Holiday Hockey Tale The Icebreaker's Impasse (By Ivory Row) novel Chapter 41

Easton

Kendall’s grandparents greet me with hugs as we walk into Perrone’s. “Easton! Bel ragazzo!” His grandmother, Bianca says with a big smile as she kisses my cheek.

She grins wider looking at Luci. “You brought adorabile signora! Benvenuto, sono così felice di vederti.”

His grandfather, Gio, steps up and takes her hands telling her she is beautiful in English. I watch Luci smile shyly and thank him.

The waitress is one of their relatives and she greets me with a quick side shoulder hug. “You brought such a pretty girl. What is your name, dolce ragazza?”

“I’m Luci.” She smiles genuinely at her.

“Bella Luci. I am Alessia, Kendall’s aunt. Now we have a very tasty arancini and a burrata salad if you’d like starters.”

Luci glances at me and I nod. “We’ll take both.”

Luci orders the shrimp linguine and I choose the lasagna bolognese.

“I need to tell you about Cole and taking off the cape you gave him. I wish I had video of the glare he gave Kingston.”

She’s giggling by the end of it. “I saw it this weekend and knew it was perfect. The cape was a little too long and heavy so I made a different one. Glad it made him happy.”

“He’s so my kid sometimes it shocks me.” I admit.

“He’s definitely your kid. Very…determined.”

I ask her more about Janet and growing up with her. She tells me about her social worker that she claims was her very good fortune to have gotten him. “Collins is very caring and he does his best to keep you somewhere you fit. Which is how I got Janet for so long.”

“Want to play twenty questions?” I ask her halfway through dinner.

She makes a face. “I didn’t peg you for that game.”

“Stereotyping me sweetness?”

“No you definitely don’t fit into any one single type.”

I narrow my eyes at her. “Why did that feel like a backhanded insult? But yes I want to play. You might like my version, it’s not as boring as usual.”

She smiles slowly. “It wasn’t. But the drop dead gorgeous hockey captain who can command any woman’s attention, claims he is not a flowery poet good at romance, kicks Julian’s ass at a tree lighting before laughing at the original Grinch cartoon with his little boy while also acting like a self proclaimed cold grump cannot fit into any single peg on a stereotype board. I’m game to play.”

“You think I’m drop–dead gorgeous?” I ask with surprise.

“You just used your first question, Icebreaker. That’s what you focused on in that long speech?” She raises one eyebrow teasing me.

I point my finger at her. “There’s your first one, and you didn’t answer, which means I get an extra as your penance. Yes, because you aren’t the type to fawn over guys. At least I’ve never seen it and it won’t be happening now.” I warn her.

“You thought I was interested in the other team.” She fires back at me.

“Be honest sweetness. You’d never seen that before and now you want to come watch again.

And that isn’t a question. I could see it when you watched me. I think maybe you need private hockey lessons sweetness. If nothing else, I can teach you how to stretch your hips like we do.

”

Her cheeks turn the slightest pink which means I didn’t go far enough yet. “Or you can do like I suggested and role play as the rink floor with me.” Completely pink now. I refrain from mentioning one of her favorite movies again.

“You are very creative.” She’s a little flustered. Oh, sweetness, get ready, you gave me the green light, and I’m not going to hold back much.

“Some things my mind has no trouble expressing. Like I think I could take over teaching you hockey rules. My penalties would be much better than four year old laughs or frustrations.

Maybe strip hockey for the first round.” I chuckle as I see the image run through that wonderland brain of hers. I wish I could watch it on a screen.

“Number 2: You know about my longest relationship. How many hearts has Luci Forrester broken?”

Her fork pauses on the way to her mouth. “Um none. I really only had like two relationships and not even sure either really count as relationships. The first was four months and the second only two months. Then there was a third guy I went out with a few times but he wasn’t really interested and made fun of me when I spaced out on the last date. My turn. You said you had two girlfriends from hell after Lorelei. Is that really it for the hockey god? I mean women will literally throw themselves onto the ice for you.”

“That’s it relationship wise. I uh, had two other girls, not puck bunnies, that I’d meet up with occasionally for a few months, but that all ended when I woke up one morning and realized I did not want my son to find me that way. I’ve stayed away from the female species for almost two years now. That sounded pretty awful didn’t it? Your children don’t pry into your past….exploits, I hope.” I grimace.

She chuckles. “No, I’m pretty sure that’s knowledge they never want to have. Not awful,

Easton. Did the girls know it wasn’t serious, just occasional hookups?”

I nod at her and she continues. “Then it was done honestly. Shocker, you have a past like most people. It’s cleaner than most athletes I assure you.”

“My brothers are the same way. They took a look at Cole and realized they didn’t want to end up in early fatherhood or for Cole to look at them like pigs.” I admit to her. “My turn. Three; why does Julian Soames hate you?”

She tenses up completely. “Can I give that one back to you? You can ask another but I don’t want to talk about that tonight. Not while we’re on a nice date and I’m happy and it isn’t a pretty story. I will tell you Easton, I promise but please not tonight.”

I reach across and take her hand worried. “Tell me when you’re ready. But I do have to know if he touched you?”

“No he didn’t. Nothing like that for him.”

“Then I withdraw it. Why did you change majors?”

She frowns a bit. “I had an issue during a class and the advisor for the program strongly encouraged me to change majors. I had planned to be a play therapist.” She almost whispers.

“My turn, what is your major besides hockey?”

“Business administration. One day we’ll all take over Dad’s company. Hopefully, after a long pro hockey career.”

We bid Kendall’s grandparents goodbye. Luci smiles sweetly at them. “It was all so delicious.

Thank you.”

I suspend my questions until we get to the outdoor concert. I brought extra blankets and I set one up for her to sit on while covering her with the other one. “Get too cold, tell me and we’ll leave.”

The songs are catchy and I end up enjoying most of it. Luci gets colder because she tucks

herself against me toward the end. It was too noisy to continue our game but I start it back up again as I drive her home.

“Number 10: Do I get to come inside?” I ask as she walks to her door. I’m off on numbers because I asked her easy questions driving.

“Yes. Do you want to?” She counters.

“Definitely.” I follow her in as she slips her boots off along with her coat.

“Number 11: Do you hate shoes? I always see you barefoot or in thick socks.”

“Yes. I am not a fan. Even of slippers.” She tucks her feet beneath her on the couch and I sit right next to her.

“Number 12: can I skip ahead to kissing you now?”

She laughs before moving closer to me and resting her hands on my chest.

I duck my head to kiss her and lift her to straddle my lap. Damn those lips of hers make it

hard to stop. I hold her waist to keep her in place, not like she fights me. Each kiss makes me want another, leading to a full on makeout session on her couch. I finally stop, watching her lick her swollen lips slowly. Her chest is heaving as she catches her breath and I let my eyes slowly wander from those perfect breasts moving down to her trim waist and those pretty hips of hers. I catch myself running my tongue over the back of my teeth, in anticipation of tasting her; running it along her skin. I glance at the clock and realize I’ve been kissing her for almost an hour. After what she said the other night, I want more. Crave more of her. It’s borderline obsession at this point thinking and dreaming of all the ways I want her. I rest my hands on her knees sitting on each side of my thighs before dipping my face into her neck and kissing my way up to her ear. “You know what I want to know now, Luci?” I whisper there, feeling her shiver when I say her name. I remember her protesting I said her name too much once before and now I think I figured out why. She shakes her head. I slowly slide my palms and fingers up her thighs under her dress. “I want to know what kind of panties Luci Forrester wears. Are they lace or silk or cotton or….nothing?” I tease as my fingers wrap slowly around the sides of her hips.

“You seem to know a lot about women’s panties?” She sasses back and I smile against her ear.

“Luci…” She shivers and now I confirmed I’m right. “Luci….” Another shiver. “Do you like when I say your name?”

“Yes…” She admits breathlessly and I will exploit that fully.

“My sweet Luci who wears very soft panties.” I draw away from her ear, listening to her ragged breathing. Mine isn’t much better honestly. The things this girl does to me without even trying……..

She stares into my eyes, her own huge. “It’s called microfiber something.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify