Page 9 of Peach Blossom Hollow

“Commuting is fun?”

She giggled. “No. Our jobs. And we’re…having fun.”

“Ah.”

“We’re the Dragon Babes,” she stated, seeming almost embarrassed.

“Yeah?”

That blush returned to her cheeks, but she threw her shoulders back as though bracing herself. “We’re both single, so we’re going to enjoy all that this position has to offer.”

Curious, he asked, “And what’s that?”

For a long moment, Violet didn’t answer. Finally, she said, “Date for fun even if you know it won’t go somewhere. Go out for drinks and live a little. Meet new people.”

He thought about that. “You mean party?”

Her upper lip curled in distaste. Okay, so maybe closer to introvert than party girl.

“Live like someone left the gate open?” he suggested, thinking of the old rodeo saying.

She smiled and nodded.

“It sounds like you’ve been living pretty seriously until now?”

“A trail of broken hearts follows me,” she replied lightly. He had a feeling she was being sarcastic, but could see how she might break hearts. She had a way of worming into a guy’s soul. Sweet and kind, but with enough unexpected quips to keep you on your toes. He’d wondered more than once since meeting her what she was up to at that moment.

“It’s time for a bit of fun,” she announced. There was a set to her jaw as if she was fighting something and unwilling to back down.

She definitely wasn’t looking for the same things he was. He was ready to settle down—once he figured out how to find Ms. Right, aka Christine Lagrée, and convince her he was the one for a lifelong partnership.

“Well, I’m glad you have a friend here—even though she might get fired,” he said with a wink. He was pretty confident Miranda would never allow someone like Nuvella to influence the hiring choices for her company. “Having Daisy-Mae here with you will make it all the more fun.” And safer.

CHAPTER 3

Leo had less than an hour before he had to be on the ice for the pregame warm-up, but his nerves were killing him. Tonight was the first professional league game of his career. He’d been tossed off of vicious bulls, trampled, squeezed, had muscles ripped and shredded, but the idea of entering the rink with eleven other men who were at the highest level of this sport and had way more experience than he did? That was more nerve-racking than any rodeo he’d ever been in.

He’d already paced through every restricted area of the arena, trying to wear off his jitters, his headphones delivering a soothing sound bath Coach Louis had sent him. Music had helped him in bull riding, but today it wasn’t coming close to lessening his nerves. He needed a distraction that would keep him preoccupied until just before he had to suit up. Once he was skating, he knew he’d be too focused to fret about all the ways he could mess up and get himself benched for the rest of the season. Assuming he even made it onto the ice during tonight’s game.

The team’s coach, Louis Bellmore, in an attemptto be reassuring, had said that nobody expected much from such a late bloomer, especially being on the league’s worst-ranked team. Then he had grinned and slapped Leo on the back, seemingly oblivious to the fact that he’d basically flushed his right winger’s hopes and dreams down the toilet.

Leo’s wireless headphones beeped, then cut out as he reached the chilly, long hallway to the locker rooms. He tugged them off his ears and gave them a shake. He’d charged the set last night. They should be good for another eight hours, and he only needed a few more minutes.

“I can’t believe they had us go dutch!”

Leo looked up, then instinctively turned to move in the opposite direction of the furious voice floating down the hallway. He needed a distraction, not drama about one of the players as relayed by a girlfriend.

“And split down the middle? I don’t think so!”

What were women doing down here, anyway? This area was restricted to athletes, and this corridor specifically the Dragons.

The familiar voice grew closer and louder, the woman’s indignation drawing his curiosity. He slowed his steps to listen. Maybe drama could be a decent distraction.

“Has the man never heard of math? Or was that crappy double date just a way to financially support his beer habit?”

Another woman laughed in reply, and Leo stopped.

“And a kiss? I should have socked him one. I hate dating!”

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