Page 65 of Risking the Pucking Defense

Brooke is flitting around the room, her new intern hot on her heels like an eager puppy, and Jude is currently talking to a couple of our retired players who have come out to support us tonight.

Tonight’s event is always a fantastic way to bring everyone together before the craziness of the season starts. It’s such a great way to reconnect with friends, colleagues, and some of our biggest supporters.

I don’t mean to search for him, but I’m hardly surprised when my eyes land on Hayden standing at the bar surrounded by his friends.

I’ve kept a close eye on him this week, and every time I’ve searched him out, I’ve been delighted to see that he’s being taken care of. I’ve always known that we have a fantastic group of guys, but watching them rally around him, making sure that he’s okay, it really goes to prove just what a good job our GM has done with selecting our players, and then Coach and his assistants with bringing them together and creating the family we see building each other up on a daily basis.

When he throws his head back and laughs at something Bea says, my heart beats a little easier knowing that he’s okay, but also, my stomach knots. I shouldn’t want to be the one to make him laugh like that, but it’s getting harder and harder to deny that I do.

When he asked me to dinner the other night, an answer I really shouldn’t have given was dancing right on the tip of my tongue. If someone hadn’t chosen that exact moment to beckon Hayden into the dressing room and remind him that he already had plans, I’m not sure what would have come out of my mouth.

It was for the best.

He needs to spend time with his friends.

And I…I need to focus on my job and stop thinking about him.

If only that were possible.

I know he’s seen me tonight. I’ve caught him looking more than once. And each time, my heart rate picks up and my temperature spikes. And it only gets worse when he lets his eyes drop down my body.

It’s the dress’s fault. Which, of course, is Bea’s fault.

If she hadn’t made me try it on, I wouldn’t have fallen in love with it.

And okay, it’s Hayden’s fault too. The memory of the way he gawped at me in that bikini meant that when I stood at my closet earlier tonight, I couldn’t convince myself to wear anything else. I wanted to feel like that again. Desired, sexy, wanted.

They’re feelings that I’ve convinced myself I haven’t needed for years. But one taste of them, and I’m like a fucking junkie needing my next fix. I’m pretty sure the high I got from that single look alone is better than any drug can provide.

As if he can feel my attention, he glances over.

I tell myself to look away, but I can’t. His eyes capture mine, and no amount of inner strength is enough to drag me away.

My heart jumps into my throat when he leans closer to Bea and whispers something in her ear before slipping away.

She looks up and immediately finds me watching them.

“Shit,” I hiss, spinning away and doing a lap of the room, resulting in me being pulled into numerous conversations.

I breathe a sigh of relief when I finally come to a stop beside Reese, the mastermind behind this whole operation, and her husband, our team captain, Fletcher Ferguson.

“This is incredible, as always,” I say, raising my glass to her.

“Ah, I can’t take all the credit this year. Harlow planned most of it,” she says, mentioning her assistant, who missed last year’s event due to being on maternity leave.

“Well, it’s amazing. You and your team should be proud of yourselves.”

“I’ll drink to that,” Fletch says, gazing at his wife like she’s the most amazing person on the planet.

My heart thumps against my ribs at the sight.

We chat for a few minutes before they’re called away. I take the opportunity before the food is served to duck out of the room.

I’m walking toward the restroom when a very stressed-looking Harlow races toward me.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” I ask, stopping her in her tracks.

“Have you seen an iPad anywhere?”