Page 131 of Rush the Edge

I lived for his lingering looks back in high school. The way his eyes would follow me around at a party if my brother dared let me go with them. Or how he’d always be the first to show up if I needed a ride, searching every room and sending scathing glares to guys until he found me. I loved when he’d find me in the stands at his hockey games too.

No matter where I sat, he’d find me.

Kane

Ready or not, here I come.

A high-pitched squeal squeezes from my mouth. I head for the door, thankful the hallway is empty.

Jitters bounce to the bottom of my feet, pushing me to reach the stairs in record time.

The Blue Devils arena is gigantic, and there are plenty of places to hide in.

There are multiple conference rooms, the equipment closet, the visitor team’s locker room, the Blue Devils’ locker room, and the penalty box.

A lightbulb goes off. I bite my lip and head for the stands opposite of the bench. The fans are long gone, not a single person lingering in their seats any longer. I push on the door of one of the box seats and let it close softly behind me. Glass surrounds me, cutting me off from any noise other than my own racing heart.

The anticipation is something I’ve never felt before.

I’m not a Goody Two-shoes like I was when I was in high school. I’ve had plenty of hookups and no-strings-attached flings, but this is something more. Nerves fill my belly, and my heart races. A flirty smile overtakes my face, and the fact that I’m doing this with Kane makes the entire situation that more insane.

Kane

I’m becoming impatient.

I smile.

Me

Here’s a hint: I have the perfect view of the rink.

My phone vibrates, and I’m so excited it almost slips to the floor. I scrunch my nose when I see that it’s a text from a random number, asking me if I’m coming to hang out.Then another text that says,It’s Ted. Your brother gave me your number.

I have the sudden notion to send my brother a message that says,Sorry I’m busy, getting fucked by Kanejust to get back at him for handing out my number like candy,but I quickly toss my phone and stride over to the glass.

The lights over the ice are low, only a few remaining on. Kane will have the perfect view of me all alone in the box seat with the light illuminating me beyond everything else.

I slowly begin to unzip my costume, pulling it away from my shoulders. I zero in my attention on the Blue Devils’ bench, waiting for Kane to show up.

He’s a smart man, so I wouldn’t put it past him to know exactly where to look.

After a few more seconds of waiting and an increasingly alarming number of butterflies in my belly, I spot him.

My heart flips.

A small smile slips onto my lips as he strides casually down the long hallway toward the bench with his hands in his pockets. He has shed his hockey uniform and slipped back into something more casual. I shouldn’t be surprised that he appears even hotter in his sweats and beanie, but I am.

Kane Barlow was all the rave in high school. His cocky smirk and dark-blue eyes had every girl labeling him as the bad boy. Now that he’s all grown up, he’s more like a sin. One that I’d gladly be punished for.

The closer he gets to the bench, the more I ache.

I’m nervous, eager, turned on, and on the very tip of my toes.

It takes him a few scans of the area before he lifts his gaze.

Once he sees me, his lip curves. I manage to keep my smile at bay when he slips his hands into the pockets of his pants, like he’s waiting for me to come to him instead of the other way around.

I crook my eyebrow.

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