Scoring One Night (Blue Ridge Mountain Hockey #4)

Melanie

I hesitated at the door of the Rural Business Development organization. Today was the day, there was no turning back now.

I had quit the Devils a few weeks ago and wondered if I had made a terrible mistake. After a few sleepless nights and me crying on Daisy and Sophia's shoulders, they both assured me they would be by my side no matter what.

Lynda even offered me a bed if I couldn't afford to pay rent anymore.

Which had crossed my mind a few times.

I should have been smart about it and set something up before quitting, but Sophia reminded me that sometimes a messy life brought the best opportunities.

Now it was time to take my passion for physical therapy into my own hands and build something truly special. Do it on my terms.

" Greene," I whispered under my breath, "independent practice owner." The words sent a shiver of anticipation down my spine. I squared my shoulders, took a deep breath, and pushed open the door.

"Good morning!" I greeted the receptionist brightly before spotting the head of the organization, Mr. Williams, across the room. He looked up from his paperwork, his eyes brightening with recognition.

"Miss Greene! So glad you could make it today. Come on in. We have a lot to discuss," he said, motioning me toward his office.

Daisy had put me in touch with Greg Williams as he helped her when she started her veterinarian practice.

"Thank you, Mr. Williams. I'm really excited about this opportunity." I smiled as excitement coursed through my veins.

"Call me Greg. Right this way." He waved me toward a chair in his office.

As we settled into our chairs, I leaned forward eagerly. "I've done some research on the grant process, but I want to make sure I'm doing everything right."

Mr. Williams smiled warmly. "Well, I can see you're passionate about this, and that's always a great start. First, let's talk about your business plan. Have you put any thought into that?"

"Absolutely," I replied, pulling out a thick folder from my bag. "I've outlined my goals, target market, and strategies for success. I believe there's a real need for quality physical therapy services in our community, especially for the disabled."

"You're certainly well-prepared," he praised, flipping through the pages of my proposal. "Now, as for the grant process, there are a few key steps to keep in mind..."

I listened intently, soaking up every piece of advice Mr. Williams shared. The possibility of receiving a grant to jumpstart my practice was incredibly motivating, and I was determined to make the most of this opportunity.

"Remember, ," Mr. Williams said, his voice serious but encouraging, "it's not just about meeting the grant requirements; it's about demonstrating your passion and dedication to this project. Show investors why they should trust you with their money."

He was right. That's what worried me the most.

While my friends encouragement helped, there were moments where my mind drifted… straight to Aspen.

He was the only one I had ever told about my disability. I knew if I talked to him about why I wanted my own practice, well… I felt he would love the idea. As reckless as he could be, he was so optimistic and filled with hope. It was infectious, and I missed that about him.

I missed Aspen.

It's because of my heart that I haven't been able to find out if the Devils won the game against the Crabs. Any time Daisy or Lynda started to talk about hockey or the players, I made an excuse to leave the room.

Daisy begged to tell me something important about Aspen, but I refused. In time, my heart would heal enough to hear what she had to say, but not yet.

She probably just wanted to tell me that the Devils had won and that Aspen had gotten onto the International Games team.

"I understand, Mr. Williams," I replied, my eyes locked on his. "I promise I'll give this everything I've got. This isn't just a business venture for me, it's a chance to make a real difference in people's lives."

And it's my only career plan. That scared me enough to revise my business proposal three times.

With a nod and a smile, he responded, "And that, Miss Greene, is exactly what they're looking for."

A sudden gust of warm summer wind blew the door open, drawing my attention away from Mr. Williams and toward the tall figure who now stood in the doorway.

My heart thundered in my chest as I stood. I blinked, wondering if I was seeing things. Why was he here?

It was Aspen, his dark hair disheveled, cheeks flushed from the heat outside.

His intense gray eyes locked with mine. He looked different. Gone was the determined glimmer in his eyes that always shone during a game. But in its place was a calm, resolute gaze that seemed to see right through me.

"Sorry," he said with a sheepish grin, closing the door behind him. "Didn't mean to interrupt."

", I believe you know Aspen," Mr. Williams said, motioning to the unexpected arrival. "He's recently joined our organization as a consultant and occasional investor."

"Long time, no see." Aspen greeted me with a warm smile, but there was a hint of nervousness in his eyes.

"Really?" I replied, trying to maintain composure despite the flurry of emotions swirling inside me. "During the summer?"

His hair had that just out of bed look and he had a bit of scruff of a beard. It was sexy and it made him look more mature.

God, I really missed him. My heart ached watching him and not being able to run into his arms.

I sighed. It was so obvious I had made a mistake. It was a huge mistake to walk away from Aspen.

Aspen hesitated for a moment before he explained, "I quit hockey."

My mouth fell open. He had to be joking.

"But I quit the Devils so nothing would ever get in the way of your career." My voice betrayed my shock.

Aspen scratched his head. "When? Because I quit right after the game with the Baltimore Crabs."

I frowned. "l quit the day before the game. Why did you quit?"

He threw his arms up in the air. "So you could succeed. I didn’t want to stand in the way of your career."

We both stared at each other for a moment. The room was so silent, I heard a dog bark from down the street.

Then we both erupted in laughter, and even Mr. Williams started to chuckle.

"I quit to help you, and you quit to help me," I said in between giggles.

He took a few steps inside, his eyes never leaving mine. "It seems we both need to learn to communicate better."

"I need to run to the bank, but feel free to use my office to catch up." Mr. Williams grabbed a green leather satchel before shutting the door to his office as he left.

"Why are you working here? I thought hockey was your passion." My smile slowly faded.

"I realized there's more to life than just chasing pucks on ice," he admitted, meeting my gaze. "Don't get me wrong, I love the game, but I've discovered a newfound passion for helping others. I want to make a real difference in people's lives, just like you."

"That's incredible, Aspen. I'm really happy for you."

"Thanks, Mel," he said, the corners of his eyes crinkling with genuine happiness. "I realized while playing against the Crabs that I was living my father's dream, not mine. Then you popped into my head."

I wrinkled my nose in confusion. "Me?"

"Yes, you." He took a step closer until I could feel his breath on my cheeks. "I lost you for someone else's dream, but you are my dream come true. I never want anything to get in the way of that again."

My eyes fell to his lips. All the emotions of the past few weeks welled up inside me, and I blurted out, "I missed you, Aspen. I love you."

I held my breath. Every time I said those words to men in the past, they made an excuse and walked away. With Aspen's history, he could easily do that, and no one would be surprised.

But deep in my gut, I felt he was different. He took a risk by quitting hockey. That's a much bigger risk than me quitting my first job in PT. Hockey brought him security, fame, and money, and he walked away from that.

Maybe he understood how important love was, or maybe he was the stupidest man-child in the world.

"I love you so much, Mel." He cupped my chin and brushed his lips over mine.

I let out a breath, thankful he wasn’t a man-child. Grateful he understood the importance of love.

I wrapped my arms around him, letting him kiss me. After a few moments, he pulled back with a goofy grin on his face. "I have a confession to make."

"What?" I worried there was still a little child left in him.

"You know how Greg said I was an occasional investor?"

I took a step back, unsure where this was going.

"Yes."

"I got everyone on the team, myself included, to invest in your business."

I was shocked. Of all the things I expected him to say, that wasn’t one of them.

"I-I, uh..." I couldn't even gather my thoughts.

Aspen frowned. "You're mad. Shit. Emmanuel warned me that you might be upset, but I thought—"

I cut him off the best way I knew how. I kissed him.

I pulled back and smiled, a tear sliding down my cheek. "Thank you."

I was sure some may not want financial help from people they know, that they may see it as a handout. But, as someone who never really had anyone help her, it felt like the biggest, most loving hug.

"No one has ever offered to help me before..." My words faded as my voice began to wobble and more tears fell.

"Oh, Mel, I’ll always be there for you." He pulled me in for a hug. "I'll always lift you up to the sky if you want." He pulled back and flexed his arm muscles. "I've got to use these for something since I'm not playing hockey anymore."

A laugh escaped through the tears. I really was so lucky to have Aspen in my life. Never again would I make the mistake of letting him go.