Sticks and Stones (39 page)

          He rolled a
strand of hair around his fingers. “And what does that stone mean?”

          “Love, a
forceful male. I’d hoped you call, but seeing you in person is so much better.”

          Rick sat up.
“How could I not after your message?” He kissed her hand and jumped from the
couch. He returned shortly and handed her a small black velvet covered box. “Merry
Christmas.”

          “Rick…”

          He snorted, “Go
on, and open it!”

          Grace bit her
lip and lifted the lid. “Oh!” she sighed in relief, staring at the diamond
studded hockey stick necklace.

          “Oh?” he
frowned.

          “I mean, I love
it! Here, put it on me!” she grinned, lifting her hair.

          He removed the
necklace from the box and clasped it around her neck.

          She kissed him
gently. “I love my number eight necklace with a hockey stick!”

          “Didja think it
was a ring?” he teased, lifting a brow.

          “Well…”

          “Nope. No ring
yet. We have stuff to talk about.” He lifted his hand. “One, what’s the deal
with you and the Irish dude? Two, have you totally forgiven me for being a
total jag-off and selling you out? And three, I need to see you in that hot
little dress you wore last night that my dad keeps talking about.”

          Grace giggled
at number three, then took a deep breath. “Justice and I have mutually decided
to remain friends.”

          Rick frowned.
“Not sure I like that.”

          “I’ll come back
to that. As for number two? Yes, I’ve forgiven you. My clientele is beginning
to pick up again and even if it hadn’t, I’d forgiven you a while ago. Your
heart was in the right place. Three? I can put that snazzy number on for you
after we discuss number one, if you still want me to.”

          Rick placed his
arm on the back of the couch and rested his head on his hand. “Okay, back to
number one.” He swallowed hard. “Did you love him?” Grace nodded. Rick blew out
a breath. “Okaayy…are you still in love him?”

          “Not
romantically,” she replied quietly.

          Rick rubbed his
thumb along his bottom lip. “Does he love you…romantically?”

          Grace sighed.
“He told me that I was chasing my dream man when I already had him.” Rick’s
jaws clenched and she shook her head. “He meant you.”

          He threw his
head against the couch, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Fuck! I don’t want to
like this guy!” he growled. He lifted his head and palmed her cheek. “We’ll
just let things take their course and never be sorry”.

*        *        *

          “Ready for
number three?” Grace called down the stairs.

          Rick rubbed his
hands together. “Oh yeah!”

          “Okay, but no
peeking!” she giggled, descending the stairs.

          He kept his
back to the stairway and when he heard her heels clicking on the ceramic
flooring he turned. He swallowed the lump in his throat. “Holy hell, Grace! No
wonder my dad can’t stop talking about you!”

          Grace looked
down at the short, sparkling red dress and blushed at her bosom which was
poking out the top. She slowly turned around for him to see the back of the dress.

          He licked his
lips. The dress had a long scoop down the center and there was no way in hell
she could wear a bra, let alone panties in that thing.

          “Hey,” she
scowled. “Stop undressing me with your eyes!” He shot her a puzzled look and
she laughed. “Use your teeth instead!”

*        *        *

June

Stanley Cup
Playoffs-Chicago

         
In the seventh round of the Stanley
Cup playoffs each team had won three games. Tonight was a do or die situation.
Beating his former team, the New York Rangers, was no small task. The score was
three to two, the Wind lead.

          Rick sat in the
locker room and leaned against the locker with his eyes closed. Everyone he
loved sat in the stands, cheering him on. Chase, Emily, Blake, Max, his mom and
dad; but more importantly, Grace.

          “Yo! Ricochet!
You alright, man?” Brice yelled across the room.

          “Yeah. We gotta
put the game away this period,” Rick growled. “We’ve come too far to let it
slip through our fingers again!”

          “Let’s do it!”
Brice chanted as they lined up to get back onto the ice.

*        *        *

          Since the arena
didn’t sell candy bars, Grace was sure to stuff her purse. She was nervous as
hell! She glanced over at Holly, Rick’s mom and offered her a bar.

          “Oh! I just
love these!” Holly chortled. She dug into her candy bar and closed her eyes
after taking a bite. “Mmm. Thank you!”

          Grace shrugged.
“No problem. I’m so nervous right now!”

          Emily laughed.
“That’s for sure! He pouted for an entire month last year when they didn’t win.
When he met you in July, his attitude improved.” She gripped Grace’s hand. “I’m
so glad you two got back together.”

          “Me, too!” Holly
interjected. “Talk about Ricky being unbearable!”

*        *        *

          Twelve minutes
into the third period the Rangers dominated the ice. Sarge was moving left to
right in the net, blocking shots. No way was he gonna let those fuckers get a
goal!

          “Ricochet!
Kanga! Get your asses out there!” Coach Banks barked. He growled at assistant
coach Mikka. “We’re so fucking close to winning I can taste it!”

          “We got your
back, bro!” Rick yelled to Sarge, when he intercepted a pass from a Rangers
player. He slid the puck around the back of the net where Kanga took it up the
ice.

          Mike Leary
tapped his stick on the ice and motioned with his head to Kanga. Kanga nodded
and dodged a hit, successfully passing the puck to Leary.

          Leary sped
towards the net and twirled, shooting the puck low, past the Ranger goalie.

          The red light
spun and the goal song filled the arena while members of the Wind hugged and
patted each other’s helmets on the ice.

*        *        *

          With less than
a minute left of the game the Rangers scored a goal. Rick tried to keep upbeat
and yelled at his teammates on the bench. “We’ve got this! We’re still a point
ahead!”

          On an
adrenaline rush, he hopped over the low wall and onto the ice. Before the
face-off he looked up at the Jumbotron. Forty seconds.
In forty-one seconds
we’ll be celebrating
, he thought.

          The puck
dropped and the Wind had possession. Gramps flew past Rick and chuckled. “Let’s
play keep away, eh?”

          Rick shook his
head. “Fuck that! Pass me that mother fucker!”

          Gramps shot him
a grin and the puck, sending Rick over center ice. Rick shot a saucer pass to
Kanga, who then slid the puck across the ice to Gramps.

          Members of the
Rangers, already feeling defeated, seemed to give up. Rick knew the feeling,
but didn’t let up.

          Gramps saw the
intensity in Rick’s eyes and saucer-passed the puck to him.

          Rick had a
clear shot at the net, but knowing it was Gramp’s last game, he shot the puck
back to him.

          “What the fuck
ya doing?” Gramps yelled over the din.

          “Shoot the
fucker!” Rick yelled back.

          With less than
five seconds, the Wind won the game, five to three.

          Helmets and
gloves scattered the ice. Gramps jumped into Ricks arms. Kanga and Leary skated
over to them, yelling. Other members of the team joined their mates on the ice
for a group hug and pats on the back.

          Grace didn’t
know who to hug first! Holly or Emily. So, she wrapped her arms around both of
them and pulled them into a group hug.

          Zee pushed
Howard, Rick’s dad, out of the way and joined in the hug. “Our men won!” Zee
cried. “Now they can shave those nasty ass beards off!”

          Chase tapped
Grace on the shoulder and pointed towards the glass.

          Grace moved her
head and briefly saw Rick standing there until fans flocked towards the window.
He skated backwards so she could see him and he mouthed the words, “I love
you.”

          She mimicked
his actions and he pulled a fist pump and skated back to his team mates.
Several fans turned to look at her. A brunette, dressed in a very short dress
gaped at Grace. “You’re dating Ricochet?” Grace nodded and smiled. “Wow! You’re
lucky!”

          “Yes, I am,”
Grace agreed.

*        *        *

          Knowing Rick
would be celebrating with his team for the rest of the evening, Grace planned
to go home and wait until the next day to see him. She began to say her
goodbyes when Chase pulled her arm. “Um, you’re not going anywhere,” he
commented.

          “Huh?” she
squeaked.

          “Rick told me
that under no circumstance were you to leave.”

          “But he’s going
to be partying with the team. I don’t want to interfere with that.”

          “No buts.
C’mon,” he urged, tugging her arm towards the ice doors.     

*        *        *

          Security
allowed Grace and Zee onto the ice along with the wives and other girlfriends
of the team.

          Rick handed the
cup to Harpo and skated over to Grace. He picked her up and twirled her. “We
won, babe! We fuckin’ won!” he yelled before planting a kiss on her lips.

          “I’m so happy
for you!”

          He set her down
on the ice and kept his arm around her. “The only thing that’ll make my night
complete is if you’ll agree to be my wife.”

          Tears misted in
her eyes. “I will.”     

          Rick whooped,
scooped her up and skated around the ice with her in his arms.

          She looked up
at him and grinned. It was just as she dreamt the night before.

About the author

Kerrie DuBrock is an office administrator by day and writer
by night. Her life-long interest in all things ‘woo-woo’ give her story’s a
unique twist.  She is currently at work on another book. She lives in the Chicago
area with her husband and daughter, along with a two cats, one of which is
remarkably like Chewy in the story and a fierce, but lovable Doberman.

To keep up with Kerrie and her ramblings check out these
sites:

Face Book: Kerrie Gray-DuBrock Romance Writer

Twitter: Kerrie DuBrock