2
WAR
“War!”someone yelled again. “You have to come to the party with Cal!”
Goddammit! My jaw clenching, I ignored the scream and picked up my hockey stick, wanting to get the hell out of here before the groupies descended. The second text I’d received moments ago had already put me in a shitty mood.
I know who you are. I know what you did.
The old scar on my biceps twinged as if in response.
Feet stampeded.For fuck’s sake!I shot up my hand, stopping them dead in their tracks.
Couldn’t I have a private, goddamn minute?
Teeth gritted, I stepped back, slamming into someone behind me.
“Oof!” the groupie at my back grunted.
“Just. Stop!” I snapped, grasping the wrist of the sneaky girl, halting any bodily contact. Yeah, I was often called a cold bastard, both by my hook-ups who wanted more, and by my opposition who I rammed out of my way in a game. Right now, I wasn’t in the mood and needed to get the hell away before this situation spun any further out of my control—
“That isn’t very nice, is it Eli?” a familiar, taunting voice drawled.
My head snapped to the woman I had cuffed. Only one person persisted in calling me by my given name, to make a point.
Charli lifted a dark eyebrow, her silky, spirally locks framing her delectable, heart-shaped face. Those lush lips slowly curved in a provocative smile, but her dark eyes gleamed with annoyance.
Because I nabbed her while she’d been sneaking off without a word? Was she trying to avoid me?
The thought didn’t sit well with me.
“Yes, it’s not nice to yell, Eli Warrick, but we forgive you!” the groupies surrounding us chanted, along with the bubblegum chewing, lip-locking blonde who’d jumped me.
“So you’re coming to the party?” someone asked again.
Frustrated to my back teeth, I dragged Charli close, and they stopped dead.
“No can do,” I said coolly to the horde, my gaze locking on Charli’s startled cinnamon-brown eyes. I’d forgotten just how tiny she was until I held her against me. The top of her head just about reached my clavicle. But it felt damn good holding her. “This beautiful woman finally said yes. I’m all hers forever.”
A hush fell. Charli appeared as if I’d clocked her over the head with my hockey stick, and I barely kept from smiling. Before she made a scene, and she would, I put my arm around her shoulders and dragged her off, crossing the road to my black truck parked all by its lonesome in the quiet parking lot adjacent to the training center and overlooking the bay.
I tossed my gear in the back of the double cab, opened the passenger door, keeping her caged between the Escalade and my body. “In you go. I’ll give you a ride home.”
She finally found her voice. “What the hell, War?” She slapped her hands on my chest, using my nickname now.
“You play with fire—”
“Oh, cut the crap!” She sucked in an annoyed breath, then her eyes widened. Groaning, she palmed her face with both hands. “This is so bad. Oh, fuck me!”
I bent closer to her, letting a taunting little smile form. Whoever watched probably thought we couldn’t keep our hands off each other. “Where do you want me to?” I whispered. “On the hood, inside the cab, back at my place?”
Her hands lowered halfway to cover that tart, luscious mouth, but those pretty brown eyes blinked in confusion. “What?”
“To fuck you?”
She scowled.
I stifled a grin. “Very well, rain check, then.”
