I click my tongue and take a step closer to her, still holding the ribbon of her thin cotton shorts. “How so?”
She crosses her arms. “By pushing back. And flirting. And makingthoseeyes at me.”
“What eyes?” I smile, squinting.
Glaring at me, she huffs. “Matt, youknowthis isn’t a good idea.”
“Why would I know that? I happen to think the opposite,” I challenge her, wanting to close the distance between us even more. “I think it’s the best idea ever actually, you and me.”
“It would never work,” she presses. “My job. Your career. I would have to leave the organization, and I just got here. And surprisingly, I love what I get to do.”
“Working with me?”
She grins. “Exactly. As my subordinate. And if you haven’t noticed, we’re in the middle of the most important tournament with arealchance at winning.”
I shake my head. “Nope. I haven’t noticed that actually.”
“We have other things to focus on.” She pauses. “We need to get through this.”
“And then? After we win the Cup?” My heart skips a beat in my chest.
Inhaling a quick breath, she murmurs, “Then,maybewe can talk about this again.”
Her words blossom like sunshine in my body. A timeline. A goal with a clear objective. I can do that.
Reaching up, I slide my hand along her jaw, and she leans into my palm. She wants this as badly as I do. It just might not be the right timing, and that’s okay. I can wait.
“When you’re ready, Shay, I’m here.” I brush her bottom lip with my thumb, using every ounce of restraint not to claim them with mine. “Simple as that. We’ll focus on the game. We’ll win the Cup, and then I swear to God, Rooney, the first thing I’m doing after that buzzer sounds is kissing you.”
Sucking her cheek between her teeth, she nods. “If you’re lucky.”
That’s my girl, my smart-ass.
“Deal.”
It takes everything in me to pull away from her and open the door. Each step toward my room feels like I’m dragging concrete bricks behind me. But I’d do it for her a thousand times over, and then I'd do it again.
If there’s one thing the Nighthawks have forgiven in our friend group, it’s relationships that shouldn’t be allowed.
I mean, our head coach is married to Burnsy’s older sister, for fuck’s sake. Jensen’s engaged to one of our physical therapists. We’re basically pros at inappropriate relationships. What’s one more?
My task list is established, and I know exactly how to get what I want, everything I want, and I’m not going to stop until that Cup’s in the air and Shay’s by my side for good.
CHAPTER 13
SHAY
“I’m on my way back home now. Probably going to take Kyle for a walk and get a good stretch in. What are you and Dad up to?” I ask my mom.
She called me the moment I got into my car to head home from the rink. We landed back in New York, thankfully early in the morning so I have most of my day left to myself.
We beat the Patriots and only need one more win to secure our spot in the semifinals. Since my conversation with Matt in my hotel room, he’s really focused. Maybe a tad bit quieter, but even during the game, I swear he was looking at me as his coach and not whatever else I might be.
“We are going to get some groceries and then maybe stop for ice cream,” she says as my dad shouts something in the background, probably yelling at a driver, as he dislikes anyone else existing on the street. “Oh, stop it.” She laughs at him before talking to me. “You guys are getting so close. Ahh. It’s so exciting, sweetie. We are so proud of you.”
A lump forms in my throat, the backs of my eyes burning as I pull into the parking garage of my building. “Thank you.”
“Of course, honey. We always knew you would bounce back. If anything, you seem ten times stronger. You’re doing so great,”my mom coos, and I feel like a little girl, wanting to jump into her arms for the biggest hug.
