“Just a bunch of jocks,” Levon teases me, taking my hand to walk beside him. Guess it’s now or never. In just the time that I’ve been standing with Levon, the house has filled up. “For real, Rhett. Let her warm up to everyone. I mean it.”
The hockey player gives me a nod, looking curious.
“Why do I feel like I know you?” Rhett asks, making me cringe slightly.
I really hope that this isn’t going to turn into a fight with the coach about why he’s sleeping with the “enemy.”
“I’m Curtis Freedman’s daughter,” I reply. “He’s the?—”
“The Dragons’ coach, that’s right!” Rhett exclaims. “Well, let’s get you outside so that our coach doesn’t hand me my ass, huh?”
I sneak Levon a glance and he just winks at me as he leads me outside.
“Miles!” Levon yells. “Look who I found?”
Miles is wearing an apron now over his dark blue short sleeved shirt and shorts. He looks comfortable as everyone lounges around talking, and a few of the guys are already in the pool.
“Are you hungry?” he asks. “I’m going to hand this off to one of the assistant coaches to watch the food while I introduce you to everyone. However, I’d like for you to eat first.”
“The guys are cool, but we don’t want your anxiety to keep you from having an appetite,” Levon says gently.
“What about everyone else?” I ask weakly, though my stomach does rumble.
“They can wait, or get it theirdamnselves,” Miles grunts, grabbing a plate and loading it up for me.
The salad is suspiciously already on the plate he grabs, which means that my alphas are all working together to ensure that I eat. What can I say? They’re not wrong.
When there’s a lot of things going on, I tend to forget about myself and what I need until I’m having a panic attack or my sugar is crashing.
“I smell a conspiracy,” I mutter, though I am smiling as Miles’ hand guides me away from Levon to the covered patio away from the smell of the grill.
“Yes, now open,” he says, putting food on the fork. People glance over at us at his words, and my cheeks heat with embarrassment as my lips part to take the bite he places between them.
“Coach,” an alpha female says, stopping in front of us at the table we’re sitting at.
“Marilyn, didn’t I forget to invite you?” Miles grumbles.
“Yes, but I did hear about your little get together, and you’ve been avoiding me,” she says.
“It’s not avoidance if I’ve been out of town,” he corrects.
“Maybe, but you’re robbing me of the experience of matchmaking, which means that you’re going to need to make it up to me,” Marilyn says with a grin.
I don’t know how she’s not warm in her professional checkered dress, but even her makeup is perfect.
“You make me crazy,” Miles mutters. “Marilyn, this is Caelia Freedman, my omega. Caelia, this is the Scented Scorpion’s public relations manager, Marilyn Mansfield.”
Since I knew who she was once he said her name, I can tell that he is giving me the formal introduction for etiquette purposes.
Thankfully, I’m no longer chewing and can give her a small smile. “Hi, it’s nice to meet you.”
“It’s wonderful to meet you!” Marilyn says excitedly. “Coach, you know what this means, don’t you?”
“That you’ll finally leave Levon and Santo alone?” he asks. “We’re a pack now, no it won’t affect how much of an asshole I am to Levon on the ice, and yes he’s going to Human Resources tomorrow morning to tell them about the development. Did I miss anything?”
“Yes, I need my marketing opportunities, Coach. Caelia do you like kids or pets?”
Wide eyed, I pick up a piece of meat and pop it into my mouth so I won’t be able to talk. Miles’ warm hand sits on my crossed legs, and he begins to pull the material of my skirt up with his fingers. Smooth and sneaky.
