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She’s sexy without even trying. Her smile is easy as she greets the team, clearly happy to be here. She’s naturally graceful on her skates, and I can’t help it—a woman who is at ease and happy to be on the ice will always be attractive to me.

She’s dressed in fitted leggings and a short, fitted jacket so that she can move without restriction. The stretchy material hugs her petite, trim body, and my palms itch as I remember how it felt to hold her hand and rest it on her waist as we danced yesterday.

Her hair is pulled up in a high ponytail, and I’m not close enough to tell, but I already know that she’s wearing little to no makeup, and yet her cheeks will be pink, her blue eyes ringed with long lashes, and her lips a lush, kissable blush color.

I should be avoiding her because of the man next to me.

Instead, I’m already planning to be at my house tomorrow over lunch so that I can line dance with her and Brewser in my living room.

I glance at Beckett and realize I only feel slightly guilty about almost kissing his sister yesterday.

Beckett and I skate over to join everyone.

“So we need two new dances for penalties,” Sutton is saying. “And I have a new idea for a tiebreaker.”

As we join the group, she catches my eye and gives me a little smile, which I return. It’s a tiny exchange that I doubt anyone else even notices, but I feel a kick in my gut.

“Everyone loves the tiebreakers,” Zeke says. “What are you thinking?”

“Well, first, we need a new rivalry,” Sutton says.

There’s a beat, and then JD asks, “You mean instead of Beckett and Lawson?”

She nods happily.

Everyone looks at one another. “Can you just invent rivalry?” Ingrid asks.

JD chuckles. “Well, we’ve invented everything else about this game.”

Everyone laughs.

“Exactly,” Sutton says.

“But we didn’t invent the rivalry between Beckett and Lawson,” Hudson points out. “That’s natural.”

“But it’s getting better. It’s not even really real anymore,” Sutton says, waving her hand as if brushing that away. “Plus, it’s kind of old and boring. Let’s get something new going.”

Everyone looks over at Beckett and me.

“You guys are getting along a lot better,” Alex says. “Is the rivalry officially over?”

Wow, putting us on the spot like this is unexpected. Are Beckett and I ready to state for the record that we’re becoming friends?

I open my mouth, but Beckett says, “Yeah, we’re good. It’s obvious the team is doing better since we’re getting along. We both have the right goals in mind, and we’re focused on putting the Revelers and Rascals and what this hockey league means to Rebel ahead of anything between the two of us.” He looks at me. “Right?”

I can tell he’s being sincere and not trying to put me on the spot to make me uncomfortable or force me into agreeing to something that’s not legit.

We have both settled into our roles with the team, and I think we understand one another better and have come to a place where we consider each other teammates and maybe even friends. Eventually. Possibly.

I glance at Sutton.

If I can keep from kissing his sister.

Right now, I have to nod. “Yeah, agreed. The team is the most important thing.”

And I do mean that. But I can’t help my eyes again drifting to the sweet blonde who could make me make some problematic choices.

She’s watching us with a smile, though, clearly happy that Beckett and I are getting along.