head, her dark hair falling across her left eye. “You’re absolutely right. They’re both disasters.”

“Selfie time!” I cried, whipping out my cell.

“Wait—what? We said no pictures!” she cried, pushing the phone away.

“I said I wouldn’t post photos, I didn’t say I wouldn’t take them. Come on—this is a great photo op!”

“Fine,” she sighed, plastering a smile on her face and striking a pose. “You are so going to owe me after this, Nick.”

I snapped several pics, our faces pressed so close together I caught the scent of her rose perfume, the smell of her vanilla lip gloss. I resisted kissing it right off her lips since my mother was waiting on us.

“It’ll be fun, swear,” I said, snaking an arm around her waist, appreciating the feel of her soft curves against me.

“It better be because I’m not wearing something this festive for nothing.”

“Where’s your Christmas spirit, Syd?” I teased, nudging her in the ribs.

“The North Pole,” she deadpanned as we walked down the stairs.

“Don’t you two look great,” my mom said, smiling. “Your father already drove Gran over. She was very concerned about missing all the good canapes. I said we’d walk over.”

Sydney and I followed my mom out of the house into the chilly night air, our breath puffs of white against the jet-black sky. My mom locked the door, then we headed down the street to the Randall’s house. They lived four doors down from us, so we’d be there in two minutes, which was great because it was unseasonably cold.

“The Lighthouse Tour is going to be brisk,” my mom said, pulling her coat tight against her body to block out the wind. “I think I might pass on it if it’s this cold tomorrow night.”

“Me too,” Sydney chimed in.

“Nope, not a chance. You have to see the lighthouses, Syd, they’re magical. Best part of Starlight Bay at Christmas.”

“I thought the tree was the best part. Then it was the Ugly Sweater party. Now it’s the Lighthouse Tour,” Sydney said, her voice teasing, her dark eyes glittering in the moonlight.

“It’s all pretty great,” I said, pulling her in closer to me, squeezing her to my body.

My mom glanced over at us, starry-eyed. “You’ll love it, Sydney. You should definitely go, it’s worth doing. Here we are.”

The Randall’s had gone all out for the party; the house was lit up like, well, a Christmas tree. Airplanes could probably see it from the sky, it was so freaking bright, all glittery white lights, complete with huge blow-up snow globes and figurines in the yard.

“Ho, ho, ho!” Mr. Randall said, flinging the door open in greeting. “Great to see you, Nick! You too, Catherine! Nick, I’m so glad you’re back home for Christmas! You locking in a Championship Ring this year?” He patted me on the back, ushering us in.

“I hope so. This is my girlfriend, Sydney.”

He shook Sydney’s hand, then took our coats. “All the food’s in the kitchen. You know everyone here, make yourself at home!”

My mom grabbed a glass of champagne from the table, then headed out to find my dad and Gran, leaving us alone in the kitchen. Jazzy Christmas music played softly in the background and candles flickered, creating a nice cozy vibe.

“Syd, you have to try this drink.” I grabbed a crystal pitcher, pouring pink liquid into a glass rimmed with sugar and pre-garnished with mint and lime. “It’s the one Nate was talking about, the signature drink of the party—they serve it every year. It’s called the Ugly Sweater and it’s awesome!”

“Didn’t Nate say to go easy on this?” she asked, narrowing her eyes at the sparkling beverage.

“It’s fine, he got carried away one year, that’s all.” I poured myself a glass as well, then we knocked our cups together. “Cheers!”

“Mmm, it’s delicious,” Sydney said, taking another drink.

“Right? Told you.” We grabbed a few appetizers, plus a refill of our punch, then headed into the main living room area, towards the soft rumble of conversation.

“Nick, what’s up?” My buddy Jackson and his girlfriend Harper made their way over to us. “Nick, Harper; Harper, Nick.”

“Bro! Great to see you!” I said, patting him on the shoulder. “Nice to meet you, Harper. Thanks for the sweater.” I nodded in Sydney’s direction and she blushed. “This is my girlfriend, Sydney. Syd, Jackson and I went to school together before this crazy kid went off to college and then to the NHL.”

“Ah, another athlete in the house,” Sydney said, smiling at him.

“Retired,” Jackson said, shoving a hand in his jeans pocket. “Now I’m in construction. Family business. Harper and I work together, actually, renovating houses.”

“That’s fun,” Sydney said.

“It is,” Harper chimed in, brushing her hair over her shoulder. “I never thought I’d be doing this type of work, but it’s going great.”

“I heard you guys got a TV gig?” I elbowed Jackson; he was one of the least likely people I knew to be on a reality TV show, mainly because he was private and even a little shy.

“We did!” Harper said, with bubbly enthusiasm. “Filming is so fun; I love it!”

Jackson wrapped his arm around Harper and it all came together for me. The only reason he was on television was most definitely Harper.

“I knew you looked familiar!” Sydney said, biting the corner of her lip. “I think I saw an episode where you guys had a rotted tree fall on the house?”

Jackson groaned. “Yeah. That was a freaking disaster.”

“But you saved it, babe,” Harper said, beaming up at Jackson. He shot her a grateful smile and I knew these two were the perfect match.

“Sydney, you need a refill?” I asked, eyeing her empty glass.

“Sure,” she nodded.

“We can get it,” Harper said, linking arms with Sydney. “You both want refills, too?”

“I’ll just take a beer,” I said. Jackson echoed me and the girls walked off towards the kitchen.

“Looks like things are going good with you and Harper, huh?” I asked Jackson.“Yeah, man. Things are great.”

“Like, how great? Marrying great?”

Jackson swallowed, but shook his head in the affirmative. “I think so, man. She’s pretty freaking perfect.”

“I’m happy for you, man. That’s awesome.” I clapped him on the back, congratulating him.

“How about you and Sydney? She seems cool.”

My stomach tightened, my pulse quickening. “She is great.” I dropped my voice, so only Jackson could hear, leaning in closer to him. “But she started working as publicist for the team while I was out in Arizona, so all of this is on the DL. I somehow have to convince her to either break HR rules—or I don’t know what.” My voice trailed off, anxiety buzzing through me.

“Ugh, that’s tough. Harper and I had to work out some career drama, too, but once we made it through that, it’s been smooth sailing.” A slow, contented smile spread over Jackson’s face; he looked happier than a kid on Christmas morning.

“That’s great, man. I’m really thrilled for you. If you have any good ideas on dealing with team HR rules, let me know.”

He scrubbed a hand through his dark hair. “I’ll think on it. But I know how tricky those regulations are.”

“Yeah.” I swallowed, my throat dry all of a sudden.

Luckily, the girls came back with the drinks and we spent time chatting about holiday plans, football, and hockey. All the common themes with us. Sydney and Harper really hit it off, giggling about everyone’s ugly sweaters and how quaint Starlight Bay was, how much they loved it here. It was nice to hear Sydney was having a good time.

She threw her head back, laughing, her cheeks flushed with happiness (and Ugly Sweater punch), and my heart squeezed hard deep in my chest.

How could I just let her walk away, back out of my life again?

Short answer: I couldn’t. I needed to find some way for Sydney to keep her job and our relationship.

Sydney was all I wanted for Christmas.