Authors: Elizabeth Moynihan
“Oh, I don’t know. You’re pretty wonderful yourself,” Jordan answered with a smile, pulling Chloe into her arms and holding her tightly, one hand brushing tenderly over her tussled hair, her eyes filling with heartfelt tears as Chloe returned the hug.
Reluctantly Jordan released Chloe, blinking back her own tears as she brushed away Chloe’s. “I have something I want you to wear tonight,” Jordan began, slipping the diamond and pearl band ring from its place in front of her wedding band. “Aleksei gave me this ring while I was stuck in that stupid coma after the accident, and I truly believe it helped bring me back to him,” Jordan explained slipping the ring onto Chloe’s left hand.
“Jordan, I can’t,” Chloe began, shaking her head in disbelief, and trying to pull her hand from Jordan’s.
Jordan long fingers held tightly. “Yes, you can. This ring will bring you strength and all you’ll have to do is look at it and know that it’s a symbol of love, and faith and know that we all stand behind you, whatever your decision.”
Chloe looked at the band of diamonds and pearls that circled the ring finger on her left hand, the soft pink tones of the pearls and sparks of rainbow colors from the diamonds danced in the air. She could feel the heat of the golden metal, still warm from Jordan’s body, penetrating her cold finger and something else; a surge of faith, or determination, maybe, a strength that suddenly made her feel capable of almost anything.
And she started to believe.
In his own room, Sergei had given up any pretense of sleeping three hours before, his own mind refusing to shut out the hurtful words that had passed between he and Chloe. His elbows resting across the stark white pillows, his head rested in his open hands, as he contemplated the ceiling overhead, the sheet riding low on his hips as his broad chest lay bare to the early morning light that streamed through the parted curtains.
He’d watched the sun rise through those parted curtains, and longed to share the beauty of the sun casting its rosy rays over the nearby mountain tops with Chloe. But his stubborn pride had held him back, and the fear that he might never skate with her again, if they skated tonight, made him go cold. Why couldn’t he find the right words to explain how much he feared for her well being, that he was only thinking of what was best for her? Running his hands through his dark hair, he groaned in frustration, and cast a look toward the door as two quick knocks sounded and, at his answer, opened.
“We’re heading over to the hospital to pick up Dani and Hunter,” Aleksei stated, having poked his head into the room, his gaze taking in the rumpled bedclothes and Sergei’s exhausted look.
“Will they let her out this early?” Sergei asked, sitting up, the sheet falling to his waist and leaving his broad shoulders and wide chest bare to the early morning light. Looking at the clock, he scowled, it was just before eight in the morning.
Aleksei’s broad shoulders lifted in a casual shrug. “You know your sister, they can let her out or she’ll let herself out.”
Sergei could only smile and shake his head in exasperation as the mental image of his sister doing just that flashed through his mind. “She’s one tough bird. I keep hoping she’ll develop a little patience.”
Aleksei agreed with his son’s assessment on a deep laugh. “You’re right about that, but I’d watch the way you voice that particular sentiment around her or you’re liable to find yourself a dead duck!”
“Don’t I know it,” Sergei agreed with a smile, only to have the smile fade away as he quietly asked, “Is she going to be able to skate tonight?”
Aleksei’s head shook back and forth. “We don’t know. I suppose we’ll find out soon, since, according to Hunter, she’s be trying to finagle ice time to see if she can skate. Since her jaw isn’t broken, only bruised, she feels she may be able to skate with her jaw as it is.”
“She’s been on the phone this morning looking for ice?” Sergei couldn’t believe his sister was that crazy–or stupid! “The doctor told her to keep her jaw movements to a minimum, they specifically told her the less she talked the better off she’d be!”
“She hasn’t been talking, she’s been busy scribbling notes and having Hunter doing all the talking. At this point, he’s so frustrated because she won’t listen to anyone that he’d happily strangle her, and is more than willing to do so. He even went so far as to ask if we had any real objections to the deed being done!” Aleksei explained with a laugh.
“Sounds like Dani’s wrapped another male around her little finger,” Sergei suggested, the small smile that curved his lips not reaching his dark eyes.
“That possibility is something I don’t even want to consider at the moment, so please keep your suggestions to yourself,” Aleksei said lowly. He’d seen the signs of attraction between Dani and Hunter, but seeing them and actually acknowledging them were two very different things. He’d worry about this particular subject at a later date. “I’m more concerned about you and Chloe. Have you spoken with her this morning yet?”
Sergei only shook his head back and forth, his eyes drifting toward the sheer curtains that the sun slid through and hoped for answers.
Patiently, Aleksei waited as his son gathered his thoughts.
“I feel as if I’m perched on the edge of a cliff in a wind storm. On one hand, I’m tempted to jump and fly, feel the exhilarating freedom, if only for a few seconds and worry about landing when the time comes. On the other hand, I know how much I stand to lose and I’m not sure I can rationalize the risk for a few moments of glory.”
“If Chloe is willing to accept the risk, why can’t you? She stands to lose much more than you do if she makes a bad decision, she’s looking at possibly the end of her career. You, on the other hand, could always either go back to singles, or always find another partner,” Aleksei stated off hand, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly.
Sergei’s dark eyes flashed with fire. “Are you fucking nuts! I don’t want another partner and I sure as hell don’t want to go back to being a single! On the ice, with Chloe, is where I want to be, and nothing and nobody is going to tell me otherwise!” He growled darkly, throwing the blankets out of his way, jumping out of the bed and walking toward his father.
“Where are you going?” Aleksei asked his son, stepping aside as Sergei stalked past him.
“To talk to Chloe!”
Aleksei watched his son stalk across the floor of the suite, knock once on the partially closed door of Chloe’s room, and then push the door open. Determinedly he entered the room, his dark gaze taking in his mother, who sat beside Chloe on the bed, and Chloe’s surprised look.
Without a word, he walked up to her, his dark gaze holding her brilliant blue gaze captive. Reaching her side, his hands gently cradled her face, his dark eyes blazing with emotion and he placed a heated kiss on her lips. “We’re skating tonight and I don’t want to hear another word about it!” he growled deeply, bestowing a second kiss before he turned and stalked back out of the room.
Jordan looked at Chloe’s flushed, confused expression in amusement. “Well, I’d say that answers your question as to whether or not you’ll have a partner tonight.”
Chloe’s shaking fingertips traced over her tingling lips, and tried to put a coherent thought together. “What just happened?” she finally mumbled, still trying to stop her swirling mind.
“It looked to me as if my son agreed to skate with you tonight,” Jordan answered calmly, a wide smile curving her lips.
“Oh, okay,” Chloe could only mumbled dazedly, suddenly exhausted and struggling to remain alert.
Jordan gently pushed Chloe back into a laying position and pulled the blanket up to her chin. “I think this would be a perfect time for you to take a nap. Aleksei and I are going to go get Dani and Hunter from the hospital; I’d suggest you take advantage of the quiet.”
Jordan left the room, closing the door quietly behind her; pretty sure Chloe hadn’t even heard her last words before she’d drifted into an exhausted sleep.
On the other side of the suite, Sergei had collapsed onto his own bed, exhausted and unaware as his father covered him with the bedspread and kissed his head, whispering “Sweet dreams,” before he left the room.
Joining his wife in the living room area of the suite, they exchanged knowing looks, sighed deep sighs of relief. “Suppose we go rescue Hunter from our daughter?” Aleksei asked quietly.
“I think it may be too late to rescue him from Dani,” Jordan answered cryptically.
Aleksei cringed, shaking his head in denial. “Don’t say things like that, Jordan. I don’t know if I’m ready to deal with this particular subject just yet.”
“Well, you’re going to have to deal with it sometime,” Jordan countered, punching him lightly in the shoulder. “I’m not going to deal with our daughter’s raging hormones alone, you know?”
“Why do her hormones have to rage at all?” Aleksei complained, holding the door open and allowing his wife to proceed him into the hallway before closing the door behind them, making sure it was securely shut.
“Yours did, why shouldn’t hers?” Jordan countered.
“I’m a male; male hormones always rage!”
“Well I got news for you, bub, female hormones rage too!”
Aleksei shook his head in exasperation. “I’m getting too old to deal with raging hormones, mine or anyone else’s,” he complained, his look downright pouty, as they reached the bank of elevators and waited for the next available car.
“I’ll remember to remind you of that fact the next time you get that look in your eye and your hands start to wander,” Jordan teased her husband, catching the playful light that glimmered in his dark eyes.
When the elevator dinged its arrival and the doors whispered open, displaying an empty car, Aleksei’s look turned blatantly lecherous. “Going down?” he asked, his voice deep and sexy.
When they reached the lobby floor, and the doors opened, it was a decidedly flushed, slightly disheveled Jordan and a smirking Aleksei that stepped from the elevator car.
Maybe he wasn’t too old to deal with raging hormones!
J
ordan and Aleksei were greeted by a cold and deafening silence, when they walked into Dani’s hospital room, and were surprised to find Dani sitting up in her bed, the over-sized hospital gown barely staying on her slim shoulders. Determination and stubbornness had her forcefully holding a notepad toward Hunter who stood with his arms braced on the footboard of her bed. Slowly, he shook his head back and forth, obviously disagreeing with her strenuously, his answer one she clearly disagreed with.
“Looks like we arrived just in time. I’d say you two have a slight difference of opinion,” Aleksei stated with a low laugh, shaking his head at Hunter’s obvious exasperation with his daughter, as he walked to her and placed a kiss on the top of her head. “Morning sunshine,” he said against her silken hair.
“Sunshine?” Hunter snorted in disbelief, “She’s more like a fucking hurricane out of control and determined to destroy everything within a ten mile radius!” he growled dangerously.
Dani’s green eyes narrowed and the look she threw him was filled with fury, despite her sweeter-than-honey smile as she held up the notepad at him again.
“NO!”
Dani’s smile faded as she flipped her middle finger at him, ignoring her parent’s gasps of surprise and scolding words at her behavior.
“That’s it, you little witch!” Hunter stormed around the small room, his masculine ego raging magnificently. “I’m out of here. Your parents can deal with your infantile tantrums. No where in my job description does it say I have to tolerate brats!” He growled, yanking his jacket off the back of the chair, where he’d slept uncomfortably most of the night, and knocking it over when his sleeve caught on the arm. With a low growl, he righted the chair, sent Dani another furious look and marched toward the door.
“Hunter!” Dani’s voice was raspy, but filled with determination as she called to him, and he knew it to hurt her to even say his name.
Hunter stopped in the doorway, heaved a sigh of frustration and turned to face her. “What, Danielle?”
A warm rush of pleasure sent her senses tingling as his deep voice caressed her name. “Please,” she pleaded softly.
Hunter cast an uncomfortable glance toward Aleksei and Jordan, who returned his gaze with slightly confused and expectant expressions. Shaking his head in disbelief, he heaved a sigh of defeat, and treaded silently to Dani’s bedside. How had all this evolved? When had he lost control over not only the situation, but also himself? He doubted he would ever be able to understand how this stubborn young woman, that presently looked like a twelve year old with a bad case of bed-head, was so easily able to talk him into things he would have stood firm against only a few weeks ago. “What?” His voice was a low, sexy growl.
Dani held up the notepad again.
A low flush seemed to creep up Hunter’s neck and over his unshaven cheeks at her written words and Aleksei and Jordan both wished they were on the other side of the bed where they would have been able to see what this secret demand entailed.
“Does it have to be right this minute?” Hunter asked hesitantly, flushing a deeper red as he took in the curious looks from Aleksei and Jordan.
Dani’s head bobbed up and down.
“We can discuss this later,” Hunter offered.
Dani tapped the notepad intently and shook her head back and forth, mouthing the word “Now.”
Hunter cast a final look at Dani’s parents, only a few feet away, still silent and wearing curious expressions and shrugged his shoulders once. “Fine,” he relented, and took Dani’s face gently in his hands, their eyes meeting as he leaned toward her. Just before their lips met, he lifted his chin and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. “There,” he murmured, ignoring the startled gasps from Jordan and Aleksei as he gathered up his coat. “Now, if there’s nothing else, I’ll leave you two to deal with your daughter. I’ll catch a taxi back to the hotel and get cleaned up. Hopefully I can catch a quick nap before today’s problem shows itself.”
With a simple nod good-bye, he left the room, a small smile lifting the corners of his mouth as Aleksei’s deep voice asking Dani, “What the hell was that all about?” followed him down the hall.
“The question as to whether or not the pair team of Spenser and Rocmanov will continue their quest for their first gold meal has yet to be answered. The team, holding first place after their short program yesterday afternoon, are now having to face the reality of withdrawing from the competition after Ms. Spenser injured her foot last evening,” the sports announcer intoned sympathetically.
“After she was kidnapped by a fucking lunatic and had to kick her way out of a closet to escape!” Whittaker bellowed at the television in disgust.
“Frank, hush,” Dee demanded quietly, casting a glance toward the two still-closed bedroom doors behind which Chloe and Sergei hopefully still slept. “I want those two to get as much sleep as possible.”
“Ms. Spenser’s ex-partner, Andrew Manning, and his new partner, currently hold second place. To say there’s no love lost between these two teams is an understatement and I truly hope that if there’s some way for the team of Spenser and Rocmanov to skate, it’s done, because this is one competition that will be talked about for years to come!” the announcer commented.
“Ron, there have been comments made over the last few hours that Ms. Spenser’s injury may have been caused by her ex-partner, perhaps exacting revenge for her changing partners. Is there any truth to these particular comments?” The female news anchor asked flatly.
“Go get him, sweetheart!” Whittaker encouraged the news lady, smiling smugly when Ron’s expression faltered briefly, and a slight flush crept up his neck.
“It’s no secret, Jayne, that over the last few months allegations have been made by both parties, attorneys have come into play, restraining orders issued. Suffice it to say, figure skating is big business and like any big business, things can–and do-go wrong. I would hope that Ms. Spenser’s injuries happened as the result of an accident and not at the hands of her ex-partner. I suppose, like all things, in time we will have more information.”
“Thanks, Ron. We look forward to more information soon,” Jayne responded, sending him a chilly smile and returned her attention to the monitor before her, looking directly into the camera’s lens and smiling a warm, welcoming smile. “And next up, Mike will give us the forecast for this evening and let us know if we’ll be standing in miserable weather while we wait to see if Sergei and Chloe win their first gold medal! Stay tuned, we’ll be right back,” with a dazzling smile, Jayne waited for the signal they were clear and then turned toward Ron. “I can’t believe you did that,” she growled, shaking her head in disgust.
“What? I’m not going to say anything until I have absolute proof sitting in front of me,” he argued back.
“You have copies of the restraining order, copies of the police report from last night with Chloe’s statement that Andrew kidnapped her, copies of medical reports on Chloe and pictures of Danielle Rocmanov after Andrew Manning punched her in the face! Wait a minute, you’re right, she probably ran into his fist for the hell of it! Tell me, how much more fucking proof do you need? Are you the type of guy that won’t believe what’s in front of your nose until you have a dead body laying on your desk, dripping blood in your lap?” Jayne hissed in disbelief, nodding in acknowledgment as she caught the cameraman’s signal they were ten seconds to air.
“Jayne,” Ron began, only to be interrupted as the final four seconds counted down and they returned to the broadcast.
“Okay, Mike, tell me tonight’s weather is going to be good,” Jayne pleaded softly, her dazzling smile in place as she bantered with the weatherman and totally ignored her co-anchor.
“Jaynie, for you, anything,” Mike, the weatherman offered, sending her a warm smile and beginning his report.
Ron, sat silently, listening with half an ear as he re-read the reports in front of him and suddenly felt nauseous as the words before him made his blood run cold.
Aleksei held the door open as his wife and daughter stepped into the room, all of them turning their attention to Whittaker’s loud response to the news report.
“I see things haven’t changed much in the last few hours. Frank’s still talking to the TV and looking as if he expects an answer,” Dani murmured from between clenched teeth, her mother hearing the low groan of pain that escaped from her daughter’s throat as pain shot through her jaw.
“Dani, you’re not supposed to be talking. Remember?” Jordan lightly scolded, her warm hands sliding gently against Dani’s pale, smooth skin, to hold her swollen jaw carefully.
Dani’s slight nod offered her agreement.
“How’s Technicolor Tess today?” Dee questioned lightly, coming to stand before Dani and taking a good look at her swollen face, and the ugly shades of purple, green and yellow that extended from her high cheek-bones to down her neck. “I certainly hope you feel better than you look!”
“I’m fine. How’s Chloe?” Dani murmured.
“Both she and Sergei are still sleeping, unless Frank’s yelling woke them up,” Dee offered, casting a disgusted glance in his direction.
“What?” Frank questioned distractedly, his attention shifting from the television as he surfed through the channels looking for additional broadcasts that might include Sergei and Chloe to the people milling about the hotel room.
Dee shook her head in exasperation and shared a smile with Dani and Jordan. “Forget it, Frank, it doesn’t concern you.”
“Okay,” Frank mumbled and returned his gaze to the television.
Dee shook her head in frustration. “I don’t know why I put up with him.”
Jordan hugged her long-time coach, and good friend, “Because you love him.”
“Yeah, and sometimes the fact I do really makes me crazy!”
“Welcome to my world,” Jordan countered quietly, spreading her arms to encompass the entire group of people in the room, a brilliant smile appearing, despite the tired look in her eyes.
“You need a nap,” Dee suggested, concern clouding her eyes.
“Don’t we all?” Jordan agreed.
But with less than six hours until they had to be at the arena, and the thoughts that had her mind swirling anxiously with all the things that could go wrong, she knew sleep would be illusive.
There would be time to sleep later.
As agreed, Dr. Chen arrived at the arena shortly after Sergei, Chloe and the rest of their party gained entry through the same side door they had snuck through the day before. She was quickly, and quietly, ushered into a private dressing room where Chloe waited patiently, her foot elevated and resting in Dani’s lap as they sat next to each other on a cushioned bench seat.
Dr. Chen’s eyebrows lifted slightly in surprise as she took in the ugly bruising on Dani’s face and neck, but didn’t say anything. “Hi, Chloe. How’s the foot?” she asked quietly, and cast a small smile toward Jordan who sat across from her daughter and Chloe.
“Other than being able to see that it hasn’t fallen off yet, I couldn’t say. Sergei’s graciously allowed me to put it on the floor when I use the bathroom, but he’s insisted on carrying me all around, including in here. He even demanded Dani sit next to me and made her promise not to let go of my foot until you checked it out, wrapped it and I put my skates on. The man’s being a total nimrod!” Chloe complained.
“He’s worried about you,” Dr. Chen explained, her fingers gently taking hold of Chloe’s foot, and removing it from Dani’s lap. Carefully she ran her fingers over her foot and ankle, asking questions as she applied pressure to various parts of her foot, a small frown appearing between her eyes as Chloe acknowledged sore areas on the ball of her foot and in her arch. After what seemed an eternity, Dr. Chen lifted her eyes to meet Chloe’s questioning gaze.
“Well?” Chloe asked quietly, holding her breath as she awaited her doctor’s response.
“Your foot’s not stable, Chloe, but then, you know that. You also know that I would prefer it if you didn’t skate tonight, but then, you know that too. As a doctor, I strongly recommend you withdraw based on the fact you have a potentially career ending injury and I don’t feel the risk is worth it. As an ex-skater, I understand your need to see this through, regardless of the outcome. Do you understand this may be the last time you skate? Are you fully prepared to take the risk that you will never skate with Sergei, or anyone, ever again?” Dr. Chen asked softly, her dark eyes holding Chloe’s sky blue gaze intently.
“I understand the risk, and I’m willing to take it. But I know, deep in my heart and soul, Sergei and I will skate again. This isn’t the end for us, it’s the beginning,” Chloe whispered softly, her eyes a clear sky-blue, filled with determination and faith.
Dr. Chen nodded once. “Then let’s get this foot wrapped so you can get your costume and skates on. You’ve got a competition to win.”
Dani peeked through the dressing room door, a small, wistful sigh escaping as she caught sight of Hunter, looking too damn handsome, leaning against the wall directly across from the door, his muscular arms crossed against his broad chest. On high alert, no one was getting into-or out of-the dressing room without Hunter seeing them. As soon as the door opened, and Dani peeked her head out, Hunter pushed away from the wall, stepping forward and blocking the small opening from anyone’s view as he looked down into Dani’s bruised, but still beautiful, face.