Page 24 of Flirty Pucking Wolf

“I think Bridget and I being on the same team is different than you and your brother. Yeah, we play the same sport, but in completely different roles. Our destinies and success weren’t intertwined. You and Ian were partners, right? And then he got a new one, and you didn’t? He got a pro spot, and you didn’t.” He looks sheepish. Moose-ish? “I Googled. I’m a curious person with excellent research skills. No offense intended.”

Sophie huffs out a laugh. “None taken! I appreciate your candor.” She looks out over the practice ice where some of my teammates are skating. She adjusts her position on the bench. The practice rink at ice level doesn’t have very comfortable seating.

“It’s hard,” she admits. “I love Ian. He’s my twin. But I wanted this show to just be mine. Our careers have been so intertwined, like you said. And our mother is a big deal in the dance world too. I’m always an afterthought.” The flush on her cheeks deepens. “I want to be the Mackenzie in the spotlight. Just me. Because of what I’ve accomplished. Not something that people can say my mother or my brother helped me achieve.”

To lighten the mood, I bump Sophie’s shoulder with my own as I lace up my skates.

“You need me though, princess.”

She bumps me back. “I do, boyo. Don’t screw this up for me.”

Something wicked causes me to lean in and breathe into Sophie’s ear. “If there’s screwing between us, it’s not on the dance floor.”

Stone is looking everywhere but at us. I don’t know if moose shifters have the extra sensitive hearing that wolf shifters like me and Sophie do, but I trust he’ll pretend to have no clue.

“Oof.” The breath whooshes out of me when Sophie jams her elbow into my ribs. For never playing hockey, she’s mastered throwing elbows and body checks.

“Do you skate, Sophie?” Stone asks. “There’s a rental skate counter so we can get you a pair.”

Sophie shakes her head vehemently. “No. I can’t skate, and I can’t risk getting injured trying to learn how. I could invalidate my contract with the show if I was injured doing something risky like that and couldn’t perform. I’m not allowed to go horseback riding, skiing, or skydiving either. Not that there was any risk of me doing those things, anyway.”

“You don’t ride?” I ask.

“I don’t like horses. They’re big and smelly. I know Declan and Miranda are gaga for them, but not me. Even though I’m a shifter, I’m not really an animal person. I don’t kick puppies or anything, but I’m not into things crawling on me or licking me.”

My wiggling brows make her flush scarlet and Stone choke on a laugh. I shouldn’t be flirting with her like this, but I can’t help it.

She gestures toward the ice. “Go skate. Do your thing.”

“Are you staying?” I ask.

“For a bit, but then I’ll go back to my room. I’m exhausted. I don’t know how you have the energy to skate.”

Winking, I give my panty-melting smile. “I’m known for my stamina.”

Stone wrinkles his nose. “All righty. This has been fun. I’ll leave you two to do your thing.”

“We’re not doing anything!” Sophie calls after him as he steps onto the ice.

I get to my feet and prepare to follow him, but hold back and lower my voice, leaning in close enough to Sophie that I can smell her strawberry scent. “Not this very moment, we’re not. But we’re about due to consummate our fling, don’t you think, princess?” I wink and drop my gaze to her perfect lips. “Your place or mine tonight? Text me.” I skate away, feeling her pull like a magnet. I skate faster to break it. This fling is temporary. I can’t give her forever.

8

SOPHIE

I watchTrevor skate with his teammates for a few minutes and record him. I think I can adapt some of the plays they run into dance moves.

“Hey, wasn’t expecting to see you here,” Miranda says as she sits next to me. My brother and Bedard are joining the others on the ice.

“We finished in New York early,” I say, “and Teagan is letting us use her helicopter, so it’s only about an hour getting back here. We’re being incredibly spoiled.”

Miranda nods. “You should be spoiled. Trev being onCelebrity Dance Dareis a tremendous marketing opportunity for the Devil Birds and the PHL. All the dance practice plus the travel and playing hockey is going to be exhausting. For both of you. Take advantage of any perks you can to preserve your energy.”

The noise in the rink increases as kids arrive with their parents.

“Let’s go up in the stands so the kids can use the benches to get their skates on.”

I follow her up a few rows and settle in a pair of seats at center ice. The practice rink is a full-sized sheet of ice but doesn’t have as much seating as the main rink, so we can all see the action. Local schools and recreation leagues use this rink for their games and practices.

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