Hockey Holidays Read online

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  Off in the distance they could hear fireworks from downtown, then inside the bakery cheers and horns alerting the midnight hour.

  Kyler leaned in close, his lips only inches from hers. “Happy New Year.” His smelled of sweet lemon. Then his lips pressed against hers, he kissed her soft and gentle.

  Avery wrapped her arms around his shoulders and deepened the kiss to her satisfaction. She couldn’t help the soft moan that formed in the back of her throat. Pulling away only enough so she could speak, “Happy New Year, Kyler.”

  The End

  Books by Melody Heck Gatto

  The Renegades Series

  Until You – Prequel to the Renegades

  Score On Me – Renegades 1

  Unsportsmanlike Conduct – Renegades 2

  Playing the Game – Renegades 3

  Zambonis and Mistletoe – Renegades 4

  Shutout – Renegades 5

  Shootout Save – Renegades 6

  Blindsided – Renegades 7

  Shot at Love – Renegades 8

  Body Checked (After the Buzzer) – Renegades 9

  Melting the Ice – Renegades 10 (Coming Soon)

  About Melody Heck Gatto

  Melody was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she still lives with her husband, son, dog and cats.

  The whole family are avid Pittsburgh Penguins fans and like going to hockey games when they get the chance. Having met some of the players has fueled her interest in writing about hockey and creating wonderful stories.

  Melody has loved writing since she was small. In school she never met a creative writing assignment that she didn't love. She is lucky enough to have a wonderful husband who encourages her to write. When she was laid off from her job of 14 years, he was supportive about letting her stay home and just be a mom. During that time, she discovered hockey romances and found a renewed love of reading as well as a passion for writing.

  During the holidays, she really enjoys any romance about Christmas, and especially Hallmark movies on tv. There’s just something about fairy tale romances, and happily ever afters that she can’t get enough of.

  You can email Melody [email protected], visit her website for more information, or catch up on her blog posts.

  Jean C. Joachim - The Final Slapshot

  Harry "Deke" Edmonds hides his secret, hoping for a Christmas miracle. When confronted with the truth, will his heart-breaking decision cost him everything?

  Dedication

  To hockey fans everywhere.

  Special Dedication

  To Trent McCleary, who inspired this story.

  Acknowledgment

  A huge thank you to V. L. Locey, who kept the hockey part of this story accurate. Thank you, also, to Jami Davenport, who invited me into the hockey holiday anthology. Without her generous invitation, this novella would never have been written. Thank you to my editor, Sherri Good, and my proofreader, Renee Waring.

  Chapter One

  Harry “Deke” Edwards, defenseman for the Hartford Huskies pro hockey team, walked into Jasper’s Jewelry on Park Street.

  “Can I help you, sir?” the man behind the counter asked.

  “Yeah. Diamonds. A bracelet?”

  “A tennis bracelet?”

  “Naw. Hockey. I play hockey.”

  “No, I meant the style of bracelet. May I show you?”

  “Sure, sure.”

  Embarrassed and feeling like an idiot, Deke wandered around the store, peering into the cases. He spotted a pair of diamond earrings. He’d get both the bracelet and the earrings. Hell, it was Christmas, wasn’t it? Maybe their last one as husband and wife. A heaviness surrounded his heart.

  “Here you go, sir,” the clerk said.

  Deke held up the bracelet, fit it around his thick wrist. Of course, it was too small for him. It should fit his wife, Kitty, just right.

  “I’ll take it. And those earrings over there, too.”

  “Yes, sir.” The clerk bustled over to the case to extract the baubles. “Shall I wrap them separately?”

  “Please.”

  “As a gift?”

  “Christmas gift.”

  “I’ll be right back.”

  As he looked out the window, Deke shook his head. Was he nuts? Who buys expensive jewelry for his wife right before he meets with his lawyer to discuss divorce? The clerk returned and handed him the presents.

  With a tiny, elegant shopping bag in his massive paw, Deke headed for the parking lot. He maneuvered his car down the highway to Monroe. He pulled up in front of a two-story office building. The icy wind penetrated his thin jacket during the short walk from the car.

  Deke and Kitty had been living together only part-time for three years. She ran an art gallery in Washington, D.C. while he played for the Huskies in Connecticut. Was it fair to keep her tied to him when she had a life elsewhere? Inheriting the gallery from her aunt three years ago had been their undoing. She wanted to run it, and he wanted to play hockey. They agreed to live apart during the season. Off-season, he trotted down to D.C. to bunk in with her.

  He’d found it uncomfortable being “Mr. Kitty” to the folks in her circle. She was too good for him, and he’d always known it. Smart, and sophisticated, she understood all kinds of crap about art. He couldn’t distinguish between modern art and a finger painting. Kitty was sweet, hot, gorgeous—and she laughed at his dumb jokes. How could he not fall for her?

  By year two, they had patched together a disjointed schedule of meet-ups. Often, during the week, Kitty joined him in hotels on the road, especially when they were in towns close to D.C., like Baltimore and Philly. Their separation made times together intense and hot. Frequently, it was sack time first and catching up second.

  When he was in Hartford, the loneliness ate at him. Although they’d speak often, almost every night, he hated going to bed and waking up alone. Distance grew between them. Calling ceased to be regular. Some nights he’d fall asleep before touching base with her and regret it in the morning.

  Puck bunnies in faraway towns tempted him, but he resisted. Sex on the road would have been easy—just fuck and leave. He simply refused to jeopardize his eight-year marriage for a roll in the hay. Besides, no easy lay could compare with making love to Kitty.

  He opened the door of his lawyer’s office and sat down in the waiting area.

  “Mr. Cohen will see you now,” the receptionist said.

  Deke ambled into the tasteful, mahogany-paneled room. He occupied a chair opposite the mammoth wood desk. Herb Cohen talked on the phone. He swiveled to face Deke and gave him a smile. When he hung up, he raised his gaze to Deke’s.

  “What can I do for you, Harry?”

  “I think it’s time to give Kitty a divorce.”

  “Divorce?”

  “You remember. We talked about it. Give her half of our assets and the house in Washington, and whatever else she wants. Okay?”

  “Shouldn’t we talk about this?”

  “We did. She deserves to have her freedom, not be stuck with a washed-up hockey player.”

  “Since when are you washed up?”

  Deke waved his hand. “Never mind about that.”

  “And what about you?”

  “Me?” he laughed. “I’ve had eight years with the most wonderful woman in the world. I’d say I’ve been more than lucky.” Deke pushed to his feet and strode to the door. “Send me the bill.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “About the bill?”

  “About the divorce.”

  “No, but I do lots of things I’m not sure about. It’s only right she get her life back before it’s too late.”

  “It’s a no-fault state. So this should be easy.”

  “Good. That means it’ll be cheap, too. Right?”

  “Maybe. It depends on her.”

  “She won’t fight it.”

  He exited the building. Once in his car, he felt empty. Something was missing. Oh, ye