Page 2

Instantly, I forget anyone else is in our orbit. I wink at her and give her a wide grin… the one I’ve been told showcases my dimples.

“Hey, angel. Mind if we come in?”

One of her light brown eyebrows raises slightly. But it’s enough to show me she has an attitude, this one.

Even better.

“Can you tell me who this cabin belongs to?” she asks, playing security guard in the sexiest way possible.

“Weston Kershaw and Melanie,” I answer.

She leans against the door frame, her brown eyes not leaving mine. “And what’s Mel’s last name?”

I shrug. “Do you need their socials and birth dates too?”

That makes her laugh. She sloughs off the door jamb and steps out of the way to allow us entrance. Honestly, for such a twiggy woman, she makes an excellent bouncer.

I hold her gaze as I allow the other guys to walk into the house, and then slowly walk past her myself. I allow my eyes to blatantly dip down her body and she blushes fiercely. Feisty and shy? She’s my dream woman.

I stop once I’m inside the house and standing right in front of her, jutting one hand out in front of her waist. “Colby Knight.”

She reluctantly pushes her long, slender fingers into mine and shakes. “Noel Woodcock.”

My saliva, probably accumulated from drooling over her, catches in my throat. “I’m sorry, Noel Wood… what?”

She straightens her spine and releases my hand. “I said,” She clears her throat dramatically. “Noel Woodcock. Dr. Woodcock, please.”

I choke again. “Dr. Woodcock…?”

Those amber eyes are deadly as she fixes me with a look that is both scathing and ridiculously sexy. “You’re quite mature, I can tell.” She turns on a heel and starts to walk away.

I follow her the way an eager puppy would, waiting for attention. “So, how do you know West and Mel?”

“I’m Mel’s best friend, we met at college. And now we’re roommates.” She keeps walking as she speaks, not even sparing a glance at me over her angular shoulder.

Stopping abruptly, she turns toward me… causing her chest to bump into mine. She’s tall, not nearly as tall as me. But taller than most women. The perfect height to kiss without having to crane my neck too much.

She studies me, holding my gaze intensely. “How do you know West and Mel?”

I grin. “I’m West’s teammate.”

Her face instantly falls. “You’re a hockey player?”

“Yeah, angel. At your service.” I dip my head in a bow.

“Oh,” she says, looking me over and then turning away.

I stare after her, stupefied. What did I do wrong? Women have rarely rejected me… and I’ve certainly never gotten that reaction after admitting to being a pro athlete. Women usually eat that up.

But something tells me Noel—sorry, Dr. Woodcock—isn’t a typical woman.

West’s voice draws my attention from across the room. I peek over in the direction of his voice and find West beaming with one arm around his new-fiancée’s waist. Bruce and Remy are beside them, Bruce is chatting animatedly, and Remy has a pleasant smile on his face. I assume they’re congratulating the newly engaged couple. I realize I’m in the center of the open concept living, dining, and kitchen area and everyone is staring at me. But I was too focused on the blonde to even notice anyone else.

I take three giant steps past the dozen other people in the room, probably West and Mel’s family members, toward the couple and pull them both into a bear hug. “Congratulations, you two!”

“Colby,” Mel chokes out, her face somewhere in my armpit.

Unlike Noel, Mel is petite, minuscule, really. West towers over her, as do I. I pull away, allowing her room to breathe. “Sorry, Mel.”