Last Chance Christmas Read Online Free PDF Page B

face-first into the goal cage to make a shot. Nice try. I don’t believe you.”
    “If I’d known I was that close to the goal, believe me, I would have gotten out of the way.” That play had been a staple on hockey highlight reels ever since, but no regular season goal was worth the broken jaw or the downtime that came with it. “And fear of rejection is different.”
    He tugged off his ski cap and tossed it onto the dashboard as the car warmed up. He wasn’t worried about getting towed now that he’d spoken to the police officer and found out he was in a no parking zone because of the snow emergency rules. He knew to move before the snowplow came through, but so far, he didn’t see any flashing yellow lights behind him.
    “I guess it shouldn’t surprise me that you like having your own way.” She folded her arms across her chest and then winced, obviously tweaking her rib injury.
    “Here.” He held his hands out to her, taking one palm in each of his. “I’ll make sure you don’t injure yourself. One of many reasons you should come to my place.”
    “I’m not sure anyone can stop me from killing myself while I’m using those crutches. It’s just a matter of time before I try to move too fast and break my neck in a fall.”
    “Patient as ever?”
    “Something like that.”
    “Well, I’ve got lightning quick reflexes as a professional athlete. I think you’ll find I’m more than qualified to catch you if you fall.” He wouldn’t mind any excuse to get her in his arms again.
    He’d thought he had put this woman in his past, but seeing her again made him seriously question that.
    “You’re concussed, remember?” She unwound her hands from his, but he could swear he saw a hint of regret in her eyes. “I don’t know that you should be playing nurse to anyone when you’re recovering yourself.”
    Just hearing her talk about playing nurse would fuel his fantasies for weeks. But he stuffed down that thought to focus on the practical.
    “I’m doing great. I think they would have cleared me to return to practice this week if we weren’t heading into the holidays.” Or so he told himself. He couldn’t stand to think of being sidelined for weeks on end. “Come on, Shea. I’ve got a gargantuan house that I’ve barely moved into just sitting up on Logjam Peak, waiting for someone to enjoy it. You could have a whole floor to yourself.”
    She frowned. “Why aren’t you moved in? The concussion?”
    “The divorce.” Something he did not want to talk about right now. So he kept his explanation to the bare facts. “I loved it here and wanted a presence in Vermont, not knowing how much my ex-wife opposed living anywhere outside of Chicago.”
    He’d designed it on his own when she hadn’t shown much interest, figuring he’d surprise her. It had been a last straw moment for her—a sign that he didn’t listen to her needs. Maybe he hadn’t. But he was a spontaneous guy for one thing. And for another… Cloud Spin would always be home. His mother had relocated to Chicago as soon as he’d signed a long-term contract, never looking back. But for J.C., it was different.
    “Ah.” She nodded slowly. Processing, maybe. Or weighing her words. “I was sorry to hear about that.”
    “Thanks.” He still hadn’t learned what to say about it, other than he wouldn’t wish a divorce on his worst enemy. It was a painful ripping apart of two lives. “But it’s been official for almost a year now and I can finally say it was probably for the best. Tough admitting you were wrong about something you pledged your whole life to.”
    She bit her lip, as if she wanted to say something.
    “What?” he urged, thinking this line of discussion probably wasn’t going to convince her to come home with him but not sure how to get things back on track.
    “I was just remembering this radio show I listened to in the hospital—some popular life coach who has a call-in advice show was doling out wisdom for those of