Page 117 of Ice Cold Hearts
“Gross.” Audrey interrupts with the righteous indignation only an eight-year-old can have. “How am I supposed to watch Tato and Dad play if you and Papa are up here smooching?”
“I’m sorry, were you feeling neglected?” Alexei teases. “Mama and I can fix that.”
Without giving her a chance to answer, he scoops her up and plops her down on his lap and we pepper loud smooches on her cheeks until she squirms.
“My friends are going to see,” she says, trying and failing to pout.
Alexei smiles. “Then I guess they’ll see how much we love you.”
“Love you too.” her eyes light up, “Ooh! They just brought in cupcakes! Can I have one, please?”
“Grab some fruit too,” Alexei and I say together, then laugh.
Audrey scampers off, giggling maniacally at her success.
“So much for her watching the game,” he says sarcastically.
“I know, right? All that fuss over a kiss and she’s back there eating cupcakes and playing with Klienfeld’s kids.” She shrugs. “Oh, well.”
“And another fantastic assist by Corbitt,” the announcer raves. “He is on fire today!”
“I’m right there with you, Ben, Captain looks great on him,” his co-commentator agrees.
“It really does,” Alexei murmurs in my ear. “All last year when I was working with him, I was amazed with how quickly he took to it. I swear he was born for this.”
“I’m sure it doesn’t hurt that he’s had a great teacher,” I say, squeezing his leg.
The game is an absolute shutout. The Cold Hearts have never looked better. They zip across the ice in perfect synchronization, running play after play. Even though the Blizzards are giving them all they’ve got, they aren’t able to gain any ground. As the game progresses, I make sure to watch Alexei out of the corner of my eye. This is his first season where he’s a spectator, and I just want to make sure he’s all right.
I shouldn’t have worried. He’s animated the entire game and even managed to drown out my dad’s hollering with his foghorn cheers. When the team pours into the box after their victory, Alexei is more excited than any of them, clapping the back and shaking the hand of any former teammate who passes him. Well, except for Audrey, maybe. Ian’s scooped her up and is parading around with her on his shoulders.
I catch Alexei’s arm the next time he gets close enough and pull him to me.
“Everything okay?” he asks, peering down into my face.
“I’m fine.” I smile reassuringly. “I just want to make sure you’re alright. Do you miss it at all? I mean, are you regretting retiring?”
“Are you kidding?” He chuckles. “I’ve upgraded to a cushy seat instead of a cold metal bench. The bird’s eye view of the game is worth it alone. I can take in so much more than when I was a player on the bench.” At my slight frown, he takes my hands in his. “Emily, most pro players retire a few years before I did. How could I regret it when I’ve left the team with the best possible captain that they could have? Did you see them out there today? Besides, it’s not like I’ve become a doddering old man yelling at kids to stay off my lawn. I have two jobs, actually, one of which is working for you.”
“You do?” I ask, wrinkling my nose. “That’s news to me.”
“Are you really minimizing my pivotal role as part time eye candy-slash-brand ambassador for my hot wife’s physical therapy practice? That’s not very empowering of you,” he says haughtily.
I laugh. “Your singing my praises all over the hockey universe did help, I will give you that, but what’s the other job?”
“The most important one—full-time Audrey dad and trophy husband, of course.”
“I’m so lucky to have you,” I say.
Alexei pulls me into a tender kiss, and I melt into him.
I don’t get to enjoy it long before there’s a tap on my shoulder. When I turn, I see a comically offended Oliver.
“He didn’t even win the game and he gets a kiss,” he says, hands on his hips. “In what world is that fair?”
He pulls me to him, claiming my mouth with desperate need, tangling his hands in my hair. When we break apart, there’s a gleam in his eye that tells me we’re going to be up all night. He’s absolutely insatiable after a win.
“I see you’re over here handing out kisses like candy.” Ian smiles. “How can I get in on that?”