This Piece of My Heart
Clearing the Ice, #1
Clearing the Ice, #1
Robyn M.
Ryan
Publication date: May 2nd 2016
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance, Sports
Publication date: May 2nd 2016
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance, Sports
BLURB
For twenty years, Caryn
Stevens dutifully
followed the educational path dictated by her parents. That path had one
goal—prepare her to one day assume her father’s position as CEO of the
multi-billion dollar international company he founded. That and marry a man who
would enhance her career and perhaps join her in leading The Stevens Company.
Not too much to expect from your daughter, right?
Caryn has other ideas. Instead of
returning home to Ottawa for another summer working at The Company, she’s
designed a plan to stay in Toronto, take a couple of courses, and enjoy her Summer
of Fun. She knew there was more to college than rigorous classes
that held little interest and study groups to ensure she excelled in all her
subjects. She had two years until she finished her undergrad, and then continue
on to that coveted MBA at a prestigious business school.
Just this once, Caryn will set
aside The Plan and
enjoy life as a regular student. To actually get her head out of the books and
maybe, just maybe find someone to make the summer—dare she say it?—exciting.
You see, there’s this hunk of a
guy she’s noticed on campus the first few weeks of summer. Always running—maybe in training?—but, Caryn’s seen enough
to get her heart pounding. Tall, well-built, with shaggy light-brown hair. Gym
shorts that emphasize taut leg muscles. Sometimes wearing a t-shirt with
cut-off sleeves. Bronzed muscular biceps—truly drool-worthy. Absolutely hot—and gorgeous in a totally guy type of way. Only problem, he had no clue she
existed.
Andrew Chadwick has enjoyed life in the fast lane in the five
years since he’d entered the ranks of professional hockey. Preparing for his
fourth season with his hometown Leafs, Andrew intends to enjoy his summer down
time—hang out with friends and family, keep in shape, and erase all memories
from that disastrous two-year joke of a relationship that imploded in May.
Not that he has any plans to
revisit his first few years in the pros. He’d eagerly sampled the attentions of
a never-ending line of women who wanted nothing more than to spend one night
with a professional athlete. Believe it or not, one-night-stands with
absolutely gorgeous women whose names he never bothered to remember became
tedious. And that steady relationship he tried for two years? Finding your
so-called girlfriend in your own bed with some other guy certainly opened his eyes.
Maybe it’s time to cut the fun
and games and concentrate on things that are important—Win the Stanley Cup,
give his brother any support he needs as he starts his Internship Rotations,
help his Mom and Dad around their house. Act like a grown-up at twenty-four?
He’s not particularly looking,
but if he were to meet someone interesting…well, he’ll just see where things
go.
Neither Caryn nor Andrew
expected their two very different worlds to collide on a beautiful June day…
In what universe did enrolling in summer school sound like a good
idea? Stuck in a stuffy university classroom on this beautiful summer morning
in Toronto, Caryn Stevens tried to force her brain to concentrate on the
wonders of statistical analysis. Only the third week of the semester and
already she knew she was in over her head. Who cares about differential or
descriptive statistics? Mode, median, and mean were bad enough, but range,
absolute deviation, variance, standard deviation? Outliers? Outdoors beckoned, promising opportunities for
enjoyable summer activities. She glanced at the clock, then refocused on the
professor’s words. She looked down at her notes, then pretended to follow the
lecture.
Only ten more minutes…Then, she’d make a
quick stop at the small market nearby before heading home. Maybe she’d see that
guy running again? A smile crossed her face as she visualized his tall muscular
frame, shaggy light brown hair, taut muscles of his legs—gym shorts had to be a gift from God—and
completely oblivious to her. Those earbuds must provide some hypnotic beat.
After two years, how could she not have crossed his path on campus before? No
way she wouldn’t have noticed. Maybe he’d just transferred over from one of the
other Toronto area campuses?
On autopilot, she closed her text book as the
class ended, shoving it and her iPad into her backpack. Freedom beckoned.
“Ms. Stevens, a moment please.” Professor
Miller’s voice stopped her.
She stood aside, allowing the other students
to pass, then approached his desk.
“I wanted to discuss last week’s test. You
seem to be struggling with the material.”
“It’s that obvious?” Caryn flashed a smile,
her stomach churning inwardly.
Miller nodded, handing her the test paper.
“Before you get too far behind, let’s see if we can get you a peer tutor. Or,
if you prefer, you can schedule some time with me before class.”
Caryn looked at the page, the score sucking
the sunshine from her mind. “I didn’t think I was this clueless. I’ve never had
much luck with statistics.”
Miller perched on the edge of his desk.
“Required course for your major?”
“A friend suggested I take it in the
summer—it was supposed to be easier.”
Miller laughed. “Many students think that.
But, the unfortunate truth is that you need to master the same material in a
shorter time period.” He paused, studying her face. “If you want to wait to
take it this fall, you can withdraw with no penalty to your GPA.”
Caryn thought for a moment. Dropping that
course was tempting. More free time. Summer free time. But adding it to an already full fall
schedule quickly crushed the temptation. “I don’t think that will work—my
schedule’s already laid out for the next two years. Last thing I need is to
take this course along with a full schedule. I’ll get through this. Thank you
for the offer.”
He handed another sheet of paper to her.
“These students are on campus this summer. I’ve taught them, so they’re
familiar with this class.”
Caryn folded and tucked both into her pocket.
“Thanks, I know what I’ll work on the rest of the day.”
Her appetite gone, Caryn considered heading
straight home, but knew she’d regret it later. She stopped by the grocery to
pick up a boxed lunch salad, some fruit and vegetables, then impulsively added
a selection of energy bars on display near check out.
“You want all this in one bag?” The clerk
knew her preference, but looked dubiously at the amount of groceries.
“I did go overboard, didn’t I? I think I can
handle two. Of course, I forgot my cloth bag again.” She paid, then
stepped to the side to pick up her backpack before accepting the grocery bags.
“You okay with these?”
Caryn laughed at the skepticism in his voice.
“It’s not far—I’ll be fine. Thanks. See you tomorrow.”
Half-way across campus, she began to doubt
her confidence. She shrugged the backpack toward the other shoulder and shifted
the grocery bags. Her father’s ring tone blared in her pocket. “Shit,” Caryn
whispered, as she briefly considered not answering. Her dad was the ultimate
task manager. He never called just to say a friendly hello. But then, the man
hadn’t built a self-made fortune with chitchat.
Instead, she jammed both bags into one arm
while she dug the phone from her pocket. “Dad, what’s up?”
“Have a few minutes between meetings—how are
your classes going?”
“Off to a good start. Summer semester is
definitely worth it.” She cringed at the lie, glad they weren’t on Skype.
“How is your statistical analysis course?”
“My favorite.”
“You getting a tutor?”
“Why would you think I need a tutor, Dad?”
“I remember your last encounter with
statistics.”
Ouch—of course he’d remember. “I guess that between my tutor and you, it sunk in. This time it’s
much easier.” Caryn said a silent prayer her voice disguised the second lie.
“You know you need the strong GPA…”
“…I know—to get into grad school,” she
finished with a light laugh. “I know the drill.”
She heard him sigh. “Not any grad school.
We’re talking NYU, Stanford…”
“I know, Dad. Have I ever let you down?”
“This is your first summer semester. There
are lots of distractions.”
Caryn’s laugh was curt. “It’s hard to find
time for distractions, Dad. Don’t worry. I’m on my way home now to conquer my
statistics assignment. I’m completely focused.” She balanced the phone on her
shoulder as she shifted the grocery bags. “I’ve got to go now. I’m overloaded
with books and groceries. Give Mom a hug for me.”
“Remember, we’re visiting the plant in Taiwan
next week. If you need anything…”
“I’ll get in touch with Lisa. I’m good, Dad.
Have a safe trip.”
A frown creased her forehead as she
rearranged her load. Thank God they’re going out of the
country. Somehow I’ll pull this off. She turned, her eyes on the ground and
as she took a step, she collided with someone, something—or maybe she’d walked
into a tree. The impact knocked the grocery bags from her arms and sent her
sprawling to the ground. Momentarily stunned, Caryn struggled to sit up as her
backpack wrestled heavily with her balance. Her vision blurred, she vaguely
felt someone lifting the bag from her shoulder and helping her to a sitting
position.
“Are you all right?” A voice eventually
pierced her dulled senses and she looked up, immediately drawn into a swirling
brilliant blue whirlpool that she could not escape. “You okay?” the deep voice
repeated.
She closed her eyes to clear her mind, and
when she reopened them realized she had been staring into a man’s eyes. The
runner’s eyes. “Oh,
it’s you,” she said without thinking.
“Sorry?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know…I thought
I’d run into a tree or something.” She moved to stand, but he touched her shoulder
to keep her seated.
“Give it a minute and catch your breath. I’m
sorry—I didn’t even see you.” He dropped to the grass beside her.
“I wasn’t paying attention. I was thinking
about a test. Then, all of a sudden I thought I’d run into a brick wall.”
“No, just someone not paying attention where
he was running.”
She glanced toward him, seeing the iPod
strapped to his arm. “You must have a great playlist.”
“Unfortunately, sometimes I just get into a
zone. I’ll stick to the path next time.”
“Don’t change on my account. I wasn’t looking
where I was going.”
“In your own zone?”
She laughed. “Unfortunately, no. Walking
while talking on the phone. Obviously can’t do both at once.” She snuck a look
at him. This close, he looked even better than she’d remembered. His legs—and
probably the rest of him—really did have rock-hard muscles. His hair—not as
long as she’d thought—dampened with perspiration and his face reddened from
exertion only added to his athletic good looks. And she sure hadn’t known about
those blue eyes…or the way they’d make her stomach flip-flop. Definitely all
man, definitely different from any students she knew.
He looked at the salad, vegetables, fruit,
and energy bars strewn across the lawn. “Lunch?”
“Lunch, dinner. Probably breakfast tomorrow.”
He reached for two of the energy bars and
handed one to her. “Looks like these came through unscathed.” He locked his
eyes on hers. “Do I know you?”
“I don’t think so.” Caryn quickly focused on
opening the bar she held. “Why?”
“You said, ‘Oh, it’s you,’ like you knew me.”
“I didn’t know what I was saying. I thought
you were a tree.” She glanced at him and his skeptical smile told her he wasn’t
buying her explanation. “Well, you felt like one. I’ve seen you running a few
times. Your schedule must be the same as mine.”
He leaned back on his elbow as he took a bite
of his bar. “And I haven’t seen you, why?”
“Guess you’ve been in that zone.” She teased
him with a smile. “Or maybe I’m invisible.”
“Hardly.” She could feel his eyes on her,
taking in her jeans and probably disheveled state. Self-consciously, she
smoothed her hair and straightened her shirt. “If I were in my right mind,
there’s no way I’d miss you.” He smiled and she felt a warm flush creep up her
cheeks. “You sure you’re okay?”
She nodded, shaking the hair away from her
face, her hand brushing against her forehead. He saw the reddened skin and
without thinking reached to gently touch her forehead, frowning as he felt the
swelling in the area. “Must have gotten you with an elbow.”
“Or your iPod.” She nodded toward his arm.
“Or maybe you are as hard as a brick wall.”
He laughed softly. “Headache?”
“A little.”
“Maybe we should get it checked out.”
“I’m fine.” She started to push herself to
her feet, and he quickly grasped her arm to help. He watched as she took a deep
breath, his hand supporting her as she gingerly took a few steps. “See? Nothing
broken.”
“I’d feel better if we’d get a doctor to look
at your head.”
“It’ll take forever. You know how it gets at
the student health services.” She rolled her eyes at the thought. “I have
better things to do with my afternoon.”
“You could have a concussion.”
She shook her head, as she reached to pick up
a paper grocery bag. “I’m fine. No blurred vision, no flashing lights, just a
little headache,” she said. “And that’s probably because all I’ve had to eat
today is this bar.” He took the bag from her and began collecting the remaining
bars and fruit. “There’s not much else worth saving.” She nodded toward the
remnants of her salad scattered around them. He followed her gaze and laughed
softly, then looked at the bag he held and shrugged.
“How about if I just replace it?”
She started to reply, but felt herself hypnotized
once again by those blue eyes. She shook her head as she quickly looked away.
“There’s no need. I didn’t have that much.”
He handed the energy bars to her. “So you
don’t starve. I’ll clean up the mess I made.” He scooped the salad remnants and
produce into the bags, then placed everything into a nearby trash container.
She tucked the bars into her backpack, but he
quickly stepped to her side and picked it up, slipping it on his shoulder.
“What do you have in there, bricks?”
“My marketing and statistics texts. I can
carry it.”
“No, I insist,” he replied. “Least I can do.”
“Don’t let me interrupt your run any more
than I have already.”
“I was about done for the day. Next time I’ll
stick to the park. I can get my car and give you a lift home.”
“It’s just a couple blocks.” She pointed
toward the row of townhouses at the edge of the campus. “You don’t need to go
out of your way.”
He pushed the damp hair off his forehead,
then nodded toward the street. “I don’t live too far from here, either. Just up
the street from you.”
She looked up at him as he fell in step
beside her. “By the way, I’m Caryn.”
“Andrew. In school this summer?”
“Just taking a couple courses I couldn’t fit
into my schedule during the last year. How about you?”
“Down time for me.”
“Lucky. So you’re just keeping in shape?”
“Trying to.”
She preceded him up the sidewalk leading to
her townhouse, reaching in her pocket for her keys. “Thanks for carrying my
bag.”
“Glad to.”
She opened the front door and he set the bag
just inside. “Can I get you a bottle of water or something to drink?” Her voice
sounded as awkward as she felt.
“Thanks, I’m fine.” He leaned against the
door frame, suddenly unwilling to let the moment pass. “Maybe I’ll take you up
on that bottle of water.”
He waited at the door while she retrieved it
from the kitchen and handed it to him. “Thanks for helping me.”
Andrew slowly pushed away from the door.
“I’ll look out for you next time I cut across campus.”
Caryn watched as he turned and walked away
from her door, opening her mouth to ask him to stay, but stopping as he looked
back over his shoulder at her. He gave her a small wave and a wink before he
headed in the direction he’d indicated he lived. Flustered, she watched as he
made his way through the pedestrians milling on the crowded sidewalk, then
slowly turned and entered her home, shutting the door behind her.
She got a bottle of water from the
refrigerator, before she stepped inside the downstairs bathroom to examine the
bruise forming on her temple. She lightly fingered the skin, and shaking the
hair away from her face, she splashed cool water against her forehead. She
pressed the cold bottle of water against the bruise as she remembered the way
his fingers had made her skin tingle when he’d touched her forehead. She’d met
the guy who’d intrigued her, had actually sat next to him on the lawn. She knew
his name. He’d walked her home! Did that mean something more than just him
being nice? Andrew could definitely provide a nice “diversion” as her dad would
label it. That’s a risk worth taking. Besides,
maybe Andrew’s already passed this course? He could make statistics more than
tolerable.
She wished again that she had asked him to
come in, hating the thought that she might not see him again. “Stupid,” she
said to her image in the mirror. She tossed the towel over the bar beside the
sink and went to the living room. If she hadn’t been tongue-tied like some
sixteen-year-old, maybe he’d be sitting across the table from her right now.
She pulled the test paper and the list of tutors from her pocket, placing them
on the coffee table. Her elbow ached as she retrieved her bag from beside the
door and dragged it to the couch, pulling out the heavy statistics text and
dropping it on the papers. Not what she’d had in mind for the afternoon.
She looked at the list of tutors and made an
appointment with the first student who answered the phone. There went another
hour of her days. At least getting up extra early ensured she’d finish at the
same time—maybe even pass Andrew again on her way home. She rubbed the aching
joint. Seeing the grass stains on her skin and on her jeans, she decided that a
hot bath would be more beneficial than studying statistics just then.
Author Info
From early childhood, Robyn M.
Ryan knew she wanted to write. This goal grew throughout elementary and high
school, first composing novels featuring favorite TV and music personalities,
then venturing into sports writing. Attending UGA’s journalism school launched
her career in public relations, which included an internship with the Atlanta
Flames NHL hockey team. At that time romance novels did not feature pro
athletes, so Robyn wrote the books she and her friends wanted to read. Many
years later, this manuscript received a serious critique and edit. This Piece
of My Heart, a hockey romance, is the first book in Robyn’s series Clearing the
Ice.
Author Links:
Curious about the music Caryn loves? You
can win a copy of her favorite CD by French-Canadian megastar Garou, plus a
signed paperback copy of This Piece of My Heart
PRESENTED BY
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