Page 71 of Just One Season
I grin and the crowd cheers. But there’s no time to bask in glory.
3-3.
I want one more goal.
I want a hat trick in front of Lucy Knox.
Nowthatwould be a cause for celebration. I’ve done it one other time in my time with the Blizzard, but it’s been a few seasons since. A handful of other teams have had one this season.
It’s our turn.Myturn.
I grit my teeth down on my mouthguard.
“Don’t even fucking try it.” One of the forwards from the Jets growls at me during the face-off.
The referee drops the puck, and the Jets player attempts to slap it toward one of his forwards, but I’m faster. I get it to Harley and zip up the rink toward the goal. Harley passes it back to one of our defenders, who snaps it up to me.
And I score.
The crowd goes wild and hats go flying in the stands to celebrate the hat trick.
I pump a hand in the air and the team piles on me, laughing and cheering and almost taking me down. We’re winning 4-3.
Coach waves our line off, and I glance up at Lucy, who’s smiling and clapping.
We might have been texting a lot, but it’s been a week since I’ve seen her as I was traveling, and Ava didn’t have a game this morning. I need to make sure she’s not freaked out about the kiss, despite her casual messaging with me.
We crossed a line at the photo shoot.
No,Idid.
It doesn’t matter how good the cafe kiss felt. Sweet and soft.
Our nonstop text message conversations.
Ava’s constant chatter about Coach Lucy and her dog.
The way she makes me laugh.
The photo shoot kiss, hot and deep and leaving me wanting so much more.
This was not part of the arrangement.
I need to pull it together.
I’ll find her after the game and make sure things are right.
CHAPTER 21
The Suit Hits Just Right
LUCY
“You’ll be fine, Bear.” I push a curl off my forehead and reach down to scratch my dog’s head. He’s sitting at my feet in my office. Actually, he’s sittingonmy feet.
Bear turns and licks my hand.
“I’ll be back in an hour. You have treats, water, and a dog bed.”
