The Hockey Prince's Secret Ice Queen

Kaleigh POV:

I clutched a stack of journals on riverbed sediment analysis to my chest. The afternoon sun was sharp, and all I wanted was the sanctuary of my dorm room to input the new data into my Havenwood Creek ecological model.

"Hey, Julian! That one! The brunette!"

A burst of noise shattered my focus. I looked up. A wall of Briar University hockey players blocked the path, buzzing like a pack of overgrown golden retrievers.

The one at the center of the chaos, Julian Andrews-our school's hockey prince and resident academic genius-was being shoved in my direction. His ice-blue eyes, startlingly clear in the sunlight, landed on me.

I frowned, trying to sidestep the group. Right now, boys were just unnecessary friction in my project timeline.

But Julian blocked my path in a single, fluid motion. He was tall, casting a shadow that swallowed me whole, and he smelled clean, like crisp winter air.

"Sorry to bother you," his voice was deeper, softer than I'd expected. "I made a bet with them."

Behind him, Landon Hayes and Beckham Mckee started catcalling. "A kiss, Julian! Get a kiss from any girl, and you win!"

My brain stalled. The papers on organic pollutant degradation rates nearly slipped from my grasp. A kiss? With me? Why?

I took a step back, my guard shooting up. "I don't have time for stupid games."

A reluctant smile touched Julian's lips. He shot a look at his hopeless teammates, then his gaze returned to me, surprisingly sincere. "I know this is sudden, but I really need to win this bet."

I turned to walk away. I had zero interest in this brand of campus testosterone-fueled drama.

"You're Kaleigh Kelley, right?" he said suddenly, his voice stopping me in my tracks.

I paused, turning back in surprise. How did he know my name? I was practically invisible on campus.

"Environmental Science department. Professor Desmond Beaumont's student," he continued, each word a perfect strike.

My heart skipped a beat. Not because the campus god knew who I was, but because he'd mentioned Professor Beaumont-my advisor, the key supporter of my project.

Julian seemed to read my mind. He took half a step closer, lowering his voice so only we could hear. "Professor Beaumont is my uncle."

My mind raced. Julian Andrews... Desmond Beaumont... The monster-level genius with a double major in physics and computer science...

My project, the Havenwood Creek ecological model, was stuck on the data processing. I needed an expert in complex fluid dynamics and ecological algorithm modeling.

"I saw your project proposal. In my uncle's study." Julian's words were a key, unlocking all my defenses in an instant. "The non-linear dynamic model for pollutant dispersion. It's fascinating."

He understood my project. He even knew the core difficulty. In that moment, he wasn't the campus heartthrob; he was a walking supercomputer.

"If you help me out"-his blue eyes glinted with a sly light-"I can help you process all your data models in return. Consider it... academic support from the Beaumont family."

I stared at him, then glanced at his expectant teammates. A meaningless, theatrical kiss in exchange for months of progress on my project.

My reason and my emotions were at war. My heart pounded at the sheer audacity of this transaction.

"Just a kiss?" I heard my own voice, dry and strained.

"Just a staged kiss," he corrected, as if seeing my discomfort and offering me an out.

I took a deep breath, like I was about to make a critical experimental decision. "Fine. Deal."

His teammates erupted in a victorious cheer, but Julian just gave me a genuine, relieved smile.

He leaned down, his cool scent intensifying. His lips were a light, brief touch against my cheek, like a single snowflake landing and melting away.

The jeers and whistles peaked around us, but all I could feel was the burning spot of cold on my skin.

Julian straightened up, pulling his phone from his pocket. "I'll need your contact info. For the... 'academic support.'"

I mechanically recited my number, watching him save it under "Kaleigh Kelley."

"I'll be in touch to work out the details," he said, and then he was gone, swept away by his friends, leaving me standing alone in a state of total confusion.

I touched my cheek where he'd kissed me, my other hand clutching my papers. Did I just... trade a kiss for data models?

I immediately pulled out my phone and sent a text to my best friend, Analia. "I just did something insane."

Kaleigh POV:

"Get me my bat!" Analia's head popped down from the top bunk, her bright red curls a chaotic mess, her eyes wide as saucers. "He got you to trade a kiss for data? The Julian Andrews?"

I sat at my desk, staring blankly at the ecological model on my computer screen. "Technically, it was a kiss on the cheek. And he's Professor Beaumont's nephew. A computer genius."

Analia slid down the ladder and rushed to my side. "Oh my god, Kaleigh, baby! That's not the point! The point is Julian Andrews, the ice prince who's never had a single rumor about him, kissed you for a bet!"

She shook my shoulders. "Do you have any idea what the Puck Bunnies on the campus forums will do? They'll eat you alive!"

I pushed her face away. "I don't care. I only care about Havenwood Creek. If he can solve my pollutant dispersion model, I'd do more than give him a kiss. I'd do a striptease on the ice."

Analia gave me a look that said you're a lost cause, then snatched my phone. "He texted you!"

I grabbed for it. On the screen was a message from an unknown number: "It's Julian. As a thank you, and for... uh, a club activity, I need to practice skating this weekend. I'm terrible at it and could use a 'coach.' Are you free to come to the university rink?"

I frowned. Skating? What did that have to do with my data?

Analia snatched the phone back, her thumbs flying. "She's free! We're both free! What time?"

"Analia!" I lunged for the phone, but it was too late. The message was sent.

Julian's reply was almost instant. "Saturday at two. My friends will be there too. You can bring yours."

Analia held up the phone like an Olympic gold medal. "Done! A perfect double date!"

"It's not a date," I argued weakly. "It's a preliminary project meeting. He's just finding an excuse to meet and discuss the model."

Analia rolled her eyes. "Baby, you know nothing about men. If he wanted to talk about the project, he'd meet you at the library, not an ice rink. He's obviously trying to create more opportunities to hang out!"

My phone buzzed again. It was Julian. "About the data model, we can find a chance to talk in detail at the rink. The coffee there is pretty good."

I showed the message to Analia. "See? He mentioned the model."

Analia stared at the text, lost in thought. "Okay, maybe you're half right... but this is definitely a two-birds-one-stone plan."

On Saturday afternoon, when Analia and I arrived at the rink, Julian and his two friends-Beckham Mckee and Landon Hayes-were already there.

Julian was wearing a simple gray hoodie and jeans. He didn't look like a hockey prince, more like a regular guy from next door.

He saw us and immediately skated over-if you could call it "skating." His legs trembled, his arms flailed like windmills for balance, and he ended up crashing in a spectacular heap a few feet away from us.

Beckham and Landon erupted in theatrical, knowing laughter. "Dude! You look like a newborn giraffe! Oscar-worthy performance!"

Beckham yelled under his breath.

Julian, sprawled on the ice, looked up with an embarrassed grin. "See? I told you I was terrible."

Analia whispered in my ear, "Oh my god, he wasn't kidding. He's actually awful."

I watched Julian struggle to get up, failing repeatedly. A strange sense of responsibility washed over me.

He was, after all, the hope for my project. I couldn't let him break a leg. My data would be ruined.

I laced up my skates, Analia clumsily following my lead.

I glided easily over to Julian and held out my hand. "Need a hand, 'data expert'?"

Julian looked up, my reflection captured in his blue eyes. He took my hand. His palm was warm and strong.

I pulled him up. His entire weight tilted towards me, and I had to tighten my core to keep us both from falling.

"Thanks," he said, still holding onto my arm as he steadied himself. "Looks like I really do need a good coach."

Landon skated over, a smirk on his face. "Kaleigh, you look like a pro. Unlike some people," he said, winking at Julian.

I shook my head. "Just messing around." I didn't want to reveal anything about my past.

Julian clung to the boards, moving cautiously, each step like he was disarming a bomb.

Watching him, I was completely convinced he was a total beginner. A genius whose brain was his entire being, and whose limbs were merely decorative.

Beckham and Landon, meanwhile, were chasing each other on the other side of the rink, their hockey player instincts making them graceful and fast. The contrast with Julian was stark.

Kaleigh POV:

I held Julian's arm, guiding him slowly across the ice. I felt like I was teaching a toddler-sized giant how to walk.

"Push with the outside of your foot. Yes, use the inside edge for power," I explained patiently, but he seemed completely unable to control his ankles, his body practically hanging off me.

"Are you sure you're an athlete?" I couldn't help but tease. "Is your brain your entire body, and your limbs are just for show?"

Julian gave a wry laugh, his breath tickling my ear. "My athletic talents are all focused elsewhere."

Beckham and Landon, always ready for a show, skated over and circled us. "Whoa, Julian, looks like you found yourself a free private coach," Landon called out dramatically.

Beckham winked at me. "Be careful, Kaleigh. Our captain is 'heavy,' in every sense of the word."

I ignored their jokes, my full attention on preventing Julian from falling again and figuring out how to bring up the data model.

Just then, a few more girls joined us on the ice. I recognized one of them, Brooke Sterling from the cheerleading squad. She skated directly toward Julian.

"Julian, what a coincidence! You're skating too?" Brooke's voice was sickly sweet. She ignored me completely, linking her arm familiarly through Julian's other one.

Julian subtly pulled his arm away, leaning his body slightly closer to mine to maintain distance. "Yeah. Club activity."

Brooke's gaze fell on me, filled with obvious hostility and appraisal. "And this is?"

"My coach, Kaleigh." Julian introduced us, his tone clipped.

"Coach?" Brooke let out a small laugh, the disdain in her eyes unmistakable. "Julian, you need a coach? I thought you just didn't skate often."

Sensing the tension, Landon immediately jumped in to play peacemaker. "Hey, since everyone's so into it, why don't we play a game?"

Beckham was instantly on board. "Great idea! What should we play?"

Landon's eyes scanned between me, Brooke, and the other girls, then landed on Julian with a mischievous grin.

"Let's have a competition... for who's the best skater among the girls here," Landon announced. "As for the prize..."

He paused for dramatic effect, then pointed a finger at Julian. "The prize is-a date with our captain!"

The rink erupted. Brooke and her friends' eyes lit up, and they let out excited squeals.

Analia nudged me with her elbow, whispering excitedly, "Kaleigh! This is your chance! A legitimate date!"

I was completely stunned. A date? All I wanted was a project discussion. How did things escalate to this?

Julian frowned, looking like he was about to refuse, but Beckham had already thrown an arm around him. "Don't be a buzzkill, Captain. This will be fun!"

I looked at Julian, the center of attention, then at the group of eager girls. I felt like a research scientist who had accidentally wandered into a beauty pageant.

"I... I'm not participating," I said immediately. That wasn't why I was here.

Brooke seized the opportunity, shooting me a contemptuous look. "Right. You're the 'coach,' not a competitor. It's good to know your limits."

The comment was a clear provocation. Even Analia was about to retort, but I held her back.

I didn't want trouble. I just wanted to find a corner, wait for this farce to end, and then grab Julian to ask about my data model.

Julian's gaze shifted to me, his expression complicated, as if asking for my opinion.

I shook my head at him, signaling that he didn't need to worry about me.

Julian was silent for a moment, then said to Landon and Beckham, "Fine. I agree."

The second the words left his mouth, Brooke was the first to respond, like a proud peacock. "I'll go first, then!"

Music started playing, and all eyes focused on the center of the rink. A ridiculous competition for Julian's affection had officially begun.

I pulled Analia to the side of the rink and sat down on a bench, feeling incredibly anxious.

My mind was a split screen: on one side, the contour map of Havenwood Creek; on the other, the preening girls in front of me. I didn't belong here.

Julian leaned against the boards, the official "prize" of the day. But his gaze kept drifting over to the corner where I sat, making me feel a strange sense of irritation.