CHAPTER TEN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

T he morning gave way to the afternoon as the storm continued. They had done little more than make-out like two horny kids who'd discovered the pleasures of French-kissing. She would have been happy to kiss the day away. But Theo suggested they go dig out the car and survey the area with the brightness of day on their side.

She wagered the real reason he wanted to go outside, was because he was having a hard time refusing her constant advances. Any other girl might have been put out by his refusal to take the next step but Carly found it endearing. It didn’t, however, reduce her desire to see him naked and do nasty things with him. Every kiss, every touch made her crazy for more. She didn’t understand how he had so much willpower.

They dressed to go outside and Carly once again loved the way his hair curled out from under his hat. He looked so young and virile, like a man ready to conquer the world. For now, he’d have to settle for battling the elements.

The blizzard was bound to stop at some point; a fact that made Carly uneasy. Only yesterday, she’d been desperate for clear skies, and now the prospect wasn’t as appealing. Theo was one hundred percent behind her shift in perception.

Two steps out the front door and Carly wanted to turn back. It was cold and miserable.

Mother Nature continued her quest to cover the earth in white, but had slowed her pursuit somewhat. The wind howled and whipped flakes in her face. Visibility was still poor, but not as bad as the previous evening.

Snow drifts had formed against the side of the house, reaching the top of the windows. She guesstimated the snowfall amount as well over a foot. The only brightness Carly found was Theo’s smiling face.

“What is there to smile about? There’s so much snow,” she grumbled as the freshly fallen powder reached her mid-calf.

“I’m here with you, and I’ve been dreaming of a white Christmas.” He spun her around in a twirl while singing. “Just like—”

“Don’t quit your day job, Casanova,” Carly interrupted his serenade before it got started. Theo might be a professional hockey player, but he couldn’t hold a note to save his life. She giggled at finally finding something he wasn’t perfect at.

“Glad you find me entertaining.” He pulled her close and kissed the top of her snow-covered head.

Hand in hand, they made their way towards the mountain of snow that hid the car. Not a speck of red could be detected. Carly shivered, thinking about what might have happened to them if they hadn’t gotten off the road when they did. Their decision to turn around had been a good one. There’s no way they would have made it to the city in one piece.

Carly used her arm to wipe the sticky snow from off the car door. Theo reached inside and took out a brush. The small blue stick looked incapable of dealing with the massive amount of snow, but Theo made it work. Carly used her hands to help dig, and in no time, they had dug out his car.

The red paint glared at her, reminding her their time would soon be ending. But it wasn’t over yet. The fresh snow and gusting winds made their effort seem in vain. The sports car wouldn’t stand a chance plowing through the drifts to get back on the main roads.

“We should go find shovels,” Theo suggested as he looked at the snow-covered driveway.

They had their work cut out for them, but shoveling before the winds tapered off would be an exercise in futility. “Any progress we make now will be swept away by that wind. We’ll check back a little later.”

“Good point.” Theo bent down and Carly admired his fine behind.

The goodbye might be harder than she envisioned, she wasn’t ready yet. She looked down and stomped her boots to remove the snow buildup. The snow stuck to her mittens. It would be the right consistency for building a snowman. She was about to make that suggestion when a blur of white whizzed by her head. Snowballs were another option.

“Game on, hockey star.”

Carly dashed around the car for cover. It didn’t take long to create a small arsenal of balls and when she lifted her head, another ball buzzed her. Theo had good aim, but hers was better, and he’d given away his location.

Without looking, she stood up and pelted six balls in his direction. Five connected and she couldn’t help but laugh at his wide blue eyes and stunned expression. One shot landed on his chin, dusting his beard in white fluff. She might look like a girly-girl but she grew up in the country, raised by parents who wanted a son. He didn’t stand a chance.

Theo dropped the one snowball he was about to throw and raised his hands in defeat. “You win. I surrender.”

She could hardly believe a man as competitive as a pro hockey player would accept losing so quickly. Carly stepped out from behind the car. Theo rushed her and they both went tumbling to the ground. She would have been mad if she wasn’t so busy laughing. He covered her body with his, pinning her arms by her sides with his knees, and he sprinkled snow on her face.

“Stop, cheater,” she yelled, blinking snow from her eyes.

His laugh grew louder as she wiggled to get free. She shook her head from side to side, but it was no use, he would only stop when he was ready. She eventually stopped struggling. “All right, you win.” She wasn’t only talking about their game. Theo was winning her heart.

“That’s right,” he said through his laughter. He lowered his upper body until their faces were inches apart. “You look like an angel right now. Sparkling and so damn pretty my eyes hurt.” He didn’t give her a chance to respond before kissing her and stealing her words with his mouth.

Theo made it clear he wasn’t interested in a fling, but could she offer more? Was she ready? Kissing him, made her feel like anything was possible. He rolled off and flapped his arms in the snow.

“What are you doing, crazy man?”

“Making snow angels, what else?” He stood up and surveyed his handiwork. “Not bad, but it doesn’t compare to your beauty.”

She laughed at how ridiculous they were being, but she had to admit he made a good angel. At some point, she stopped looking at the snow and the blizzard as the end of the world, and became thankful for every flake.

Theo was changing her view of things, and that had to be a good thing. For so long she’d been acting like a drill sergeant with her life. She allotted no time for fun, because she wanted to please everyone around her, and atone for her mistakes. It seemed like she couldn’t do anything right no matter how hard she tried.

Lying in the snow, her stomach twisted with guilt. She hadn’t checked her phone once in the last hour. She was the world’s worst, most inconsiderate child. Here she was having the time of her life, certain her parents were worrying themselves sick. Carly scrambled to her feet and tugged on Theo’s arm, pulling him towards the house.

“Let’s go back inside.”

“Sounds good, I’ve worked up an appetite. You?” His smile was infectious.

“Sure.”

Once inside she didn’t bother taking off her coat before rushing for her phone. There was still no service. She breathed a sigh of relief, but the sadness didn’t dissipate. It clung to her like an unwelcome tick.

Theo wasn’t all thumbs in the kitchen as Carly would have suspected a twenty-year-old man to be. He made a decent PB&J sandwich. A little chocolate would have rounded off the meal, but there was none in the kitchen or front closets. They checked twice. He laughed at her disappointment, but told her he’d buy her a giant slab of it when they got out. She wouldn’t hold him to that, but thinking about chocolate soothed her. The way Theo doted on her, made her feel like a princess.

Lunch turned out to be nothing like her usual Christmas meal with all the trimmings, but Theo made it special all the same. He lit candles even though the brightness of the day illuminated the room fine. This time he sat next to her and held her hand under the table. The gesture sent the butterflies dancing in her stomach again.

“Did you always love hockey?” She asked before taking her first bite.

“Since the moment I put on skates, I’ve been chasing a puck. I remember the first game I saw on TV, I was two maybe three, and I’ve been in love ever since.”

“Why?” Carly liked hockey because her dad did. It was a way for them to bond and somewhere along the way she became a fan.

“I’ve never really thought about why. Most Canadian kids grow up playing hockey and wanting to play for the NHL. My dad had all of us boys in skates as soon as we learned to walk. As a kid, I used to watch hours of hockey reels, learning how the pros skated, passed, checked, everything. I wasn’t satisfied until I could replicate their moves. I love everything about the sport.”

“So, you’re one of the few who got to see his childhood dream come true. I thought most players go pro for the accolades, and of course the fat paycheck,” she said with a giggle. She finished her sandwich and watched as Theo ate his third.

“I love how the fans cheer, don’t get me wrong that’s a bonus. The money is all right too. But, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. The scary part once you make it, is how quickly it can all fall apart. I’m one injury away from losing my dream. I’m one bad season away from it all ending. It’s terrifying.”

Carly squeezed Theo’s hand. “You’re an amazing player. I don’t think you have to worry about not getting another contract. You’ve got a long career ahead of you.”

“I hope so, but you never know. I thought getting drafted in the first round was cool but my mom wasn’t there to share that moment. My dad and manager kind of ruined the fun with the money talk. I mean, I care about making money, but I care more about playing.”

“Your dad was most likely looking out for you, making sure you weren’t getting taken advantage of. I hear things in pro sports can get pretty cutthroat.”

“You have no idea how much pressure rests on these shoulders.”

Theo would be surprised how much she could relate to the pressure of being the best and pleasing everyone. They had so much more in common than she would have ever imagined.

“Well let me relieve some of your stress by cleaning up. You can go relax.”

Theo smiled. “I won’t argue with that. Thanks Carly, you’re the best.” He rounded the table and kissed her cheek. He disappeared, leaving her with a few plates and a lot of information to digest.

She ran the water and a soapy cloth over the butter knife and it all felt so domestic, like playing house. Carly pictured living with Theo and sharing similar lunches on lazy days. Kicking back after a heavy school day, snuggled on a couch and watching a game together. She laughed out loud at her daydream.

Theo told her earlier, he hadn’t had a good Christmas since his mom passed away, and she planned to change that. She tried to think of something she could do to make this one good for him. The more he divulged about himself, the more she knew he was a genuine good guy. He deserved to have the best Christmas.

She pondered her options, getting lost in the possibilities. All paths ended with them in a bed. If she gave herself to him, would she be able to walk away after?

She liked Theo, more than she'd set out to. If she was being honest, she could so easily fall for him. He had so many great qualities to love. However, there was a big part of her that didn’t trust him. She didn’t trust herself. She’d been down a similar road before, with disastrous results.

Her musing got interrupted by Theo dropping a kiss against the back of her neck. Shivers of anticipation raced down her spine. “Come with me,” he said, taking her hand and leading her out of the room.

The energy shifted between them, became more sexually charged, and her entire body was primed for him. The eagerness for them to move their relationship forward monopolized her thoughts, leaving her senses on high alert.

Her mind was made up. She knew what to do in order to make this his best Christmas, and she hoped he would go along with her plans.