Goddamn Wilder for sending me to be the bad guy before anyone even knew I was here, for fuck’s sake.
I drew in a deep breath, preparing to project my voice across the massive distance between us. Kelly had skated to a stop at the opposite end of the rink, preparing to book it hard back across the ice again.
“Hey! Rookie!” I bellowed, hoping I didn’t startle him enough that he’d lose his balance and hurt himself.
That would be just what I needed to start off this new job.
His head snapped up, gaze meeting mine across the ice before he engaged all those hard-earned muscles to make his way back to me.
Once he made it to my side of the rink, his facial features became clear.
God-fucking-damn, he was mesmerizing for more than his hard-earned skills.
Caden Kelly was hands down the most gorgeous man I’d ever laid eyes on. His sweaty red hair shone, the harsh arena lights not lessening the stunning riot of different shades curling over his forehead and ears.
His face could have been in an art textbook thanks to his perfect features. His skin had a light dusting of freckles over a straight nose and chiseled cheekbones.
The rookie looked like he could stand to gain a couple pounds, his cheeks and jaw lacking any kind of fullness.
The only things that marred his overall perfection were the bruise-colored dark circles under his eyes and a healing gash over one of his eyebrows.
The look in his eyes made it seem as if he were in a trance. It took him a minute to shake off whatever thoughts had held him in a kind of daze.
When was the last time this guy slept? What’s he out here killing himself to prove?
I realized I’d been stunned stupid by his looks and had let an awkward silence fall between us by not introducing myself.
He stood still, breathing hard, minutely shifting from one skate to the other, waiting for me to say something.
I inwardly shook some sense back into my brain before squaring my shoulders and offering my hand.
“Good to meet you, Rookie. I’m. . .” I began, as I held my hand aloft in the air, waiting for him to take it.
“Asher Landry. Shit! I’m sorry!” He choked out the words, a look of shock on his face.
I nodded down at my hand, keen to have him shake it before the lactic acid gave me pins and needles.
Thankfully, he took the hint and put his hand in mine after haphazardly wiping it on his sweatpants.
I absolutely didnotfeel anything like an electric jolt when his rough palm pressed against mine before I released it.
Liar. Why’d you just drop his hand like it was on fire if you didn’t feel anything?
“It’s fine,” I chuckled.
His nerves were simultaneously amusing and endearing.
He seemed skittish, like the wrong word would send him flying across the ice to the opposite door.
“And you’re Caden Kelly,” I stated, putting it right out there that I knew who he was.
“Oh my god, am I in trouble? Captain Hawkins said it was fine to blow off some steam. He gave me the keys and everything, I swear.” The words spilled from Caden’s mouth before he bit his full bottom lip to physically stop himself from speaking further.
“Whoa, Rookie. Relax,” I softened my tone purposefully. “One of the maintenance staff clocked your entrance and gave Coach Wilder a heads up. He’s kind of intense about his players’ well-being, you know? So he asked me to come and check on you.”
My lowered volume had the unintended effect of having us both slide closer to each other, bringing a more intimate feeling to our interaction.
Even though I knew I should back off, I couldn’t force myself to give up those precious inches of proximity to this guy.
