Hot on Ice: A Hockey Romance Anthology

by Avery Flynn

  “By the way, happy birthday.”

  When she spoke, her breath grazed his neck. A very nice sensation.

  “Thanks.” He heard her but could think only of getting her out of the crowd. He wanted her alone. All to himself. “Had enough of me stepping on your toes?”

  “You say the cutest things. Like I mentioned before, I’m following your lead.”

  Already forming his goodbye to Gage and Hallie, he couldn’t get her off the floor fast enough.

  “Tripp, the officer taking Lewandowski needs you for a minute.” Harlan caught him before he made it to freedom.

  Ambushed.

  “We’ll take care of her while you’re busy,” Hallie said. “Need to freshen up?”

  Something inside him wanted to declare to everyone in the place that he’d claimed Brooke. Mine he wanted to shout so no one else would try.

  She waved and walked toward the restrooms. He retreated with Harlan and the club manager to take care of business.

  But after?

  After he needed to stake his claim to the only person who mattered.

  10

  Brooke’s mind was still analyzing the attack on the man she was supposed to be protecting. The Cup guards had focused on their job. The extra security had done theirs. Gage had been watching his brother. They’d all been right there.

  Closer than the person hired to watch him. Her.

  The door to the restroom was still swinging closed as Hallie spun to face her. “Did you zap Deacon or something?”

  “What?”

  “Zap him. You know…let lose your pheromones.”

  “No. Of course not. I’d never do that.”

  “I wanted to ask you about it since you arrived, but I haven’t spoken to Gage about what you can do. He’s skeptical already…about the woo-woo powers and all.”

  “Woo-woo powers?”

  “Oh, that’s what he calls this stuff. He knows about Grammy and me. Emma and Essie talk about their lack of them. And Carrie down plays hers so he’s not certain if she has any at all.”

  “One more time. Woo-woo powers?”

  “It’s actually a running joke now. Trying to explain that it’s a family gift is difficult. Grammy hates Gage’s ternm since we’re not witches and don’t have powers.”

  “She made that clear last year when you visited. It’s more about our senses and controlling their enhanced state.”

  “Right. But Gage still calls it woo-woo and mentioned it to Russ, Carrie’s boyfriend, so it stuck. I got us sidetracked.” She paused while someone entered to actually use the facilities. She drew Brooke in closer to whisper. “Deacon was telling us about you before you arrived. He was so excited. When he went to the door, Gage told me he hasn’t ever seen his brother like this about a woman. Especially one he just met.”

  They moved into the corner away from the sink to let the blonde wash her hands.

  Brooke waited. Even whispering, she didn’t feel comfortable talking about her curse in front of a stranger. A young woman who was taking a very long time to wash up and reapply her lipstick.

  Hallie gave Brooke an unusual, quizzical look. Then closed her eyes for a moment and slightly shook her head. The woman left.

  “Something is a little off about her. I tried to get a read, but she was too angry. Angry at what…I don’t know.”

  There was something familiar about her, but Brooke couldn’t put her finger on it. What she needed to do was resolve the conversation and get back to Tripp or Deacon. I should probably call him Deacon since I’m around his family.

  “Look, Hallie. To be completely honest, I had an episode at the parade. I don’t think he was close enough to be affected and I shut it down quick enough. Then there was the hospital…where he saw me.”

  “That’s my fault. I should have talked Gage into attending that event. It was too up close and personal for you to remain anonymous. Totally my…bad…” She drifted.

  The investigative portion of her brain kicked in and Brooke waited. She had the feeling that her cousin was thinking of a way out. If she opened her mouth–or thoughts–she might betray herself and tell her about the kiss.

  “I got it.” Hallie snapped her fingers. “I’ll have Gage suggest you’re a very enthusiastic groupie–”

  “You mean puck bunny.”

  “Whatever they’re called in hockey.”

  “It would explain why I want to hang around, but it’s not very flattering.”

  “You can act the part.”

  “I’m thrilled at your confidence.” No she wasn’t. A puck bunny? How embarrassing.

  What would that say about her? She was much too old for that role and she certainly didn’t know how to act the part. Should she giggle and use the word “like” a lot? Would that make her sound younger than she was?

  Oh for cripes sake. She was a cop.

  “I can see you aren’t thrilled with the idea. But it’ll certainly throw Deacon’s suspicions that we’ve got someone watching him. Especially now that an incident actually occurred.”

  “I get it. Besides, you’re the boss. I’ll do what you want me to do.”

  Hallie put her hands on both of Brooke’s shoulders. “That’s not really how I work. And if anybody’s the boss at Bodyguards in Heels…it’s definitely Grammy. Don’t let her fool you.”

  “Shouldn’t we get back?”

  “You can handle this, Brooke. I had confidence before you got here. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have jeopardized Gage’s brother. You were good at being a cop. You can be great at this kind of work.”

  Laugh. That’s all she could do after her cousin told her she’d be great at impersonating a groupie. Laugh since it wouldn’t be that big of a stretch. She loved hockey and admired Tripp Sanders addition to the Rajuns.

  Nope. It wouldn’t be hard to impersonate a puck bunny at all. They re-joined Gage at their high-table.

  “We’ve decided that Brooke can act like a bunny.”

  “You mean a puck bunny?” Gage coughed after choking on the sip of beer mid-swallow.

  “Yeah, a hockey groupie.”

  Gage shook his head. “Never happening. Deacon’s practically crowing.”

  “Then you help him. Make the suggestion and my cuz can follow through. Then she’ll be free tomorrow to do her job.”

  “I’m not going to suggest that Brooke is a groupie. No way.”

  “It’s a good plan. As it is, if she doesn’t leave with him he’ll end up on his own. That’s too dangerous.” She finished just in time before Tripp walked up.

  “I think we’re going to cut out of here.”

  Gage continued to shake his head. He mouthed the words, “Not happening.” Brooke slightly shrugged her shoulders. She could handle it. Hallie’s idea made perfect sense.

  “Look man. You should rethink this plan. This woman isn’t your regular puck bunny, hanging on your every word, just wanting to get laid. You should have more than a two-minute conversation with her before taking her back to your place. Oh wait. Your place happens to be mom and dad’s.”

  “Gage. Please stop,” Hallie said firmly, keeping her eyes downcast. “This is none of your business.”

  “Where did that come from?” Tripp asked looking like his older brother as he shook his head in confusion.

  “Believe it or not, guys… I’m a grown woman. I know when I need to head home. See ya.” Brooke hopped down from the high-top chair.

  She didn’t believe she’d make it to the door alone. The exploding attraction between her and Tripp could set the place on fire. Hanging around would be difficult–no, impossible.

  She checked her walls. They were all intact. No escaping bubbles of pheromones. So what was up with Gage? Why not go along with Hallie’s plan? Simple enough.

  A firm hand on her elbow guided her away from the entrance and through an office with a private exit. Tripp didn’t speak, just waved at the manager and made certain he door shut behind him.

  “Sorry about that. I have n
o idea why he attacked.”

  “It doesn’t matter. I’m fine.”

  “Just so you know… My first thought might have been that you were a puck bunny, but I gave up that idea this afternoon. I don’t think of you that way.”

  “I’m definitely a fan of your hockey skills.”

  His hand smoothed the back of her arm, then turned her to face him. “ Dammit, I shouldn’t act this way. I’ve been waiting to do this since you walked through the door of the club.”

  Lowering his mouth to hers, he kissed her before she admitted that she wanted the same thing.

  11

  They thought they could lose her by leaving through the side door. She was better than that. Better than them.

  She flattened herself against the wall at the corner. No one watched. No one cared. No one except her.

  How dare they arrest Darrin? He deserved the rewards of his hard-working career. Not Tripp Sanders.

  “How dare he!”

  “You okay, Miss?”

  She spun her head so quickly, she caught her long hair on the brick. “I’m fine. Please leave me alone.”

  “You got it. You left so fast, I wanted to make sure nothing happened.”

  She recognized the man who’d been standing at the door all evening. “No, it’s okay. I got a…a text. Now I need a ride. That’s all.”

  “The number for cabs is right by the door? Want me to get you a card?”

  She looked over her shoulder at Tripp and his whore still kissing in what amounted to be an alley. She had time so she dipped her head in a nod and tried to smile. Just watching the men oogle that bitch’s behind in the tight slinky dress was enough to make her throw up a little in her mouth.

  The club employee walked away. She stared at Tripp, willing him to look up at her. She could finish this if she walked toward them. She could put a hole in them both.

  Would it do any good if the employee returned? Would an ambulance arrive in time to save them?

  She’d wait. Follow and wait.

  She took the taxi number, keeping the employee away from the alley. But she didn’t need a cab. She’d driven from New Orleans. She ran to her car and waited at the end of the block for Deacon and his hired whore.

  Follow and wait. Then she’d avenge the upstart’s career and her beloved Darrin would return.

  12

  Brooke ordered a car for hire instead of driving her own. Her out-of-state plates might have created questions she didn’t want to answer. It was damn hard–in more ways than one–to wait on the sidewalk heated and ready for more.

  It seemed like the pheromones backfired and worked their magic on her. That’s what it had to be. There was no way she’d be heading to a hotel otherwise. She had to protect her cover.

  Since Tripp had mistaken her for a puck bunny, then she could go with that. Ditching him at the hotel would be easy.

  But did she want to?

  “It’s a silver Mazda. App says it’s two minutes away.” She slipped her phone back into the small borrowed purse that was a perfect match for the slinky dress.

  Before her hand dropped to her side, Tripp laced his fingers through hers and brought it around his back.

  God he was hot. Warm to the touch, gorgeous to look at, and sexy as hell.

  That’s the pheromones, talking.

  She didn’t care.

  I really don’t care.

  She lifted her face and kissed him lightly on the lips. He acted like the sting from the split lip didn’t bother him. His face followed hers trying to prolong the kiss, but a car pulled up in front of them.

  “This is our ride.”

  They rode in silence. Their driver had light rock playing and try as she might, she couldn’t concentrate on the words of the songs. Tripp’s body seemed to pulse its need until her blood pounded in the same rhythm. They arrived at the hotel and he went to the counter for his key.

  This was her chance to leave. All she had to do was walk around the corner and slip out an exit. The idea made her breath irregular. Leaving him wasn’t an option.

  “Nope, no baggage,” he told the desk clerk.

  The clerk’s raised eyebrows should have made her hide her face. But it didn’t. So what if he thought she was a hockey groupie–or puck bunny like they had insinuated.

  Oh. My. God. At this moment, I am that girl. I need to go upstairs with him. If I don’t…

  She didn’t want to think of how her body was going to react if she didn’t. And by the way Tripp practically pushed her to the elevator, he was reacting just as furiously. The doors opened and he tucked her in the corner, keeping his body between her and the door. But close.

  “I’ve been dying to do this in an elevator.”

  He smashed his hard body into hers. She put her hands on his arms, but Tripp had his own idea and nudged them higher around his shoulders. He slid one hand around her waist, arching her into him even closer. He bent and kissed her neck, working his way to the sensitive spot just above her collarbone.

  A sigh escaped her when he ground his hips into hers. It wasn’t enough. The doors opened on their floor. They didn’t have long to wait.

  Tripp growled and tugged her hand into his and darted from the elevator. The key slid in and out of the electronic lock and he looked at her asking the question. He was giving her a chance to back out.

  She should. She couldn’t.

  She pushed the handle without another thought.

  Okay, it might have been a long forgotten fantasy to rush into a hotel room as hot and worked up as she could possibly get. Clothes flying everywhere. Bedspreads ripped off to get to the cool sheets. This was no fantasy. This was real, no strings attached, sex with the perfect stranger.

  She dropped her purse and was swept off her feet, twirled around the room, and then laid gently on the bed. The weight of Tripp felt tentative, almost protective and she required more. Her fingers seized his flexing biceps, wanting to push them aside and have him crash onto her.

  He teased her flesh by tipping her head back and caressing her neck with his lips, working his way to the v between her breasts. He moved closer, his kisses hotter. But when she turned to kiss him back, he nipped at the skin on her shoulder. He continued his playful toying along her neck and across the tops of her breasts.

  Exquisite torture. The man definitely knew what he was doing.

  “Ready to lose this?” he asked, slipping a finger between the strap of her dress and her flesh.

  But he didn’t stop. Didn’t wait. His finger kept sliding, closer and closer to the rounded curve of her breast. Just the thought of him touching her, had her draw in her breath sharply.

  “You first,” she managed.

  They both tugged his shirt over his head. She longed to be skin to skin. So much she felt desperate. The thought of building a partial wall to slow down the longing, the need… It blew through her mind fast as a West Texas wind. A miniscule thought that had no effect slowing the need her body craved.

  “Tripp.” Was that breathy voice hers? Her hands brought his face to hers.

  Their kiss was strong and perfect. Just like that afternoon.

  Except this time there was a bed and a locked door and no chance of being interrupted. Unless she did it. Unless she stopped the attraction.

  “It isn’t real.”

  “Sure feels real to me,” he whispered into her mouth.

  “Yeah.”

  No. She should tell him who she was and why she’d been around him all day. She should be honest with him. And then what? Tell him about the curse of pheromones that were causing him to be so attracted to her he left his own celebration?

  Like he’d really believe that.

  His hands smoothed the silky material over her nipples and across her belly. She didn’t believe she could feel any more than she was already feeling. But soon all thought left her and there was just him.

  And then…the shyest of touches on her thigh. Her heart pounded at just the thought of him inching u
p the dress. His lips took hers again in a scorching, suggestive kiss. She didn’t want to be on the edge of this adventure by herself and drug her nails lightly down the contours of his back.

  Muscles in general did nothing for her, but Tripp’s body…damn. Each time he tensed or flexed, his stomach and leg muscles contracted to lean, hard, rippling rock.

  Major turn-on.

  He arched into her again. There was no doubt he wanted her.

  “I need out of this dress.”

  “Your wish, etc.”

  If the two of them had been smoldering since their encounter in the stairwell, then he’d built them into a three-alarm fire. He straddled her, pulling at the slip of a dress. He already knew there was no bra to deal with. Already knew that her nipples were ridged.

  But he didn’t know that her skin was just as silky as the material. Couldn’t have guessed that his hands wouldn’t make room for his lips to taste her.

  He hadn’t been drawn to a woman like this. The parade, the hospital… If she hadn’t shown up tonight, he had no idea what he might have done. Hired his brother’s girlfriend to discover who she was.

  Thank God that wasn’t necessary. He didn’t know how to explain this…this craving. His only thought was of getting closer, becoming a part of her completely, and staying there encased in her heat.

  His lips surrounded a pert nipple, nipping the tip with his teeth. She bucked into his hardness, reminding him his pants were still in place. Good thing or he might have completed their journey right then and there.

  He shifted to his side to lean on his elbow. Her eyes were dark, and the furrow was back between her brows. He lightly rubbed that serious spot, then brought a fistful of her hair to his nose, inhaling deeply.

  He stood, toed off one boot, then tugged on the other until it flew, hitting the chair. Belt buckle. Wallet, slipping the condom onto the bed before tossing it to join his boot. Jeans and underwear down to his ankles and he was back sliding his torso over her long, perfect body.

  Completely skin to skin, there was no slow left for either of them. Wild, demanding kisses and strokes that left them with the covers tangled around their ankles. The breeze from the air conditioner cooled the heat of his skin.