Page 1 of Puck Me Home Tonight

one

Lenni

"Stoptuggingatyourskirt." Briella slaps at my hands. "You look sexy as hell. You'll have all the guys dropping at your feet."

Before I can respond to her obvious untrue words, the bouncer unhooks the red velvet rope, motioning for us to pass through and enter the hottest new club in town.

Wearing skirts and makeup isn't my thing, but thanks to Briella needing a wing woman tonight, I've been squished into a short, tight green dress that, according to Briella, makes my hazel eyes pop.

My normally unruly curly brown hair, which I usually braid, has now been flattened into a sleek, shiny curtain, falling down my bareback, thanks to Briella's magic with a hair straightener and more hair product than I've ever used in my whole life.

She completed my new look with a touch of neutral eyeshadow, a little mascara, and a splash of ruby red lipstick on my lips.

It's not a drastic transformation, but for someone who wears zero makeup and sweats when she's not playing hockey, I barely recognized myself in the mirror when she was done. That's a good thing since I'm the new goalie for the Iowa Poseidon pro hockey team. My first day of practice and meeting the team is Monday—I can't risk being known as a party girl.

I was recently called from the minor leagues to play on a male pro team. I'll be the second female player in the NHL, behind Teagan Hayes from the Minnesota Norse. But I'll be the first female goalie.

Briella and I have been best friends for years, starting in our figure skating class when we were five. Things have changed in the eighteen years we've been friends. Unlike Briella, I no longer dream of being an Olympic figure skater—winning a gold medal in ice hockey and the Stanley Cup are my dreams now.

By age eight, I knew figure skating wasn't for me. I didn't have the slim, graceful body Briella has—mine is lean and muscular. Even after I switched to hockey, Briella and I stayed the best of friends, each attending the other's events. The only major event in Briella's life I missed was when her mother remarried last year. According to Briella, she gained a new evil stepbrother and two of his wicked best friends who coincidentally happen to play for the Iowa Poseidon.

She never told me what happened at the destination wedding, but whatever it is, Briella is more focused than ever on winning an Olympic gold medal. Tonight is a one-off for her.

I arrived in town four days ago. I couldn't believe my luck when the team that offered me a pro contract was in the same city my best friend lived in. Not only is the pro hockey arena used for hockey, but it's also a hotspot for Olympic ice skaters to train.

The club is crowded, and the music is way too loud. All I want to do is go home, relax in front of the television, and watch a light romantic comedy. Instead, I follow Briella through the crowded club, where the smell of perfume, beer, and sweat fills the air.

"Are you sure about this?" I tug at Briella's elbow causing her to stop and turn around.

We obviously can't drink since we're both in training, but this place looks like a mean girls reunion. The last thing I want is to get hassled by a group of women who are fighting for the same man. I get enough hassle from the puck bunnies afraid I'm sleeping with my teammates.

As if.

The last thing I would ever do is mix business with pleasure. Besides all the guys in this place look to be in their early to mid-twenties. If I'm honest with myself, I prefer older guys—ones that appreciate a woman who isn't stick thin but has more curves. It's not that I'm fat—I'm muscular, which is a turn off for some guys.

"Come on Lenni. It's time you cut loose and have a little fun for once." Briella grabs my hand with a smile. "Let's dance!" She shouts over the crowd, pulling me along until she finds the perfect spot on the dance floor.

She drops my hand as she begins to sway her body to the music, looking graceful with each sultry movement. I'm sure every guy has his eyes on her especially with her long blonde hair, sapphire blue short sequence dress that matches her eyes perfectly. It reminds me of one of her ice-skating costumes only sexier.

With all eyes on her, I decide to shimmy to the music since no one will be watching me. I let the rhythm take control and close my eyes getting lost in the song. I sway my hips from side to side loving the feel of the silk of my dress as it caresses my body, almost like a lover's touch reminding me it's been too long since I've felt any other hand on my body than my own.

Something pulls at my core as I imagine a man's touch on my body, it's almost as if I'm being watched. I open my eyes and glance up to the VIP section of the club to find three extremely handsome men staring back at me. That can't be right. They can't be looking at me. They must be looking at Briella.

A glance away from them not waiting to watch them drool over my beautiful friend. But my foolish heart chances a peak back to the VIP section only to find them gone.

It was silly of me to think that one gorgeous guy would be interested in me let alone three gorgeous guys. Briella is the one they're interested in.

As if proving my point, a group of three guys circle around her. I breathe a sigh of relief when I realize it's not my guys from the VIP section.

I expect the guys to start grinding on Briella, but it doesn't look like they're trying to dance with her. It almost looks like they're trying to cover her up—away from anyone else's view. It looks as though she is arguing with them, but I've managed to dance too far away to hear their conversation.

Working my way back to Briella, I tap on her shoulder to get her attention. "Briella, are you okay?" I glance between the three angry faces, unsure of what is going on. "Do you want me to get security?"

"No. I'm fine." She crosses her arms over her ample chest causing her already short skirt to ride up higher on her legs which in turn makes the three guys crowd around her even more. "This is just my evil stepbrother and his two wicked friends."

Shit. And my new teammates. Why didn't I take the time to research my new team?

I was so caught up in finally making it into the big leagues, I signed the contract electronically after my agent and lawyer reviewed it. I never once thought to see who my new teammates or team owners were.

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