Saving Sara (Alaska Blizzard Book 5) Page 9

  “I asked if you’d like to go out to dinner sometime?” He leaned against the edge of her desk, his warm eyes meeting hers.

  “I…” She hadn’t been on a date in a long time and Dr. Sullivan was smart and attractive. Maybe it was time to be proactive about dating. Anything would be better than continuing to pine for a guy who didn’t return her feelings. “Dr. Sullivan, I’m not sure—”

  “Troy,” he reminded her with a wink. “Come on, it’s just dinner. What’s the harm?”

  She smiled. “When you put it that way, I’d love to go to dinner sometime.”

  “I’ll get your number before I leave.” He turned as Gage opened the door and came out of his office. “Hey, Gage.”

  “Troy! Good to see you.” Gage shook his hand and they disappeared into his office, shutting the door behind them.

  Sara immediately grabbed her phone and texted Dani. What the hell was she going to wear with the cast on her leg?

  Troy was supposed to pick her up at six thirty on Saturday night, and Sara spent an hour curling her hair and making sure her makeup was perfect. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d gone out on a first date, and it was kind of scary. She’d asked Troy where they were going because she needed to dress appropriately for the restaurant while still accommodating her cast. She’d wound up borrowing a royal blue sweater dress from Dani. It hit her mid-calf, and she put a ballet slipper on the foot without the cast.

  She put one last layer of mascara on her lashes and hobbled out to the living room where Aaron was watching TV. He glanced up and then did a double take.

  “Wow,” he said quietly. “You look beautiful.”

  “Thank you.” She bit her lip. “This doesn’t look too dumb because of the cast, does it?”

  He shook his head. “No. You look great. Really. I mean, everyone can see your foot so there’s no doubt you’ve got a cast. That dress is perfect, actually, because it hides most of it.”

  “Okay.” She smoothed it down and looked around. “Could you get my black wool coat, please?”

  “Sure.” He went into her room and came back out with the coat. He helped her get it on and then she perched on the arm of the couch, waiting for Troy to arrive.

  “So, where are you guys going?” he asked.

  She told him the name of the restaurant, and he raised his eyebrows. “I heard that’s a pretty swanky place.”

  “Seems like it. I looked up the dress code and it’s not overly formal, but the food is supposedly excellent. It’ll be nice to have a good steak. We haven’t grilled anything since before training camp started and I miss it.”

  “That’s the only thing I hate about living here,” he said. “I miss having a grill, but they’re not allowed in this complex, not even on the patio.”

  “Well, I’ll get my steak fix tonight and we’ll be good with Crock-Pot stuff for the rest of the week.”

  He looked like he was going to say something but then he just nodded. “Yeah, if you cook it, I’ll eat it.”

  She didn’t get to answer because there was a knock on the door, but before she could get up, Aaron had already opened it.

  “Hello.” Troy held out his hand. “Troy Sullivan.”

  “Aaron Ferrar.” Aaron shook his hand. “We met at the hospital.”

  “Ah, yes. Good to see you again.”

  “Likewise.”

  “Hey.” Sara hobbled in on her crutches.

  “Oh, wow, you look gorgeous,” Troy said, turning to her.

  “Thank you.”

  “Are you ready to go?”

  “Yes.” Sara grabbed her purse and blew a kiss to Merlin. “You be a good boy for Aaron while I’m gone, okay?”

  “Tweet, tweet.” Merlin merely cocked his head.

  “Oh, wow, he’s a beauty,” Troy said, leaning closer to get a better look.

  Merlin immediately fluffed up, his feathers standing on end, making himself look as large as possible.

  “Be careful,” Sara said quickly. “That’s his protective stance, and if he bites, it’ll need stitches.”

  Troy grimaced and took a step back. “Yikes. Let’s not do anything to provoke him then.”

  “It’s just because he doesn’t know you yet,” Sara said hurriedly, but she was a little disappointed because Merlin was pretty loving and sweet for a macaw and she’d never seen him react this way to anyone before.

  Aaron had pulled a carrot from the refrigerator and was offering it to the big bird, who calmly munched it, though he followed Troy’s movements until he was out of sight.

  “You two have a good time,” Aaron called after them.

  “Good night.” Troy nodded at him.

  Troy drove a new Range Rover, and they chatted amiably on the way to the restaurant.

  “So how long have you lived with Aaron?” he asked her.

  “Just a few weeks,” she said. “I live with my friend Dani and her husband and son. I nanny for them, but their house had a ton of damage in the earthquake so they had to move in with friends. Unfortunately, the stairs would be tough for me to navigate right now, and the couch isn’t that comfortable, so staying in Aaron’s guest room seemed like the logical choice. We’re really good friends.”

  “But, uh, nothing going on between you?”

  “Well, no, of course not. I wouldn’t be out with you if we were involved.”

  “Just making sure,” he said. “Been burned a few times and I don’t ever want to be any kind of home-wrecker.”

  “Not at all,” she said. “I’m completely single. What about you? Why is a good-looking guy like you single? I’d think women would be lining up to marry a doctor.”

  “I actually just came back to Anchorage a few months ago,” he said. “I went to school in California and finished my residency a few years ago. My parents are getting older and this is home for me, so I was hoping to come back once I found a good job.”

  “And now you’re going to work for the Blizzard?”

  “I’m opening my own practice and yes, I’m going to be the orthopedic surgeon for the team. They have a team doctor that’s at all the games and such, but I’ll be the one they come to after an injury, whether they need surgery or not.”

  “Are you a hockey fan?”

  “I am. You?”

  She smiled. “Remember, I played all through college.”

  “That’s right! I’d forgotten. And you still play?”

  “There’s a group of us that plays twice a month. Gage lets us use the ice at the arena when the team is away or doesn’t have anything going on.”

  “Don’t worry, you’ll be playing again before you know it. I’ll make sure of it.”

  “Is this unethical?” she asked slowly. “Us dating while you’re my doctor?”

  “Technically, I’m the surgeon who fixed your leg. Going forward, I won’t be your doctor.”

  “That makes sense.”

  “So, what else do you like to do?”

  She grinned. “Where should I start?”

  13

  Aaron alternately watched TV and checked the time. Sara had left at six thirty; it was now eleven and she wasn’t home yet. He felt like an idiot waiting for her like a worried father, but seeing her leave with Troy had rubbed him the wrong way. He wasn’t sure why, since he’d been the one to insist they were just friends, but he didn’t like knowing she was out on a date with a guy he generally knew nothing about. She was a grown woman, of course, and free to do what she wanted, but that didn’t mean he had to like it.

  He’d been amused to see the way Merlin had reacted to Troy. He didn’t know a lot about birds, but it seemed pretty clear he didn’t like the guy, and so far, Merlin had been great with everyone he’d been around. Even the two teenagers that had shown up at the clinic the day of the earthquake hadn’t elicited such a negative response.

  “What do you think she’s doing?” he asked the bird.

  “Tweet?” Merlin was half-asleep.

  “You think they’re having
sex?”

  Merlin opened one eye and stared at him for a second before closing it again.

  “You’re not helping,” Aaron muttered, wandering back into the living room. He’d just sat down on the couch when he heard Sara’s key in the lock and he hurried to open the door for her.

  “Hey.”

  She looked up in surprise. “Oh, hi. I figured you’d be in bed by now.”

  “Practice isn’t until ten, so I’m good.” He helped her with her coat. “Did you have a good time?”

  “I did. The food was amazing and he’s really nice.”

  “Really nice?” He squinted. “Is that code for boring?”

  “No.” She shook her head and frowned at him. “It’s literal for he’s very nice. We talked and laughed and found out we have a lot in common.”

  “Like what?” He probably sounded like a surly teenager, but he couldn’t seem to help it.

  “Like medicine,” she said slowly. “We both love animals and—”

  “Merlin sure didn’t like him,” he interrupted her with a smirk. “Did you see the way he fluffed up?”

  “Well, he’s a stranger. I’m shocked at how quickly he took to you. It took me a week to get him to step up on my arm.”

  “We met under extenuating circumstances,” he said, chuckling.

  She smiled. “I guess there’s that. Well, I’m beat and going to bed. We had two bottles of wine so I need to sleep it off.”

  “Good night.”

  “Good night.”

  He watched her hobble down the hall and then sank back down on the couch. He was going to have to get over this possessiveness he’d suddenly been feeling. Sara could date whomever she wanted and he wasn’t about to say anything. The problem was, he didn’t like it.

  The Blizzard left on a road trip the following week and Aaron was relieved to get away from Sara for a few days. Not because he didn’t enjoy her company, but because he did and she’d been too busy for him lately. She’d started physical therapy with Dani and had worked another day for Gage. She’d also gone out with Troy again, which made him want to stab someone.

  Jealousy was a new emotion for him and he fucking hated it. He’d never even been jealous when he’d been married, but now he was jealous for a woman he’d essentially forced into the friend zone—even after some of the most mind-blowing sex of his life. He was all kinds of confused and felt like an idiot, but he wasn’t sure what to do about it.

  “Hey.” Jake sank into the seat next to him on the plane.

  “Hey.”

  “Who pissed in your corn flakes this morning?” Jake asked.

  “No one. Why?”

  “You’ve been grumpier than usual.”

  “I’m not grumpy.”

  “If you say so.”

  “What’s going on with you?” Aaron swiftly changed the subject. “Whitney home or traveling?”

  “She leaves for New York later today, and she’ll be gone the whole time we’re gone.”

  “Is that hard?” Aaron asked. “I mean, being apart so much?”

  “It’s really no different for her to travel while I’m traveling than if it was just me on the road all the time. And with our house under construction now, it’s easier all around for both of us to be gone.”

  “How long is that going to take?”

  “Not that long, probably less than two weeks. Honestly, we didn’t get hit nearly as hard as Sergei and Dani’s house did. We had damage to the built-ins in the living room, we need all new window glass downstairs, and the glass shower door in the master bath has to be replaced. The driveway has to be repaved and the deck needs new stairs leading down to the yard, but the foundation and roof and such are all solid. Hopefully, it’ll be done right around the time we get back.”

  “I feel bad about Sergei and Dani’s house,” Aaron said. “I mean, I sold it to him.”

  “They had it inspected,” Jake responded quietly. “There was no way to know we’d have an earthquake of this magnitude or how it would impact it.”

  “The vet Sara works for, Dr. Harjo, thinks his clinic is going to be a complete loss. He had some insurance but it’s not enough to pay for everything, and he doesn’t have what he needs.”

  “That’s a shame,” Jake said.

  “I’ve been trying to think of a way to offer him some money, you know?” Aaron said thoughtfully. “Like to supplement the insurance or whatever. Because that’s where Sara works and she’s bummed about losing that job.”

  “I’ll make a donation,” Jake said. “I think lots of the guys on the team would. Most of us fared pretty well in the earthquake, so it would be great to take up a collection for him.”

  “That’s what I was thinking.”

  “Let’s talk to Gage, see if he has any ideas. Maybe a team fundraiser?”

  “That’s a great idea. I’ll talk to him as soon as we get back to Anchorage.”

  Aaron didn’t hear from Sara all week and by the following Monday, he was a little annoyed. He’d tried to call her a couple of times, but it always went to voicemail and then she would text him back with an excuse, like that she’d been in her physical therapy session or had been out on a date with Troy.

  He finally caught her that night after the game in Dallas. Since it was three hours earlier in Anchorage, he’d been relatively certain she’d still be awake.

  “Hey, stranger,” he said when she answered.

  “Hey yourself.”

  “How are things going?”

  “I’ve been crazy busy,” she said. “I’ve been temping for the Blizzard every time they need an extra set of hands or someone calls out sick, and then I had physical therapy three times last week and went out with Troy twice.”

  “You’re not overdoing it, are you?” he asked softly. “You want that leg to heal.”

  “Don’t worry, Troy’s been on me about resting and not putting weight on it.”

  “Good.” He paused. “So, uh, things are going well with Troy?”

  “Yeah, it’s been fun. I mean, I’m not rushing into anything, but it’s nice to go out on casual, pressure-free dates, you know?”

  “I wouldn’t know,” he chuckled. “That’s never been my thing. I’m usually a once-and-done kind of guy.”

  “Well, sometimes taking your time to get to know someone works out better than just jumping into bed, you know?”

  Aaron wasn’t sure how to respond so he changed the subject, asking about Merlin, but on the inside, he was grinning to himself. Though she hadn’t come right out and said it, she’d insinuated that she and Troy hadn’t slept together, and that brought him more pleasure than it should have.

  When they finally hung up, he realized they’d been on the phone for over an hour—just like they used to do before their hook-up. They lived together, but now that hockey season was in full swing, he didn’t see her much, and since she’d met Troy, she’d been even busier than usual. At least they’d made plans to hang out on Friday after the team got back from the trip. She’d offered to cook dinner, and though he didn’t expect her to, he had to admit he loved it when she did. She was a great cook, even using nothing but the Crock-Pot.

  His phone buzzed and he looked down at a text from Jake.

  JAKE: Let’s get a drink. I’m bored as fuck.

  Aaron hesitated. He was ready to get some sleep, but they hadn’t done much of anything this trip, not even their usual late-night video game championships. He must have waited a little too long because he got another text before he could reply.

  KANE: Get your ass down to the bar before I come up there and drag you down.

  AARON: Jesus, let a guy take a piss in peace. I’ll be down in a few.

  He grabbed his wallet and double-checked to see if his room key was in it, and then stuck it in one pocket and put his phone in the other. He could have one beer and hang with the guys for a little while, but the older he got, the more rest he needed. He was fine at home, but the long flights and time changes seemed to fuck with h
im the last couple of years, so he took better care of himself than usual on the road.

  Jake, Kane, Sergei, Logan, and Miikka were already at the bar and there was a beer waiting for Aaron. He accepted it with a grin, sinking onto the stool they’d saved for him.

  “Where’s Dani?” he asked Sergei, looking around. She usually hung out with them because they genuinely enjoyed her company. She’d worked hard to become part of the team’s support staff and didn’t want to be looked at merely as Sergei’s wife. She’d earned her place as the team’s assistant trainer and they all respected her professionally.

  “She’s not feeling great,” Sergei said, his eyes darkening slightly. “Not sure what’s up, but I’m just having one and then I’m gonna go check on her.”

  “I bet you finally knocked her up,” Kane said with a chuckle. “Hailey was exhausted the first trimester.”

  Sergei frowned. “You think? We’ve been trying for months.”

  “Then that’s probably what it is.”

  “Knock up?” Miikka looked confused. “You hit Dani?”

  “What?” Sergei swung around in alarm. “What are you talking about? Of course, I don’t hit her!”

  “You knock?” Miikka was still confused.

  “Knocked up,” Kane corrected him gently. “It’s slang for pregnant. You know, a baby.” He motioned with his hands, cradling an invisible belly.

  “Oh!” Miika’s ears got red. “Sorry. My English…” He sighed.

  “It’s okay.” Sergei patted him on the shoulder.

  “Instead of going home to Finland all summer,” Jake told him, “maybe you should stick around in Anchorage, take some English classes, hang out with us guys.”

  Miika gave a little shrug. “I have friends, family.” He said a few more words that no one understood but they all nodded anyway.

  “I get it,” Aaron said. “But your English keeps getting you in trouble. Remember that reporter in New York?”

  Miika groaned. “This was bad. Maybe I find school in Anchorage.”

  “I bet you could find a tutor,” Jake said. “We’ll look into it when we get home.”