Page 20 of Offside and Off-Limits
“Anything for the legendary Cade Lennox,” the guy replies, jogging over to us. It’s then that I recognize him as Joel Fincher, a kid I used to babysit back when I was fourteen. Not that he’s a kid anymore.
“See? Problem solved,” Cade says to me with a satisfied grin.
I push out a breath. This guy sure is persistent when he wants something.
Joel arrives at the players’ bench and it’s clear he’s completely starstruck by the guys, punching their gloved hands and grinning like he won the lottery.
“Hey, Clara,” he says to me, barely tearing his gaze from the players.
“Hi, Joel.”
“This is for the Ice Breaker’s TikTok, right?” Joel asks.
“Sure,” I reply, because isn’t that obvious? Why else would I have three hockey players dancing on the ice for me?
Don’t answer that.
“Got it,” Joel replies, grinning so hard he’s at risk of splitting his face in two.
“Okay, let’s do this!” Asher declares, and Cade pulls the door open, offering me his gloved hand.
I open my mouth to protest, but I’m all out of excuses.
I may as well get this over with.
With the reluctance of a kid going to the dentist, I take Cade’s proffered gloved hand and step gingerly onto the ice, instantly regretting my heels and skirt combo. But then to be fair to me, I didn’t think my first day on the job as Social Media Manager for the Ice Breakers would involve me taking part in a TikTok dance with three of the players.
Go figure.
Asher demonstrates the dance I just filmed, and as I clutch onto Cade’s hand for support, I try my best not to slip off and fall flat on my face as I move my feet in sync with the guys. Despite the fact I’m doing my best to concentrate on the steps, it’s hard not to be hyperaware of Cade at my side.
“Oh, man, this is awesome!” Joel declares, holding my phone in his hands. “You guys look sick! Even you, Clara.”
I let out a surprised laugh at Joel’s comment when Asher calls, “And now turn!” and as I do my legs fly from underneath me, and my breath wooshes out as I scrunch my eyes shut, bracing for the impact of cold, hard ice against my poor, under-protected butt.
But the ice-cold contact fails to happen, and when my eyes spring open I see Cade, his eyes wide with alarm as large, strong arms pull me against his firm body.
He grins down at me as my heart beats out of my chest.
I tell myself it’s because I almost fell, but being in Cade’s arms feels…well, it feels pretty dang amazing.
Not that I’m going to tellhimthat.
“Thanks,” I mumble, the heat rising in my cheeks as I gaze up at him, at total odds with the cold of the arena.
“My pleasure,” he replies, and the way he says those two words sends a flash of something hot through me that I’ve got to work hard at resisting.
But resist it I must, no matter how good this feels.
I haven’t been held by a man since Dwayne left me for my friend. And that was years ago.
I heave out a breath as I drag my gaze from his. I need to remember that this guy is a total player, and I don’t mean just on the ice. He probably catches falling women in his big, strong arms every day of the week—and I bet most of them don’t even bother to resist the heat this feeling elicits.
But I’m not one of those women, and I refuse to act on my physical attraction for this man. There are so many reasons, the non-fraternization clause in my employment contract being right at the top of that list.
Throwing away my new job because I’m attracted to one of the players? Not going to happen.
“You guys, I’m getting so many likes on this!” Joel calls out.
