Page 5 of Three Hockey Hotties

Her cheeks now match her sweater.

I go on before she can respond. “And helping people learn about and love hockey is one of my favorite things in the world.”

She presses her lips together, then nods. “I like you too. So far anyway.”

I chuckle. “Is that a yes, that you’ll let me teach you about hockey?”

She takes a breath but still seems hesitant.

I reluctantly let go of her hand to reach into my pocket for my phone and swipe across the screen pulling up my page on the team website. I turn it to face her. “I’m legit. Not a serial killer. No criminal record at all.”

She peers at the page then looks up at me.

“You said a couple of guys? Who else?”

Grinning, I swipe to Dash’s page. “My best friend,” I say, showing her. Her eyes scan my phone screen, and I see them widen slightly.

Dash looks grumpy as hell in his photo. He’s a goalie, so he has to look mean. His full beard and huge body add to the effect. But he’s a teddy bear.

Still, I think I’ll let Abby find that out for herself. That could be really fun.

“What do you say?” I ask.

Before she can respond, her phone chimes with a text. Frowning, she pulls it out then her face falls. “Oh my God,” she says.

Instantly, I step closer, that urge to comfort and take care of her surging through me again. “What’s wrong?”

She sighs. “My coworkers aren’t here,” she says. “They’re, uh…not coming.”

“Is there a problem?”

“Yeah.” She gives me the most adorable, abashed look when she says, “I’m here on the wrong day.”

I don’t even have a chance to fight the urge. My hand is up and cupping her face before I even think about it.

“It’s okay, Lollipop. That’s not a problem at all. Just means I get to keep you all to myself.”

She swallows hard. “Lollipop?”

I grin. “Yep. Pink. Sweet.” I let my voice get a little gruffer. “I’m guessing delicious.”

This is the pinkest her cheeks have been.

But holy shit…I finally get a smile. A full curl of her lips that nearly sends me to my knees.

“You’re…a lot,” she tells me.

I nod. “Yep.”

Her tongue darts out and she wets her bottom lip. “Okay, yes.”

I have so many questions I want her to say yes to: Can I kiss you? Can I put you up against my locker and make you scream my name? Can I take you home and keep you? Will you marry me?

She must sense that something crazy is spinning through my head because she clarifies, “Yes, you can teach me about hockey.”

Right. Hockey. Got it. “Great.”

Her smile grows and…fuck, I’m a goner.