“Oh, now you’re in trouble.” She smirked at Jeff and showed him the phone.
“That was sent to you, stupid.”
“Who are you calling stupid, stupid?”
They swapped insults while Marlie ignored the spiral of worry that she was liking Damon a little too much. Jeff wore happiness like a second skin while they chatted, totally in love with his guy. That kind of happiness could be contagious.
Marlie felt like smiling for no reason, especially when Damon got all growly and tossed his hands around, as if annoyed with the world. Why did she find that adorable? He looked like a grizzly. The comments around her all spoke of the monster he was on the ice, or even near the ice, helping to coach. She felt like they had that in common, a love for their sport.
Yet another reason to keep her relationship with Damon simple. Sex and fun with no expectations. Because if she liked him too much, he’d crush her when he left. She’d been crushed enough from not living up to her own expectations when it came to dating. No need to add to her self-drama.
Yeah, that made sense. So why did she feel so let down at the thought of not seeing him after the new year? Before she could talk herself out of her odd mood, a tall woman pushed her way next to her.
“Oh, sorry. Mind if I sit?”
Marlie looked at Jeff, who didn’t seem to know the woman. She turned back to the stranger. “Sure.” Studying the woman, Marlie sensed something familiar about her. “Do I know you?”
“No. But you know my brother.” The woman held out a hand. “Grace Sinclair. Nice to meet you.”
CHAPTER 22
Damon glanced back once, saw his sister sitting next to Marlie and Jeff, and quickly turned around, wishing she’d left town before his game like she’d said she would. The big liar.
Focused on his team, because he couldn’t do much about Grace, he helped coach them to a 3-1 victory. The skating hadn’t been the best, but their checks had gotten better, as had their teamwork thanks to some altered line changes he’d suggested.
It wasn’t as if Damon was God’s gift to coaching, but he knew hockey. These guys loved it, so helping felt good. They all had a love of the sport in common, as well as a will to win.
Morgan’s team had tried, but though they had athleticism and size on their side, their tactics weren’t the best. And Morgan, for all that he could be a dick while helping with PT, was way too nice.
But not too nice. It didn’t escape his notice that Mackenzie, that asshole from yesterday, hadn’t shown up on the ice or on the bench. A good call. A guy who couldn’t control himself on the ice was a liability.
He followed the players shaking hands with the other team and thanked everyone for playing before he got to Morgan. “Don’t hold this against me tomorrow.”
Morgan squeezed his hand and gave an evil grin. “Oh, I totally will.”
Damon had to laugh. “You did good, Coach. But well, your offense was weak, the defense too nice.” The players in question glared at him. “And that goalie… Maybe he shouldn’t quit his day job.”
The goalie in question, who hadn’t been at practice the day before, pushed her mask back and shot him the finger. “Suck it, Sinclair.”
Her teammates laughed and sneered at him.
Steve sidled next to Damon. “Uh, I wouldn’t get too cocky. Sabrina’s one of our deputies. And she carries a grudge.”
“Thanks, Steve. I’m not worried. I know you’ll have my back.”
“Well, if the sheriff will let me.” He nodded to the gathering crowd. “After you sign autographs and talk to people, my parents want a word. Rumor has it you’re seeing my sister.”
“Shit.”
Steve grinned. “But hey, we won. So you have that going for you. FYI, they’re watching you.” He pointed to a couple in the stands.
He glanced at her parents, sitting next to a couple they seemed engaged with, then looked back to see Grace still giving Marlie—and Jeff—the third degree. Which reminded him…
He grabbed Will and dragged him back on his skates for a confab. “Quit mooning over whoever you were ogling in the crowd. You almost cost us a goal, moron.” He’d been surprised to see Will looking so ga-ga over his sister. Then he realized Will’s attention hadn’t been sweet but something a guy used when he looked at someone he wanted in bed. Not a look one would give one’s sister.
At least, he hoped not.
And then he’d seen Jeff winking back. Jeff and Will? Huh. Did Marlie know, or was Damon totally wrong about the guys?
