Page 26 of The Rebound Plan

I shove my phone in a little purse and school my features.

CHAPTER 10

RUSS

It takes the rest of the afternoon to check out the boat and jet skis and arrange the necessary insurance. Plus Emery, Mason, and Watanabe all decide they want to get their boating licenses, too.

By the time we’re back at the cottage, with a plan to pick up the water crafts in the morning after a round of golf, it’s well past dinner time and everyone is chomping at the bit for steaks.

The younger guys are also gagging to talk about the breaking Ice League news, but Kieran shuts that down pretty hard. On the off chance that this turns into hockey’s LIVGolf vs the PGA , he doesn’t want anyone to get caught out for having taken a stance one way or another.

“Let’s wait and see what happens,” he said as we all looked at our phones when the news broke. “And until then, it’s the fucking off-season. The only hockey topics we should be thinking about are the ones we can control—our own strength and conditioning. Our own training. And a little rest and relaxation, too. Put those things away and let’s go buy this man a boat.”

So we did.

I have a fucking blessed life.

And once I got over the initial weirdness, it was fun to have Emery’s hand in mine all day, too. Nice to not be the odd guy out. The vibe shift with my married friends has been good in an interesting way, too. I surprised them, I think, by having a woman with me this weekend.

Especially Kieran and Ty, who have both had suspicions about me and my feelings regarding Shannon.

The feelings are still there, of course. It’s going to take more than a day of fake dating to un-train myself to devour how she looks in a bikini, confidently bounding out of my pool, holding out her hand and warmly welcoming another of my friends. It’s going to take more than a summer to un-learn my visceralget your hands off herinstinct when Max possessively tugs her close, his knuckles grazing the side of her breast or the curve of her arse just because he can.

But none of that feels as dangerously close to the surface as it all did at Kieran’s wedding.

Emery is exactly the shield I needed. I thought I needed a rebound fling. It turns out, I just needed a rebound fake.

“Thinking about your new boat?” my fake girlfriend asks, twirling around me in the kitchen. “You have a satisfied look on your face.”

“Thinking about you, actually. Did you have fun today?”

“Yep. Makes me miss playing hockey, though.” She scrunches up her face.

I tug her close, wrapping my arm around her shoulder and hauling her against me so I can kiss the top of her head. I’m a physical guy, and being single and celibate for an entire year has taken a toll I’m only just realizing now, belatedly. I don’t want Emery like that, but having a legit reason to hold a warm woman close to me? I’m not above taking full advantage of the fake dating benefits.

“If you ever want an ear about getting back into it…”

“I know,” she mumbles into my chest. “Maybe if I focus on getting more sponsors.”

“That’s the spirit. Lean into the Granger name.”

She snorts.

“I’m serious, kiddo.”

“You can’t call mekiddothis weekend,Rusty,” she gasps, poking me in the belly.

I chuckle and let her go just as Shannon comes in.

“Need any help?” she asks, a warm smile curling on her face.

Hot, visceral want tugs at my insides. “We’re good,” I manage to say. “You can relax outside?—”

But at the same time, Emery nods. “Do you want to make this salad?”

“Of course.” Shannon rolls up her shirt sleeves, revealing lean, tan forearms. “Put me to work. They’re talking cars out there and my eyes are crossing.”

“Fair warning, we’re talking sponsorship deals in here,” Emery says. “How are you with onions?”

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