Page 40 of The Big Puck

She huffs. “Lucky for you, I have a window. And they owe me a million vacation days. I guess it would be fun to see you in action on the bench, Mr. Big Time NHL coach.”

I laugh. She may play too many games for my liking, but she’s always been fun—and gorgeous.

“You have the address. Get to my house at seven, and I’ll be there.”

“You promise to show me a good time?”

“When you’re not working.”

She laughs. “You do know me well. That’s what I like about us. We accommodate each other’s careers.”

“Yeah.” To the point of being a second thought in each other’s lives—but I don’t want to go into that right now. We end the call, and I’m satisfied that I took this step because something has to give in our relationship.

And something has to give at home because the tension between me and Lainey is getting uncomfortably thick. Shonda’s visit should cut through it. Right down to the bone.

* * *

When I get home, I park out front because there’s a car in my driveway, and it belongs to Jason Hall. I feel the scowl down to the pit of my gut, but I can’t fault the guy for visiting his sister.

I walk in the front door and head to the kitchen, where I hear them talking. And laughing. When I get to the threshold, I stop dead. Sabien Dumas is sitting on the counter next to where Lainey is at the sink. And he’s flirting his ass off with her. What is wrong with her brother that he’s allowing this in front of his eyes? Especially after the shit he gave me about Lainey for no good fucking reason.

Krissy is in her chair at the table, and Jason is playing with her. I clear my throat and get everyone’s attention. All the fun stops. I feel like a dick, but that’s my role—coaches are dicks by definition.

“Spence, you’re home,” Lainey says, her voice and smile lighting up the kitchen like someone just opened the shades to a sunny day. She picks up a plate of cookies on her way to me, holding them out. That’s when the scent of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies floods my senses, along with the sight of her as she comes around the table, wearing a pink full-skirted sundress and a white frilly apron like she’s playing Barbie in the kitchen. “I baked. Try a cookie.”

My first instinct is to say no because it always is, but her big blue eyes, so compelling and innocent yet sexy AF, override my automatic response, and I take a cookie from the plate. But I don’t smile. I don’t even say thank you when I should because I’m a dick. Because I need to keep my distance from her and my players.

I head for Krissy and lift her from her chair because holding her in my arms right now is the best—no, only—way to feel at home right now.

“Hey, Coach,” Jason says.

“Don’t eat too many cookies, Hall.”

He laughs, takes one from the container on the table, and pops it in his mouth, the little shit.

“You’re quite the daddy,” Dumas says. I grunt. He slides off the counter.

Krissy starts fussing, and Lainey immediately comes over to take her from my arms.

“It’s Krissy’s bedtime. Say good night to everyone.” Lainey waves Krissy’s hand and takes a bottle from the warmer up the back stairs. That leaves me to entertain my players. In my home. Where I came to try and relax.

“Don’t you two have anything better to do? Like sleep.”

“Why? You want Lainey all to yourself?” Dumas says.

Jason punches him in the arm. “Watch what you say, Dumas. It’s not like that.”

He scoffs. “Like hell, it’s not. Lainey is hot, and Coach is a red-blooded man last time I—”

This time, I intervene because this kid is disrespecting me and, especially, Lainey. I move fast, getting in his space, keeping my hands to myself for the moment while towering over him. I look down at him and don’t hold back on my sneer.

“Shut your fucking mouth, Dumas. You’re in my house, and you will not disrespect Lainey—or anyone else—while you’re here.” I take a breath and keep my gaze latched onto his like a virtual chokehold until I see his Adam’s apple bob and the muscle in his jaw flicker. “Got it?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Thank you, Coach,” Jason says.

I round on him. “What the hell were you doing letting this kid flirt with your sister like that?”