Page 27 of Risking the Pucking Defense

Before he has a chance to say anything, I pull the door open and dart into the hallway, not considering that someone could be out there.

Thankfully, luck is on my side, and as I race toward the elevator, no one appears in either direction, and I make it back to my own room without running into anyone.

“Fucking hell,” I hiss as I fall back against my closed door, my heart racing as if I just ran a marathon.

What the fuck were you thinking?

Shaking my head, I push from the door and march toward the bed, or more specifically, my cell.

“Shit, it’s early,” I mutter when I see the time. No wonder the hallways were deserted.

I scroll through my notifications before throwing it back on the bed in frustration.

I’m irritated with myself, but also, deep down, I know I did the right thing last night. I just fear that I may have done the very opposite this morning.

With a groan, I take myself to the bathroom for a shower. I smell like a hockey player. But not a disgusting, sweaty one that I’m quite often around.

A hot one.

Fuck.

I clip the length of my braid up—I’ll deal with my hair at home—before stripping off and stepping under the hot spray.

My stomach growls, reminding me that I didn’t stop by the buffet last night as I fled the room. Instead, my dinner consisted of a late-night hot chocolate.

Everyone is meeting in the restaurant this morning for breakfast. I told Parker that I’d be there, but right now, it’s the last thing I want to do.

What if Hayden tells them? I can’t…I can’t be known as the PR director who gets into bed with one of our rookies. I just can’t.

Placing my hands on the cool tiles, I hang my head as the regrets pile up.

You did the right thing.

He needed someone last night, and you were there for him.

It’s not my job, though. He has friends and teammates who could have done that.

They weren’t there. You were.

“Fuuuuuck.”

I’m still a mess almost two hours later when I walk into the restaurant. As much as I tried to talk myself out of it, I couldn’t leave when I knew they were expecting me.

“Good morning,” I sing, putting as much pep into my voice as I can when I greet Parker and Linc. “Did you have a good night?”

“Best night of her life, obviously,” Linc deadpans.

“Wasn’t quite what I was going for, Storm,” I mutter as Parker elbows him in the side.

“We did, thank you. Go and take a seat. There are servers taking orders.”

I take two steps before Linc greets their next guest. “Marilyn,” he barks. “Where the fuck did you get to last night?”

I don’t hang around long enough to hear Hayden’s reply. Instead, I walk toward a table as fast as I can, hoping like hell he doesn’t follow me.

“Is everything okay?” a familiar voice asks as soon as my ass hits a seat. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“Yeah, everything’s great,” I say in a rush, refusing to look at Bea. How I managed to pick a table that she was sitting at without even looking pretty much sums up how today is going.