Page 27

“Can you blame me?” He hooked his thumb toward Frasier and Carson as the driver pulled away from the arena.

“Do something hot—” I patted his cheek then leaned back in my seat “—and I’ll consider it.”

Boone leaned closer, lowering his voice to whisper in my ear, “I have a few ideas,” in a suggestive tone.

I laughed. “Nice try. That’s not what the Hottie of the Week is about, and you know it.”

He chuckled, but his eyes were hooded as his gaze roamed my body. “Just sayin’.”

I rolled my eyes. This wasn’t anything unusual. Boone was a flirt, and I gave him shit. It was the nature of our relationship.

Boone was hot, but I wasn’t interested in him. He was a hockey player after all. I gave him a playful shove, a subtle reminder to back off. He smirked, turning his attention toward the window as the driver slowed. Even so, I could feel his eyes watching me in the reflection as we pulled up to the restaurant.

A hostess led us to a private room, and I found myself seated between Fizzy and my teammate Steph. Carson had ended up at the opposite end of the table, but every time I glanced at him, I found him watching me. Even now, as I sipped my beer, I felt his eyes on mine. A silent question in their depths.

We were in the same room, yet we were surrounded by people. It was maddening—to be so close and seemingly so far apart. Even though we’d been talking all these months, getting to know each other, I was still surprised by the pull I felt toward him.

Dinner was loud and fun, some of my teammates comparing notes and talking shit with Carson, Frasier, and Boone. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d smiled so much, laughed so hard. It was good to be surrounded by friends who felt more like family.

After dinner ended and the check was paid, the guys had to head back to the airport to catch a flight. Their checked bags were on the team plane, and a concierge service had taken their carry-on bags to the airport so they wouldn’t have to deal with them during the game and dinner.

It had been a short visit, too short. But it had filled me up, and I’d try to hold on to that feeling until I’d get to visit LA again.

Frasier wrapped me up in another one of his famous bear hugs. “It was so good to see you, Lo. I know you’re busy with the season, but I hope you’ll come visit soon.”

“I plan to,” I said when he released me. I was hoping I could convince Coach to let me go to LA right before play-offs so I could attend the surprise baby shower Georgia was already planning.

“Good. Bryn would love to spend time with you. All of us would.”

He headed outside with a few of my teammates. Boone and Annika seemed to be competing for the same woman at the bar. I laughed, lingering, hoping for a moment alone with Carson. Our eyes caught and held, and I bit back a smile. He approached, and I didn’t want to admit it, but he looked good. One hand shoved in the pocket of his jeans, a faded baseball cap pulled low on his brow. A grin tugging at his lips.

“Hey,” he rasped.

“Hi.” I grinned.

Not long after, Boone approached, a different woman practically hanging off him. “Kovi, can you get your own ride? Unless…” He peered down at the woman with a wicked smile. He whispered something in her ear, and she giggled. “You want to join us.”

I wondered if this was something they’d done before. Something they did often. I couldn’t decide whether I was jealous or turned on. Maybe intrigued more than anything.

“Go ahead without me,” Carson said, his eyes never leaving mine. “I’ll meet you at the airport.”

“You sure?” Boone asked, but he was barely paying us any attention. The woman with him was kissing her way down his neck, practically undressing him in front of us. I lifted a hand to my mouth to cover a laugh.

“Yeah. I’m sure.”

After Boone left, Carson and I headed outside. As we stood beneath a streetlamp, the snow swirled in the night air, falling in fat flakes before melting on the pavement. I shoved my hands into my jacket pockets, wishing I’d brought some gloves.

Carson rocked on his heels, the corner of his mouth tugging upward. “This was fun.”

“It was.” I smiled, unable to stop looking at him. “Thanks for suggesting it to the league.”

“Any chance to watch good hockey on the league’s dime is a win in my book.”

I laughed. “Ah, so it wasn’t such an altruistic suggestion after all.”

“Oh, I definitely had my reasons for wanting to attend the game, and they had little to do with the league initiative.” His eyes scanned me head to toe, and I got the feeling he was no longer referring to hockey.

“Mm.” I hummed, fighting a grin. My body was buzzing, even as I told myself he was a flirt. “Really.”