Page 30 of Bagging the Blueliner
Not done, Zoe threw out, “Did I mention it was winter?”
Every man present grimaced, their hands instinctively moving to cover their junk. Smug, I asked, “Not so funny now, is it? I almost lost my balls to frostbite.”
Benji pointed at Zoe. “You know who you would get along great with?”
Interested, her eyes lit up. “Who?”
“Hannah.”
That was the absolute last thing I needed—my sister and Hannah feeding off each other, tag-teaming me.
The two of them couldnevermeet.
“Ooh. Who’s Hannah? Is she Cal’s girl?” Zoe’s blue eyes sparkled with interest.
Benji cackled. “More like his worst enemy. That girl rides him so hard. And not in a pleasurable way. If ballbusting was an international sport, Hannah would win a gold medal.”
“Sounds like my kind of girl.”
Standing, before either of them could do more damage, I declared, “I think it’s time to get back to the hotel. We’ve got a game tomorrow, so we need a good night’s rest.”
Zoe’s lips twisted in a way that told me she knew I was full of shit, but she let me hug her goodbye without another word.
Nash stood to shake my hand, uttering, “See you tomorrow.”
Looking down at him, I grunted.
I cuffed Benji upside the head, then we headed back to our rental. “This the thanks I get for bringing you home and letting you enjoy my mom’s home cooking?”
“I had a great time. Let’s do this every time we come to Calgary.” Benji was practically bouncing on his way to the car.
Getting behind the wheel and taking us back to the city, I sighed. “I need something stronger than beer. I’m buying the first round at the hotel bar when we get back.”
Translation: I need to get drunk and get laid.
Jaxon declined, saying he wanted to call Natalie before it got too late on the East Coast, but Benji was ready to act as my wingman as I trolled the hotel lobby for willing bunnies.
The mere mention of Hannah had me on edge. She would be forgotten the minute I sank my dick into a warm pussy. Guaranteed.
The hotel lobby was packed with people. Word always got around where the visiting team was staying, and hockey fansdescended. Not everyone rooted for the hometown team, and in every city, Comets fans surfaced, wanting to hang out with us.
Beyond the fans, there were always the bunnies. We might be the ones collecting trophies on the ice, but to them, we were the prize. Most times, they offered no-strings sex, knowing we were moving on after the game.
I had no problem being objectified if that meant a steady stream of women were willing to warm my bed. It was convenient, and tonight would provide a much-needed release from the stress of being on the road for so long.
Jaxon excused himself to call his wife, and Benji called after him, “Whipped!”
Instead of the middle finger, Jaxon flashed him his left ring finger as he walked away. I laughed. Our captain was most happily whipped.
What seemed like a million years ago, we had stared hopelessly at a too-young Natalie and Hannah, knowing they could never be ours. Against all odds, Natalie was now his, and Jaxon had fallen into the role of family man with enthusiasm. I respected the hell out of him. It took guts to take on another man’s kids as your own. In fact, when we returned home, he was legally adopting Natalie’s three older children.
The reminder that Jaxon got everything he’d ever dreamed of while I feasted on a diet of one-night stands settled like a rock in my gut. I needed that drink more than ever.
Clapping Benji on the shoulder, I urged him toward the waiting hotel bar. He ordered another beer, but I needed a stiff drink. Asking for a double whiskey neat, I leaned against the bar top, scanning the area, searching for my mark.
Instead of focusing on the beautiful women eager for my attention, my eyes found Hannah. Secluded in a corner booth, she was visibly flirting with three men. One was completely in her personal space, dipping his head to her ear. Hannah threwher head back and laughed at whatever he’d whispered to her, exposing the long column of her throat.
Gritting my teeth but unable to look away, I reached blindly for the drink the bartender offered. Tossing the liquor back, I winced as it burned on the way down.
