He chuckled. Women had been coming onto him forever. They liked his size or his money or his fame. Perhaps that’s what attracted him to Marlie. She didn’t seem to like him much.
His sister was right. He had a contrary sense of self.
At the vet’s office, he pulled in next to her and helped her carry the cats to the back office.
“Jeff, we found a bunch. One of them is pregnant.”
He followed her voice to a tall, good-looking guy in a white lab coat. His name tag read, “Dr. Jeff Morrison.” He noticed Damon and blinked. Then his jaw dropped.
“Dr. Morrison.” Damon held out a hand.
The vet just stared.
“Don’t be rude, Jeff.” Marlie scowled at him.
Damon grinned. Talk about a woman with a temper.
Jeff turned to Marlie and smacked her on the back of the head. Not hard, but like the kind of smacks his sister used to give him before she’d left home.
“Ow.” Marlie glared at the vet.
“How do you not know who this is?”
She blushed despite the scowl. “I remembered his name. Damon.”
“This is Demon Sinclair, Marlie.”
She just stared at her friend. “O-kay.”
Jeff shook his head. “Your brothers are hockey players. I’m a hockey fan. But this guy is the real deal.”
Shoot. Damon had hoped to get to know Marlie without her realizing who he was.
She shrugged. “Great. He’s real. I just?—”
“He’s a professional hockey player, doofus,” Jeff growled. “Hell, he’s Will’s favorite player.”
“He is?” She looked from Jeff to Damon. “And I should care because…?”
At that, Damon laughed.
Jeff pushed Marlie back by the forehead and held out a hand to Damon. “So glad to meet you, Demon. Or Damon? Mr. Sinclair?”
Damon shook his hand. “Damon is fine. Dr.—”
“Oh, call me Jeff.” Jeff gave him a big grin before pulling away. “Man, Will is going to be so stoked to know you’re in town.”
Marlie looked confused. “What is going on here?”
“Meet the best goalie in the league, a two-time Vezina Trophy winner, and the Portland Ice Raptors’ MVP two years running.”
Damon muttered, “Three, but who’s counting?”
“Not just Most Valuable Player, but Most Favorite Player too.” Jeff nodded.
“Actually, more like most favorite player to hate.” Damon didn’t like to lie if he could help it.
“Well, yeah. But only to people who aren’t fans of the Raptors. You crush everyone who tries to score on your ice.”
