Cold As Ice: A Single Mom Hockey Romance by L A Cotton

Author:L A Cotton [Cotton, L A]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Delesty Books
Published: 2024-01-26T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

AUSTIN

Fuck my life.

They seemed like the only apt words to describe the absolute shitshow I’d woken up to. I’d barely even gotten my eyes open before Madison was snapping at me to hide.

Hide.

Where the fuck did she want me to go?

I was a six-foot-three hockey player, for Christ’s sake.

I guess the bathroom was as good a hiding place as any. She could steer her daughter away from me and keep her distracted while I waited for them all to leave.

So much for lazy morning sex before and after breakfast.

Pressing my ear against the door, I waited and waited, their voices barely audible beyond Madison’s bedroom.

At least she’d wanted me to hide and hadn’t decided it would be a good time for me to meet the kid.

Something inside me tightened.

Shit, did I want to meet her daughter?

I mean, technically, we had already met. But I didn’t want to cross that line.

I liked our little arrangement.

It was nice. Simple. Good company and great sex with a clear understanding that we were both too unavailable for anything more.

Still, I hadn’t planned on ending up in the fucking bathroom like some dirty little secret.

Time seemed to slow to the point of stopping as I waited… and waited.

Until a knock cut through the thick silence.

“Madi?” I whispered, stepping away from the door as it clicked open.

“Sorry to disappoint.” The guy slipped inside, plastering himself to the door.

“Let me guess, Jeremiah?”

“And you must be the college guy.” His brow arched with mild curiosity, and there was something about the way he said it that rang the dirty little secret bell louder.

“Austin.”

“Well, Austin. We need to get you the hell out of here before Princess Immy catches you.”

“I thought Madi was going to take her for breakfast?”

“She is. She left me behind to do clean up.”

My brows knitted. That’s not what she’d said a minute ago. But I guess plans changed, and maybe her daughter’s unexpected arrival had hit her with some home truths.

“Come on, hot stuff.” He clapped his hands together. “Time to go.”

“Fine, yeah. Whatever.” I made quick work of grabbing the rest of my things and followed the friend out of Madison’s apartment.

“My car’s over here,” he said, nodding toward the parking lot.

“Actually, I think I’ll walk.”

“Listen, I don’t want to be that guy, but do you know what you’re doing here?”

“Excuse me?” I bit out.

“Having some casual fun is one thing, but that was a close call this morning, and Imogen is—”

“Madison’s priority. Got it.” I ran a hand through my hair. “It was reckless, and it won’t happen again.”

“Good because I love that girl like she’s my own. Both of them.” He pinned me with a warning look I didn’t appreciate. “And something tells me you’re not looking to jump feet first into a relationship with a single mom and enough emotional baggage to last her a lifetime.”

“What—”

“Shit, I probably shouldn’t have said that.” Guilt skittered over his expression. “It was nice meeting you, Austin. Let’s hope next time is under different circumstances.

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