Breaking the Ice (Stray Hearts Book 1)

  Breaking The Ice

  Stray Hearts Book 1

  Anders Grey

  Copyright © 2020 by Anders Grey

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Proofread by Beverly Bernard Editing

  Cover Design by AngstyG

  Created with Vellum

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  Contents

  1. Blaze

  2. Derek

  3. Blaze

  4. Derek

  5. Blaze

  6. Derek

  7. Blaze

  8. Derek

  9. Blaze

  10. Derek

  11. Blaze

  12. Derek

  13. Blaze

  14. Derek

  15. Blaze

  16. Derek

  17. Blaze

  18. Derek

  19. Blaze

  20. Derek

  21. Blaze

  22. Derek

  23. Blaze

  24. Derek

  25. Blaze

  26. Derek

  27. Epilogue: Blaze

  Also By Anders Grey

  Newsletter

  1

  Blaze

  Blizzard Creek was everything I expected it to be—quaint, quiet, and cold as a witch’s tit. Maybe even a little bit colder than that.

  I shivered against the wind and pulled my coat tighter. I’d bundled up for the trip up north, but this was nothing compared to the easy three-month winters back home in the suburbs. This cold bit deep into my core, chilling me to the bone, and no amount of layering would help. It didn’t help that I definitely looked like a silly tourist. None of the locals were nearly as dressed up as me, and they didn’t seem to have an issue with the cold.

  Despite the cold, the people were warm and friendly. After getting off the dinky little plane, I took one of the three cabs idling at the airport into town. I’d booked a hotel, but I hoped I wouldn’t be staying there long. I had big plans, and Blaze Miller wasn’t the type to back down.

  After a nice warm shower, I pulled out my stack of papers. At the top was a printed article I’d grabbed off the internet.

  DEREK WINTERS – TWO TIME BLIZZARD CREEK RACE CHAMPION – WILL THE THIRD TIME BE THE CHARM?

  I grinned in excitement. This was the reason I’d hauled ass all the way up to this frozen little town. After graduating from college with a degree in ecotourism (yeah, my parents were thrilled about that one), I decided to pursue my life’s greatest goal. Well, actually there were two of them. One was to meet a team of sled dogs and maybe even start my very own. I’d loved dogs my whole life, but growing up, my parents never allowed our family to have one, and pets weren’t allowed in the college dorms. The closest thing I got to my own dog was visiting my brother Rory and his boyfriend Thatcher’s Doberman.

  “Are you sure you want to go all the way up there?” Rory had asked with a sigh when I told him my plans to visit Blizzard Creek. “You hate the cold.”

  “Yeah, but there’s no sled dogs in the desert,” I’d argued. “And I’ll be fine. I’ll wear a big coat.”

  “Maybe two big coats would be better.” He’d raised a brow then smiled. “But I do hope you find your loveable mountain man.”

  I snorted. In hindsight, I understood why my brother thought it was a silly idea. But then again, he’d always encouraged me to chase my dreams. He knew this was what I wanted, and if that meant bearing the brunt of a northern winter, then so be it.

  The other reason I’d come was to meet Derek Winters, my dogsledding hero. He was a myth of a man, like someone out of a movie. Some said he only left his quiet cabin in the mountains for dogsled races and to grab a beer from the bar once in a while. I first learned about him in my second year of university when he won his first Blizzard Creek race. It was said his bond with his dogs was extraordinary. He seemed to avoid people, but it was okay because his dogs were his whole life.

  That struck a chord with me. I remembered the times I’d been saved by Thatcher and his dog Kingston. The two of them were peas in a pod. Thatcher was shy but kind and just about the most generous person I’d ever met. So, if a man loved his dogs, he had to be a good person inside.

  Aside from his personality, Derek’s appearance was just as mysterious. The only pictures I’d seen of him online were taken as his team zoomed past, and the heavy parka and balaclava he wore to protect himself from the cold obscured his face. The only other thing I knew was that he was in his early thirties—a solid ten years older than me, but that didn’t deter me from wanting to meet him.

  And maybe fall in love with him.

  Was it stupid to have a crush on a man I didn’t know? Probably. But Derek Winters was practically a celebrity, and tons of people had crushes on celebrities, right?

  I pushed my fantasy aside for now. I didn’t want to seem like a total creep when I met him for the first time. That was why I’d thought of a cover story in advance, a reason for wanting to get to know him better. It was research for my thesis paper, which I needed to submit in order to graduate.

  In reality, I’d already completed my degree, but how was he going to know that? I was twenty-two, fresh-faced, and eager for knowledge. I could easily pass for a college senior. Who could say no to the pursuit of knowledge? Most people would’ve been flattered to help a struggling student, right?

  With my gear in my bag and my article about Derek Winters in hand, I threw on about fifty layers for warmth and headed out into town, fired up and ready to go.

  Except my plans quickly ground to a halt the instant I stepped outside the hotel lobby doors. I yelped as a huge gust of wind blew into my face. It nearly toppled me over. I grabbed for the wall, but in doing so, the article was torn from my awkwardly gloved grasp. I watched the paper fly away with a groan.

  “Good start,” I mumbled. I sighed and pulled myself together with a pat on my pink cheeks. “C’mon, Blaze. Keep positive.”

  I fought against the wind to approach the group of people milling outside the small coffee shop. The steam from the drinks in their hands blew wildly in the wind, but they didn’t seem to care. In fact, the cold apparently didn’t bother them at all.

  God, I wish that were me.

  I cleared my throat and smiled. “Excuse me.”

  They turned to me with friendly, curious gazes.

  “Hey there,” one woman said, obviously amused at my lack of cold resistance. “What can we do for you, stranger?”

  “Um, I’m looking for a man named Derek Winters. Do you know him?”

  She nodded. “Of course. Everybody knows Winters.”

  I grinned excitedly. “Great! Where can I find him?”

  “Oh. You want to meet him?” She chuckled. “That might be a problem.”

  I tilted my head. “Why?”

  The group all chuckled, which made my excited smile turn into a small frown.

  “Derek’s not really the type to mingle,” another man said. “Especially with tourists.”

  “I’m not a tourist, I’m, er, researching for my thesis paper.”

  He arched a brow and grinned. “Sorry, kid. That still makes you a tourist.”

  “So… You mean Derek won’t talk to me?”

  The first woman shrugged. “Don’t take it personally. Winters ain’t much of a talker, period.”

  So he was shy. That didn’t surprise me, given how private he seemed from the available information. I shook my he
ad, refused to let that deter me. “That’s okay. I’d still like to meet him.”

  The group exchanged glances. The woman wore a sympathetic frown as she put her hand on my shoulder.

  “Listen, kid. Winters doesn’t come into town very often, and I can’t let you go up the mountain alone. It’s dangerous, especially—”

  “For a tourist,” I said with a sigh. “I know.”

  She nodded. “People get hurt messin’ with nature if they’re not prepared.” She arched a brow and looked me up and down. “And no offense, kid, but you are not prepared.”

  My shoulders slumped for a moment. I hated feeling like I couldn’t do something, but I knew this local was right. I wasn’t prepared to go hiking up a mountain all by myself. That meant I needed to find out more information about Derek Winters here in town.

  “Maybe I can catch him while he’s visiting town?” I suggested.

  The woman smiled kindly. “Maybe so. He’s fond of a drink now and then. The bar’s your best bet.”

  I beamed. “Thank you so much for your help!”

  As I turned to leave, another gust of wind battered my back. It was so strong that it pushed me over, and I lost my balance. I yelped and tripped, falling face-first into the snowy gravel. I heard the group wince sympathetically behind me.

  “You okay, kid?” the man asked.

  “Fine,” I said, getting to my feet and shamefully wiping the gravel bits off my face.

  As I walked away, more carefully this time, I heard the man mumble, “Winters is gonna eat that kid alive…”

  Not eager to get frostbite, I decided my best plan was to hang out inside a shop across from the bar. That way I had a good visual on everyone coming and going without freezing my tail off.

  It was a little pastry shop—the only one in town, apparently—so I nabbed a bite to eat during my stakeout. Okay, more like a couple bites. The kind owner was excited to have a tourist around and kept offering me freshly baked treats. Unfortunately, I was a sucker for sweets, so by the time evening rolled around, I was full on delicious pastries.

  “Another scone, dear?” the woman offered. Her wrinkles widened as she smiled.

  “No, thank you,” I said with a laugh. “I’ve eaten way more sugar than I should.”

  “Nonsense. You won’t find better treats than the ones here in Blizzard Creek.”

  She urged the little paper wrapper into my hand. The scone was still warm. I sighed and reached for my wallet, but she clicked her tongue. “That one’s on the house.”

  “Thank you. You’re too kind. I—”

  I sat upright and rigid when I saw the dogs. A few dogs had passed during the day, strays or ones walking with their owners, but not like this. There were eight dogs all harnessed in a row and attached to a sled. The owner tied the sled to a metal pole outside the bar and trudged inside.

  My heart did a flip.

  Wait a second. I know that dog!

  I didn’t recognize them all, but the lead dog—the one in front—I knew for certain. Her name was Eska. With her dark red fur accented with a white mask and white paws, she was striking. I’d seen her plenty of times in the articles. At this point, I knew her face better than Derek Winters’.

  And that means…

  My heart raced. I didn’t see his face, but I knew the man headed into the bar had to be Derek Winters.

  When I scrambled to my feet and grabbed my bag, the shop owner asked, “Why in such a rush, dear?”

  “There’s someone I have to meet. Thank you for the scone!”

  She followed my gaze and quickly understood. “Ah. Off to meet Derek, are you?” She sighed. “Good luck with that.”

  I paused. “What d’you mean?”

  “Well, you’re such a kind young man, and I don’t want him to be cross with you. He can be a little… erm, how do I say this…”

  “Rude?” I offered.

  She smiled. “A bit of an asshole, dear.”

  “Oh.”

  She gave me an encouraging pat. “Ah, but don’t let me stop you. Derek could use another friend. Go on.”

  Another friend? Why does she make it sound like he barely has any?

  I ignored that train of thought, thanked her again, bundled up as tightly as possible, and headed for the door. I winced against the cutting cold, which was worse now that the sun had begun to set. Harsh, bitter wind cut through town. I blinked away the tears in my eyes and forged ahead. The walk across the street seemed to last an eternity, every step a massive effort.

  When I got close to the sled, I stopped.

  None of the harnessed dogs cared about my presence—except one.

  Eska, the red and white one I recognized from the articles, was staring right at me with piercing, intelligent yellow eyes that gripped me right down to my soul.

  I shuddered, and this time it wasn’t because of the cold.

  2

  Derek

  The alcohol sliding down my throat was a pleasant burn. I took another swig and set the empty glass down with a satisfied sigh.

  “’Nother round, Winters?” the bartender asked.

  I nodded and gave him an affirmative grunt. As he prepared my second drink, Kai chuckled beside me.

  “Slow down, there,” he said. “Don’t wanna run into any trees on the way home.”

  “Hmph. Even if I am a little tipsy—which I’m not—I trust Eska to get us back safe.”

  “She’s a smart girl,” Kai agreed. “She’s gonna be a great mom to a future generation of sled dogs.”

  I frowned. “It’s too early to be thinking about babies.”

  “Derek.” Kai grinned, like he always did. I’d never seen him without at least half a lazy smile on that face. “Are you talking about Eska, or are you talking about yourself?”

  I glared at him and then happily cut the topic short when the bartender slid me my second round. But after taking a gulp of beer, Kai was still waiting for my reply.

  “What?” I growled.

  “I’m just saying. You said babies, not puppies.”

  I waved him off with a scowl. “What in the hell am I gonna do with a baby? Do I look equipped to handle a wailing little brat?”

  Kai rolled his black eyes. “Oh, come off it. I know you don’t mean that. If someone dropped a baby in your lap right now, I know you’d turn into a grumpy pile of mush.”

  “Good thing there’s no babies allowed at the bar,” I mumbled.

  “Thank goodness.”

  “Besides, no one would adopt out to me,” I added.

  “Why not? You’re a good guy, just a little rough on the outside.” Kai tilted his head. “Well, a little rough on the inside too, but still. You’re not a murderer or a thief or anything.”

  “Way to set the bar high.”

  “Don’t be such a grump, Derek,” Kai said, gesturing with his glass. “You talk like you’re the most hated man in Blizzard Creek or something, but everybody cares about you. You’re like a bear.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Not in the gay way, I mean like the animal.” He laughed. “You’re more afraid of them than they are of you.”

  I grumbled into my drink and decided not to give him the satisfaction of a reply.

  He leaned in, wiggling his brows. “And who knows? Maybe if you let someone in, you’d finally find the one.”

  I opened my mouth to retort then frowned. “Why am I even talking about this? I hate when you rope me into these stupid conversations.”

  Kai laughed, guilty as charged. “I’m just trying to get you to broaden your horizons a little, y’know? There’s life outside the mountains and racing and dogs and…” He tried and failed to think of anything else I was interested in. “Uh… beer?”

  I cocked a brow at him and brought the rim of the glass to my lips. “Nice try, but I don’t need a pep talk from my employee.”

  “Hey, I’m not just an employee. I’m your friend.” He smirked. “And since I’m one of the only ones you have, all my words of w
isdom are precious.”

  “You’re twenty-four. You barely have enough wisdom to fill that beer glass of yours.”

  “Okay, now you’re just being mean. You should be a little nicer to your assistant-slash-friend. What if something happens to me?” He put his hand on his chest dramatically and mock-gasped. “What if I… die?”

  “Cut it out, Kai. You’re healthier than an ox,” I grumbled.

  Kai put his elbow back on the counter. “Sure. But my point is, you have to branch out. Meet some new people. Hell, get to know someone you already know here in Blizzard Creek!”

  My eye twitched in irritation. The topic of a potential relationship soured my mood. Though Kai and I were good friends, even he didn’t know the truth about my past, and it was definitely something I was not going to dredge up in public, even after a couple beers. It was locked up tight, the key long thrown away.

  I sat up straight and looked him dead in the eyes. “How many times do I have to tell you? I’m not interested in meeting anyone in a romantic way. Just drop it, okay?”

  A frown tugged at Kai’s mouth, and he finally relented with a sigh. “Fine. Wasn’t trying to piss you off or anything, just trying to help…”

  I grunted then gave him a single clap on the back to show him I wasn’t upset. Showing emotion was difficult for me, if not impossible, but I was truly glad to have Kai on my side. Due to my life of solitude in the mountains, he was the only thread connecting me with society. His was the only face I’d see for weeks sometimes, and even then, we mostly only crossed paths during his shifts. As my dog-boy, Kai did most of my dog-related errands like feeding and exercising my dogs when I was busy with work. He had a separate little cottage on my property, and he preferred to spend his free time down in Blizzard Creek. Unlike me, Kai was a social butterfly. It was downright weird, if you asked me.