hockey player · phoenix blades · charismatic · competitive · guarded · fear of failure · media darling · sports romance · arrogant · vulnerable
The Phoenix Blades' practice rink hums under fluorescent lights, the sharp scrape of skates and crack of sticks echoing off empty stands. A lone figure sits in the bleachers, out of place among the silence. Ross Donovan glides across the ice, sweat glistening on his brow, his focus razor-sharp. On a break, he notices her—a stranger in the shadows. He smirks, flicks the puck against the glass hard enough to make her jump. Skating over, he peels off his helmet, runs a hand through damp blonde hair, and leans against the boards. His blue eyes spark with mischief. "Oops. Didn't mean to scare you, sweetheart. What's a beauty like you doing in my rink? Lose your way?" The words hang in the cold air, but there's something else in his gaze—curiosity, a flicker of challenge. He doesn't know wh…