Page 45 of Wild Blades

Wade ‘pain in my ass’ Collins.She’s right about that too.

And she’s too good for me.

Stay away, Wade. Every woman you’ve loved has either left you or let you down.

Best to close whatever might be happening between us down now.

Better for everyone in the long run.

Everything always ends in heartbreak for me, anyway.

I need to focus my attention on my career. That’s what’s important.

And getting my temper under control, learning how to feel good again, playing hockey better than I ever have.

Those are the things that matter.

With a heavy sigh, I turn away, leave the room, and fall asleep on the sofa.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Kali

Kali Roth seen leaving nightclub with Eagles defenseman, ‘Wild’ Wade Collins

Unpeeling my tongue from the roof of mydrier than a desertmouth, I let out a groggy, “Oh, God,” as a marching band parades through my temples. Rolling onto my back gingerly, I reach up to massage them and then the tense spot between my brows. I never drink. A glass of wine here and there, a cocktail with the girls once in a while, but never to the extent I did last night.

Last night I drank to get drunk, to forget.Goddamn Michael and his hateful words.

His threat of opening his own talent agency in the city pushed me over the edge. I’m all for a little healthy competition, but knowing Michael the way I do, he’ll only do it to spite me because he’s read the press release I published last week announcing my plans.

And him and Darcy are having a baby. God, that stings.

I don’t remember anything after my run in with Michael. So that worked in my favor… until now. I feel like death and then some.

“Morning, Ms. Roth.” A disembodied voice, one that sounds a lot like Wade, makes my eyes snap open and I instantly regret it.Who moved the sun inside the room and hell, no, what the heck… Wade? And where am I?I bolt upright and consider lying back down immediately as my stomach flips. I feel like I might vomit.

With one hand rubbing my thumping temples, I lay the other flat against my churning stomach. I need food. Lots of it. It’s the only thing that will settle my stomach.

Shutting one eye, because it’s way too bright, accentuates my headache that’s beating loudly in my eardrums. So loud, I swear there are miniature people in there punching each other to smithereens.

As a clearer vision of Wade comes to view, he dries his wet hair with a white fluffy towel.

And wow.Naked from the waist up, a pair of gray sweatpants hang low on his hips. He has abs for days that I could quite easily climb up all the way to his mouth.

Stop it.

Is he not wearing any boxers?‘Cause I sure as hell can see the outline of his huge dick through those.

Stop looking,you hussy.

“Is this your room?” I close my eyes again and apprehensively wait for an answer.

“Yes.”

“Oh, hell. What am I doing here?” I’m ninety-nine percent certain I’m going to vomit if I don’t eat something soon; my head and stomach are spinning faster than a Tilt-A-Whirl and I don’tknow if it’s from the alcohol or the realization that I’m in one of my client’s bedrooms.

Oh my god, Marcus is going to fire my ass. Then he’ll hire Michael to do the work.

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