On Thin Ice (The Baltimore Banners Book 8) Read Online Free Page A

night.
    But it wasn't just watching the woman he couldn't seem to get off his mind. The game itself was fun to watch, bringing back memories of when he was a kid that age, playing his heart out each weekend, never imagining that he'd make it all the way to the pros. Yes, he hoped and dreamed. Didn't they all? But for it to actually happen—no, he hadn't dared to hope and dream that much.
    Although if the shit from last night became a habit, he wasn't entirely sure he wouldn't be sent back down to the minors. Coach Leblanc and Coach Stephenson hadn't seemed too upset. With the calls, yes, but not with him, at least. But he wasn't about to read too much into that, not now, not this early in the season. He didn't care that they'd renewed his contract over the summer. Didn't care how much reassurance his agent gave him, telling him he was there to stay and to stop worrying.
    JP tensed beside him, leaning forward on the bench as he focused on the game in front of them. Kenny scanned the ice, following the play as JP's niece moved toward the net, the puck right on her tape as she closed in for a shot. A kid from the other team—at least a foot taller than she was—raced toward her. She must have seen him or sensed him or something because she cut to the left, spun around, and pulled back her stick to shoot. It would have been a beautiful shot, too, if the bigger kid hadn't swung his stick up and out, catching her in the arm at the last minute and ruining the shot.
    A shrill whistle split the air and Kenny jumped to his feet, his mouth opened to start shouting. JP grabbed his arm and yanked him back down with a small shake of his head, even as he let loose a string of French that Kenny didn't understand.
    "No, my friend. They don't allow that here, as I've been reminded many times. Just sit and let the officials handle it."
    "But that was bull—"
    "They have a zero tolerance policy here. Including language." JP's wife, Emily, leaned across to interrupt, the small smile on her face letting Kenny know that this wasn't the first time she had given the reminder. Kenny snapped his mouth shut and turned back to the ice.
    The ref—the same woman Kenny had been watching throughout the game—skated over to the two players and jerked her thumb toward the penalty box. The bigger kid must have said something because she moved even closer to him and pointed again, her arm outstretched. Her lips pursed in a thin line and Kenny was pretty sure he saw the muscle tick in her clenched jaw.
    It reminded him of his encounter with the woman last week. The memory made him smile but he wasn't sure why. He'd never been attracted to tougher women—not that she was necessarily tough. For all he knew, she was completely meek and humble.
    He watched her again, saw the stubborn set of her shoulders and tightened jaw, the raised chin that seemed to dare anyone to say a word. Humble and meek? Somehow he doubted that.
    Kenny leaned to the side to talk to JP as the bigger skater headed to the penalty box. "She's pretty good."
    "Your ref?"
    "What?" Kenny leaned back, shaking his head. "No! I meant your niece. Taylor."
    A bright smile spread across JP's face. "She is, isn't she? A natural talent. And maybe some personal coaching as well, eh?"
    Emily laughed and nudged JP in the side. "Yeah. It has nothing to do with the fact that she's been playing for four years. Or that she went to hockey camp this summer. Or that she loves it and is just good at playing it."
    "Of course not, ma chère . But it's also not a bad thing that her uncle has given her pointers, is it? She should be playing travel, not rec."
    "Not yet. Maybe next year, when she's older. You see how much bigger everyone else is. It would be even worse in travel…"
    Kenny tuned them out, knowing just from the words that this wasn't the first time JP and Emily had this discussion. Something nudged him in the side—his sore side—and he shifted on the cold metal seat, scowling at his fellow teammate,