The Definition of Icing: A Dallas Demons Hockey Romance (Dallas Demons Series) by Aven Ellis Read Free Book Online

different from Minnesota as you can get.
    And all of his support systems—his family, his hometown friends—are no longer there for him in the physical sense. In all truthfulness, he’s starting over, in a new city, alone.
    Kind of what I did by going to Europe, I think. After I broke up with Chase, I needed a clean slate. A new focus. Which I found by studying chocolate in Switzerla—
    “This is why I approved the trade to Dallas,” Nate says, putting down his knife and fork on his plate and interrupting my thoughts. “I heard rumors that Flynn could be a badass in the kitchen. Glad it’s true. I came just for the food,” Nate teases.
    “Nothing to do with joining a champion,” Harrison jokes.
    Nate grins and strokes his fingertips along his jawline, and damn, he’s so hot when he does that it’s hard for me to concentrate on anything else.
    “Nah, who gives a shit about that?” Nate says.
    Kylie laughs and stands up to clear the table, and we all follow suit. “The next time you come over I’ll try to have something to offer for dessert. I’m afraid I don’t have anything for tonight.”
    Harrison smiles as he helps her pick up dishes. “Don’t you keep a reserve batch of sea salt chocolate chip cookie dough in the fridge in case of an emergency? Or did you crack the glass on that supply this week?”
    “Shut up,” Kylie says, but they’re both laughing.
    “Ah, this is where I can help,” I say happily. “I always gift something to my clients before I leave, and I think it will work perfectly for the occasion.”
    “Kylie, if it involves curry, please say no,” Nate says, teasing me.
    Kylie wrinkles her brow. “Curry? With dessert? ”
    Before I realize what I’m doing, I instinctively reach over and flick Nate on the upper arm with the back of my hand. “Will you stop it? You’re going to poison her mind against the experience.”
    Oh shit. Shit. That was too flirty. I shouldn’t have done it. Nate wants to be my friend. I barely know him at—
    But Nate’s laughter interrupts my panicked thoughts.
    “I will not shut up,” Nate says good-naturedly as he nudges me back with his arm. And the second he does that playful move my stomach flips in response. “Kylie is my friend. My line mate’s wife. I have an obligation to protect her from such disgusting combinations.”
    “You have curry chocolate?” Harrison asks, taking our plates and placing them in the sink.
    “Well, smart ass Johansson over here thinks that’s what I have tonight, but I don’t,” I say, lifting my eyebrow at Nate. “But curry in milk chocolate is very good.”
    “But is it wicked good?” Kylie asks. And as she does, I notice she’s grinning at Harrison as she says it.
    “Are you making fun of my Bostonisms again?” Harrison flashes Kylie a bright smile.
    “I’m sorry, but you all lost me,” I say, laughing. “And no, I don’t have curry chocolate with me.”
    “We’re spared,” Nate teases.
    I smile and move over to my supply box. I take out the glossy orange box of chocolates I have inside. I’ve branded the box with my signature color, a vibrant orange, and “Confection Consultations” imprinted on the lid in a scripted brown font.
    “Oooooh, what’s that?” Kylie asks, her eyes lighting up at the sight of it.
    “Truffles, but not just any kind of truffles,” I say. “What I like to gift is something you can have the next day. So I call this my ‘Chocolate Breakfast’ collection.”
    I present Kylie with the box. She puts it on the island and removes the lid, then lifts up the tissue paper to reveal a set of eight gorgeous truffles.
    “These are beautiful,” Kylie says, her eyes widening.
    “The top four are French toast and bacon truffles,” I explain. “They have a maple and cinnamon ganache filling, dipped in dark chocolate, and adorned with candied bacon. The bottom row are my Italian espresso truffles, which have a filling of espresso ganache, dipped in dark chocolate, and