Page 96 of Lucky Laces
Thirty-One
Diana
Frustrated and feeling morethan a little harried, I’m turning the corner, focusing on annoying hockey players and my temporary office and the mountain of paperwork that awaits me when an arm wraps around my waist and drags me to a halt.
Panic hits hard…
For one heartbeat.
Then I recognize the hold, the scent, the man who’s stopping me from dealing with the scouting reports and trade offers and supply requests and video coach reports and?—
Well, fromallof that.
“Come with me,” Huddy says, lips brushing my ear as he forms the words and making me shiver.
That shudder has him drawing me closer as he guides me down a hallway and then another, the noise in our temporary space at the Gold’s practice facility fading with each turn.
“Where—”
His lips come to my ear again.“Shh.”
Immediately, my back goes up and I open my mouth, but I don’t get the chance to tell him that shushing me is going to end with murder—or copious ladder drills when he’s back in skating shape— because he tugs again and suddenly I’m in a shadowy alcove near the Zamboni.
Thoughts of the killer sprinting drill, one that’s farfarbelow any professional player’s abilities disappears as his body presses close.
Big.Strong.Hot.Mine.
I shiver again, and his lips curve up.
Cocky.
And I can’t even fault him for it.
He’s hot, my body burns for him, and each and every moment I spend has me falling deeper for him.
Likely the smart thing to do would be to distance myself.
But, as it’s been from the moment his body shielded mine in my office, I’m not going to be smart.
I’m letting the current drag me under…and maybe it’s fucking stupid, but I’m enjoying each and every moment of the ride.
His hand settles on the side of my neck, fingers squeezing lightly.“How was your day, DeeDee baby?”
That’s a new one.
I’ve heard Dee and DeeDee and sweetheart and honey and baby and now…DeeDee baby.
My mouth curves up.“Long.Hockey guys are a bunch of whiners?—”
“Seriously?”he asks dryly.
“Always crying about their time in the weight room and the extra drills I assign.”I shake my head, smothering a smile because aside from Pat, Kane, and Duncan, all the guys on the roster have an intense work ethic that I admire.“Oh, no Coach, don’t make me add more weight to my squats.”Another shake.“Like I have any control over what the strength team says.Idoover the drills, but I swear, any more bitching about them and I’ll snap!I expend a lot of effort putting them together in order to help you guys.”
The last has frustration creeping in.
Because I just had a talk with Pat that makes me want to do my head in.
“I know, sweetheart,” Huddy says, hand flexing, forehead coming to rest against mine.“We’re a bunch of assholes.”
