Her potshot fooled Jed as she tricked him with a fake out by intentionally aiming her shot not into their goal but off the table in front of him, sending the puck back, where she could quickly attack with a rebound.
But Tor, damn it, he was too much of a coach, cataloguing her plays and reviewing her weaknesses. He was ready for the pump fake and stopped it short. Then he struck his mallet hard, sending the puck bouncing off a side wall.
Neve saw it coming. She knew she could stop it. But he played with such a strange intensity that her own curiosity was sparked. If she was in Tor Gunnar’s debt, what favor would he request? Her mind screamedNo!but her body was... curious.
And his puck slipped into her goal.
“Oh darn!” Breezy squealed, sounding less than dismayed.
Neve lifted her gaze straight to Tor’s. Her cheeks heated. He stared back, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. It had been subtle, but he knew she’d just thrown the game.
But he didn’t know why.
And that made two of them. Damn it. She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and glanced away. She’d just thrown away one heck of a professional coup. And for what?
He’d likely humiliate her in some way. What would it be...? Stroll down 16th Ave. dressed in a tutu? Go to a karaoke bar and sing “Don’t Stop Believing”?
“Good game,” Margot said as they filed back into their booth. “Now the winners get to call in the debt. This should be interesting.”
“That’s one word for it,” Jed said.
“Stop,” Breezy pleaded in a giddy tone that made it clear they had about two more minutes before she asked to close the tab and run home.
“Inquiring minds want to know.” Neve addressed her comment to Tor, even as she studied her drink. “What’s it going to be? I know my pride is about to take a beating so let’s get the suspense over with.” Her stomach felt so tense that there was no way she’d risk a sip at this point. The last thing she needed to do was choke at the table.
Or get more mouth to mouth from the coach.
“I thought it over and you are all right. I can’t go to my ex’s wedding alone.” Tor’s tone was pure confident arrogance, even as he drummed his index finger on the table.
Neve’s body didn’t have time to release a flood of adrenaline before she was hit with the second part of his statement.
“Since you lost, Neve, you’ll go with me. Two days in Telluride. Ever been?”
“I- I had friends go there for music festivals while I was at college, but I always stayed behind to do summer school,” she managed to stammer, trying to comprehend the magnitude of what he just said.
“Then it’s a date. I’ll send you the details.”
“A... date,” Neve repeated blankly.
He nodded once, a dare in his eyes.
Whisky. Tango. Foxtrot.Her stomach did its best impersonation of an amusement-park log ride and splashed down to her toes.
Because no matter how much she wanted to pretend, she couldn’t fake that the kiss in the bathroom hadn’t felt oh, so real. He might be setting her up for a fall, but she couldn’t quite stop herself from tiptoeing to the edge.
She needed to keep her head in the game. Look for the opportunity. After all, for better or worse, she’d be alone, more or less, for a weekend with Tor Gunnar, the biggest enigma in NHL coaching, and she’d figure out what made him tick at last—by hook or crook.
She couldn’t wait to tell Scott about the trip. This was just the kind of opportunity that would cause her editor to freak out.
When life handed her lemons, she made delicious lemonade.
Two deep lines materialized between his brows—at least he had the good sense to look concerned.
“Game on,” she said blithely, picking up her drink and giving him a toast. “After all, I’ve never been over to Telluride. It will be an... adventure.” Perfect. She’d swashbuckled through his little dare with expert precision. All the points to her.
You don’t scare me, Tor Gunnar.
She took a long swallow of the margarita, the frozen slush sluicing over her front teeth and creating one heck of a brain freeze. Try as she might, she couldn’t hold back a wince, because all her tough talk sat on a throne of lies. Tor Gunnar might not scare her, but the unfathomable expression in his eyes sure as heck did.
