Anna frowned. “Excuse me…am I the atomic bomb in the equation?”
“Yes,” Fox snapped. “Problem with that?”
“Oh, no, not at all,” she quickly backpedaled, unable to suppress a smile. “If I have to be a bomb, then I definitely want to be the most powerful of them all.”
“That’s not funny,” Fox growled.
“A little. But Lucas is right: It’s really not so bad.”
“Yeah, well, that ball is in my court now,” Fox replied coolly. “So, how long has this been going on between you two?”
Lucas remained silent.
Anna said, “Um…”
“How long?” He fixed Lucas with a steely glare. “Since she started working for us? A few weeks ago?”
Lucas didn’t respond.
“Longer than that?” Fox went on incredulously — apparently, Anna wasn’t the only one who could read Lucas’ body language.
“Since June,” Lucas said roughly.
“June?” The captain’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What the hell? Anna isher?”
“Her?” Anna asked, irritated. “Why does everyone emphasize that word?”
Austin ignored her. “Shit, are you in a relationship?”
“No!” Anna and Lucas shouted simultaneously.
“Then what?”
She sighed. “It’s purely physical, Austin.”
“This is getting worse and worse,” he cried out, horrified. “If Moreau married you tomorrow, maybe we could salvage something, but…”
Anna snorted. “Now hold your horses. You’re both such hypocrites! So are Dax and Jack. They can’t criticize me at all. They only became hockey players becausescrewing aroundisn’t a recognized competitive sport.”
“So, I should just tell them, right?” Fox asked stonily. “If they can’t criticize you? Hey, Temple, West, do you know who your baby sister is screwing in her free time?”
Anna’s face flushed and her stomach clenched. “Um, well…”
“Uh-huh, exactly,” he replied angrily. “God, I hate secrets! I hate all this love affair and romance crap that’s currently got the team running in circles. Why can’t you all just keep your hands to yourselves? Or date therightwomen? It’s not that hard. I manage!”
“You haven’t dated at all in years, Fox,” Lucas remarked matter-of-factly.
“Yeah! And I’m better off because I’m not going to be murdered by Dax Temple and Jack West! God, andyougot the damn Innocent Cup!”
“You’re welcome to it,” Lucas replied, unfazed.
“Moreau!”
“Okay, you know what?” Anna interrupted. “This is getting too uncomfortable for me. You two don’t seem to need me here at all. And I – as a responsible atomic bomb – better get out of here before I explode. Say hi to Melody, okay?” She nodded atLucas, and before anyone could stop her, she slipped into the hallway.
If she wanted to listen to two hockey players argue, she’d let it slip in front of Jack and Dax that a center was more important than a winger.
She’d just reached the door when she remembered she still had to return Lucas’ key, the one Hazel had given her. She turned around…as Austin’s voice wafted in from the living room.
