Page 29 of Flirty Pucking Wolf

“Lots and lots of practice,” she says. “Trevor’s in the middle of his hockey season, so I’m traveling with the team to their away games. We’re practicing in the hallway outside of locker rooms, in airports waiting to get on the plane, in hotel rooms. We’re grabbing every moment we can to practice, and I’m shocked Trevor hasn’t dropped yet. He’s giving it his all with the dancing, plus playing multiple games of hockey each week, which is very physically demanding.” She looks up at me and gives a quick smile. “Hockey is a contact sport. He’s getting hit and knocked down. Fighting for the puck. Contending with bumps, bruises, and strains, and still practicing dance with me and giving his all just like he does on the ice. I don’t know how he’s doing it, but I couldn’t ask for a better partner.”

They both look at me, and I shrug. We need to add answering interview questions to things we practice. We didn’t, so I’m going to have to wing this and hope I don’t say something asinine.

“If I’m doing something, I’m going to give it my all,” I say. “Whether it’s hockey or dancing or law school, whatever it is, I’m all in and wanna be the best.”

DeeDee gasps. “You’re a lawyer too?”

I nod. I know this info was part of the media package the show provided and not a secret, but I play along.

“How are you still single?” She nudges Sophie with her elbow and winks. “Unless he’s not?”

I ignore the innuendo. “Playing professional hockey was a dream of mine that I didn’t think I’d ever get a chance to realize. I know this is Sophie’s dream, and I want her to have what she’s always wanted. A couple months of hard work is worth it to make her dreams come true too.”

Truth is, I’m exhausted, and my body is taking a beating. But the brilliant smile and quick hug she gives me makes it worth it.

10

SOPHIE

I did it.Okay, we did it. I know it’s a team effort, butI did it.I choreographed a dance the judges liked. I taught it to Trevor. He performed it well enough for us to get one of the top scores. The television audience enjoyed it enough to vote for us to stay, and I took my first step to being chosen as a pro dancer for the next season. It’s going to happen.

The lights of the city cast shadows through the windows of the SUV limousine taking Trevor and me back to Atlantic City. Our friends and family that showed up for the first week’s show drove the limo up. We didn’t want to be rude and fly while they rode back, so we joined them.

“Champagne?” Bedard asks, holding up a bottle.

“Sure, thank you,” I say. We’re all shifters, and a glass of champagne won’t make anyone tipsy. Well, Miranda isn’t a shifter, but she’s Irish, so the same holds true for her, too.

My phone vibrates in my coat pocket, so I pull it out. It’s an email from the show’s producers with next week’s dance and song selection. We have the rumba. Rumba is a challenge at any time, but in week two, after the fast-paced, exuberant cha-cha? Being slow and sensual will be a big shift in gears. It’s a very intimate dance. I’ll listen to the track when I’m back in my room, but if it’s the version I think it is, we’re going to melt the dance floor next week.

“Everything okay?” Trevor asks. He’s next to me on the bench seat of the limo, his body heat seeping into me. It’s comforting. I’m exhausted after the long day and wish I could snuggle into his warmth and nap on the way home. I miss sleeping in his arms. While we were traveling for the road games, we slept apart because it would’ve been awkward being so obvious in front of the entire team and my brother. And when we were back in Atlantic City, we were caught up in extra dance practices, and Trevor had extra hockey practice and multiple home games. Even with willing spirits, having the time, place, and energy to be intimate beyond some quick kisses has been impossible. Hopefully after tonight, that will all change.

I nod. Even though the city lights are no longer streaming in, I know his night vision must be strong enough to see me. “Aye, they sent out what next week’s dance is. Rumba.”

His straight, white teeth flash with his smile. “You’re tired. You said ‘aye.’ You sound especially Irish when you’re tired or angry.”

“I am tired,” I admit. “Aren’t you?”

Trevor shakes his head. “Not yet. I’m still riding the adrenaline high. It’s the same way after a good game. I’ll zonk out when we get home.”

My intention is to stay awake with the others for the ride home. The reality is I fall asleep and am woken by Trevor gently jostling me and murmuring my name.

“Hmm…” I snuggle deeper under the covers. It’s so warm and cozy. I sit up abruptly when I remember I’m not in bed and realize I spent the ride nestled against Trevor’s side with his arm draped around me. I dislodge his arm, but I immediately miss the warmth and comfort.

Miranda’s smirking at me. She wipes at her chin. Random, but okay. She widens her eyes and rubs at her chin quite deliberately. Slowly, I reach up and rub at mine and am horrified to find it’s wet. Crap, I drooled in my sleep. I surreptitiously look at Declan, but other than a single raised eyebrow, he’s not reacting. That’s good. There’s nothing to react to. I’ve had a long day and long car rides lull me to sleep. It’s been that way since I was a kid. What I did was perfectly natural. So was Trevor putting his arm around me to keep me steady. That’s all it was.

I look out the vehicle window and am surprised not to see neon. We aren’t at Devil’s Den, we’re at Trevor’s home. It’s dark now so I can’t see anything but I know from being here New Year’s Day that in addition to the barn Trevor renovated into apartments for him and his teammates to live in, there’s the house Trevor grew up in with his siblings. That’s where Mallory and Liam live. It’s surrounded by woods full of trails to run on. His eldest brother has a cottage somewhere on the expansive property and there are assorted outbuildings like a pool house and garages. Relatives own neighboring properties so it’s almost like a big Carter family compound.

“I’ll drive you back to Devil’s Den,” Trevor says. “It was easier to come here first to drop everyone else off.”

“Or you can just stay over,” Miranda says. Declan whips his head toward her.

She shrugs. “She can stay in your room. You don’t sleep in there anymore.” Her eyes widen like they would when we were little girls and she heard there were new kittens in the barn. “You could move here and take over Dec’s room! It would cut down on the time wasted driving back and forth. You can practice here. Cutting out drive time would probably add another hour or two you guys could practice each day.”

I know she’s being logical and practical, but I do not want to live next door to my brother and my best friend. No matter how quiet they are, I’m going to hear things I don’t want to. Would Trevor even want me around that much?

Kendall and Burke are the first out of the limo, and I follow. No matter what I end up doing, there’s no reason to keep the limo here.

Before I can say anything, Mallory saves the day.

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