Page 29 of Claiming Her Cougar
“Go!”Daphne screams, jumping to her feet.
Liam and I turn our attention back to the game in time to watch the Flyers’ right wing break away with the puck and streak to the goal, dodging Dallas defenders.He shoots…he scores!
“Yes!”Liam yells, jumping up from his seat and raising his fists in the air.I realize he’s wearing the jersey of the scoring player.I wonder if it’s because he was a right winger when he played.
I stand and cheer too.Liam shocks me by turning my way, hugging me, and lifting me off the floor in his excitement.
Wow.I know he’s just being exuberant, but I haven’t been in any man’s arms since Liam’s in Vegas, and it feels wonderful.Comfortable.Right.He smells so good, like my uncle’s Christmas tree farm.Oh no, Mallory, stop this.Coworkers.Casual.Friends.Maybe fuck buddies.Nothing more.
Liam sets me back on my feet and turns to high-five Jake behind us.Daphne hugs me while jumping up and down, forcing me to jump up and down with her.You’d think we just won the Stanley Cup, not merely scored a goal.Whatever.It’s nice to be with people who are enthusiastic fans.Nothing worse than watching a hockey game with polite, quiet people.If I wanted to be bored, I’d turn on golf.
After the second intermission, Teagan sits next to me.Did the women in Liam’s life arrange a schedule ahead of time so they knew who would interrogate me when, or are they leaving it to opportunity?
“You’re a friend of Daphne’s?”Teagan asks.
Okay, this is the way we’re going to go.
“I am.We work together at Morgan Development.You grew up with Liam?”Two can play this game.
“Yes, from grade school through college.Jake too, except for high school.He went to school out of state.”She smiles.“We’re the three musketeers.They’re like the brothers I never had.”
“Do you have sisters, Teagan?”I ask.
“No.I’m an only child.How about you?”
“I have an older brother and sister and a younger brother.”
“Did you grow up around here?”she asks as we’re both watching the action on the ice.
“Yeah, I’m the only one still here.My parents retired to Florida, my sister lives in New York, my eldest brother is in Maryland with his family, and my younger brother is in law school.”I cheer as the home team scores again.Fifteen minutes left in the game, and we’re ahead by a goal.I hope we can hold on.
We watch the game and sip our sodas.It’s a little weird, but not that bad.Oh, what the hell.
“When do you switch spots with Jake?”I ask.“Do you have a signal worked out or a specific time in the third period?”
Teagan’s eyes widen, and then she laughs.
“I guess we haven’t been subtle, have we?”
“Not really.You know we’re just coworkers, right?We aren’t dating or anything.”
“I know, but he likes you, and I care about him—as a friend—so I want to check you out.You never know.Maybe things will change…”
“Not happening,” I insist.“I don’t date coworkers, and I definitely won’t date a boss.”I take a deep breath and lean in.“I care about my career and what people think about me.I don’t want anyone to say I got where I am, if I get anywhere, because of who I was dating or who I was friends with.I want to be judged on my merit.”
“I get that.I like you, Mallory.I hope we can grow to be friends.”A slow grin spreads across Teagan’s face, and maybe that’s respect shining in her eyes.Then she looks to the back of the box and yells out, “Yo, Jake!Want your turn checking out Mallory?”
I want to climb over the railing in front of my seat and escape the suite.Of course, her bellow comes at the one moment during the entire game the Wells Fargo Center was silent.I swear the players on the ice look up to our suite and judge me.Okay, maybe not really, but I’m pretty sure Gritty is giving me the googly side-eye.
“Hey, how you doin’?”Jake asks as he sits next to me, sounding so much like Joey fromFriends, I can’t control the burst of laughter that comes from me.Jake is the definition of tall, dark, and handsome at a smidge over six feet tall with wavy black hair just touching his collar, rich brown eyes that hint at mischief, and a charming white smile with dimples to drown in lighting his face.He’s lean but muscular.To put it simply, he’s a hunk.
“I’m good.How are you?”I respond.
“Great, thanks.I really don’t have anything to interrogate you on.I think everyone covered it, so wanna just watch the game?”
“Or I could grill you,” I suggest.
Jake laughs and takes a sip of his soda.“Shoot.”
