Total pages in book: 14
Estimated words: 13963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 70(@200wpm)___ 56(@250wpm)___ 47(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 13963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 70(@200wpm)___ 56(@250wpm)___ 47(@300wpm)
Maverick, Juliette’s brother, and my nephew, pulls me in for a hug. We’ve always been close too. He’s more like a brother than anything else. Just like Ryder, he’ll end up playing for the NHL after college. Especially with his father, Brody, carefully guiding his career.
After grabbing two bottles of beer from the fridge, I make my way back to the living room. It’s tempting to ditch Nick, but how can I leave Riggs with that stage-five clinger?
My shoulders droop, because the answer is that I can’t.
Just as I pass a short hallway that leads to the first-floor bathroom, strong fingers wrap around my bicep and tug me into the darkness. My heart jolts at the unexpected contact as I’m hauled against a broad chest. In the shadowiness of the hall, I find myself staring up into Rigg’s chocolate-colored depths. They’re so dark in their intensity.
His gaze burns into mine as air gets clogged in my lungs.
This kind of unwanted reaction has been happening with more frequency.
Even worse than that—I have no idea how to make it stop.
I open my mouth to say something—anything—but not a single sound escapes.
“I couldn’t take the questions anymore, so I ditched the guy.”
The low notes of his voice scrape something deep inside my belly. It takes effort to shake off the fog that’s trying to cocoon its way around me.
“Is that why you’re here, lurking in the shadows?”
“Yup.” He rips his gaze from mine long enough to scan the thick crowd of partiers. “Think there’s any chance that he’ll give up and go home?”
That question is enough to dissolve the confusing cocktail of emotions that flared to life at his close proximity. Even though I don’t necessarily want to, I take a step in retreat so that we’re no longer touching.
Only then does my heartbeat settle into a normal rhythm.
The last thing I want is to blur the lines of our friendship. We’ve been besties for way too many years to throw it away on a bit of sexual attraction. No matter how long I live, there will never be another friend like Riggs.
When his gaze resettles on mine and he continues to silently stare, I gesture toward the living room. “We should probably get back to the party.”
His voice dips. “If that’s what you want.”
Heat pools in my core.
Maybe it’s not what I want, but it’s what I need.
RIGGS
From the corner of my eye, I notice Stella’s date has cornered Garret Akeman, one of the senior guys on the team and is yapping his damn ear off. From the irritated expression on Akeman’s face, he’s not happy about it and is looking for a way to escape.
A smile twitches around the corners of my lips.
I get along with most of the guys on the team—we’re more like brothers than anything else. Garret Akeman is the exception. Most of us can’t stand the dude. He thinks he’s god’s gift to hockey.
Newsflash—he’s not.
On top of that, he’s an asshole.
I tow Stella through the crowded living area where most of the party has congregated before turning into a smaller room that has a big screen television. A couple guys are chilling out and playing video games while others are settled on the couch and chair.
“Riggs, get your ass over here. We’re just about to play a game of truth or dare,” Ford says, flashing a grin at Carina like it’s some kind of inside joke.
I glance at Stella and raise my brows in silent askance. When she shrugs, we squeeze in next to Ryder and Juliette. Shocker—there’s a girl perched on Colby’s lap.
A couple of our younger teammates are also playing. Puck bunnies hover around the players, hoping to get chosen for a dare. I’m sure if you asked them to strip down and do the nasty in front of everyone, they’d oblige without question.
Thank fuck Stella’s never been into any of my teammates. I’m sure that’s because she grew up with a famous brother who played professionally. She’s not impressed by these guys. Not even the ones who’ll get picked up by the NHL.
A few more people trickle into the room and join the game. I notice a couple of the younger guys checking Stella out. I can’t blame them. She’s gorgeous with bright blue eyes, long blonde hair, and an hourglass figure. That being said, I shoot them dark looks before throwing my arm around her shoulders and hauling her close.
Damn but she feels good tucked against my body.
When she glances at me, I flash a tight smile. My muscles loosen when she makes no attempt to shrug off my hold. We’ve always been affectionate with each other. But for some reason, something feels off tonight. There’s an electricity that crackles in the air like an impending storm. The confusion that flickers in her eyes tells me that she’s just as aware of it as I am.