The clipped accent was back, but Jake smiled. She hadn’t said no.
The game was still on.
CHAPTER EIGHT
THE PUCK CLANGED off the boards behind the net.
Jake gave chase, beating the other skater. Sweat poured down his face. His leg muscles burned. A few more seconds and he could rest. He turned to pass the puck but a body pounded him into the glass. A player in white glided away with the biscuit as Jake ate ice.
Damn.
The coach blew his whistle. “Reds, you’re up.”
Jake headed to the bench and grabbed a water bottle. He squirted the cold water across his face, then took a long swig as he climbed over the boards.
“Looking good, bro.” Tru nudged him with his padded shoulder. “You’ve got your speed back.”
“I need to get my brain working. Should’ve seen Vlad.” He glared at the Russian.
“You’ll be fine once you get a few games under your belt.” Tru toweled the sweat from his visor. “Remember, only six months ago you didn’t know if you’d ever skate again.”
Six months ago, he’d had taped ribs, an arm and a leg in casts and enough stitches to make Frankenstein’s monster look like a wuss. Jake’s healed ribs twinged. With the endless rounds of rehab before he’d been allowed to train and skate, it had been a lengthy, often painful, road back to health, then fitness. Every day he skated and practiced, he was one step closer to where he needed to be.
“I’ll need to be better than fine for opening night.”
Two short whistle blasts and everyone gathered around the coach.
“Not bad. Tru, Bad Boy, good work.” Max pointed at the rookie, Jean-Baptiste Larocque. “Less flash, more scoring. Think about when to shoot and when to pass.”
JB nodded, but his sulky expression said he didn’t like criticism.
Jake shook his head. The kid wanted to be the hero on every play. He’d better learn quickly that winning came from teamwork or he’d piss everyone off.
Larocque was a good-looking kid. Pale coffee skin, brown eyes and a grin that would melt the panties off a puck bunny. The dark circles under his eyes were a bad sign.
“He looks tired,” Jake muttered. “Someone should tell him to ease off the partying. The pace up here is a killer for new blood. If he burns the candle at both ends, he won’t make it.”
Tru agreed. “You should talk to him.”
“He won’t listen to me.”
“You’ve got the right street cred to make him listen.”
“I’ll see how he goes for a couple of weeks. Maybe it’s the excitement of the show and he’ll slow down once it gets serious. If there’s no change once we’re into the preseason schedule, I’ll step up.”
Max ended practice with a reminder that the team’s new drug-testing program was underway. Jake, Tru and Ike gave their samples, then hit the showers.
“I’m grabbing something to eat.” Tru dried off. “You coming?”
“I’m meeting Maggie.” Jake tried to sound casual. “She’s helping me find a new gym.”
“So your grand plan’s working?”
“I think so.” He pulled on his jeans. “I’ll tell you after today’s visits.”
Truthfully, he wasn’t sure. He hadn’t seen her for over a week. She’d kept her word and emailed information on suitable local gyms. But between practices, his other team commitments and her schedule, they hadn’t been able to meet until this afternoon.
“You planning to take her on an actual date anytime soon?” His friend shrugged into a polo shirt, then combed his damp hair.
“If things work out.” Jake zipped up his gym bag and waited impatiently for Ike and Tru to get their stuff. They all walked outside together.
And stopped short.
Who was the sexy babe leaning against his M-Class? Jake did a double take.
Maggie?
She’d cut her hair and left it loose. Glossy, dark curls tumbled across her shoulders, begging to be touched. Instead of those floaty dresses he liked, she wore a slim-fitting red jacket over a matching skirt that ended above her knees. No blouse. Spiked red heels.
As she straightened, her jacket shifted, giving a brief glimpse of lace and shadows beneath. His fingers itched to undo the single large button that held the jacket closed. His heart jolted, then began to pound furiously.
“Is that Maggie?” Tru’s voice sounded strangled.
Ike wolf whistled under his breath.
She walked toward them, a confidence in her stride that he’d not seen before.
“Nice day at the office, boys?”
The teasing purr sent a lightning bolt of desire straight to his groin.
Confusion filled him. This wasn’t his Maggie.