Scoring One Night (Blue Ridge Mountain Hockey #4)

Aspen

I sighed with a smile on my face. It was good to be back on the ice.

The crisp air nipped at my skin as I glided off the ice. My muscles buzzed with adrenaline from a killer practice session, but it was thoughts of Melanie that really had me flying high. The way her lips had felt against mine, the heat we generated between us—it was enough to thaw any ice rink.

"Hey, !" Liam hollered, skating over to me as we both exited the rink. "I guess your ankle is better. You did great today."

"Better than ever," I replied, my mind still consumed by images of Melanie's gray eyes and raven hair. Our arrangement was exactly what I needed to get back on track.

"I'm guessing your friend Ralph got the help he needed?" He winked at me as we entered the locker room together.

"Sure, let's go with that." I laughed, playing along.

While I ended up telling Liam about my feelings for Melanie, he didn’t know we had worked out a friends-with-benefits deal, and I intended to keep it that way for now.

"Seriously though, man, your game is on fire today considering," Liam said, clapping me on the back as we began changing out of our gear. "I don't know what's got you so fired up, but it's working."

"Thanks." I grinned, knowing full well that my newfound passion wasn't just for hockey. "Just trying to make the most of every opportunity, you know?"

The noise from the players around us talking and laughing caused us to have to raise our voices to be heard.

"Speaking of opportunities," Liam said, pulling on his jeans, "we should head over to the Rural Business Development office after this. They've got some interesting projects coming up."

That was the organization Liam had told me about a few weeks ago when I had come home from the hospital. He had been updating me about it and suggested I meet with the head of the local branch.

"That sounds perfect." I nodded, lacing up my sneakers. The thought of doing something more meaningful than just donating money to the organization appealed to me.

And after what happened on Melanie's couch got me thinking. While I liked us hooking up, I kind of wanted more. Maybe not right now, with the game soon and Melanie new at the job, but in the future. We could become official, or something like that.

For the first time ever, I wanted more than just sex from someone. Maybe this was a chance to show Melanie—and myself—that I was capable of more than just chasing one exciting possibility after another.

"Great!" Liam clapped his hands together, clearly pleased with himself for roping me into his plan. "Let's get going, then. I hear they're serving snacks at the meeting."

"God forbid we miss out on free food," I teased him as we headed out of the locker room. "Let's go." I slung my bag over my shoulder and followed Liam out of the locker room.

The warm late spring air hit my face and the smell of flowers filled the air as Liam and I left the locker room. The rural charm of Castle Ridge never failed to put a smile on my face, especially now that I had Melanie on my mind. But duty called, and it was time to focus on the meeting with the Rural Business Development folks.

"Man, I hope they have some good snacks at this thing," Liam said, rubbing his hands together for warmth. "I could really go for something sweet right now."

"Don't tell me you can't afford food like Jackson?" I chuckled.

Jackson had some problems with his ex-wife taking all his money. Now he was doing his best to raise his young son by himself. Jackson was always sneaking free food into his pockets to take to his son. It was sad, but heartwarming all at the same time.

"No, but free food always tastes the best." Liam grinned.

Despite his posh accent, I wondered if Liam grew up poor. Maybe that's why he never talked about his family or where exactly in Europe he was from. He still wouldn't even admit he was from Europe, but the whole team knew he was from somewhere over there.

Liam and I exchanged a look as we approached the office building, steeling ourselves for whatever lay ahead. With one last deep breath, we pushed open the door and stepped inside.

"Welcome!" a woman greeted us enthusiastically, handing each of us a folder filled with paperwork and pamphlets. "Feel free to help yourselves to refreshments in the back before the presentation begins."

Normally, the thought of sitting through a presentation would fill me with dread. Total snooze-fest. But this was to help the community, to help me mature as a player and a man. And once I told Melanie, maybe she'd want more from me than just sex.

"Thanks," I replied, giving her a polite nod. Liam's eyes immediately darted to the snack table, and I couldn't help but laugh at his single-minded determination. "Go on, buddy, enjoy. I'll catch up with you in a minute."

"Much appreciated, ." He winked before making a beeline for the treats.

I took the opportunity to mingle with the other attendees, introducing myself and exchanging pleasantries. As I chatted, I glanced over at Liam, who was happily stacking his plate with an assortment of cookies and pastries. Shaking my head in amusement, I returned my focus to the conversation at hand.

Moments later, I looked over again, but Liam was nowhere to be seen. Frowning, I made a quick scan of the room, but there was no sign of my teammate. It seemed he had slipped away, leaving me alone to navigate this meeting without him.

"Real smooth, Liam," I muttered under my breath, feeling a mix of annoyance and concern for my friend. But with no time to waste, I put on my best game face and prepared to represent the Blue Ridge Mountain Devils solo.

Taking a deep breath, I approached the man who headed the local branch of the Rural Business Development organization. He was in his late forties, with a neatly trimmed beard and eyes that sparkled with intelligence. I stretched out my hand, eager to make a good impression.

"Hi, I'm Rivera from the Blue Ridge Mountain Devils," I said confidently. "I wanted to talk to you about how I could contribute more than just donating money to your organization."

"Ah, ! Good to meet you," he replied, shaking my hand firmly. "I'm Greg Williams. We always appreciate whenever members of the community want to get more involved. What specifically do you have in mind?"

"Well," I began, rubbing the back of my neck, "I think I could use my skills on the ice to benefit Castle Ridge somehow. Maybe help with some events or fundraisers? Or even volunteer at some of your programs?"

I didn’t know what they actually did—that's why I was here—but I assumed they were like most philanthropies and had the usual fundraisers and events.

Greg's eyes lit up as he considered my proposal. "That's an interesting idea, . Our organization is actually hosting a group of important visitors from Europe soon. They're here to learn about how we promote rural development in the area, and they're quite influential in their own right. Perhaps there's a way you could showcase your talents while also supporting our initiatives?"

My heart raced at the mention of the European visitors. If I could impress them, maybe word would spread to the judges of the International Games. This could be my chance to really make an impact on the global stage.

"Sounds like a great opportunity," I said excitedly, trying to play it cool. "I'd love to be a part of it. What kind of event are we talking about here?"

"Well," Greg chuckled, stroking his beard thoughtfully, "we were initially planning a simple meet-and-greet, but with your involvement, we could turn it into something more engaging. How about a mini hockey clinic for the local kids, followed by a friendly exhibition match? The visitors would surely enjoy watching you in action."

"Absolutely!" I agreed, my mind racing with possibilities. "I could involve some of my teammates as well. It would be a great way to showcase Castle Ridge's love for hockey while supporting your organization."

"Fantastic!" Greg exclaimed, clapping me on the shoulder. "I'll get the ball rolling on this end, and we'll be in touch soon. I'm sure the kids and our visitors will love it."

"Sounds like a plan." I grinned, feeling an undeniable thrill at the prospect of impressing influential Europeans and making a difference in my hometown.

I glanced around, still looking for Liam, but he was nowhere to be found. I bet he'd love to be a part of this hockey event.

I couldn't shake the feeling that I was on the verge of something truly extraordinary. The future stretched out before me, full of promise and possibility—and for once, I had no doubts about my ability to make the most of it.