Page 25 of The Truth of Our Secrets

Unfortunately, Dylon, my injured player, is determined to skate against medical advice. What the fuck is he thinking? He knows I play in this league.

The locker room is full of guys dressing for the game and throwing insults at each other.

Lars, Dylon’s teammate, pleads his case for him, which is crazy. He’s furious as well but thinks this is the best option since we’ll be here to make sure he doesn’t injure himself further.

I want to take both Lars’s and Dylon’s heads and smash them together. Since that’s the opposite of my job description, I refrain.

Goddammit. What the fuck. Can’t even enjoy hockey without babysitting.

A delicious smell hits my nose and I try to ignore it. A guy can’t be in a locker room and get turned on by man-scent and sweat. The smell is irresistible and familiar. But not another player. I finish with Lars and scan the room for someone new.

My eyes land on Emmet and all thoughts of the smell exit my brain. Madyson told me she saw him at Unframed Art and he needs to stay the hell out of our lives.

“Emmet,” I yell, and he ignores me. I bellow his name louder and stomp across the locker room. But Fucking Alec and Von act like his goddamn bodyguards.

It’s times like this that it’s hard to remember that I don’t hate Alec. He brought Emmet back into our lives but helped my wife years ago. Balance.

I argue with them and then Emmet steps out from behind them. I’m hit with the full force of his scent. It’s easy to pick out the overtone of ink, but underneath there’s rich sage andsandalwood. His sweat amplifies all of it, and it brings me to my knees.

Fuck, I want to bury myself in it.

It throws me back to the day I met Madyson and knew I had to have her. Her smell hit me like a ton of bricks and his is having the same effect.

He needs pads to play and my brain short-circuits. Before I can think, I strip mine off and hand them to him.

“I’m not wearing yours.” Emmet stomps past me, following Alec to the office where there’s extra equipment. He’s unaffected. I’m drowning in desire. My judgment has left the building.

He has to talk to me. “Emmett.” My voice sounds needy, but Emmet doesn’t turn my way. He finds pads and dresses for the game with a smug expression.

After he walks away, his smell clears from my nose, and my brain comes back online. That was pathetic. He’s the last person I should be attracted to. I’m not some fucking animal unable to control myself.

He needs to stay away from me and Madyson, and I’ll kick his ass in the hockey game.

Lars lectures about Dylon’s shoulder injury and the rules for tonight. Dylon is reffing and everyone needs to stay at least threefeet away from him even if the puck goes near him. Rule: go around Dylon, not through.

My skates glide over the ice, and I line up across from Emmet. My brain melts again. It pisses me off. The guy’s dangerous. The worst person to be around Madyson, and I’m drooling like some lovesick puppy.

My rage builds and I’m barely aware of the game. But then Emmet skates too close to Dylon and I’m on a mission to teach him a lesson. I won’t let him hurt people I care about.

Fucking Von keeps getting in my way and blocks me from going after Emmet. He’s a natural on skates. A gnat to be swatted along with Emmet.

By the third period, Dylon goes to take a pain pill. I’m sure it’s normal, but in my head it’s Emmet’s fault. Dylon twisted out of the way when Emmet skated too close, hurting his shoulder.

As soon as I get the chance, I smash Emmet into the boards. It’s a cheap shot, but not unusual for hockey. He played in college. He gets it.

But he throws his helmet and strips off his gloves, challenging me to a fight. This is it. This will finally get him away from us.

“I know what you did, you lying piece of shit.” He swings, hitting the side of my head.

I don’t move to strike back, and that adds fuel to his exploding fire. “Admit it. She didn’t want me out of her life. You did. Like you do now.” He punches me in the stomach. “Does she know?” He hits me again, but I block the worst of it. “That the man she married lies to her face?” He connects and hits me in the eye. It’s going to swell up.

Perfect.

Lars is livid. Screaming at Emmet and me to get off the ice. His fury surprises me. He’s a levelheaded guy and fights happen all the time, even in our rec games.

Emmet gathers his gloves and helmet, cursing me as he heads to the locker room.

I can’t explain the thrill running through my veins. My body is alive and spiking with a huge adrenaline rush. My brain interprets it as a turn-on, like I can’t even identify my emotions.

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