Page 18 of The Puck Stops Here

‘The offer is always open.’

‘Thank you.’

‘In the meantime, keep that ID handy.’ He gestured to the card on a lanyard around her neck and she wondered whether it was an excuse to continue dipping south. ‘It gives you access to all areas within the arena.’

‘I will.’

‘And speaking of the arena, why don’t I give you a tour?’ Aiden suggested. ‘When we’re not playing away, we practically live here so it’ll be good for you to know your way around.’

‘That would be great!’ She set her dazzles on him – some alone time already. Perfect! ‘If it’s no trouble?’

‘Not at all, shall we?’

He gestured for her to precede him out. Ever the Prince Charming. She wanted to roll her eyes over the act. The smooth appearance, the warmth in his smile, the blue eyes that made one think of the beach on a bright summer’s day…

Instead, she walked ahead, swaying her hips to draw his gaze… even if she cursed the pinch of her heels as she did so. Give her trainers any day of the week. But Aiden liked his women with class. Class and skyscraper heels according to his track record, so she would suffer the same in the name of karma.

‘So, what’s it like?’ she said as he came up alongside her in the corridor. ‘Working with your brother,livingwith your bother?’

‘You’ve been doing your research.’

‘What journalist would I be if I hadn’t gleaned all I could beforehand?’

His eyes slid to hers. ‘Maybe it would be useful for you to tell me what you think you know and then I can tell you if you’re hot or cold.’

‘That sounds too much like a game…’

‘I live for games so it works for me.’

He stepped ahead of her, pushing through a door that led into a stairwell and holding it open for her.

‘As much as I love a good game too,’ she said, passing him by, ‘I prefer to get into specifics. That way it’s less open to interpretation and my article will ring true.’

‘Makes sense, I suppose.’

Though he didn’t sound happy about it.

They walked past a group of young players not much older than school age, all of whom gave her a sweeping once-over as the middle one let out a low whistle.

‘Who’s the hot chick, Ice?’

Hot chick? Her inner goddess and karma queen preened, hoping Aiden saw it too.

‘Behave, Eddie,’ he told the kid before addressing her. ‘You’ll have to excuse the rookies, they don’t get out much, do you, boys?’

‘I’d get out more if she is,’ one of them said.

‘I’d stay in more if you are,’ she rebuked before Aiden could intervene again, setting off a string of laughter and a deep-throated chuckle from the man himself.

‘That was probably a bit cruel, wasn’t it?’ She adjusted her glasses as they carried on down the stairs.

‘You’re kidding, right? The sooner they learn to get their head out of their pants the better. I swear Blake and I weren’t that cocky at their age.’

‘You sure about that?’ She couldn’t believe it, not for a second. ‘I thought all lads around that age were bubbling pots of testosterone.’

He huffed. ‘Blake maybe. Me, not so much.’

‘Why do you think that is?’

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