that was her. Every now and then she felt a twinge of regret that she hadn’t been able to compete in the Olympics, as well as continue and build her career.
Her thoughts turned to raising her siblings, and how much she loved them. She had made the right decision. She still missed the sport, but at least she could coach.
“She looks so beautiful on the ice.” Gracie Chen’s mother, Bev, had pride in her voice. The kind of pride Chelsey’s own mom had expressed for her daughter when she was alive.
Chelsey nodded without taking her gaze off Gracie. “She’s gifted.”
“You have made all the difference, Ms. Daniels.” Bev’s sincere words sent warmth through Chelsey.
“I live vicariously through your daughter.” Chelsey flashed Bev a smile before looking back at Gracie. “I loved competition, and training in Colorado Springs was the best thing that happened to advance my career.”
“We can’t wait for her to start.” Bev hurried to add, “Of course Gracie will miss you.”
Chelsey almost laughed as she watched the girl perform her routine. “I love Gracie to pieces, but going to the Broadmoor Arena is going to do fantastic things for her career. As long as she keeps working as hard as she does, she has the skill and talent to make it onto the Olympic team.”
“I know you wouldn’t say it if you didn’t mean it.” Bev drew Chelsey’s attention briefly from Gracie. “Thank you.”
“Thank you for trusting me with her training, Mrs. Chen.” Chelsey smiled. “I feel blessed to have even a small part of working with Gracie.” She moved her gaze back to the young athlete. “She is fortunate to have parents like you, who are willing to move to Colorado so she can have this opportunity and still be with her family.”
Gracie came to a perfect ending to her performance. Chelsey clapped, Bev echoing with her own claps.
“Great job, Gracie.” Chelsey motioned for Gracie to come to her. “I think you’ve had enough for the day.”
“I still want to skate.” If she could get her own way, Gracie would never want to get off the ice.
Bev shook her head. “Time for a good meal before you do your homework and then get to bed.”
Gracie rolled her eyes. “Mom. You’re such a—a— mom .”
Both Chelsey and Bev laughed. “That’s because I am. Now get your skates off and we’ll head home.”
Gracie gave a few good natured grumbles. She was probably tired, but her competitive spirit never wanted to stop.
As Gracie and Bev walked away, a male voice captured Chelsey’s attention. “Hello, beautiful.”
Chelsey gave a broad smile as she turned to face Grady, who was decked out in full hockey gear. A happy feeling zipped around in her belly. “Hey there.”
He took her by the shoulders and brushed his lips over hers. It was such a sensual touch of their lips that she shivered with pleasure.
She rested her palms on his shoulder pads. Why was it that a man looked so damn sexy in a uniform? He looked hot in his hockey outfit, and she’d bet anything he looked equally yummy in his firefighting gear.
“What time is the game this evening?” She slid her hands down the front of his jersey as she took a step back.
“Seven.” He took her by the shoulders and pressed his lips to hers. “I can’t get enough of you.”
“Same here.” Her words came out husky and maybe even a little needy. She had to rein herself in. She cleared her throat. “I should let you warm up before they start letting in fans.
“I’m warming up already.” He grinned as she playfully slapped him on the shoulder.
“You know what I mean.” She shook her finger at him. “Now run along.”
“Yes, teacher.” He brushed his knuckles along her cheekbone. “I had a great time last night. How does this Saturday work for you?”
“I had a fabulous time, too.” She felt almost giddy at the prospect of a second date. “What time?”
“I’ll call you and we’ll figure out where we are going and what
Her thoughts turned to raising her siblings, and how much she loved them. She had made the right decision. She still missed the sport, but at least she could coach.
“She looks so beautiful on the ice.” Gracie Chen’s mother, Bev, had pride in her voice. The kind of pride Chelsey’s own mom had expressed for her daughter when she was alive.
Chelsey nodded without taking her gaze off Gracie. “She’s gifted.”
“You have made all the difference, Ms. Daniels.” Bev’s sincere words sent warmth through Chelsey.
“I live vicariously through your daughter.” Chelsey flashed Bev a smile before looking back at Gracie. “I loved competition, and training in Colorado Springs was the best thing that happened to advance my career.”
“We can’t wait for her to start.” Bev hurried to add, “Of course Gracie will miss you.”
Chelsey almost laughed as she watched the girl perform her routine. “I love Gracie to pieces, but going to the Broadmoor Arena is going to do fantastic things for her career. As long as she keeps working as hard as she does, she has the skill and talent to make it onto the Olympic team.”
“I know you wouldn’t say it if you didn’t mean it.” Bev drew Chelsey’s attention briefly from Gracie. “Thank you.”
“Thank you for trusting me with her training, Mrs. Chen.” Chelsey smiled. “I feel blessed to have even a small part of working with Gracie.” She moved her gaze back to the young athlete. “She is fortunate to have parents like you, who are willing to move to Colorado so she can have this opportunity and still be with her family.”
Gracie came to a perfect ending to her performance. Chelsey clapped, Bev echoing with her own claps.
“Great job, Gracie.” Chelsey motioned for Gracie to come to her. “I think you’ve had enough for the day.”
“I still want to skate.” If she could get her own way, Gracie would never want to get off the ice.
Bev shook her head. “Time for a good meal before you do your homework and then get to bed.”
Gracie rolled her eyes. “Mom. You’re such a—a— mom .”
Both Chelsey and Bev laughed. “That’s because I am. Now get your skates off and we’ll head home.”
Gracie gave a few good natured grumbles. She was probably tired, but her competitive spirit never wanted to stop.
As Gracie and Bev walked away, a male voice captured Chelsey’s attention. “Hello, beautiful.”
Chelsey gave a broad smile as she turned to face Grady, who was decked out in full hockey gear. A happy feeling zipped around in her belly. “Hey there.”
He took her by the shoulders and brushed his lips over hers. It was such a sensual touch of their lips that she shivered with pleasure.
She rested her palms on his shoulder pads. Why was it that a man looked so damn sexy in a uniform? He looked hot in his hockey outfit, and she’d bet anything he looked equally yummy in his firefighting gear.
“What time is the game this evening?” She slid her hands down the front of his jersey as she took a step back.
“Seven.” He took her by the shoulders and pressed his lips to hers. “I can’t get enough of you.”
“Same here.” Her words came out husky and maybe even a little needy. She had to rein herself in. She cleared her throat. “I should let you warm up before they start letting in fans.
“I’m warming up already.” He grinned as she playfully slapped him on the shoulder.
“You know what I mean.” She shook her finger at him. “Now run along.”
“Yes, teacher.” He brushed his knuckles along her cheekbone. “I had a great time last night. How does this Saturday work for you?”
“I had a fabulous time, too.” She felt almost giddy at the prospect of a second date. “What time?”
“I’ll call you and we’ll figure out where we are going and what
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