Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 109176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
“Cute,” he mocks before turning toward Hudson. “I said I’m fine.”
“Very well. I’ll be back.” I walk off in the opposite direction, making sure to swing my ass and give the boys a view.
There. Take that.
One point to me. Once I’m in the back, I find the stash of water and then return. The moment Hudson sees me, he smirks, skating over to where I am. I walk to the edge of the ice and hand him the bottle.
From the corner of my eye, I watch as Dane skates around the ice.
He is so gorgeous. No one should be that handsome.
With his helmet on, I can’t see his hair, but I can see his jawline. Damn, he’s like a Greek god.
Poseidon.
Technically, Boreas is the god of ice, but Dane Sinclair is not cruel enough for that moniker. No, I prefer Poseidon, grumpy by nature but not outright evil. Plus, he has a trident.
Too bad he’s off-limits and an ass.
Sperm donor’s number one rule. No dating my daughter. Okay, he didn’t say date. He said no anything with my daughter. A wide net was thrown on what these guys can’t do with me.
I stare ahead, wondering if there’s any way around that rule, when I hear Laurie.
“Josie! Need help.”
“Coming,” I shout back, pulling my gaze away from the ice and ignoring Hudson.
I head to where Laurie is, and she’s holding a stack of towels.
“We’re short-staffed, and the guy who usually puts these in the locker room isn’t here.” She reaches out, and I raise my arms to grab them. “Do me a favor and bring these to the locker room; it’s empty now, so it’s a good time.”
I nod and head toward the locker room of the training facility. Looking around, I clock a table and place them down on it. I’m not sure where they’re supposed to go, but seeing as this isn’t actually my job, it will do.
“That’s not where they go.” Dane’s gravelly voice takes me by surprise.
“What are you doing here?”
What is he doing here? Wasn’t he just skating on the ice?
My heart rattles in my chest. Did he come here for me? I can feel the apple of my cheeks warming at the thought.
“That’s none of your business,” he practically growls.
“Your personality, maybe?”
His head tips in question.
“That’s what you must be looking for since you obviously can’t find it.”
Nothing. Not a smile. Not a laugh. This man is wound up tighter than a broken clock.
The night I spent with him, he was moody, grumpy even, but this is next level.
Is it me? My presence.
No.
This is more. This is him, but for a second that night, he wasn’t like this.
God, he was beautiful when he laughed.
An idea pops into my head, something to make him smile.
I hop up onto the bench.
“What are you doing?”
“Since I can’t do this job right, I guess it’s back to the tightrope,” I tell him while I place one foot in front of the other, moving slowly. I try to balance. It’s a narrow bench, and I can feel myself slipping.
“Stop.”
“No. Since the last time I saw you, I’ve done research. This is my calling. If you walk in a straight line—”
“You’re going to fall.”
“Then help me,” I challenge.
“No.”
I place my hands out by my side. My foot slips a little, but I don’t have to worry about falling because Dane crosses the small space with lightning-fast reflexes.
His one hand wraps around my upper arm, while his other holds my waist.
I turn my head, and my pulse accelerates.
Our faces are so close that I can see the small ring of green surrounding his blue eyes.
Wow.
I never noticed that before, but how could I? It was dark that night.
“Get down,” he grits out, his jaw locking after.
“Lighten up, hockey. I’m just having fun.”
“That’s your problem. You can’t take anything seriously. You’re acting like a child.”
I blink, and my mouth parts on a quick inhale of breath.
The only person in my life who has ever had the ability to make me feel small is my mom, yet here’s Dane, doing a damn good job of it.
I hop off and then scurry away. Not wanting him to see the embarrassment I’m trying desperately to hide.
Once out in the hall, I let out a breath, slumping against the wall and trying to hold back the tears welling in my eyes. It’s not about him; it’s about me. About this place and everything it stands for.
I’m overwhelmed and out of my element without one person to confide in. And the only person who could’ve fit that bill is bound and determined to be a giant asshole.
Well, good for him. He wins. I’ll keep my damn space.
15
DANE
Hudson: Fuck. Coach’s daughter!
Mason: I know man.
Hudson: The things I would do to her.
Dane: Watch yourself, Wilde. She’s off limits.
Hudson: Do you know me at all?