Melting Ice (29 page)

At the sound of the final buzzer, Isaac stood in line with his teammates to shake hands with the Calgary players and skated off the ice. All he wanted to do was lick his wounds, take a shower, and find Avery so they could commiserate for one night because tomorrow he’d stop looking back and would only look forward.

Isaac slumped down on the bench in front of his locker, too tired to unlace his skates, and wiped his face with a towel someone threw his way.

The locker room was oddly quiet. Every guy in the room was exhausted, having left every ounce of try and sweat on the ice. Even Brick sat by his locker fully dressed and stared at the floor, saying nothing while sweat streamed down his face.

Cooper slumped in front of his locker, hands dangling between his knees, head hanging. Cedric, usually the team cheerleader, picked at the tape on his stick.

The locker room might be as quiet as death, but the din outside sounded like the crowd was rioting or something. The floor under Isaac’s skates vibrated. Was the crowd that pissed? Isaac had seen some pretty angry crowds over the years, but the Seattle fans had been nothing but supportive all season. Now they’d turned on their team? It didn’t seem to fit.

Rush frowned and looked at the ceiling. “What the hell?”

One by one everyone glanced up, as the noise grew louder.

Coach and Ethan walked in the door, and Isaac expected a rah-rah speech about how we’ll get there next year and all the usual shit. Ethan was grinning, as if they’d won instead of lost a heartbreaker. Coach smiled, too.

Ethan stepped to the center of the room, careful not to avoid the logo. He had to shout to be heard. “You hear that?”

The guys nodded. How the hell could they not hear that?

“That’s for you. Every one of you. What we’ve done this year has exceeded every expectation I ever had for hockey in Seattle. We sold out every game. We built a following of rabid fans. We gave them everything we had, and even if it wasn’t enough this last game, they still appreciate their team.”

Isaac glanced at the confused faces of his teammates, knowing he wore an equally confused expression.

Coach stepped next to Ethan. “They want you boys to do an encore. Now go out there and skate a few laps for the fans before this place comes apart.” Coach grinned.

Cooper stood first, and the team followed his lead. “Let’s go, guys.”

One by one they skated onto the ice. The roar was deafening from the crowd as they stood, cheering, stomping, and clapping for their team.

Isaac skated behind Cooper and Cedric, Blake next to him. They waved at the crowd, saluting them. He’d never in all his years of playing seen anything like it. They were getting a standing ovation for losing.

Yet, they hadn’t lost. Not really. They’d actually won—won the hearts of a city. They’d proven what Ethan believed all along—that Seattle would be a great hockey city.

The crowd started chanting “Ethan,” and finally Ethan walked onto the ice. Isaac didn’t think it was possible, but they got louder, until Isaac swore his hearing would never be the same.

Isaac glanced toward the glass. Avery was on her feet screaming and clapping as loud and as rabidly as the rest of the fans. He did a slow circle, gazing around the packed arena. Not one person had left the arena even though the game had ended minutes ago.

In that moment, Isaac made a decision.

He was getting one of those damn Sockeye tattoos.

* * * *

Avery had tears in her eyes as she cheered along with her sisters and the rest of the crowd. Players’ wives and kids spilled out onto the ice to be with their guys, joining the impromptu celebration. Cooper tapped on the glass, and Izzy promptly made her way to the ice.

Avery’s throat constricted as Cooper wrapped Izzy in his arms and did slow circles with her.

“That’s so sweet,” Emma crooned, ever the romantic.

Avery nodded, scanning the skaters for Isaac. He skated toward her with that easy grace of his, as at home on skates as most people were in shoes. Their eyes locked. Her heart filled with joy for her man. He crooked his finger at her to join him on the ice. She didn’t need a second invitation. She pushed through the mass of fans and the security guy let her pass. Isaac skated toward her and wrapped her in a tight hug.

The crowd chanted, “Sockeyes, Sockeyes, Sockeyes,” over and over.

Someone tossed Ethan a microphone, and he thanked the fans, though Avery could barely hear him. Next, Cooper spoke for the whole team. He spoke from the heart, and declared the Sockeye fans the best in the NHL, which really whipped the crowd into a frenzy and had players wiping their eyes.

It was a night Avery would never forget, a night of beginnings, for the team, for Isaac, and for her.

Chapter 22—The Gift of Love

True to his word, Ethan didn’t wait long to lock Isaac up with a lucrative seven-year contract. Within a week, he signed on the dotted line. Avery stood next to him, posing for the official picture.

She’d been flattered that he’d invited her and insisted she stand with him in the official signing picture, a place usually reserved for wives. Blake signed a one-year deal with the Sockeyes and went back to the San Juan Islands for the summer, hoping to patch things up with his girlfriend. Avery and Isaac promised to spend some time with him on Madrona Island.

Isaac wanted to learn to ride so Avery scheduled a bi-weekly lesson on one of the barn schoolmasters, an older horse with a lot to teach a rider but no longer able to be shown because of an injury.

A week after signing the contract, Isaac called her and asked when she’d be free. He had something to show her. Avery racked her brain trying to figure out what was up his sleeve. She’d caught him whispering on more than one occasion with her sisters. Emma looked like the cat who ate the canary, but she refused to tell Avery anything about what Isaac was planning.

He’d told her not to dress up. In fact, he’d specifically told her to keep her riding clothes on, and asked her to meet him at a neighborhood café. They had a normal lunch. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. She’d probably imagined anything was amiss.

After lunch, they walked to the parking lot together before heading to their separate cars.

“I have something to show you,” he said with his now-trademark Isaac grin.

Ah, here it came. “Yes?”

He rolled up the sleeve on his right arm to reveal a brand-new Sockeye tattoo, the same one she’d seen on Cooper. So that was his surprise? She tried not to be disappointed and faked a wide smile.

“I love it.” She really did love it, even if it was a goofy mascot.

“Do you?” He grinned again, like the happy little boy he probably never had the chance to be.

They talked for a while in the parking lot, kissed a little, and finally Avery sighed. “I need to get back to the barn. Sam has a client coming at two and wants me to ride a horse for them.”

“Okay.” He kept smiling. Something was up. Definitely.

She eyed him suspiciously. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” he answered with mock innocence, a sure sign of trouble.

She narrowed her eyes and studied him. “You’re lying.”

“Now, sugar, would I ever lie to you?” He faked a really bad southern drawl.

“You might, sugar,” she mimicked his accent just as badly.

He kissed her again, long, deep, and knee melting. Then he winked, got in his car, and left.

Avery shook her head, puzzled by his behavior, and drove back to the barn. Isaac’s car was there, parked in front of the barn. Obviously, he hadn’t gone home, and her suspicions grew. He was up to no good. He stood in the barn aisle and grinned at her as she walked in.

“Long time, no see,” he quipped, and Avery rolled her eyes.

“Spill it, mister. What the hell is going on here?” She propped her hands on her hips and tried to look as badass as he once had, only she failed miserably.

“Nothing.” He pursed his lips and his eyes twinkled.

“You’re a lousy liar.”

“Actually, I’m quite an accomplished liar.” He pouted as if she’d hurt his feelings.

“I can read you like a book. What are you hiding?”

“Impatient little woman, aren’t you?”

“I’m not a little woman. I’m five-foot-ten. In killer heels, I’m taller than you.”

“I’d like to see you in killer heels and nothing else,” he whispered to her.

“I bet you would. You’ll never see me naked again if you don’t tell me what’s going on.”

“Oh, you drive a hard bargain, sweetheart.” Isaac whipped a black scarf from his back pocket. Avery stared at it suspiciously.

“What’s that—”

He cut off her question when he tied it around her head. “Never seen a blindfold before?”

“I can’t see anything,” she whined and heard him chuckle.

“Good, that’s the plan. Take my arm.”

Avery clutched his arm as he led her down the aisle. She could hear muffled voices, giggling, and the clop-clop of a horse’s hooves on the concrete aisle. “Who’s here?”

“Patience. You’ll find out soon enough.” Isaac guided her farther down the aisle, and out the other door into the warm spring sunlight and stopped. A horse snorted nearby. Lifting one of her hands, Isaac placed it on the soft warm coat of what could only be a horse. He took her other hand and placed something in it.

Leather. Not too wide. Just enough for her hands to wrap around. Reins?

Isaac untied the blindfold, and Avery blinked in the bright sunlight. She blinked again. Several times. Unable to believe what she was seeing.

“Riot?” she asked in a shaky voice. Riot turned his big head and nuzzled her, looking for treats. Isaac grinned for all he was worth. Avery threw her arms around the horse and hugged him close, tears streaming down her face. She heard clapping and turned to find not only her sisters and Cooper but Sam, her husband Carson, and Hans gathered round. Hal sat on his haunches next to Emma and growled for no particular reason but then Hal never needed a reason to growl.

“He’s yours.” Sam stepped forward and held out the papers to Avery.

“Mine? But how?” Avery sniffled and hiccupped, barely able to string a few words together into anything intelligible.

“Isaac bought him as a gift. He wasn’t working out with his new owner. She was glad to get her money back. Seems he missed you.” Sam nodded in Isaac’s direction.

“A gift? It’s not my birthday.” She looked at Isaac, incredulous and shocked.

He kept smiling, his eyes glued to the horse. Avery followed his gaze. Something dangled from Riot’s bit, tied with a blue and green ribbon. Avery reached up to touch it and almost fainted.

“Oh. My. God. That’s not what I think it is?” A brilliant diamond sparkled on a platinum band.

“It is.” Isaac kept grinning. “Will you ride off into the sunset with me, Avery?”

“Yes. Yes. Yes!” She shouted the last yes, as he untied the ribbon, dropped to one knee, and placed the ring on her finger.

He got to his feet and everyone cheered. Cooper and Carson slapped his back, the women hugged each other, tears all around, and Hans watched the entire spectacle with interest, insufferably pleased with himself, even though he hadn’t actually done anything other than offer his presence, which knowing Hans’s ego, he considered the ultimate gift.

They had a small party in the barn lounge with cake and champagne. Riley and Tiff showed up, holding hands and staring into each other’s eyes like teenagers in love.

Afterward, everyone dispersed but Avery and Isaac. They stood outside Riot’s stall, feeding him carrots and stroking his neck.

“There’s actually more,” Isaac admitted.

“What more could there be?” Avery couldn’t begin to imagine.

Isaac took her hand and walked down the aisle to Onyx’s stall. The black horse watched them approach, but didn’t retreat. Isaac put a mint on the palm of his hand, and Onyx took it, then nuzzled his arm for more.

“Wow. You’ve really done some work with him,” Avery said, more than impressed.

“I did, which is why I made sure no one would mess up the progress I made.” Isaac’s smile grew wider if at all possible. He seemed insufferably pleased with himself.

“And how did you manage that?” At this point in time, nothing this man did would surprise her.

“I bought him.”

Avery’s mouth dropped open, and she was dumbstruck. “You bought
him
?”

“Uh, yeah, I know I can’t ride him right now. I’m not good enough, but Sam will keep him in training, and eventually maybe I’ll be able to ride him. At the least, you’ll have two horses to show who won’t be pulled out from under you.” He gazed at her with hope in his eyes.

“Isaac, I don’t know what to say.”

“I love you works for me.”

That worked for her, too. “I love you with all my heart,” she said and she meant every word.

“There’s one last thing.” Isaac called for Hal, who waddled down the barn aisle, grumbling, and sat down between them. He carried a small box in his mouth and dropped it at Avery’s feet. Avery picked it up and opened it. Inside was a key. Just a normal, everyday key.

“What’s this for?”

“I bought the house from Brad. And we’ll spend the summer remodeling it, making it into our dream house.”

“Any house with you would be my dream house.” A cardboard box would suffice as long as she shared it with Isaac.

“Maybe we can have the wedding there this summer,” he added hopefully.

“In the middle of a remodel? We’d be better off having it in the barn,” she joked

“Perfect idea.” He grinned, and she realized she’d walked into that one.

“The place doesn’t matter. Do you think your brothers will come?”

Isaac sighed, the smile falling from his face. “I don’t know, but we’ll invite them just the same.”

“If they don’t, it’s their loss. They’re missing out on getting to know an incredible sister-in-law and a more incredible big brother with a heart wider than Puget Sound.” Avery kissed his mouth.

He smiled down at her. “I love you, and I’ll spend the rest of our lives showing you how much.”

“I’m going to hold you to that.”

“I’d expect nothing less.”