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She laughs and West shoves me. “Stop trying to suffocate my wife.”
“Dude, she’s not even your wife yet.”
Mel laughs and West drapes a protective arm across her shoulders. Something across the room catches her attention and she cups a hand around her mouth, yelling, “Noel! Come meet the guys!”
I crane my head to look at her. She’s in the kitchen talking to West’s mom. She hesitates before excusing herself and walking toward us. Her movements are graceful, they remind me of the elegant way figure skaters move. I used to watch them before hockey practices when I was a kid.
Noel gives me a tense smile when she stops in our circle, right between me and Mel. “Guys, this is my best friend, Noel,” Mel introduces her friend before gesturing to Bruce. “This is Bruce, the Eagle’s starting goalie, and an eighties music expert.”
Bruce grins and holds his large hand out to shake hers. My shoulders tense as I watch him touch her, which surprises me. I’m not a jealous guy, or possessive. But something about seeing someone else’s hand on hers makes my stomach coil.
Noel pumps his hand a few times and smiles. “I’ve heard so much about you!”
Remy is introduced next. “Remy is the team captain, and he keeps all of these guys out of trouble.”
Remy nods, agreeing with her assessment, then gives Noel’s hand a quick squeeze. Not quite a high five, but not a full handshake.
I’ll allow it.
“And this is Colby!” Mel winks at me. “Don’t let his mischievous smile fool you—this guy would drop everything for a friend in need.”
I’m touched by her words, and that she knows me this well in such a short time. Women never usually get past my face, or my income. Feeling oddly uncomfortable at my proverbial mask being briefly removed, I laugh off her comment and drape an arm around Noel’s shoulders.
“Hey, angel. We must stop meeting like this.”
She shoves out of my grasp with a roll of her eyes. When she turns her attention toward Bruce and Remy, she gives them a friendly, megawatt smile. “It’s nice officially meeting you guys!” She side-eyes me. “Most of you.”
What does a guy have to do to get one of those megawatt smiles aimed at him?
While Noel’s focus is on my teammates, I take the opportunity to check her out properly. I was hyper focused on her height and face earlier; and I’m realizing I wasn’t getting the full effect. She’s barefoot, which surprises me. I’m used to women wearing heels, and still being ten inches shorter than I am. Noel is wearing high-waisted denim shorts with gold buttons on the front, giving her the appearance of being a sexy sailor. A navy and white striped top is tucked into the little shorts, completing the simple yet classy summer outfit. My eyes dip down to her impossibly long, lean legs and I stare a few seconds too long and hear the clearing of a throat. My eyes snap up to see Dr. Woodcock herself glaring at me with her arms crossed.
Damn, I might’ve stuck it out in college a little longer if I’d have had a professor as stunning as this woman—and had I not been signed by the Eagles junior year.
My lips tug upward in a smirk, hopefully hiding my confusion. Noel is completely different from my usual type. I can’t help but wonder what it is about her that demands my attention—aside from the sexy as hell Gilligan’s Island thing she’s got going on with this outfit.
Her hair is short, probably shorter than Bruce’s, which shows off her long, elegant neck. The blonde bob is curly too, giving her an innocent quality. Her eyes are a light, golden brown. The color of honey… and halos.
Noel comes across innocent, intelligent, refined… yet she has a down-to-earth quality, too. She gives me the impression that you could take her to a Michelin star restaurant, or rollerblading, and she’d be down either way.
My attraction to her is a mystery. I’m probably drawn to the fact that she’s a challenge. I’m not used to having to pursue anyone, they always do the work for me. But not Noel.
Melanie and West’s families join our group, squeezing their way between me and Noel. West disappears for a moment and returns with personalized red hockey jerseys for all of us. They say Wesanie on the back, West and Melanie’s couple name.
We all slip our jerseys on as a delivery guy drops off a bunch of pizzas. We eat as West and Mel’s families share stories of the two growing up. I wonder what it would be like to marry your childhood crush. Mel’s brother, Harrison, who also happens to be West’s best friend, appears stiff and uncomfortable when West kisses his little sister a million times throughout the evening. Having a little sister myself, I’m sure I’ll be the same way when she grows up. But I can’t help but laugh under my breath.
I try to ignore Noel. She’s way too angelic for me. But my eyes can’t stop tracking her every move. And my body is hyper aware of her presence. When she leaves the room, I know. When she stands, I know. When she yawns, stretching her arms up over her head the way a sleepy cat would… I know. Since when does watching a girl yawn make me want to kiss her? Or take her sleepy form into my arms and put her to bed.
I shake my head, willing the thoughts away. It’s just a crush, Colby. You’ll get over it in an hour or less, I tell myself.
But I never met Laci for drinks that night.
CHAPTER 1
COLBY
THREE MONTHS AGO
It’s West’s bachelor party. Our boy wanted low-key, and that’s what he got. Only because he chose his childhood best friend, Harrison, as his best man instead of me.
