Edge(11)

I doubted that. As long as he was selling to women, he’d be a very successful salesman.

Again, I reminded myself to stop thinking this way about him. “So our road trips won’t be your first by bus?”

“Nope. I kind of miss the bus, to tell you the truth. That’s when you really get to know your teammates.”

He followed beside me until I arrived at my oldish white sedan. I unlocked the door and climbed in.

“See you in the morning,” I said.

“Your hair’s so pretty.” He looked almost shy for a second. “You should never cover it up with a hat.”

My hand flew up to my hair, loose around my shoulders. I’d forgotten to put my hat on.

With a small wave, he turned to walk toward a large SUV sitting alone on the other side of the lot. He was rich and successful, but he carried himself with a laid-back assurance that made him unimposing.

Other than his sex appeal, which was a little imposing. There, I’d admitted it. He was sexy. It wasn’t just his looks, but the intensity of his cool blue gaze and the occasional unexpectedly sweet comments he made. He didn’t seem like the playboy I’d been so sure he was. No, playboys made my stomach turn. But Luke Hudson most definitely made it flip and flutter in a way that made me feel like a schoolgirl with a crush.

With a sigh, I told myself not to do this. My priority was Kyler. I needed my job to support us, and I couldn’t afford to gamble it for a flirtation with a hockey player.

I channeled my father, who would be telling me to get my head out of my ass. Pulling out of the parking lot, I smiled to myself. Yep, there was no better way to banish sexy thoughts than replacing them with thoughts of Butch Price.

***



Luke





I made the turn from the long concrete-floored hallway into Dell’s office. Her back faced me, her long auburn hair hanging loosely down it. I stopped and just admired her for a second. Even in sweatpants, the perfect curves of her ass didn’t escape my notice.

“Hey,” I said, not wanting to scare her.

She turned around and smiled. “Hi.”

“How are you?”

“Good. Just stocking supplies. Want me to wrap your knee?”

I was pretty sure my knee didn’t need wrapped anymore. But I had no other reason for being in her office. I’d looked forward to this time alone with her every day for the two weeks I’d been here. “Yeah, that’d be good.”

Since I had shorts on, she was able to move the leg of one side up a little for all the access she needed. I could’ve done it, but I liked the feel of her fingers brushing over my bare skin.

She got to her knees and set to wrapping. When she glanced up at me with those bright green eyes, my cock stirred in my shorts. Fuck. I’d never been aroused by a trainer working on me.

I shifted and looked up at the ceiling. It wasn’t the sight of her kneeling in front of me that was giving me wood, but something I’d seen in her eyes. I was nothing if not perceptive, and something told me I wasn’t the only one feeling something here. She’d said she was with someone, but maybe it was a bad relationship.

“Hey, are you sure about dinner tonight?” I asked. “You’re helping me out, and it’s the least I can do.”

“I can’t. Want me to see if Sadie’s open? My roommate?”

Her suggestion pissed me off. Couldn’t she see I wanted to go with her, not just anyone? “No. I just … thought you might want to go.”

“I wish I could, but I’ve got plans.” She looked up at me again. Maybe she did wish she could. I sure as hell did.

“What about—”

I was interrupted by a kid bouncing into the room, smiling widely.

“Mom, can I skate?” he asked.

I looked at Dell, my lips parting a little in disbelief. Mom? She had a kid?

She ruffled his hair. “This my little man, Kyler.”

My shoulders dropped a bit with relief. “The man in your life.”

“Yes.”

“Mom, can I?”

“Hold on, Ky. When I finish I’ll go see if one of the guys will skate with you.”

“I’ll skate with him,” I said.

She looked up at me. Those eyes the color of spring grass were going to get me in trouble. “Are you sure?”

“Absolutely. You ever skated before, Kyler?”

He gave me a scowl. “All the time! I’m a hockey player.”

“Hey.” Dell cupped his little chin and made him look up at her. “Manners, mister.”

“Sorry,” Kyler muttered. He walked over to a glass jar of rainbow candies on the counter of Dell’s office and took the lid off, taking his time choosing one.

“You’re good,” Dell said to me with a smile. She glanced at her watch and turned to Kyler. “You can skate for ten minutes, okay? Practice starts after that. Go get your skates on.”