Page 37 of Sin Bin Daddies
So why does my body remember it so damn vividly?
I hesitate, debating whether to turn around, but it’s too late. Ford glances up first, his jaw flexing before he nods once and takes off down the path without a word. Like he can’t get away fast enough.
Asher grins. “That was friendly.”
I force a small smile. “Hey.”
“Hey, neighbor.” His eyes flick down my body, not in a sleazy way, just… noticing.
I grip Sunny’s leash tighter, nerves tangling with something else. Maybe it’s the fact that I still feel out of place in this city. Or maybe it’s the idea of running alone, my thoughts chasing me with every step. Either way, I hear myself ask, “Mind if I join?”
His grin widens. “Thought you’d never ask.”
We fall into an easy pace along the beach path, the sun climbing higher, the ocean breeze thick with heat. Sunny bounds ahead, nose to the ground, oblivious to the way my pulse kicks up.
“You ready for the game?” I ask, desperate for something normal.
Asher rolls his shoulders, like the question amuses him. “Yeah. The Titans are always a pain in the ass, but we’ll handle it.”
I smile. “Confidence. I like it.”
His gaze flicks over, something unreadable behind it. “You like a lot of things, don’t you?” My breath catches, but he doesn’t seem to notice because he continues with, “You gotta have a little arrogance in hockey, sweetheart.”
I snort, shaking my head.
“So,” he says after a moment, eyeing me, “how’d you end up the mascot?”
I pause.
Then shrug. “Right place, right time.”
“And the real story?”
I laugh. “Fine. My brother’s husband works with Daisy Love. She mentioned the opening. I needed money. End of story.”
“Fair enough,” he says. “Sounds like you don’t even like hockey.”
I grin. “Nope.”
“Brutal.”
“Hey,” I say. “I didn’t say I hated it. Just… didn’t care before.”
“Yet now you’re spending every day with a team full of guys who are obsessed with it.”
I sigh dramatically. “It’s my burden to bear.”
Asher chuckles, shaking his head. “You’ll come around.”
We reach a small matcha café tucked along the beach path.
Asher stops. “Ever had matcha?”
I blink. “Uh, once. It was… fine?”
“Then you’ve had the wrong one.”
He waves me inside, and before I know it, we’re sitting on the back patio, matcha lattes in hand. Sunny lays beside me, tail wagging lazily.
