Edge(23)

“We work closely,” he said.

“Just keep your dick in your pants and your hands to yourself and we’ll get along fine,” I said.

The guys were lining up to start practice and I skated away to join them. Guys like Todd Landis, who copped cheap feels, pissed me off. I’d never touched a woman who didn’t clearly want me to, and I’d never paw one in a work environment.

“What’s up, man?” Niko asked. “You look like you’re about to throw down.”

I looked back over at the bench, where Dell leaned against the wall, gazing out over the ice. Landis was about a foot away from her now. Better, but I still wanted him to fucking leave.

“What’s with Dr. Hands?” I asked.

Niko smiled. “You mean Dell? He’s got a thing for her.”

“Does she have a thing back?”

“I don’t think so. Dell’s not really into anyone.”

“He shouldn’t play grab ass with her, then.”

“Don’t worry, man, Dell can take care of herself. She made Patterson cry one time when he was being a pussy about his rehab. Told him to sack up or ship out.”

“I’m not gonna stand by while some obnoxious doctor tries to get in her pants.”

Niko was silent and when I turned to him, his brows were arched and he was grinning. “You’ve got a thing for her, don’t you?”

I gave him an agitated glare. “It’s your fucking turn, asshole.”

He shook his head and skated off, muttering, “Be careful.”

It was a little late for that.

***



Dell





I’d never been so excited about a road trip. Usually, I was down about them because I hated being away from Kyler for two or three days at a time. But Sadie was taking him to her family’s farm in Wisconsin for the weekend, and he’d been bursting with excitement when he’d left this morning. Sadie’s father always let him help feed and brush the horses, and it was one of his favorite places to go.

It wasn’t just Kyler’s happiness that had me wound with excitement, though. Tonight’s game would decide whether I’d be showering for Luke. I was crazy excited over him wanting me to and crazy nervous over the idea of possibly doing it.

The team’s travel bus rolled past snow-covered fields and I pulled out my e-reader. I stared at the screen without turning it on, knowing I wouldn’t be able to focus on reading right now. For five years, I’d been content to be a mommy and a surrogate sister to all the guys on the team. But Luke was stirring something in me that had been asleep for a very long time. I felt desirable, and I loved it.

My mind was replaying my last conversation with him when my phone buzzed with a text. I looked down at a message from him on my screen.

Luke Hudson: You’re smiling. Thinking about me?

Me: Nope, smiling about something in a book.

Luke Hudson: What r u reading? Something naughty?

Me: No comment.

Luke Hudson: I knew it.

Me: Knew what?

Luke Hudson: U have a dirty side, Miss Price.

Me: Doesn’t count if it’s fictional.

Luke Hudson: Doesn’t have to be fictional.

I read the words and hunched lower in my seat to be sure he couldn’t see my flushed cheeks.

Luke Hudson: r u blushing, Dell?

Me: No, just trying to get comfy.

Luke Hudson: You’re gorgeous when u blush. I like it.

Me: Well, I’m not an experienced sexter like you, so …

Luke Hudson: This isn’t sexting, baby, but we can if u want.

Me: No, I’d prob have to go on your waiting list.

Luke Hudson: There’s no list. U know what I do with my time.

Me: I’d be the worst sexter ever. Trust me. I’d make you laugh.

Luke Hudson: I’m getting hard just thinking about it.

Me: About sexting, or sexting with me?

Luke Hudson: U in general.

I set the phone on my chest and pressed my thighs together. Damned if I wasn’t hot right now. Really hot. Knowing he was just a few rows behind me, and that no one around us knew what was going on, made me want sex like I hadn’t in a long time. Not just any sex, though. Sex with him.

Me: Promise you won’t show this convo to the other guys.

Luke Hudson: I’m not like that. I promise. I’d never want anyone else to see this.

Me: Because you’re embarrassed?

Luke Hudson: No, because it’s private.

Me: So teach me. Say something sexy.

Luke Hudson: I dreamed about kissing u last night.

Me: Really? Just a kiss?

Luke Hudson: Just a kiss. But a good one. I made u moan.

Me: From a kiss?

Luke Hudson: Oh yeah. Do you want me to kiss you?

Me: Yes.

Luke Hudson: What else?

Me: I don’t know.

Luke Hudson: Come on, D. Relax. U can trust me.

Me: No, I really don’t know. I don’t mess around with guys. A quickie got me pregnant.