Great. I got sent to the penalty box during a charity game.
14
CONNOR
Briggs sits on a sofa in one of the spare offices, with a yellow Lab puppy on his lap as he attempts to be the peacemaker after the game.
“Seriously, it may be the off-season, but if our captain or coach were here, then you two would be dead. What kind of shitty sportsmanship was that out there?” Briggs continues to lecture us as he continues to stroke the puppy.
“Dude, are you seriously going to keep that puppy on your lap as you attempt to get us to listen?” I point out the obvious as I adjust the ice pack on my shoulder and lean into the lounger.
He doesn’t stop. “Yep. This fluffball is like therapy. We should totally get a team dog.”
“Well, why don’t we have Connor ask his uncle since we know he has the connections,” Shawn throws out the shade as he touches his roughed-up arm.
“Fuck you, man, I earned my spot.”
“He kind of did. We need his skills,” my friend says, supporting me.
Shawn looks between us, completely unamused.
“Don’t say anything about my wife, and then we won’t have any future problems,” I suggest.
“Fine. But you realize I could say she’s standing over there in a turtleneck and you would lose it. You are so fucking whipped it’s unbelievable. You better get it together before next season or I will have no problem highlighting to the press about your Vegas accident, considering they are all shipping your romance as if it was years in the making.”
“Go ahead. We’ll be the proof that you’re lying, you’ll see,” I promise.
Right on cue, there is a knock on the door and Hadley peeks in. “Sorry to interrupt, I came to check on my husband.”
Hearing her say husband, meaning me, is good. I’m already used to it.
Shawn shakes his head and stands. “You know, it doesn’t matter if you have a ring on her finger, you would have ended up in the penalty box for her even before.” He walks out, giving Hadley a fake smile.
“He might have a point,” Briggs adds before he too leaves.
Hadley patiently waits for them to exit before closing the door behind her. She approaches me with caution, reaching out and debating if she should touch my shoulder when I stand.
“You ended up in the penalty box during a charity game for puppies,” she states the obvious, with underlying amusement in her tone. “Was it because…”
I peer down at her as I adjust the ice pack, but she takes over with her hands and holds it just right. “Doesn’t matter.”
“Kind of does. Besides, Briggs already texted Isla about why you went berserk out there, so I know.”
I shake my head gently. Of course he did. “Siblings.”
“Want to know a secret that I really hate to admit?” She moves so she is squared off with me, our middles flush and her voice raspy.
I’m fully invested to discover her secrets. “Go on.”
“I don’t condone violence in any shape or form… but knowing you were maybe defending my honor slightly, then well...” She kisses my cheek. Who does that? The woman who knows any touch can send a man spiraling, that’s who. “It’s kind of hot,” her voice husks.
“Oh yeah?” My voice is mixed with desire, because her saying that motivates both my heart and cock.
I should kiss her, but her eyes twinkle in a way they did the other night, with adventure and chance glazing her eyes. I should let her lead this moment.
“I’m being cautious,” she states softly, with vulnerability seeping into her voice.
“As in?”
