Heat it Up: Off the Ice - Book One Read Online Free PDF

other girl, but she’s already gone.
    “Sorry to keep you waiting,” Sofia says once she reaches the second to last step. “There’s a coffee shop around the corner that’s pretty good.”
    “So, how come you’re in Finland?” I ask as we stroll along the sidewalk. People bustle past us, rushing to catch their bus home or rushing to the train station. My leg stiffens, a combination of pushing myself hard at the gym and trying to keep up with the boys while skating. None of them know about my injury, and I want to keep it that way. It will only make me look weak in their eyes.
    “My university offers an overseas work-exchange program,” she explains. “So I signed up for it.”
    “But why Finland?”
    “My mother’s from here. So I’m staying with my grandmother in Vantaa, which is a town outside of Helsinki. What about you?”
    “The uncle of one of my friends has a summer camp here for boys. Nik, the blond guy with me the other day, asked if I could help out after one of the coaches had to drop out.”
    “What kind of camp?”
    “Hockey.” I watch for recognition on her face that she knows who I am. I’m hoping she doesn’t. I’m hoping that she’s not another puck bunny who’s only interested in me because I played in the NHL.
    A light blush hits her cheeks. “Sorry, I don’t really watch hockey. It’s kind of sad, really. I’m an athletic training major but I don’t watch much sports, except for maybe when the Olympics are on. Do you play or just coach?”
    “I used to play. I don’t anymore.” I try to ignore the pain wrapping around my heart at the words and at how much I miss playing, but it’s as strong as the pain in my leg.
    “Because of what happened to your leg?”
    So she does know about the accident. Which means she also knows who I am, or at least who I was. It shouldn’t bother me but it does. As strange as it sounds, I wanted her to be oblivious to my past.
    I nod.
    “How old were you when you injured it?”
    For a moment I have no idea what she’s talking about. And then I remember. I told her my leg has a tendency to stiffen because of a childhood accident.
    It wasn’t a complete lie. When I was ten, I fell out of a tree and broke my leg. But it didn’t end my hockey career.
    “Ten,” I say, “but it’s something I don’t like discussing.”
    She smiles and I become mesmerized by the way her pink-glossed lips curve up. “Okay. We’ll talk about something else. Where are you from?” She gestures at the coffee shop at the corner.
    “Minneapolis.”
    “Really? Me too.”
    I pull open the door to let her in and we’re instantly greeted by the strong smell of coffee. If there’s one thing I’ve learned since moving here, Finns live for their coffee and they live for it strong.
    We order our drinks and find a quiet spot to sit next to the window. No one pays attention to us, unlike back home. It used to be hard going anywhere without being mobbed after I signed with the Bears. People would recognize me and want my autograph or a photo with me or they had tons of questions about the team. As flattering as the attention was, I don’t miss it.
    “What were you doing in Minneapolis before you came here?” she asks.
    “I was working in the marketing department for the Minnesota Bears. It was only an internship at the time, but they offered me a full-time position.”
    “And they let you take the summer off to come here? Wow, they must be a great organization to let you do that.”
    I take a sip of my coffee, stalling. Why should it matter what Sofia thinks about the truth? She’s not my parents.
    “I turned the position down. As much as I love hockey, I didn’t love working in marketing. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize this before I majored in it in college.”
    She visibly cringes. “What made you decide to study marketing?”
    “My father felt I would have more career opportunities if I studied law, accounting, or marketing.” He thought it would be a