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My stomach twists itself into knots at the reminder of what happened last night. We can't do that again. Gossip runs rampant in small towns, especially ones like Silver Spoon Falls. I don't want to be the next victim for the mill when I just moved here. Charlie and Adalynn have already been fodder. The whole town probably thinks our family is crazy. It's my job to protect us. It's what I've always done. Protect my sisters.
I slip out of Colter's arms and instantly wish I was back in them.
I am so confused. I desperately need to talk to Adalynn and Heidi. Maybe they can help me sort out why Colter gives me butterflies and scares me simultaneously.
"Go home, Colter," I whisper.
"I'm not giving up," he warns me, leaning down to press his lips to my forehead. "I'm going to keep chasing until you're ready to quit running, and then I'm making you mine, Leia."
He straightens and strides from my office, closing the door behind him.
Chapter Four
Colter
"Hey."
I glance up as Noah Diamante drops down onto the bench beside me, his dark hair still damp from the shower. "What's up?"
"You good, brother?" he asks, his obsidian eyes serious as he holds a fist out for me to bump.
"Yeah, fine."
His brows slash together, his expression making it clear he thinks I'm bullshitting him as I bump his fist. I was pissed after the game and he knows it. Not that anyone could blame me. I got booted from the game, and then I ran Leia off with my mouth. It wasn't a great night.
I felt like a dick for making her feel like a puck bunny. Actually, I was a dick for making her feel that way. She's a goddess, no doubts about it. But she's safe with me. One way or another, I'm going to convince her of that too.
"You sure?"
"Positive," I grumble, shaking my head. Noah would be in the NHL if he hadn't fucked up his knee his rookie year. It still gives him problems occasionally. Any dreams he had of playing in the majors went up in smoke. But he's settled into the AHL like it's his home. He looks out for everyone, takes care of everyone, and makes sure we all have our heads on straight. He's good people.
He jerks his chin in a nod, and then gives me a sly smirk. "Good because these fuckers are about to razz the shit out of you and I don't want you going for their throats," he mutters with a laugh. "You earned every minute of it."
"What the fuck did I do?"
He opens his mouth to answer but doesn't get a chance.
"Tentacles!" Atlas Jacks, our oversized goalie, booms, waltzing into the locker room. His green eyes light up as he rubs his hands together and then points at me. "I fucking knew you were a freaky bastard, Bayliss."
"Miles, you son of a bitch," I growl.
"That's what you did," Noah says ruefully.
I climb to my feet to grab my phone out of my locker. I'm sending a giant bag of dicks to Miles' house. The glitter bomb kind that explodes when it's opened so he's seeing glitter dicks for the rest of his life.
"I don't have a fucking tentacle kink. Miles blackmailed me." I open the locker, only for a giant damn octopus to come flying out at my face. "What the fuck?"
I leap backward, startled. The stuffed octopus falls to the floor at my feet.
Atlas howls with laughter, clinging to Jensen Sparks to keep himself upright. Even Noah laughs his ass off.
"I hate all of you," I mutter in disgust, snatching the octopus up and stuffing him back into the locker. I'm going to find Miles and kill him. Painfully.
Two hours later, I call Reid Lawless from the parking lot of Leia's office where I'm camped out. I agreed to give her space yesterday, but I never said how much space I was giving her. Especially not now that I know what story she's chasing. Bookies can be dangerous, even in a town like this.
I convinced Coach to let me out of practice after the team meeting so I could follow her today. He wasn't thrilled, but since I'm suspended anyway, it's not like missing one day on the ice is going to hurt anything. I'll make it up to him next time. He knows I will.
I would have been useless on the ice, anyway. I couldn't keep my girl off my mind long enough to focus on the meeting. She's driving me crazy and doesn't even know it. I've never pursued a woman before. I don't even know where to start with this one. But one way or another, I'm going to break down her walls and make her mine.
I keep my eyes on the doors in case she tries to leave. I fully intend to tail her if she does. There's no damn way I'm letting her chase after a bookie by herself. She may think she's a little badass, but criminals don't much care how feisty you are when you get in their way.
