Six
Roxie
Holy shit, I felt powerful.
Generally, I wasn’t combative, especially when it came to someone I was working closely with. There was just something about the way Coach Hayes had walked in at the end all cocky and stubborn, like me being there was the worst thing to ever happen to him or his team, rubbed me the wrong way.
He could hate me all he wanted, but what I said was absolutely true. My paychecks were signed, my terms had been accepted, and I wasn’t going to pretend otherwise just to stroke his fragile ego.
Man, was it fragile.
Coach Hayes officially had it out for me, and unfortunately for him, that changed nothing.
I just hadn’t expected the welcome to be quite so hostile. Hayes and I were literally going to spend months together. He was making it awkward and we had barely spoken.
As I wrapped up the introductions and walked out of the room, leaving him to look his team in the eye after being such a fucking asshole, I instinctively pulled out my phone and typed out a long message to Rylan giving him the update.
There were already three texts waiting for me asking how it was going and sending me memes just in case. After our date I was already set on making him mine. I was just waiting for him to make the move.
“Hey, Roxie, wait up,” one of the players called out as he rushed forward, stopping a few feet away. His gym bag was slung over one shoulder and he had a lopsided smile on his face. He reminded me of a golden retriever with his hopeful eyes and endearing smile.
He was also hot as fuck. The delta was fit with thick, muscled thighs and I just knew his ass was impeccable without even seeing it yet.
His hair was dark and messy, just brushing over his ears and gelled back. He had hazel eyes that seemed to cut right through me, studying me right back.
“I’m really sorry about all that,” he said quickly. “It was out of line.”
“It was,” I agreed, offering him a smile in return. “He’s not the first alphahole I’ve met, and he certainly won’t be the last.”
“Well, not all of us are douchebags.”
“Oh really?” I teased, unable to stop myself. He was a flirt and so was I.
Then he stepped forward, and the full brunt of his scent hit me.
It was unexpected enough that I nearly choked.
Pecan, maple, lemon zest, and fresh buttery pastry had my eyelids fluttering as I breathed it in. I swear every delta had that electrified quality to their scent, but his was the first where I gothit with an electric burst of lemon zest. It was acidic with just enough bitterness to round out the rest of his sticky sweet scent.
Fuck, it was decadent. I wanted to sink my teeth into it.
“Oh fuck,” I ground out, unable to stop myself.
For the first time, his smile faltered, and I could see the vulnerability in his eyes mixed with the same surge of desire I felt moments ago.
Then a cold wave washed through me. I was still trying to get Rylan on board and then this happened. He was going to freak the fuck out.
And this man was my worst fear. A hockey player. That wasn’t something I could tie myself down to.
“We’re scent-matches,” he said, those pretty, almond shaped eyes widening with shock.
“I noticed,” I managed to respond despite my hands now shaking.
“Why do you look like that’s the worst thing that could’ve happened to you?” he questioned, head tilting to the side.
It was refreshing how open and willing he was to talk about it.
“It’s not exactly you. It’s more what you represent,” I said, realizing just how fucking crazy it sounded. “I just… I don’t date hockey players.”
