“Let me take your coat.” I reach out for her puffy winter jacket, and her face lights up as our fingers brush.
“Bluebeard!” she cries out.
Right. The entire reason she came here. Not for me. It was for the cat. A reminder to keep the other thoughts locked down. The ones that have been teasing the edges of my brain all day. Even when she was chastising me, I couldn’t stop thinking about how her skin would feel under mine. Maybe this was a bad idea. Bringing her back to my place.
The cat trots over as I’m hanging up her coat. He’s arching his back, rubbing his furry little head against her leg as she strokes his soft fur. Clearly, he missed her. He’s putting on quite a show. Pretending like he’s been starved for attention from his humans. Even though he’s been getting more than his fair share of affection from all the guys since he took over the house.
“Did you miss me? I missed you. Handsome boy.” Her voice pitches up. The tough, in-control hockey captain and smooth influencer personas crumble as she speaks to the cat. But there’s no judgment in me. We’ve all gotten silly since the creature moved in. Even Lucy has softened under the pull of the kitty. Although our tough enforcer was already revealing a softer layer since he started dating my sister.
I can’t resist either, dropping to a squat beside them. He tilts his head up, stretching his lithe body toward me as I scratch him under the chin in that perfect place that gets his motor rumbling. This is why he’s become the first thing I think about when I enter the house now. Any anxieties, stress, and fears are eased by hisunquestioning affection. I’m used to praise coming with strings and conditions.
Our fingers brush as we’re loving on Bluebeard, leaving behind a frisson of warmth. Against my better judgment, I look up at her. Only a few inches separate us. Her face is soft, mouth parted, but the laughter in her eyes has shifted to something heated as if she’s feeling the same things as me. There’s a jolt deep in my core. This could be dangerous. Keeping my feelings to myself was easier when it was just me, and just physical. But if she’s feeling it too? I’m not sure my control will hold up against the magnetic pull she’s got on me. She doesn’t budge as I lean a little closer. In fact, she mimics my movement, gravitating ever so slightly closer.
“Dinner’s ready!” If anything could break the spell, it would be my sister’s voice. I draw back into myself, running an agitated hand through my hair, springing back to my feet.
She ignores the hand I hold out to help her up, glancing around the space. “Where’s the bathroom?”
I clear my throat to chase out the rust. “Second door on the right.” I point in the general direction. “I’m going to go wash my hands upstairs. Be down in a minute.”
Her nodding head is the only response I get, but it takes a hot minute to peel my eyes off her retreating back.
The splash of icy water hits my face with a shock of relief. But it gives me back a semblance of the control that was slipping through my fingers like a broken stick. I scrub every inch of my hands, lathering soap and trying to rinse the lingering feel of her off me. A second time, a third. It doesn’t quite remove the memory of her soft fingers under mine, but it eases the need enough for me to head downstairs to face her again.
Loud clattering and the sounds of a pack of feral hockey players emanate from the kitchen as Luna hovers in thedoorway. She’s unleashed her long waves, and they’re draped down her back, golden highlights catching the light.
“Hey,” I say.
Despite my soft tone, her shoulders twitch as if I’ve startled her, but she recovers quickly, turning toward me. I think it’s the first time I’ve seen her looking nervous. She’s usually so confident. Sure of herself on the ice, at the rescue, on social media. And even though she knows all the guys, and met my sister today, this is unfamiliar ground, so I get it.
She purses her lips. “Maybe I should just go home. I came here to check on Bluebeard, and he’s clearly doing well.” Her eyes trail down to find him rubbing his head against my leg. I’ve gotten so accustomed to him following me around that I’ve started taking his presence for granted. “Yeah. I think I can officially say he’s defected. Little traitor. Too bad he’s so cute or I might be mad at him.” She’s always gorgeous, but when her mouth curves up into the affectionate smile she always gives the cats, she’s more. There’s a quality to her I can’t describe because I’ve never seen it before.
“No way. Like I said. There’s always way more food than we can eat. And I could use the backup. With Lucy and my sister all wrapped up in each other, who am I left with? JJ? No, please stay. Save me from them.”
Her weight shifts from one foot to the other as she considers. “Ok. I’ll stay. Maybe I can tempt Bluebeard back over to my side.”
“Nah. Nice try. He’s all mine now.”
She slides one of those smelly tube treats from her pocket, waving it tauntingly at me. “But I have treats.”
“Penalty. Bribing the ref. Permanent suspension.”
Her laugh chimes out. “Now you’re making shit up.”
I shrug. “My house. I can make up any rules I want. Come on. Let’s go brave the real animals.”
As if to prove me right, Grant is standing at the counter shoving a soft tortilla down his throat like one of those professional eaters. “Slow down, dude. You’re going to choke.”
JJ looks up from the heap of food on his plate, talking through a mouthful of food. “He’s got plans with his girl.”
No surprise. He’s been something of a ghost around here this year. Spending more time at her house than ours. The table is still full. Lucy and my sister are engrossed in their own private conversation. But Jazz is over as well. She and Cole have been together for a little longer, so they’re less self-absorbed. Most of the time. He absently drops a kiss on her head as he places a full plate in front of her.
It’s quite a change from my first year at Lakeview. The group of single guys looking for their next hookups has evolved. Of course, some of the faces are different too, but the transition hasn’t been as hard as I initially expected. There’s something about this team, these guys. More so than any other team I’ve played for. I’m going to miss it so much.
“You okay?”
I didn’t even notice the ache in my clenched jaw or the sharp pain in the palms of my hands. But Wilder did. She’s looking at me with concern, but also like she understands. Concern I can brush off. Understanding? It makes me want to delve a little deeper. Get to know her better in return.
Our asses haven’t even hit the dining room chairs when JJ jumps all over Wilder. “So, Luna, I had this idea for a video series. Someone asks each of the players a question as they’re walking down the tunnel. You know, where did you grow up, what’s your pregame ritual, favorite sexual position, what…hey!” JJ actually looks surprised when my hand makes contact with the back of his head.
