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~ Tales of Romance -
Whispered Promises
Chapter 6
Five hours later, Dani was still in the emergency room.
After numerous tests, some of which seemingly required a gallon of blood, the doctor on call diagnosed her collapse as a simple fainting spell caused by stress, and exhaustion. The fact she was leaving for the Olympics within a few weeks, and the understandable pressure she was facing, also had him questioning her about feeling anxious, or even panicky, about her forthcoming Olympic competition.
"Doctor, I've trained my entire life for this competition. I can assure you, I'm feeling neither anxious or panicky," Dani stated tiredly, frowning as he took her blood pressure for the umpteenth time.
"Your blood pressure says differently," he stated calmly, noting the reading on her chart.
"I hate hospitals, it's been a very long night, and my blood pressure always goes up after I skate," she stated flatly.
"You've been off the ice for," the doctor noted the check-in time on her chart, "five hours now. Your elevated blood pressure has nothing to do with the fact you were skating this evening."
Dani sighed softly and her shoulders lifted in a simple shrug, but the sorrow in her green eyes belied her attempt at nonchalance. "I just want to go home. When can I get out of here?"
The doctor scanned her chart again, along with records her own doctor had faxed over, including the extensive physical she had gone through, and cleared, enabling her to go to the Olympics. With a small frown, he sent a concerned glance her way and casually reached for her wrist. Beneath his warm fingers, her pulse raced madly and, he heard her take a shaky breath, as if trying to calm herself. He had to give her credit for trying to keep calm, despite the fact she looked as if she was about to come apart at the seams. Her green eyes flitted from place to place, refusing to meet his for any length of time and her body was a study in motion, never resting, never silent, as if trying to contain a raging river within a small stream. He could almost feel the power within straining to break free; like a volcano preparing to erupt.
"Miss Rocmanov, you're fifteen pounds underweight, bordering anemia, exhausted, and obviously under a great deal of stress," he began, holding up his hand to forestall her interruption. "In my opinion, you need a break from your schedule."
"Impossible!" Dani's head moved back and forth. "There isn't time. The Olympics are literally weeks away. I can't just take a 'break from my schedule' right now. After the Olympics I'll do it, but not now!"
"Danielle, maybe I'm not making myself clear. The human body is a miraculous machine and it sends our brain signals as to how it's doing. Last night your body told your brain it was time to take a break."
"You said it was nothing but a fainting spell."
"That's right; a warning signal that your body is on overload. Like any machine, there is a point where the machine will rebel and shut down. Danielle, your body reached that point last night," the doctor said simply.
Dani sat quietly for a moment; her hands folded together, her fingers restless. "Are you saying, if I don't take a break, something worse could happen to me?"
"It's possible."
"Something that could keep me from skating?"
"Perhaps."
"And you think taking me off the ice for a couple of days is going to clear up whatever made me faint last night?" Dani asked in disbelief.
The doctor shook his head back and forth. "I'm not talking about a couple of days; you're off the ice for six weeks!"
"Doctor, you can't do that!" Dani hissed in disbelief, her green eyes wide and filled with horror.
"You're wrong, Dani, he can," Aleksei stated quietly from the doorway, his dark gaze taking in her pale face.
"Daddy?" Dani asked, her tone puzzled.
"It's what you need; what's best for you," Aleksei stated firmly.
"Daddy, the Olympics are ten weeks away. I can't afford to be off the ice for six weeks; I might as well not even go!" Dani exclaimed.
Aleksei's broad shoulders lifted in a small shrug. "Maybe you were never meant to go to the Olympics; perhaps it's not your destiny," he stated softly.
Dani's head shook furiously back and forth, her eyes filling with tears of frustration, and disbelief. "Daddy, he can't keep me off the ice," she growled in anger, casting a look of disgust at the doctor who stood quietly watching them.
Aleksei's chin lifted and his dark eyes bored into the deep green eyes, so like her mother's, and he stated flatly, "No, but I can!"
* * * * *
Sleep was an illusive demon for Dani and she spent the night tossing and turning, growling in frustration as she pounded her pillow and sending the clock, whose minutes seemed to move at a snail's pace, looks that should have melted it on the night stand. Her mind whirled dizzily as she remembered her father's words, four little words that changed her world in the flash of a heartbeat. Off the ice for six weeks - she still couldn't believe it. That, complicated with conflicting images of Hunter and Matt, had her body humming at memories of both men's touches, and she asked herself for the millionth time, how both men could affect her so strongly. They were opposites on the spectrum: Hunter; serious, steadfast, strong and solid, while Matt, at least seemed to be, full of fun, had no trouble laughing at anything, himself included, and wasn't afraid to go after something he wanted. The very fact he'd kissed her, when they'd only just met earlier in the day, told her that.
Still, men were the very last thing she wanted to think about at the moment. The fact her father had banished her from the ice left her feeling alone, and bereft, as if everything she loved had suddenly been ripped from her life. As mad as she was at her father, she couldn't hate him. She knew everything he did - everything he had ever done - was in her best interest. He wasn't spiteful, or hurtful, to the contrary, her parents had sacrificed so much for she and her brother, she could spend the rest of her life thanking them everyday and it still wouldn't be enough. And hadn't Matt even spoken the question aloud that had silently been echoing in her mind recently? 'Are you happy on the ice?' If she was honest with herself, she had to say no. The ice had no longer been a welcoming balm, but had instead, made her feel small and alone, lost and insignificant, despite the medals and trophies she continued to win. When, she wondered, had skating become no longer fun? When, had simply feeling the cool wind rush across her face as her blades whispered across that slick surface lost the magic that had held her enthralled her whole life?
The answer was simple, Emily. In the few short weeks she had come to know her, Dani had come to realize how golden her own life had been; how much she had taken for granted. She'd never had to worry about money, or food or her health; it was simply expected that the golden princess of a golden family would live a golden life. End of story.
It was ironic to think that a little girl, barely five years old, had shown Dani what was truly important in life. Dani had learned that in giving to others, the treasure of a smile and a hug was more enriching, and lasted longer, than a shiny piece of jewelry that would spend its time in a box. She discovered that the sound of a child's laughter remained with you forever, a reminder of joy and freedom in the form of a tinkling sound that echoed through your soul, and your heart. And she knew she would never forget the feel of Emily's tiny hand sliding trustfully into her own. She was certain Emily's tiny fingers, tracing a soft path across her hand, would be a sensation forever imprinted against her palm.
Tears filled Dani's eyes as her mind retraced the program that had begun as a duet and ended as an ensemble the night before. In her heart she wasn't certain if she could have completed the program by herself. Emily's simple words the night before haunted her, and she knew she would never be able to erase them completely from her memory. Dear, sweet Emily, wanting to give her name to Sergei and Chloe, so that they might use it for their own daughter, whenever that might be. 'I won't need my name much longer, Dani&ldots;' Emily's soft voice thundered in her head, her sky blue eyes danced brightly before her mind's eye, her gaze calm and knowing; accepting. Emily had more courage that Dani ever hoped to have. Dani only hoped she could find the courage and strength to fulfill the arrogant promise she had made upon their first meeting. 'I'll win the Gold Medal and then you can see if up close. In fact, I'll win it just for you!' Dani had promised rashly, certain it was her due, certain she could not fail.
She wished she were as certain of her statement this very moment.
* * * * *
"Six weeks, Aleksei? What the fuck were you thinking?" Whittaker bellowed as he poured a cup of coffee, took a huge swallow and choked on the thick, overly brewed liquid that burned a path down his throat. After a brief coughing spell, he looked into the cup and cast a derisive eye at Aleksei. "You made this pot, didn't you?" he asked in disgust.
"You've been drinking my coffee for years, Whittaker, what makes today's pot exceptional?" Aleksei growled back, running frustrated hands through hair seeming to grow more salt than pepper these days.
"Because today it's exceptionally crappy! Combine that with the fact you've yanked Dani off the ice for six weeks, which, if you do the math, gives us four whole weeks until the Olympics. The idea of pulling things together in four weeks is next to impossible! Why don't you just shoot me now?" Whittaker suggested heatedly.
"Don't tempt me," Aleksei countered flatly, ignoring Sergei and Chloe's startled gasps as they entered the kitchen and heard Whittaker's statement.
It had been a long night for all of them. The fact they had foregone staying at the hotel last night, and instead, headed for home after the show, while Aleksei stayed at the hospital with Dani, they were working on less than four hours of sleep with a full schedule of practice ahead of them.
Sergei and Chloe cast apprehensive glances at each other, before Sergei softly asked, "What do you mean Dani's off the ice for six weeks? Was she hurt when she fell?"
"The doctor&ldots;" Aleksei began, only to be interrupted by Whittaker.
"The quack taking care of your sister decided she's tired and needs a rest. He figures six weeks time is fine for a little vacation; screw the fact he's throwing away her chances to medal, let alone win Gold!"
"She's underweight, anemic, and from what the doctor believes, suffering anxiety and/or panic attacks. It's not safe for her to be on the ice and I won't risk her health, or her safety, not even for a fucking Gold Medal!" Aleksei roared, his reaction causing everyone to back up a step.
"Give her a few days off, then. Don't pull her for six weeks!" Whittaker suggested, looking to Sergei and Chloe for backup and frowning when they remained silent.
"Frank, I've been watching her over the last five weeks slowly turn into a skater who's lost her desire to be on the ice. She's worthless if she doesn't want to be there. Worse than that, she's at risk for serious injury because she doesn't care what happens to her. I've seen too many skaters screw themselves because they stayed on the ice longer than they should have. I won't have Dani blowing her knees, or crushing her skull because she's out there for us. If she skates, she skates for herself. Not for her mother, or me, or you, or even Emily, and certainly not for a fucking piece of medal. When she gets back on that ice it's because she decided she loves it and wants to be there," Aleksei stated heatedly.
"And if she doesn't come back?" Whittaker asked quietly.
Sergei and Chloe silently looked from man to man, their eyes wide and unblinking.
"Then it's over. End of conversation."
"Aleksei&ldots;" Whittaker called urgently.
"Six weeks, Whittaker. End of conversation." Aleksei restated and left the room without another word.
Whittaker shook his head in dismay, mumbled words of 'unfair' and 'impossible' slipping from his mouth as he complained to the kitchen floor under his breath and tried to think of ways that might make things happen a little faster. Any coach with even half a brain knew you didn't get a skater together only four weeks before the Olympics, it was impossible.
A gentle hand sliding up Whittaker's arm and coming to rest on his shoulder had him lifting his head and looking into Chloe's calm, sky blue eyes, an encouraging little smile curving her lush lips. "Can I make you a new pot of coffee?" she asked softly.
"My angel," he whispered, kissing her softly on the cheek.
"No, my angel!" Sergei stated softly from across the room, his smile sending delicious shivers through Chloe as they shared a smile.
* * * * *
Twenty minutes later, Dani was drawn to the kitchen by the smell of freshly brewed coffee and entered the spacious room to find Sergei and Chloe sharing a bagel smothered in cream cheese and raspberry jam. A cup of steaming coffee sat before Sergei and Chloe calmly dipped her tea bag in and out of a gigantic ceramic cup covered with frolicking kittens, as the two of them looked the sports page of the local paper.
A scowling Whittaker grabbed his travel cup of coffee and breezed by her without comment. "Sergei, Chloe, you've got fifteen minutes," he growled at the pair and departed through the back door that lead through the gardens and to the Rocmanov's private ice rink.
Dani's eyebrows lifted in question as Whittaker slammed the door behind himself. "Good morning, to you too," she mumbled and then cast a derisive look toward the bagel sitting between Sergei and Chloe. "Why do you ruin a perfectly good bagel by doing that to it?" Dani asked quietly, sending the red and white gooey mess on the golden bagel a look of disgust.
"Don't knock it till you've tried it," Sergei commented calmly, casting his sister a sly smile and taking a huge bite of the bagel, and making outrageous sounds that would have been more likely heard in the bedroom than rhapsodizing over a bagel.
"Ha, ha. You're so funny Sergei, you ought to go into stand-up when you quit skating," Dani offered flatly, reaching for her brother's coffee and swallowing a gulp of the still-steaming liquid.
"Careful, it's hot&ldots;" Sergei began only to shake his head as he watched his sister cringe, but manage to swallow the coffee.
"I can tell this day is going to be terrific!" she gasped sarcastically, blowing out little puffs of air as she tried to cool her burning tongue. Shaking her head in frustration, she made her way to the refrigerator, grabbed the ever-ready jug of orange juice and brought it back to the table, where she set it down with a solid thud. Still fanning her mouth, she made her way to the cabinet and grabbed a glass. "Anybody else want juice?" she asked, grabbing another glass when Chloe lifted her hand and added a soft, "Please."
Any other day, Dani wouldn't have even paid attention to the beautiful motion of Chloe's arm lifting elegantly into the air, it was simply the way she moved, like flowing water, or molten crystal. In fact, Dani moved in the same graceful manner, but that didn't matter. Today, it was a reminder of what she would not be doing and for that very reason it hurt and made her jealous, and she found herself biting her burned tongue to keep from making a snotty comment to Chloe.
"Not according to this article in the paper," Sergei countered calmly, knowing it was going to set Dani off, just uncertain how severe her response was going to be.
"What are you talking about?" Dani asked, pouring juice into the two glasses and silently passing one to Chloe.
Sergei and Chloe exchanged cautious glances, before, at Chloe's slight nod of assent, turned the paper around and showed Dani the article.
There, on the third page, smack dab in the middle of the paper, was a picture of Dani being soundly kissed by Matt Tanner and a headline that read: ICE PRINCESS SURRENDERS ICE TO HOCKEY KING; Olympic Hopes Melt for America's Golden Skating Family.
Dani's initial gasp of outrage was the only sound she made when she saw the paper, but as she read the article, the tension that emanated from her increased until you could feel the waves of rage that rolled off of her. "I can't believe this," she finally murmured, casting a disgusted look at the picture and reading the article again, unable to believe she was seeing what was right in front of her. "I just can't believe this!" she repeated, shaking her head in disbelief. "They think I would give up the ice for a hockey slug!" she growled, dropping the newspaper as if it were suddenly on fire. "I'll sue them for libel and defamation of character! How can they print such things without verifying if anything even remotely close to the truth exists?"
Sergei and Chloe knew exactly how she felt, they'd had to deal with their own fallout from the press when Chloe's ex-skating partner had made libelous insinuations against Sergei that had nearly landed him in jail. It was amazing what could be said under the protection of the Constitution's First Amendment. It didn't have to necessarily be true, but it was still protected.
"Has Daddy seen this?" Dani asked, suddenly embarrassed at the picture.
"Oh yeah," Sergei stated quietly, exchanging glances with Chloe. "He wanted to know if we knew anything about your relationship with Tanner."
Dani's fingers sifted through her hair, and swept the long auburn waves out of her face, confining the silken strands to a loose ponytail that rested over one shoulder. "Matthew Tanner and I have no relationship; we only met yesterday," Dani stated flatly, flushing softly at Sergei's look and raised eyebrows that stated it didn't look that way to him.
"You know what they say about a picture?" Sergei asked softly.
"Yeah, well, you don't need a thousand words to explain that picture. He gave me a rose after I skated my solo last night, I went to kiss him on the cheek&ldots;" a little white lie wasn't totally out of line, "and he turned at the last second and I kissed him on the lips. End of story. No big deal!" Dani growled, hoping the memories of the heated kiss that were suddenly assailing her weren't obvious to the two before her.
"According to 'sources' at the show, you two spent several minutes speaking before the infamous picture was taken, and that 'sources' stated you were 'smiling and flirting like new lovers'," Sergei finished quietly.
"I read the same article you did, Sergei. Twice! I know what it says, and I can assure you, despite what the 'sources' say, I wasn't flirting with Matthew Tanner, nor am I his lover!"
"Well, Mom and Dan and Hunter should be relieved to hear that," Sergei mumbled, grunting when Chloe's elbow hit him in the ribs in warning.
"Mom and Dad have had to deal with the press for years; nothing surprises them in that respect. Hunter, on the other hand&ldots;" Sergei left the statement unfinished.
"Sergei, you're not helping&ldots;" Chloe admonished, sending Dani a commiserating look.
"Oh, God, Hunter&ldots;" Dani murmured, shaking her head back and forth, her eyes glazing over with tears.
"I'm just saying&ldots;" Sergei began.
"You've said enough - more than enough - too much, in fact!" Chloe stated firmly, standing up and pulling on him to get him moving. "Whittaker's going to come looking for us, and considering the mood he's already in, I, for one, don't need him any madder than he already is."
"What do I do?" Dani asked, to no one in particular.
"Hunter knows how the press works, Dani. That's how he got involved in this mad-hatter family to begin with. He jumped in and saved Sergei's butt when the press was ready to tear him apart," Chloe encouraged her.
"What about your butt?" Sergei complained, casting an appreciative eye toward her shapely rear end.
"If you'll recall, the press was after your butt because you were after my butt, supposedly. At any rate, Hunter proved Andrew's statements and insinuations were all false and every single paper that had carried Andrew's hateful stories ending up printing apologies and retractions," Chloe stated.
"A lot of damn good it did. Everyone still looks at me as if I'm a rogue," Sergei grumbled, a mischievous light shining deep in his dark eyes, a sensuous smile curving his full lips, as he picked up his skating bag and slung the straps over one broad shoulder.
"Lucky for you I adore rogues?" Chloe quipped saucily, picking up her own bag and then sending him a dazzling smile as he removed the bag from her hand and, with a groan, hoisted it over the same shoulder his own bag's straps rested on.
"Yeah, isn't it?" he agreed, his free hand gently capturing her chin, his thumb tracing a seductive path across her lower lip before he leaned forward and gave her a kiss that had her knees weakening.
The phone ringing had all three casting apprehensive glances at each other as they waited for the answering machine to kick on, then sighed in relief when Whittaker's voice boomed over the speaker, "Sergei? Chloe? Are you two skating today or is everyone on a damn vacation?"
Chloe cringed, Sergei's eyes rolled in exasperation and Dani shook her head back and forth.
"Oh, I live for practices that promise to be this fun!" Sergei stated sarcastically, tugging at Chloe's hand. "Come on, let's go beard this old bear in his den and see if we can't make him smile at least once today!"
"Good luck!" Dani called as they went out the door.
"Same to you," Sergei offered his sister softly with a jaunty wink before he closed the door quietly behind him.
But somehow, Dani didn't feel very lucky and as the old saying goes, 'wishing don't make it so!'
* * * * *
Thirty minutes later, Dani was dressed, showered and headed for the garage. Growling to herself, she dug through her purse looking for her car keys as she trekked a path through the kitchen, cursing the person, who in all likelihood was a man, that had dictated that women would carry bags in which everything sooner or later became lost in the bottom of.
"Finally!" she mumbled, triumphantly lifting the keys and jumping in the surprise, and backing up a step, as the door that she had just been reaching for suddenly opened and revealed her parents, just as surprised as she was.
"Hey, Princess," Aleksei greeted her, opening his arms for a hug and giving her a kiss on the cheek.
"Hi, Daddy, hi, Mama," she murmured, returning his hug and then slipping into her mother's arms and accepting her warm hug and kiss.
Aleksei cast a gaze at Dani's skating bag that sat next to the door, one eyebrow lifting in a silent question. After a tense moment, he calmly asked, "Do I need to ask where you're going?"
Dani cast a wistful look toward her skating bag, and with a defiant toss of her auburn curls, calmly stated, as she breezed by her parents, "Well, since you've grounded me from the ice, I guess that just leaves going to see my lover!"
"Dani?" Jordan called after her, sending her husband a frustrated look. "Don't going doing anything foolish."
Dani walked to her black jeep Cherokee, tossed her purse to the passenger seat and slid onto the black and white plush cow-patterned seat covers, wiggling into their softness. "Don't worry, Mom, I may be dumb, but I'm not stupid."
"That's not what I mean, Dani," Jordan countered.
"I know, Mom, and that is probably what bothers me more than anything. It's bad enough the press is saying I've given up the ice and taken a lover, but to have them saying that I've given it all up for a hockey slug is too much. Especially, considering I'm being accused of something I haven't done. Hell, I might as well sleep with the slug if I'm going to be accused of it!"
"Danielle!" both her parents yelled in shock, looks of disbelief clear in their faces.
Dani turned the key in the ignition, the engine roared to life. "Don't worry, guys. I'm not looking for love - I'm just looking to spill a little blood!" she stated with a sweet smile that didn't reach her eyes, her words belying her intent as she put the car into reverse and backed quickly out of the garage. A jaunty salute was the last thing her parents saw as she sped down the driveway.
Jordan and Aleksei cast each other questioning looks, before Aleksei finally asked, "What do you say we flip a coin to see which one of us gets to call Hunter?"
Jordan could only run her hands through her shades-of-copper tresses and shake her head back and forth. "She had to be a hot-head like you, didn't she?" Jordan asked her husband, narrowing her eyes as a look filled with both pride and mischief made his dark eyes glow wickedly.
"She's got a fair share of her mother in her too, you know? Tell me you'd stand by and do nothing if the paper had run such an article on you?" he dared his wife.
Her slim shoulders lifted in an elegant shrug, and a small smile tugged at the corners of her lush mouth. "That's beside the point!"
"Ah," Aleksei acknowledged, with a lift of his chin.
"What do you mean, ah?" Jordan questioned, following her husband into the house.
"Just that when she's a 'hot-head' she's my daughter, but when she's an angel, she's yours," Aleksei tossed over his shoulder.
"That's right," Jordan stated with a firm nod.
Aleksei looked down into his wife's shining green eyes and felt himself melt beneath her warm regard. His large hands reached out to pull her into his embrace and his chin rested on the top of her head, the scent of her Gardenia perfume surrounding him. "Ah," he whispered.
Jordan snuggled deeper into his embrace, her smile one of serenity and she quietly demanded, "Oh hush up and hold me."
Aleksei's arms tightened around his wife and he quietly answered her demand. "As you wish, my love."
* * * * *
The twenty-minute ride to the ice rink where the Olympic Hockey team was scheduled to practice today gave Dani plenty of time to run through various scenarios of how she was going to deal with Matthew Tanner. She had to admit to herself, last night he'd caught her in a moment of weakness. Never in a million years would she have allowed someone she had known for a whole five minutes to kiss her the way he had. Granted, light kisses on her cheeks were common place at competitions, and no big deal when it came right down to it. But last night - temporary insanity - that could be the only explanation!
Well, today, she was perfectly sane, and she was going to make Matthew see that together, they could demand that the libelous newspaper print both a retraction and an apology, or they would sue them until they were majority stock holders. That would show them that they couldn't print untrue statements, even if their 'sources' said otherwise! And if that didn't work, she'd demand to see their 'source' and deal with them directly!
Feeling much better about things, she pulled into the parking lot of the ice house. A small frown appeared between her eyes when she didn't see the familiar white van that signified the team was practicing and she momentarily fretted over the possibility that she'd gotten the practice schedules mixed up. But that couldn't be, this was Sunday and the team had the ice early, allowing the figure skaters their practice time after lunch. A quick glance at the clock showed her it was a long time until lunch.
Cruising through the busy parking lot, she spotted an empty space next to a sleek little black sports car and zipped into the spot just before a monster SUV ran over the top of her. Quickly she was out of the car, the horn honking briefly as she locked the doors behind her. A brief glance at the very small, very shiny black two-seater parked beside her had her sighing wistfully before she shook her head and whispered "Death trap!" and made her way toward the entrance of the building.
Determination had her steps moving her forward quickly and she felt her heart pounding in her chest as she mentally went over her plan of action; if they could say nothing else about her, she was a thorough planner!
Her first hint things weren't going to go as well as she hoped began as soon as she pushed through the double doors and found herself being watched - almost studied - by everyone she passed. But worse, the less than tactful comments that drifted to her ears were more often hateful that filled with support. She might have been dubbed the 'Rocmanov Princess', but after the comments made in the newspaper, and the tone of the article, she might as well have been the town prostitute the way people were talking.
Lifting her chin, in a show of courage, she stared straight ahead and made her way through the crowd to the East Rink. Pushing against the door, she found herself having to step around two small boys that were sitting on the floor, knocking a small rubber ball back and forth between them with miniature hockey sticks. "No wonder hockey slugs are so arrogant; they probably start telling them they're wonderful as soon as they can hold a damn stick!" Dani mumbled to herself, looking toward the ice, and the source of her dilemma.
It didn't take her long to find him. He was by far the largest member of the team, and also the only idiot not wearing a helmet. (One more strike against the Neanderthal!) For several minutes, Dani watched the players go through the practice drills Matt called out, amazed at their speed and the fact that none of them ever seemed to be tired or out of breath; there was no complaining, only good-natured ribbing, with an occasional raunchy comment thrown in.
Then, in the span of a heartbeat, the rink went from a noise-filled arena to the silence of a cathedral, with all eyes suddenly turned in her direction.
"Hey Tanner, your lover's here!" one of Matt's teammates yelled across the rink, on a laugh, his comment causing several of the other team members to add their own encouraging suggestions as Matt looked at Dani and skated calmly toward her. After a particularly loud wolf call, he sent his teammates a dark look that spoke louder than any words could have and silenced them immediately.
Matt slid to a stop before Dani, separated by a waist high wall and another eight feet of one-inch thick plexi-glass. A quick press of a lever had the door in the wall opening and Matt stepping onto the rubber mat. The door closed behind him with a quiet click. Smiling down into her upturned face, his eyebrows lifted in question as he took in the furious expression in her green eyes, and the shadows beneath that bespoke of a sleepless night. But her tensing jaw really told the story.
"You're grinding your teeth, Darlin'. Keep that up and you'll be eating soft foods the rest of your life," he teased, trying to lighten her mood.
Dani's eyes flamed brighter and she lifted her chin a little higher as she looked up - way up - into his smiling face. "Tanner, shut up! You're neither my father nor my dentist!" she growled.
"Or your lover," he murmured flatly.
Dani blinked in surprise at his tone, more than his words, she could swear he almost sounded disappointed he wasn't. "That's what I wanted to talk to you about."
"Becoming my lover?" he offered cheerfully.
Dani looked around her, hoping to God his voice didn't carry as much as it seemed to. "Shhhhh. No - about the fact I'm not and, thanks to that damn newspaper, everyone thinks otherwise!"
"Well, Darlin', I'd be happy to remedy that situation. I can assure you, it wouldn't bother me a'tall to help you with your little problem," he offered huskily, his eyes darkening to a deep, sexy gray.
Dani crossed her arms across her chest, and heaved a frustrated sigh, the motion lifted her breasts enticingly, and caused Matt's breath to suddenly catch in his throat; his mouth went desert dry, while every ounce of fluid in his body seemed to rush to his loins. "You're not helping here, Mr. Tanner," Dani growled, scowling in displeasure.
Oh, but I'd love to! he thought to himself, shifting his hips as inconspicuously as he could as he tried to find a little more room in his pants as his body continued to react to her nearness. The fact a solid wall separated them didn't seem to matter; obviously his erection had a mind of its own and wasn't paying any attention to Matt's silent pleas. "So what, exactly, are you suggesting we do?"
"Go to the newspaper and demand a retraction, and an apology, from them," Dani answered simply.
It took every ounce of self-control Matt had not to simply burst out laughing and ask her if she was completely nuts. Could she really be so naïve as to believe she could simply walk up, demand a retraction, get it, and then get on with her life as if nothing had ever been said? After everything her brother had been through, yes, he'd heard the rumors, like everyone else in the skating business had, he knew she couldn't believe it could be that cut and dry. "Dani, didn't you learn anything at all from your brother's difficulties with the press?" he finally asked, running one hand through his hair in a show of frustration.
"That was different; Chloe's ex-partner was trying to torpedo the team in an effort to get her back. That's not the case here; no one wants me, except a few who wouldn't mind me being out of the way for the Olympics."
Oh, baby, I want you! Matt's body silently screamed. "Is it true? Are you scratching the Olympics?" Matt asked softly, doing his best to ignore the physical response his body had to Dani and concentrate on her words.
"Of course not. I'm just taking a little time off, that's all," Dani answered softly, her eyes filled with tears before they drifted away to look at the far end of the ice.
Matt kicked the boards lightly with the toe of his blade, and shrugged his wide shoulders. "Ten weeks until the Olympics and you're taking time off? Not something that's typically done, but, hey, to each their own," he offered quietly.
Dani brushed a tear away from the corner of her eye and sent Matt a shaky smile. "It's a long and complicated story. Suffice it to say, I'll be there," she stated firmly, lifting her chin courageously.
"I bet you will," Matt returned, sending her an encouraging smile that made her feel suddenly breathless.
"So back to the issue at hand. What do we do about that libelous article?" Dani asked, trying to concentrate on the problem at hand instead of his seductive smile and dark gray eyes that watched her too closely.
"My suggestion would be to ignore it," he stated with an easy shrug, laughing at her look of surprise.
"Are you completely crazy? That's not going to stop people from thinking we're lovers!"
"The more you protest, Darlin', the more it looks like you're trying to hide something."
"I'm not hiding anything from anyone!" Dani fired back, her chin lifting a notch in defiance.
"Well, I'm certainly glad to hear that, because if you're hiding that we're lovers, I'm going to be more than a mite upset that you didn't bother to tell me," he teased huskily, crossing his arms over his broad chest, the motion making his biceps and shoulder muscles bulge beneath his jersey.
Dani closed her eyes at the sight of his muscles as they rippled beneath the thin fabric, and tried to ignore the fluttering in her stomach at his movements. She was a sucker for a man with a gorgeous upper body; not the other-the-top, muscle man type, but show her a set of shoulders that rippled with motion and filled out a shirt nicely, and she was practically drooling. She would have thought after all the years she'd seen her father's and brother's gorgeous bodies she would have gotten over her fascination, but she'd been spoiled, and every man she saw, she compared to either her father or brother. Not the best way to find the man of her dreams, but that's how it was. It was hard to compete with perfection! And yet, Hunter had met the challenge, and like a fool, she'd given him her heart and then watched as he pushed her farther and farther away, unwilling to accept what she so willingly offered him. She wished her heart would stop hurting whenever she thought of him, and against her better judgment, refused to believe there was no hope for the two of them.
Once she had been certain Hunter and she were meant to be together; now, there was a question mark between them.
"Earth to Rocmanov&ldots;" Tanner's deep voice finally penetrated Dani's reverie, and she looked at him with a dazed expression.
"Sorry," she mumbled sheepishly, and cast him an embarrassed look and timid smile.
Matt's gaze absorbed the classic beauty of Dani's face as he studied her quietly. He couldn't remember ever seeing skin so fair, and flawless, the color of rich cream. In her embarrassment, her cheeks flushed a dusty rose, and her eyes - the color of a deep forest - were filled with emotion. One of his mother's favorite phrases had always been, 'eyes are the windows to one's soul'. With Dani, a truer statement couldn't be made. Everything she felt was right there to be seen, if they only chose to see it. And her mouth&ldots; well, it wasn't safe for him to think about that delicious mouth, the memory of how it had felt beneath his own; its sweetness and warmth, was simply too tempting. He knew he'd never be satisfied with a simple kiss and he could just imagine the hullabaloo that might ensue if he ravished her right here in the ice house; although the thought was sorely tempting.
"Penny for your thoughts," he offered quietly.
"I wouldn't even know where to begin," she sighed, running her hands through her hair and tucking it behind her ears, before fussing with tiny tendrils that refused to be subdued and danced about her temples.
"How about we begin with lunch?" Matt suggested easily.
"Isn't that just going to give the press that much more to talk about? I want to put a stop to the insinuations; not give them more ammunition!"
"Darlin', if they think we're lovers, I think it's safe to assume that they think we eat together too," he stated calmly, a spark of mischief lighting his gray eyes.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" Dani asked in exasperation.
"I find it humorous that people will believe just about anything they read, with or without basis, but not at the risk of hurting someone else's feelings, and I will admit, it doesn't hurt my reputation to be linked to 'America's Skating Princess'. But considering what's being bandied about and the actual benefits I'm reaping, much is left to be desired!" he stated.
"Why, Mr. Tanner, that sounds like a complaint to me," Dani offered with a teasing pout. "Are we having our first lover's spat?" she asked petulantly, her green eyes wide with innocence but glowing with a wicked, teasing light.
"Darlin', lover's spats are nothing more than an excuse to have hot, wild sex and call it makin' up. Considering what's already been written, and that many people obviously consider it to be the truth, it seems like a waste of time and energy trying to prove them wrong. I'd much rather spend my time seeing if what they're saying is true!" Matt's voice vibrated with huskiness that sent fire racing through Dani's veins and made it difficult to breathe normally.
"Matthew, we're not lovers," Dani whispered, her cheeks blushing a deep rose as his deep gray gaze held hers captive.
Matt's mouth brushed a grazing kiss against her cheek, and his warm breath tickled the wayward tendrils at her temple as he whispered in her ear, "Not yet."
Dani's face turned abruptly toward Matt's, their mouths mere inches apart, their breaths mingling, their eyes held captive by one another. "You're crazy," Dani finally managed to murmur, her heart pounding in her chest, her mind swirling madly, as she struggled to understand the dark, hungry look in his eyes.
"Crazy about you, Darlin'."
"You don't even know me."
"Not yet."
"You said that before."
"I meant it."
Dani shook her head back and forth, a small, barely perceptible motion. "You make me feel out of control," she whispered, a bit fearfully.
"It's good to be out of control, every now and again. It makes you remember you're alive," he stated with a small, wolfish smile, the tip of his tongue making a slow, torturous path across his lower lip that held her gaze hypnotized.
"I don't like being out of control." Dani barely managed to squeak the words out, her eyes darkened to a green so deep it bordered black, and she couldn't pull her gaze away from his delicious looking mouth. It was all she could do to keep from leaning the few inches forward and press her lips against his, to taste the sweetness of his mouth.
"You will with me!" he promised sensuously, gently rubbing his knuckles against the fragile line of her jaw, before he flicked her nose playfully and broke the spell he'd woven so effortlessly around her. "In the meantime, let's go eat."
Blinking, as if she'd awoken from a trance, she cast a speculative look at the tall man before her. "Why do I suddenly feel as if I'm about to jump out of the frying pan into the fire?"
Matt's shoulders lifted in an easy shrug. "I don't know, Darlin'. You're the control freak, remember?"
"I'm not a control freak!" Dani countered, a little louder than she wanted to, and frowned as her words echoed back at her. "I'm not a control freak," she stated again, more quietly, "I just want to be in control of what happens to me," she explained. Frazzled, she followed Matt to the door to the ice and waited as he told his teammates it was time to take a lunch break, and frowned at the cat-calls and sly comments from the hockey players on the ice, before he returned his attention to her.
"Darlin', where I come from, that's called being a 'control freak'," he stated with a knowing smile, making his way toward the doors that lead to the locker room, Dani hot on his heels. "Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with ladies being in charge, particularly in certain situations&ldots;" he commented, stopping at the doors to the locker room and swallowing a groan as Dani bumped into him, her soft breasts melting against his back.
"Sorry," she mumbled, a brief smile flitting across her full lips as Matt sent her a sardonic look.
"Unless you're looking to give people something to really talk about, I would suggest you turn your sweet little ass around and meet me in the lobby. I won't be more than ten minutes."
Dani frowned. " If it's all the same to you, I'll meet you outside. One run of the welcoming committee was enough for me today."
"Figure skaters can be nasty folks," Matt stated flatly.
"Up until now, I hadn't realized just how nasty. I've never had to deal with this kind of fall-out before." Dani admitted.
"Up until now, you weren't sleeping with a hockey slug," Matt teased.
"I'm not sleeping with a hockey slug!" Dani stated firmly, with a smile sweet enough to melt candy.
"That's not what they think," Matt tossed a look in the direction of the lobby.
"I don't care what they think!" Dani fired back, her eyes flashing angrily.
Matt tapped the end of her nose softly. "Exactly. First point to the Princess!" he stated softly, before turning and pushing his way through the locker room doors. A soft whoosh was the only sound they made as they closed behind him.
Dani stood silently for a moment, rethinking their conversation and his parting words, and shook her head in disbelief as she realized he had lead her to her first step in regaining control of what she had felt was an uncontrolled situation. She knew he could have spent hours telling her everything was going to be fine and she wouldn't have believed a word of it. Instead, he had allowed her to find her own way. I don't care what they think! She had said it herself, and she believed it. Everyone thinking they were lovers wasn't the end of the world, simply another bump in the road of life. Granted a big one, but one that would resolve itself! "God, I hate smart hockey slugs," she mumbled to herself.
Feeling better now, than she had when she arrived, she made her way to the lobby and found herself, once again, the subject of speculation, ridicule and rumor. Skaters she had once thought of as friends, treated her like anything but, and some of the comments she heard made her want to hang her head in shame and run crying from the ice house. But, with a defiant lift of her chin, she moved steadily forward, looking only ahead, seeming to ignore the hateful words that surrounded her.
The long trek to the exit doors of the ice house seemed interminable and each step seemed to happen in slow motion, a drawn out motion that had her feeling as if she had been simply walking in place. She felt as if walls were closing in on her, suffocating her, each hateful glare made her heart pound harder and the air in her lungs seem thinner. Tiny flashes of light danced before her eyes and she felt her world tilt, only to have it righted again as several members of the hockey team closed ranks around her, offering her security and rescuing her from those who sought to hurt her with their words and hateful stares. Their teasing words and easy laughter had Dani's strength and confidence returning as she was ushered through the crowded lobby and into the bright sunlight outside.
* * * * *
Matt watched silently, as his teammates surrounded Dani, offering her their protection and led her through the crowd that had suddenly become quiet. As me made his way through the crowd alone, his eyes dared anyone to utter a disrespectful word.
Silence was bliss!
* * * * *
"Nice job, guys," Matt stated as he exited the building, and found Dani still surrounded by his teammates; a little flower surrounded by tall oak trees. "You have one hour for lunch; don't be late getting back," he directed the men, ignoring their groans and complaints about his slave-driving tendencies, before they scattered into various cars parked in the lot and headed off to eat.
Dani cast Matt a timid smile as she watched him watching her, waiting for her to make the first move. "That was very nice of your teammates to come rescue me, the way they did."
Matt's broad shoulders lifted in a casual shrug. "It was no big deal. It makes them feel more macho when they can rescue an occasional damsel in distress." With a hand at the small of her back, he gently urged her forward.
Dani rolled her eyes in disgust. "As if hockey players need any additional machismo. Admit it, your teammates just like throwing their testosterone around!"
Matt cast a glance toward the fall sky, a dazzling clear blue, and breathed in the cool air, a sigh escaping as he caught a whiff of burning leaves. "Big words from a little lady. Admit it, all that testosterone came in handy when you needed it. My boys got you out of that lobby without any bite marks or cat scratches," he reminded her, directing her toward his sleek little black car in the parking lot.
"I was doing just fine, thank you very much," Dani argued, walking toward her jeep parked beside the black sports car.
"Sure, you were, Darlin'," Matt agreed condescendingly and watched her walk to the sedate jeep; heard the horn sound two quick honks (that sounded like dying ducks as far as he was concerned) as she pressed her keyless remote, and asked, "Are we taking two cars?" His quick glance at the jeep was filled with disgust.
"Don't tell me this death trap is yours?" Dani asked scornfully, secretly admiring the sleek little car and trying to keep the wistful look that lit her eyes hidden as she gazed at it.
"Death trap? You're sounding like an old woman, Princess," he teased her, running one hand lovingly along the leather headrest of the driver's seat. "If you'll notice, it comes with seat belts, a roll bar and even two airbags. It's just as safe as your," he feigned a choking sound before he muttered flatly, "jeep."
Dani patted the side of her car, as if consoling the machine and murmured softly, "Pay no attention to the nasty man, you at least have a top," she commented. Sending Matt a superior smile, she was surprised by the deep, lusty laugh that escaped his broad chest and echoed through the cool air.
"Darlin', Lila, here has a top, it's simply down at the moment."
"Lila? You named your car, Lila?" she asked in amusement.
His wide shoulders lifting in an embarrassed shrug and the small smile that played around his lips answered her question. What was it about men and their cars? Or did men simply have to name everything they possessed?
"Matt, it's not even fifty degrees out here and you're driving around with the top down?" Dani finally asked, looking at him as if he were completely crazy.
"Yes, ma'am."
"And you want me to join you in this little pretend car that has no top?"
"Yes, ma'am," he repeated, his smile full of boyish charm, his eyes filled with humor.
Dani tilted her head to the side, her eyes considering. "Just how many hockey pucks to the head have you taken?" she asked lightly, blinking in surprise when Matt's deep laugh boomed around her again. She had to admit, his laugh was contagious, and against her better judgment, she found herself smiling in return.
"Obviously not enough to keep me from doing something else crazy," he chuckled, digging into the pocket of his tight jeans and pulling out his car keys. Looping the ring around his little finger, he held the keys out to Dani. "Want to drive?"
Dani's mouth opened in shock and her eyes widened in disbelief as she looked from the keys, to Matt's face, back to the keys. Never would she have believed he would have offered to let her drive. Hunter had been so adamant about not letting anyone even touch his car, God forbid, he let anyone else drive it. She remembered how much he'd freaked out when she had suggested everyone go for an ice cream cone. He nearly went ballistic when someone had brought up the subject of them getting carsick when they were little. Hunter had been ready to let the lot of them out to walk home! Now, here was Matt, offering to let her drive his sweet little sports car, without an ounce of hesitation. As much as she hated to admit it, he'd just gained another point in her favor. With a final wistful look at the keys, she answered him, her tone a little sad. "Thanks, but no."
Matt's eyebrows lifted in surprise, then smoothed out as realization struck him. "Don't tell me, I've actually found something that the Rocmanov Princess isn't accomplished at?" he teased her.
Dani watched as he walked around the car to join her on the passenger side, although his slow, graceful gait made if feel more as if he were stalking her like some big cat looking for a tasty treat. "Clutches give me a little bit of trouble. Not that Daddy didn't try to teach me to drive a manual transmission, but after I burned out the third clutch, we decided that automatic transmissions were probably a better idea for me," she answered softly, embarrassment tingeing her cheeks a deep rose.
Matt nodded in understanding, opened the door for her and allowed her to slip into the leather seat, and secure her seat belt. Her door closed with a soft click. Ten seconds later, he had rounded the front of the car, slipped into his own seat, fastened his seat belt in place, and slipped the key into the ignition. A quick flick of his powerful wrist had the engine coming to life, a subdued roar that bespoke of a slumbering energy waiting to be set loose. Reaching into the minuscule back seat, he pulled out a baseball cap and passed it to Dani. "I'd suggest you tuck all that glorious hair of yours up into that hat or you're going to spend all afternoon combing out snarls."
Although his statement had been made casually, an underlying tone of intimacy settled over the pair and Dani had to struggle to pull her gaze from Matt's. Her soft "Thank you." was a breathless whisper and her fingers seemed suddenly numb and useless as she tried to twist her hair into a loose bun and slip the hat on.
A groan of frustration sounded in the small car, and Dani couldn't be certain if it had been her own exasperated sound, or Matt's. All she knew was suddenly his long fingers were in her hair and the sensations his agile digits caused created magical tingles against her scalp and sent jolts of electricity through her body. Time seemed to stop as he fought the auburn waves that refused to be subdued into submission, and then finally plopped the baseball cap onto her head and heaved a sigh that sounded like it had been held for too long.
Timidly, Dani lifted her eyes to his, surprised to find them glazed and so dark, they may as well have been black, and filled with a look that both asked and demanded things of her. Dani's hands fluttered up to adjust the cap on her head, her tongue swept lightly over her suddenly dry lips, before her teeth tugged nervously at her lower lip. "How does it look?" she asked on a whisper, her strength melting beneath Matt's dark gaze.
One strong finger brushed against her cheek as he tucked an escaped, curling tendril behind her ear, his knuckles grazed the fragile line of her jaw, his thumb brushed against her full lower lip, saving it from her sharp little teeth that tugged at it in her worry. Her green eyes were the color of a deep forest, glazed and dilated, held captive by Matt's own dazed look. "Too damn dangerous," he finally murmured. His breath whispered a warm path against her lips, into her mouth, and she closed her eyes against the onslaught of emotion that she found in his sensual gaze.
He was powerless against her magic, drawn to her innocence in a way he would never have expected. Pampered princesses were for men who wanted trophy wives and girlfriends; women meant to be placed on pedestals, looked at but never touched. He had always gravitated toward ladies who were looking for fun for the moment: nothing serious, nothing lasting. Now, suddenly words like forever and always popped into his brain, and what was worse, the words didn't scare him. Unable to help himself, he brushed a soft kiss against her temple and whispered into her ear, "Danielle Rocmanov, you're a witch."
Dani's eyes felt weighted, and it was a struggle to open them, like awakening from too long a nap, but finally she cast Matt a look that bespoke of passion awakening, their faces only inches apart and countered softly, " So I've been told."
It took every ounce of strength Matt had not to delve into the glory of her mouth, so near his own, and drown in the sweetness he knew he would find there. Instead, he managed to ask, huskily, "So, Princess, what are you hungry for?"
Dani's left eyebrow lifted sardonically, her look filled with such heat; Matt was surprised he didn't feel the small amount of blood that wasn't in his loins simply turn to dust in his veins. What was it about her that could set him on fire with a simple word or glance? "Don't you know, it's not safe to ask such questions of a witch?"
Matt's eyes narrowed in thought, a deep growl rumbled through him, and he shifted in his seat against the tightening in his groin. Mindlessly, he shoved the gearshift into reverse, frowning when he ground the gears a bit, and with a dark look at Dani, stated dangerously, "We need to teach you how to drive a stick-shift!" With a final quick look over his shoulder, he backed out of the spot, screeched to a skidding halt, shoved the gearshift into forward and sped out of the parking lot.
The sounds of Dani's laughter, filled with joy and wickedness, followed them as the cool autumn air swirled around them.
Several sets of eyes watched from the front windows of the ice house, and the whirring sound of film rewinding in a camera could barely be heard above the whispered comments that suddenly erupted as the sleek black sports car sped out of the parking lot and disappeared from view.*
Copyright © 2001-2002 C.E. Moynihan
*All Rights Reserved