Page 41 of Ice Devil

I took a step away, nodding to Ford. Always the heartthrob.

“I don’t have any paper with me and I really do want to make your day,” he told her, already prepared to give his latest fan as much attention as she needed.

While trying to fight providing any reaction at all, I placed the plant on the table.

“Um,” the girl said as if confused while whipping out a glittery looking Sharpie. “If it’s okay with you, you can use my arm.”

At least the girl didn’t ask if Ford would sign her boobs.

“Sure,” he told her.

Imagine his shock when she walked toward me, holding out the pen. Her entire face blushed and the tiny little squeal of happiness couldn’t be faked.

While Ford’s face immediately fell, I couldn’t help myself, beaming as if I’d just won the lottery. “Who do I make it out to?”

“Alicia. I just adored the article on you. I knew you were a star, but reading about your amazing family and now getting to meet them is incredible. You’re my hero.” If the girl dripped any more honey, we’d all slip-slide on the floor.

“You’re very sweet.” I took my time creating a few little hearts with arrows while signing my name. You bet Ford was watching intently. I’d never seen his jaw clenched with such force.

I couldn’t help myself. Of all the times he’d been almost knocked down by girls even though it was no secret he was completely off the bachelor list was truly disgusting. Okay, so I was envious.

“There you go, Alicia.”

She held her arm out, admiring my scribble. “You are my hero,” she repeated.

Hero. I would never be anyone’s hero, but I damn well liked to hear it.

As she tried to back out from the room, she smashed her back against the wall.

“Are you okay?” Cole came to the rescue, ensuring she didn’t fall. There was something different about the way they were looking at each other.

I had to turn my head away before I laughed. Cole was turning out to be the family Casanova.

“Who is the gorgeous butterfly begonia from, son?” In addition to our mother ensuring the corporation hired the right people, she ran the household and had several hobbies, one of them being exotic plants. Her greenhouse had been photographed for a couple of magazines. The fact she obviously had eyes in the back of her head since she hadn’t looked away from our father was amazing. Another reminder how powerful women could and should be.

“Let me see.” I pulled open the card.

Kendrick family. Sending my love and hopes for a miracle in Mr. Kendrick’s recovery. Sloane Winters.

I read the card again, even rolling my finger across the letters. She’d written the card herself. I could tell by the writing and the heart used to dot her I’s. I’d seen her notes in the bar. I wondered if she had any idea she was doing that.

“Oh, just a friend, Mom. Just a friend.”

Ford was by my side, snatching the card from my hand. My brother didn’t pull any punches. “Just a friend, huh?”

“Yeah, so she wrote the article. So what?” I snatched it back.

“So what? I don’t know too many reporters who have ever sent flowers. Granted, she’s under the impression Dad is currently rolling on a spit somewhere.”

“Son!” Mom snapped. “Don’t excite your father. You know how much he misses his grill.”

I wondered if she had any idea where the story had originated. “We need to find out who lied.”

“Don’t change the subject,” Ford hissed. “You spent a lot of time with that girl. Didn’t the coach find you in a massage room booked for two?”

“What are we talking about here?” Cole grabbed it from my fingers, even backing away so I wouldn’t try to take it again. “That article was hot. How about the girl?”

“From what I remember, she was pretty sexy,” Ford teased, bumping me on purpose in the process.