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Yeah…I don’t think so.
I’m more than aware of Garret Akeman’s manwhore rep on campus. I’m not looking to be added to his long list of conquests. Plus, I’ve always made a point to steer clear of the hockey players. Actually, I try to avoid most of the athletes at Western. I don’t need any gossip getting back to Mav.
From the corner of my eye, I catch sight of a brawny figure shoving his way through the crowd. My head swivels in that direction, only to find Ryder. Most people are smart enough to scurry out of his way. The guy is like a locomotive barreling down the tracks. His eyes are narrowed, and his lips are pressed together in a thin slash as a muscle in his tightly clenched jaw tics a mad rhythm.
Smoke practically billows from his ears.
Huh.
What’s his deal?
Before I can open my mouth to ask what the issue is, he snakes an arm around my shoulders and hauls me against him. A squeak of surprise escapes from me as I’m pressed against all that chiseled strength. My heart flip flops painfully in my chest, and my mouth turns cottony.
The beachy scent of his cologne is almost enough to weaken my knees.
When was the last time I stood this close to Ryder?
I rack my brain for a second or two but come up empty.
Probably never.
It’s tempting to turn my face and inhale a giant breath of him. Shaking those disturbing thoughts loose takes effort. I glance at Ryder, only to find him glaring at Garret.
The other guy cocks a brow. “Is there something you needed, McAdams?”
Ryder’s arm tightens, pressing me even closer. “You know this is McKinnon’s sister, right?”
The other guy keeps his gaze steadily trained on his teammate as he brings a bottle of beer to his lips before saying, “I’m aware of who she is.”
The flirty tone he’d been using is now long gone, and I get the feeling these two don’t like each other very much.
“Then why don’t you do us both a favor and stop hitting on her?” Ryder growls.
“Who the fuck are you? Her protector?” His gaze slices to mine before it drops, crawling down my length before flicking upward again. “She looks old enough to make her own decisions, don’t you think?”
Even though the people surrounding us are all laughing and drinking, the tension between these two has ratcheted up, turning thick and oppressive. It wouldn’t take much for it to explode.
“I’m a friend, and what she doesn’t need is to get tangled up with you. Or any of the guys on the team,” he adds, expression turning fierce. “Understand, Akeman?”
Instead of responding, Garret dismisses him before turning his attention to me. His voice softens, once again becoming seductive. “How about we get out of here and go somewhere quiet where we can get to know each other better?” A slow smile slides across his handsome face. “Would you like that, sweetheart?”
My brows shoot up.
Sweetheart?
Um, no thanks.
What’s become apparent from our five-minute interaction is that Garret Akeman knows how to turn on and off the charm. He also doesn’t follow bro code. None of Mav’s friends or teammates have ever hit on me. The fact that he has no problem doing it says a lot about the type of guy he is.
Just as I open my mouth to tell him I’m not interested, Ryder beats me to the punch.
“No, she wouldn’t. Now get lost.”
The other guy straightens to his full height, which is still a couple inches shorter than Ryder’s six-three.
Garret’s voice turns steely as his upper lip curls. “Did I fucking ask you?”
Oh shit.
