Page 26 of Holding Penalty

My gaze scans over the rest of the guys, and I’m taken aback to see that their expressions match what Vaughn just said.

“No, guys, forget it. It’s my problem. You go home and get some rest.”

“Fuck that,” Noah pipes up. “Vaughn’s right. We’re a team, on the ice and off.”

“For sure,” Hayden agrees. “Besides, after we save the day for you, Vaughn might find himself on a streak of altruism and agree to be my date partner.”

“Even though you assholes have never rallied to clean up after one of my scandals, I’m in, too,” Adriano says.

“That’s because you get off on driving Ines insane when she has to clean up after you,” Cooper says, referring to a woman on the Alligators PR staff who’s constantly butting heads with Adriano over his off-the-ice shenanigans.

Adriano smirks. “Fair enough.”

“Let’s get to it, boys,” Cooper says, using his captain’s voice.

“Yeah! All for one and one for all!” Hayden puts out his hand like he’s expecting us all to pile ours on top of his for a cheer.

Instead, we just walk to the parking lot, talking as we head to our cars about which areas of the city each of us should cover.

“Damn, way to leave a guy hanging,” Hayden mumbles as he catches up.

11

NASH

Acouple hours later, we’re pretty sure we’ve bought up every copy of the Austin Observer in the city.

Adriano, with his almost-scary knowledge of how the paparazzi scene works here in Austin, tells me that the Observer never sticks to any one story for longer than a day, so I should be in the clear.

I thanked the guys, and now they’re driving home, which they should have been doing hours ago. The feeling of gratitude has an unexpected pressure swelling behind my chest. They’re good guys. I’ve never been on a team where the players would drop everything without hesitation and help one of their teammates like that. If I ever have the chance to repay the favor, I will.

I’m still in Austin. Sitting in my truck, in the parking lot of the bakery where Piper works. She mentioned the name of it the other night.

Piper should know what happened. Even though we were able to keep this thing from breaking containment, she should be informed.

Am I using this as an excuse to see if that fucker Crew’s ring is still on her finger?

No way. Of course not.

I do feel a little creepy and stalkerish just sitting here in my truck in the parking lot, a couple minutes after the bakery’s closing time. But I want to catch her as she’s leaving work. I don’t want to go inside with a copy of the paper to show her, because I don’t want a coworker of hers to see and Piper to get embarrassed.

When I spot Piper exiting the bakery, my heart does something I’d rather ignore.

I grab one copy of the stack of papers sitting next to me on the passenger seat and step out of the truck.

Piper catches sight of me as I approach her, and her brows pop. “Nash?”

I can’t help it: my eyes go right to her left hand. The ring is still there. My jaw muscles tick. When I feel the scowl forming on my face, I shake it off. This isn’t what I’m here to talk to her about.

But damn, she looks good today. Her hair is in a messy bun, and she’s still wearing her apron, though it’s untied in the back and hangs loosely down her front. It’s as informal as a look can be, and miles away from the jaw-dropping dress she wore on the night I picked her up, but something about it makes my blood pump hot.

“Hi, Piper.” I clear my throat. “I thought I should let you know about this.” I nod to the tabloid paper in my hand. “Before you see, just know that I took care of it. These aren’t in circulation anymore, so don’t worry.”

Understandably, worry is exactly what splashes on her eyes as her forehead furrows. “What are you talking about?”

“This.” I show her the front page.

Her eyelids retract, her pink lips forming a surprised circle.