Tiny Treats 2: a St. Patrick's Day Collection by Multiple

Author:Multiple
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3
Tags: romance holiday micro stories anthology
Publisher: Trish Milburn
Published: 2015-11-11T05:00:00+00:00

“Being Irish should guarantee good luck on St. Patrick’s Day,” Shayla Friel grumbled, as she stomped towards the main entrance of the Ice Cats arena.

Though she’d been born in America, Shayla’s parents had emigrated from Downpatrick, making her blood 100 percent Irish. That hadn’t helped today.

She’d thought it had, at first. Her brother rarely missed a game, but when an unexpected job came up, he’d asked her to take Max. Then she’d got to “meet” her favourite player. Paddy’s interest in her was a dream come true — though her dreams about him were much hotter than their actual encounter.

He was even better looking in person, with his dark hair, blue eyes and rugged jaw. Plus, there’d been that delicious fizz that had skated through her every time they’d touched.

But when Paddy hadn’t said anything at the end of the game, let alone asked for her number, she’d become embarrassed. She must have imagined the connection between them — everyone said she had her head in a rose-tinted cloud. He’d probably only been nice because she was Max’s aunt.

Then, when she’d dropped Max home, they’d discovered one of the pucks was missing. He’d been so upset, she’d promised to return to the arena and get it. Unfortunately, finding an open door this long after the game had ended was a problem.

Which was why, having made a circuit of the building, she was now rattling the push-bar of the locked east door, hoping to get the bored-looking security guard to open up.

He did grudgingly. “I’m sorry, ma’am. You can’t come in.”

She explained the situation, but he wouldn’t budge.

“Is there a problem?” a deep voice asked, over her shoulder.

Shayla’s pulse jumped. Cursing silently, she forced a smile and turned. “Max lost the puck you gave him, Paddy. I was trying to get back in to see if I could find it. He won’t let me.”

“I’m not allowed,” the guard protested. “Health and safety.”

“I’ll escort the lady and take responsibility for her. I’ve got to get my keys from the locker room.” Paddy held the door open for Shayla.

Once inside, she thanked him.

“No problem.”

Their footsteps echoed as they walked through the empty concourse. The smell of fast food lingered, even though the concessions were shuttered.

“Hopefully the cleaning crew didn’t find the puck. Not that I’m accusing them of taking it, but it’ll be hard to prove it’s Max’s puck.” She winced inwardly at her wittering.

“They’ll put anything they find in ‘lost property.’ The Cats are pretty strict about that.”

“That’s good.” Shayla bit her tongue. “So … great game. You must be pleased.”

“It’s a relief to be back on the score sheet.”

“St. Patrick’s Day was lucky for you.”

“Yeah.”

Did his abrupt answers mean he wasn’t much of a talker or he didn’t like being with her?

When they got to the seats, she couldn’t see the puck. “Darn. It’s not here.”

At that moment, the shamrock from her other earring dropped to the floor. Strange. She’d had the pair for years and they both broke on the same night?

Paddy leaned down to pick up the charm.

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