Breakaway by Kelly Jamieson Page A

for
Reading program to be held at their school this year, with three members of the
Chicago Bulls participating.
    “It’s not over,” Jennifer said. “They found someone else.
Three Wolves.”
    “Wolves.”
    “The hockey team.”
    “Oh. Of course. Okay. Better than nothing, I guess.” She
took in a breath. “I better go make sure they’re not destroying the gym.”
    Two hundred and fifty middle school students in the
auditorium near the end of the day probably had a bit of energy to burn.
Especially her grade six students Justin and Ryan. Their ADHD made them a
handful at times.
    “When our hockey players show up, I’ll bring them right down,”
Jennifer promised her.
    “Thanks.”
    Remi hurried down the school hall, past empty classrooms and
into the gym. The kids were actually being pretty good, sitting on the
bleachers and filling the room with a dull roar punctuated with the occasional
scream of high-pitched laughter.
    “Change in plans,” she said to her fellow teacher Paula
Vaughan. “We have hockey players coming instead of basketball players.”
    “Oh. Okay.”
    “Okay, everyone, listening!” She paused and waited for the
noise to subside, holding a hand in the air. “We’re running a bit late, so
please be patient. Jemar Fast isn’t going to be with us after all.” Big groans
of disappointment greeted that statement. “But someone else is coming in his
place.”
    “Who is it, Ms. Buchanan?”
    “Yeah, who is it?”
    Dammit, she didn’t even know who it was. “Three players from
the Chicago Wolves are coming today.”
    Cheers echoed in the gym. Huh. Guess the kids knew hockey.
    “They should be here shortly to get us started. Has everyone
got their book picked out that they want to read first?”
    Another burst of cheering erupted and she grinned. She loved
it when kids were into books and reading. Some of her students were already
avid readers, but others, like Justin and Ryan, struggled with it.
    Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jennifer entering the
auditorium with a group of men. Relieved, she prepared to turn the microphone
over to the principal to introduce their new “stars” and get things started. If
they didn’t get going soon, the kids would be beyond control.
    Remi went to stand with some other teachers at the side of
the gym and watched Jennifer lead the three men to the front where the sound
system was set up. Big guys, all three of them… Remi’s eyes widened and she
straightened. She blinked and focused on the back of one of the men. It looked
like…no. She shook her head. Then he turned.
    Jason.
    Her face went hot, her body got chilled and she fell back
against the concrete block gym wall.
    He said something to Jennifer and they both laughed. His
gorgeous smile flashed. Today he was dressed casually in jeans and a Wolves
T-shirt that hugged his broad chest and shoulders. The other two men with
him…yes, she was sure they’d been with him that night at Rouge…also wore the
same T-shirts.
    Hockey players.
    Well, didn’t he just look like a hockey player? Big and
tough, with a crooked nose. Except he had beautiful, perfect white teeth—didn’t
most hockey players lose their teeth by getting hit with a puck or something?
    She licked her lips.
    Jennifer spoke into the microphone to get the kids’
attention and get the rally underway, but Remi barely heard a word she said
until she introduced “Jason Heller!” and the kids all screamed and clapped.
    Dear god, he was famous.
    And she hadn’t even known who he was.
    No wonder he dated a model. She leaned her head back against
the wall and covered her eyes with one hand. She’d slept with him. Her. Remi
Buchanan, grade six teacher at Abraham Lincoln Middle School. A wave of heat
swept over her at the memory of his touch, his mouth on hers, his body inside
hers.
    Her one wild attempt at being fun and spontaneous and sexy
had ended with the police at her door. She chewed on her lower lip. That could
have been