Page 161 of Playing the Pucking Game
“I am going to hurt you,” I quietly seethe as he steps up beside me.
“Aw, it’s fun. You should play along,” he suggests.
“You’re not meant to be drawing attention to yourself,” I remind him.
“You’d like Fanta. That’s a fantastic suggestion, sweetie pie.”
I inhale a deep breath, trying to find some patience.
We continue up and down the aisles until we get to the fresh bakery section.
“You’ve been such a good girl for me, you should get some donuts, baby.”
A young guy walking behind us snorts, unable to contain himself.
Curling my fists at my sides, I just about refrain from punching the asshole.
“I’m done. I’ll meet you back at home,” I state, storming off, or trying to, at least.
I barely make it five steps before Linc’s fingers wrap around my wrist. He tugs and I’m powerless but to go where he wants me, and not a second later, I find myself pressed up against the shelves with him crowding me.
He’s so much bigger than me in all aspects that he’s the only thing I can see. His scent rushes through my nose, and without permission, my thighs clench.
The air turns thick as my chest heaves and my body burns.
Time slows to a stop as I wait for what comes next.
Linc’s eyes are dark with a fire roaring within them.
My tongue sneaks out on instinct, swiping across my bottom lip as if I’m preparing for a kiss.
“Parker,” he breathes, closing what little space there is between us.
Panic roars within me. And for the first time, it’s not because he’s about to kiss me but because he’s about to do so in such a public place. The last thing either of us needs is a photo being leaked to the press.
“Oh shit, you’re right,” someone to the right of us cries. “It is him.”
“Shit,” Linc hisses before jumping back and smoothing his hands down his shirt.
“I’m so sorry, I know you’re in the middle of…something,” the guy says, looking between the two of us.
My cheeks instantly burn with embarrassment, regret surging through my veins.
I can already picture the headlines.“Vipers’ new female assistant athletic trainer only got the job because she’s in a relationship with Lincoln Storm.”
“Is there any chance you could sign something for my son? He’ll lose his mind when he hears that I’ve bumped into you.”
“Yeah, sure,” Linc replies, sounding completely unfazed. I wish I could say the same.
“I…um…I’m not sure…” the guy mumbles, patting down his pockets for something for Linc to sign before he turns to his cart. “Here,” he finally says, pulling a packet of Ramen from the pile and thrusting it at Linc.
Linc laughs. “I think this might be a first,” he admits, accepting the pen from the guy and scrawling his name across the packet.
“Thanks so much, man. I really appreciate this. My son is going to be so pissed he missed out. We’ll see you at the game tomorrow, though. We’re going all the way this year.”
Linc agrees before the guy carefully puts his special Ramen back in his cart and continues down the aisle.
“Well, the price of those noodles just increased,” Linc quips, making me shake my head as I trail behind him.
