Edge(67)

“I’m really happy for you.”

“You’re next.” I pointed at her as I headed for the door. “Luke has hot friends.”

“As long as they aren’t married or crazy.”

Memories of some of the awful dates Sadie had gone on in her quest for her soul mate made me laugh.

“What if they just want you to pee on them?” I asked, arching my brows. “Or call them Big Daddy in bed?”

She shook her head, not amused. “Those guys were both nuts. It’s a jungle out there, girl. Be glad you don’t have to brave it.”

“I love you, Sade, and I know you’ll find someone awesome.”

She shrugged. “I’ve got Kyler. He’s all the man I need.”

“Can we go apartment hunting this weekend?” I asked on my way out the door.

“Definitely. And maybe I can finally meet Loverboy.”

The smile would not leave my face. I’d been chosen by the owner of one of the best teams in the league. This was cause for some serious celebration.

***



Luke





I was mesmerized by the creamy skin of her thighs and the curve of her tight ass as Dell poured herself a cup of coffee. She wore nothing but one of my old t-shirts, and I remembered from the night before that she’d gone to bed without panties. When she turned around, I tried to get a glimpse, but the shirt was too damned long.

My cock made the case for a quickie right here in the kitchen, but we didn’t have much time before practice. We’d been told to be early for practice this morning.

“Mmm, you’re a good roommate,” Dell said, wrapping her arms around me from behind as I sat at my kitchen table listening to sports news and skimming the newspaper. “You give me multiple orgasms, snuggle me and make good toast.”

Her lips trailed across the side of my neck as she reached for a piece of toast on a plate.

“You’re not so bad yourself,” I said, turning around and swinging her into my lap. I looked at her, knowing my goofy adoration probably showed on my face. Fuck it. I did adore her, and I wanted her to know it. She and Kyler were staying with me until the movers brought their things to their new apartment in a few days.

“We have to be early,” she reminded me as I slid my palm up her bare thigh.

“I know, babe.” I just wanted a minute to enjoy her fresh out of bed look – tousled hair and fresh face. Before her I’d cringed at the intimacy of a morning after with a woman, slamming a cup of coffee and hitting the road as fast as possible. But it was different with Dell.

I loved being the only one who got to see her this way. Kyler had stayed the night with Kate and Ryke, or she would’ve been in conservative pajamas.

She leaned in to kiss me, her lips feather-soft. The TV announced droned in the background.

“In NHL news, we’ve just learned that Butch Price is taking over as coach in Chicago…”

My heart froze in my chest. “Did you fucking hear that?”

“What?” Dell looked at me, wide-eyed. I dove for the remote on the other side of the table and she slid out of my lap.

I cranked the volume up and we listened to news that floored us both. Jack had been fired as coach of our team and replaced by Butch Price.

“Motherfucker,” I muttered under my breath. When I turned to Dell, she had a hand over her mouth. She stared at the TV screen, looking shell-shocked.

“Is this a prank?” she demanded. “If this is a prank, tell me now because I’m about to die, Luke.”

I put my hands up in surrender. “I wouldn’t fuck with you like that. I don’t even know what to say.”

A couple seconds of silence elapsed.

“I work for my Dad?” Dell asked miserably. “I have to see him every day and follow his stupid rules?” She gave me a panicked look. “What if he moves here? Of course he’ll move here.”

“Fucking hell.” I shook my head. The news just wouldn’t sink in. I knew Butch Price wasn’t a fan of mine, but Dell hadn’t gone into detail. And this wasn’t a coincidence. He didn’t want her dating me, she moved here to work for my team and now he was suddenly the coach?

“This is why we’re supposed to be there early,” she said. “So they can announce it. What if he’s already here?”

“Hey.” I reached for her hips and eased her closer to me. “We’re good. We’ve both got contracts, so he can try to screw with us but there isn’t much he can do.”

“What if he plans to trade you?”

Worry took root at the possibility. Surely he wasn’t that big of a prick.

“The deadline’s passed, babe. I can’t be traded.”