Rushing the Goal (Assassins #8)

by Toni Aleo

  Glaring, she held his gaze, unfazed by his resume. “Was that supposed to impress me?”

  His lips curved in a playful way that may or may not have had Lucy gasping for breath. Not that she’d ever tell him that. “Maybe. Did it work?”

  “Nope, not even kinda,” she said simply, turning back to Angie. “I trust Google. Not your uncle’s replacement. We don’t even know this guy.”

  “Yes, but he knows hockey, Mom. He won two Cups!”

  “True, but I have Google and YouTube. I’m sure I’ve got this.”

  “Or we can just let him do it since Uncle Jayden trusted him to help us.”

  “Without telling me,” Lucy added and Angie glared.

  “Because he’s scared of you!”

  Lucy feigned hurt. “That’s not true.”

  Angie just gave her a look, and Lucy shrugged as Benji said, “No, really, that’s the rumor I heard. Heard you might try to hit me. Jayden apologized in advance.”

  Letting out a long breath, she closed her eyes. God, Jayden was overdramatic. She wasn’t that bad. Glaring back up at Benji, which made her realize maybe she was that bad, she demanded, “Shh, you. And don’t believe everything you hear.”

  He scoffed at that, and her glare deepened. The guy may be hot, but she decided she didn’t care for him much. Fed up with all of this, she looked back to her daughter. “If you want the replacement to help you, I understand. But I think I got this.”

  She felt Benji looking at her, but she didn’t meet his gaze as Angie shrugged. “I guess he can do it. He knows what he’s doing.”

  Lucy wouldn’t let that bother her. He was experienced, and all she had was Google. Plus, she was so angry at Jayden, there was no telling what Angie would go out there looking like. So she smiled sweetly and said, “Okay. Go get ready, and let’s play hockey!”

  Turning to Benji, she watched as Angie looked at him expectantly. But he was staring at Lucy. With a quirk in his lip, he said, “It was really nice meeting you. And don’t worry, I’ll take good care of her.”

  Yeah, she didn’t like him one bit. Her eyes narrowed as his gray eyes seemed to twinkle. She hadn’t been looked at like that in a while, and she honestly didn’t understand it. This guy didn’t even know her, yet he looked at her like they were friends. Maybe even more. She wasn’t sure.

  Strange…

  “Yeah, okay, I’ll make sure you don’t walk right if you hurt her. I’ll be watching from the stands,” she said, leaning down and kissing Angie’s temple. “Have fun, okay?” Angie smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. She was nervous. “You okay, baby?”

  “I wish Jayden was here,” she whispered and Lucy bent down.

  “I know, but I’m sure replacement guy—”

  “Benji,” he supplied, but there wasn’t annoyance in his voice. Humor, though. He found her funny. Which was annoying as hell.

  “Benji,” she said slowly, enunciating each syllable just to be a bitch. He just laughed, a deep tenor that had her toes curling in the heels she wore. Clearing her throat, she said, “He will take good care of you.”

  When he crouched down beside her, Lucy stared at him in confusion as he cupped Angie’s shoulder. Angie looked at him curiously, and Lucy glared. What was he doing?

  “You know, I’m sure your uncle wouldn’t have asked me to pitch in if he didn’t think I would be great at helping you. I heard you’re the best little hockey player in the world and that you’re gonna show me some awesome moves,” he said sweetly.

  Hell, Rick didn’t even talk to her like that and that dick was her dad.

  Angie’s cheeks reddened and Lucy smiled. “Yeah?”

  “Yeah, so don’t worry. I know I’m not your uncle, but I’m excited to hit the ice with you, and I’ll do my best to help you out. I’m like your personal helper. I’m your trainer!” he said excitedly, and Lucy couldn’t help it, she smiled a little. Just a little.

  “You are?” Angie asked and Lucy was surprised how shy her daughter was being. She had been so excited about this, but now, it didn’t seem that way.

  “If you want to go home, we can, honey,” Lucy said, but Angie shook her head.

  “No, I want to play.”

  “Awesome, how about we go get ready real quick and hit the ice?” Benji asked softly, and Lucy glanced over at him, surprised. For a big dude, he was gentle. Which was nice. Standing back up, which meant he was towering over them, he held out his hand, and Angie took it without hesitation. That surprised Lucy. Angie wasn’t one to trust so easily, but she seemed happy as she waved at Lucy while they walked toward the group of other little girls.

  When Benji looked back at Lucy and he grinned, she narrowed her eyes at him. Yeah, he was good with kids, she’d give him that, but there was something else in his eyes. Almost like he thought he had won some underlying competition that she hadn’t even realized she was in with him.

  That bothered her.

  Angie may trust him and Lucy’s ovaries may think it was hot that he was good with her daughter, but she didn’t trust him as far as she could throw him.

  And with his size, it wouldn’t be far.

  So she’d watch Benji Paxton…and not because he had a hot ass in those Assassins sweats.

  Good Lord, she needed to get laid.

  Holy shit.

  Sinclair’s sister was fucking hot.

  Looking back at her once more, he caught her watching him. When their eyes locked, he felt like he was really grinning. And not that awkward, fake, “I have no clue what I’m doing with my face” kind of grin, but a real one. It may have even reached his eyes. It was easy to do where she was concerned, it seemed, but she glared and then turned on those sexy nude heels before starting for the rink.

  Well, then.

  He watched her for a moment and saw her ass was encased in a snug black skirt that was so tight, he was sure she wasn’t wearing any underwear. She was wearing a thick purple jacket, and her brown hair was up in a twist, a little tattoo peeking out of the neck of her jacket. He wanted to get closer, check it out, but then he wasn’t sure he could stop himself from dropping his lips to that sexy, thin neck.

  What in the hell?

  What was wrong with him?

  “Benji?”

  Looking down at the miniature version of the spunky firecracker he just met, he smiled. “Sorry! Come on,” he said, hoping that Angie didn’t know he wanted to bang her mom. Wow, what? Good Lord, what was wrong with him?

  Shaking his head free of his horndog thoughts, he brought Angie to where all the other little girls were getting ready. Parents were tying their kids’ skates and pulling jerseys down over their heads. Stopping for a second, he watched everyone, and then the slow, fiery ache started to burn in his chest.

  He was supposed to be doing this with his daughter.

  Closing his eyes, he sucked in a deep breath and let the pain eat him alive. If he hadn’t been an ungrateful jerk and had chosen his family over alcohol, then Ava and Leary would be here. They would have had this moment.

  He would feel loved.

  He would feel complete.

  Fuck.

  Opening his eyes because he could feel his little friend staring at him, he found that he was right. Angie was watching him, her eyes full of concern as she nodded to him. “You okay?”

  “Yeah, sorry,” he said roughly before kneeling down in front of her. She sat down as he opened her bag, pushing back his own tears. He really hadn’t thought this through when he agreed to come help. He hadn’t realized how hard this would be for him. That the pain of the loss of his child would shake him to the core like it was at the moment. It just wasn’t fair. Why did addiction ruin lives? Why couldn’t he have fought it? Damn it.

  When he noticed she was still watching him, he cleared his throat free of emotion and tried to smile. “Sorry, having a moment.”

  “Are you sure you want to help me?”

  He really smiled that time, reassuringly. “Yes, of course. I’m sorry. Just
thinking about something.”

  “What?” she asked with all the curiosity of a child.

  A child he didn’t have anymore.

  Swallowing hard around the lump in his throat, he said, “My daughter.”

  Angie smiled. “Aw, she doesn’t play?”

  “No, she doesn’t,” he said, his heart pounding in his chest. He’d like to think that she was in heaven. That there was a big rink in the clouds where she would play and she was happy with Ava. God, he hoped they were happy. “But, okay, let’s do this.”

  Pushing thoughts of Leary away—not an easy feat—Benji reached for Angie’s skates as she took off her jacket. He then started tying them up, and together they got her ready quickly. She was funny and animated, but he knew she was nervous. He’d hoped to ease those worries, but it was hard when he was battling his own demons in his head. He still tried, though, and he knew that meant something. That little Angie, his new friend, was important to him. Not sure why, but she was, and he was going to do right by the little girl.

  He was the replacement and all.

  Before putting on her helmet, Benji noticed her stick wasn’t taped up. Reaching into his pocket for his roll of tape he had brought to retape his own stick, he grinned up at Angie. “All right, first things first—”

  “You’re the realest?”

  His grin grew at her quick thinking, and he couldn’t help but laugh. Nodding, he met her sweet, sassy gaze. She looked so much like her mother it was scary. They were two little twins, and of course, that made him curious about her father. Where was he? Why wasn’t he here? Benji wouldn’t have missed this for the world if he’d had the chance.

  “All right, Iggy,” he teased and she laughed happily, but then he paused. “How do you even know that song?”

  She grinned. “My uncle Jace and me used to sing it all the time. He moved to Florida with my aunt Avery and my cousin Ashlyn. We miss them sooooooo much!”

  “I bet.”

  “And then my uncle Jude and aunt Claire are in California and Vegas, but they have a house here and spent the whole summer here. I got to swim in their pool every day!”

  “I bet that was a lot of fun.”

  “Oh my God, it was! You should come.”

  “It’s a date next summer,” he said with a wink and she grinned. “Okay, now your stick,” he said, and she directed her attention to what he was doing as he taped it very carefully. It was a little too careful for a kid’s stick, but he wanted it to be perfect. He wanted her to be confident, and if he was going to be Jayden’s replacement, he was going to be the best damn replacement in the world.

  He had to impress Angie…and maybe her mom too.

  He wasn’t sure why, though. That chick practically had signs hanging off her blinking brightly that she was more than unavailable. Yet something made him want to tear down the signs, take that face of hers in his hands, and kiss the stuffing out of her. She had the right lips, the bottom one bigger than the top, all cushiony looking, and those eyes… Man, he had never seen such green depths in his life. Her lashes were dark, her hair even darker, and she was gorgeous. She was like a cat. Angry, but he bet he could make her purr.

  What in the…? God, he was a loser.

  “Wow, that looks hard,” Angie said, apprehension in her voice.

  “Don’t worry, sweetheart. We’ll practice.”

  He hadn’t meant to call her that, but thankfully, she beamed up at him as he tore the tape and then handed her the stick. “How’s that feel?”

  She stood up on her skates and tested the stick like a pro. Or better yet, like a little girl who was trained by three older, hockey-playing uncles. Benji knew all about the Sinclairs. Hell, he was sure everyone did. They had legacy written all over them—all strong, all fast, and all pretty badass. All drafted first, and it was the first time that had happened to three brothers. The NHL boasted about the three, and if they weren’t so damn good, Benji would call bullshit. But they were good. Really good.

  But still, it bothered him that Lucy Sinclair had been lost in all the hoopla of her brothers. He hadn’t even known she existed until today.

  Too bad.

  He thought she should be the shining star.

  “It’s good,” she said and Benji nodded at her form.

  “Looks good, Sinclair.”

  “Hart.”

  His brows rose. Duh, Lucy must be married. “Sorry?”

  “My last name is Hart. It’s my dad’s name.”

  He nodded. “Oh, my bad. Sorry about that.”

  “It’s fine. I usually don’t care. Everyone else is a Sinclair in my family, and my uncles call me ‘Sinclair’ because they hate my dad. But I told Mom I want my jersey to have my dad’s name, so hopefully, he’ll come to my games.” She seemed unsure and that pissed Benji off.

  “I’m sure he will.”

  She shrugged. “He doesn’t want me to play. He thinks I should dance like my sister.”

  So Lucy wasn’t married?

  “Oh, you don’t want to?” With his gaze on her as she pressed her stick into the ground, he slid his gloves on.

  “Eh, I mean, I do because he takes me on his weekends. But I’d rather be playing hockey. Plus Heidi is so annoying and tells my dad I have to do it because I’m so tomboyish. But I’m not, she just doesn’t like me much.”

  Okay, he was remarried, but was Lucy?

  “Wow, that sounds like bullshi— Er, my bad,” he pleaded and she grinned.

  “Don’t worry, Mom says bad words all the time and she apologizes. But I know she can’t help it. I know I’m not supposed to say them, and that’s all that matters. Yeah, I don’t like dance, but I love hockey. I want to be like my uncles, or even my aunt Baylor. She’s amazing.”

  “She is,” he agreed before leaning over to whisper to her. “And also hockey is the best,” he said with a wink and she grinned back at him.

  “Absolutely!”

  Standing up, he reached for his stick and then cocked his head toward the rink. “You ready, Hart?”

  She pushed the cage of her helmet down and locked it in place. “I was born ready.”

  Determined little thing, he thought as he tapped her on the head. He liked her. Starting for the rink, he looked down but noticed she hadn’t moved yet. Stopping, he looked back at her. “Hart?”

  She smiled up at him through the cage. “Thanks for this. You’re a great replacement.”

  Clipping the strap of his helmet to the other side, he nodded. “Thanks, I hope I do ya right.”

  “You are,” she said as they started for the rink where Adler and most of the girls were already skating around. “Mom won’t tell you that, though.”

  When he glanced over to where Lucy was watching, her phone resting on the tips of her fingers, he smiled. “No?”

  “No, Jayden says she’s mad all the time, and I guess she is to them. But she’s awesome to me.”

  Benji grinned. “I don’t think she’s mad.”

  “Oh, she is, but I love her.” When Angie waved wildly at Lucy, she smiled big, a real one that reached her eyes as she blew Angie a kiss and pumped her fist in the air, cheering her name. “She’s basically the best mom ever.”

  “She seems like it.”

  Lucy’s eyes cut to Benji’s, her eyes narrowing as her lips went into a straight line. It was easy to tell that she didn’t like him. For no reason at all, of course, except that Jayden set him up to be hated from the jump. But he didn’t mind. He liked her, and her sassy mouth and resting bitch face wouldn’t stop him. No, he’d change her mind. He’d get her to like him.

  Wow. What?

  As his foot hit the ice, he almost busted his ass and he braced himself with his stick as Angie laughed.

  “It’s ice, it’s slippery,” she teased and he grinned.

  Smartass.

  But instead of saying that, he found himself looking up to where Lucy sat.

  Grinning.

  A little kitten grin.

  That sho
t hot desire straight into his soul.

  Ooh-wee, she’s trouble.

  The kind of trouble he was starting to think he needed in his life.

  “All right, ladies… Ladies,” Shea hollered out.

  But the girls didn’t stop giggling or laughing as most of them fell, while the others did circles around them. It was like the Bad News Bears, well, except Angie. She stood beside Benji, her eyes on Shea and her stick hanging in her hand. She was determined, and he didn’t know why, but a grin sat on his face. He liked that she was ready and focused. It really didn’t matter, but in a way, it made him proud.

  Shea hollered out some more, but it was easy to tell that he was taking it easy on the group of girls. Like Angie, though, his girls, Shelli and Posey, stood tall in front of their father, waiting for instruction. Shelli was built like Shea, big and tall, while Posey was on the chubbier side, a little shorter, but just as determined as her older sister.

  “This is a fucking clusterfuck.” Glancing over at Vaughn, Benji scoffed.

  “Eh, it’s the first day. Adler’s feeling out the crowd.”

  It was easy to see the frustration on Shea’s face and Benji almost laughed. The guy was used to leading a bunch of grown men who all had the same mind-set as him. To win. Now he was dealing with a bunch of girls who did not have that mind-set. At. All.

  “He’s right. This is insane,” Angie said up to him and Vaughn nodded.

  “Exactly, cutie patootie. What’s your name?”

  “Not cutie patootie,” she said with a bit of sass in her voice, reminding Benji of Lucy. “Angie Hart.”

  Holding his glove out for a fist bump, Angie did as he wanted and he said, “Nice to meet ya, Hart. I’m Johansson.”

  She only nodded before looking back up to where Shea was telling people to quiet down. Vaughn leaned in. “Sinclair’s niece?”

  “Yup.”

  “She’s scary for being so little.”

  Benji laughed. “You should meet her mom.”

  As Benji cocked his head to where Lucy was sitting, Vaughn’s mouth dropped. “Holy crap, it’s Sinclair in a skirt with tits.”