Page 78 of Cheap Shot
“Even when he does dumb shit like start a fight with a promising rookie right in front of the coach.” Beau chuckles, wrapping his arm around my throat and pulling me down for a noogie.
He manages a few passes before I pull from his grasp, standing up straight. “Thanks, Beau.”
“What? Itwasfucking stupid.” He shrugs before turning his attention to Jensen. “But that’s besides the point. Keep our family’s names out of your mouth. The ass-beating Cole gave you will be nothing compared to what we will do to you. You’ll be lucky if you can get a job selling tickets at the arena when we are finished with you.”
“All this for a fucking puck bunny? I swear, the bitch must have a pussy of gold,” Jensen mutters, and I lunge forward again, this time clocking Cooper in the jaw.
“Stop fucking talking before we let him kill you. Also, pack your trash. You’re out of here.” Cooper releases his arm, shoving him toward the door. Jensen stumbles, falling flat on his back, the three of us towering over him.
I lean down slightly so we’re at eye level, needing him to know I mean every word coming out of my mouth. “Please open your mouth again. Say something about Michele again, and I will end your miserable existence on this earth. No one will stop me from getting to you. There will be nowhere for you to hide that I can not find you.”
“And we will help,” Beau responds from somewhere behind me, and I know he means it. It seems my mild-mannered brother, who always avoids conflict, has reached his breaking point.
“Do you understand?” I ask, needing to hear his response.
Jensen nods his head, his eyes wide with what looks like a combination of shock and a little fear.
“Use your words like a big boy, Jensen.”
“I understand.”
“Glad we had this talk.” I smile, grabbing him by the front of his shirt and hauling him to his feet.
“What do you three think you are doing with my patient?” I spin around, almost dropping Jensen back to the ground, to find Michele standing just outside Parker’s office.
My brain short-circuits as I stare at her, my eyes drinking her in. Even standing to her full height, she barely comes to the center of my chest, but she doesn’t back down. Her hands are balled into fists and pressed into her voluptuous hips. Her long, jet-black hair cascades down her back in soft waves, now free from the confines of her high ponytail from earlier, and she’s dressed in sleek, form-fitting athletic leisure wear—high-waisted leggings and a cropped green hoodie that hugs her comfortably, accentuating every curve of her body. Fuck, she’s gorgeous.
“Didn’t your momma tell you it was impolite to stare?” she asks, her eyebrows raised in challenge, causing my brothers to snicker loudly from behind me.
“She did,” Cooper responds for me, smacking me hard on the back. “But you’ve apparently struck him speechless.”
“Laying it on thick, aren’t you?” She strides toward us, every movement of her hips ensuring I remain under her spell. “But you still haven’t answered my question.”
“Jensen said he wanted to grab some food. We figured he wasn’t cleared to drive home, so we offered to take him to get some food. If you and Parker are okay with it, that is?”
“Why do I feel like there’s more to the story than that?” Michele asks, her eyes still locked with mine, imploring me to tell her what’s going on.
“Because you have half a brain,” Jensen grumbles before groaning loudly and bending at the waist.
“Are you all right?” She leans to the side to get a better look at him, but I step in her way.
I can barely keep it together as is. If Jensen makes one comment about how fucking gorgeous she is, I will end him right here in front of everyone and have fun doing it.
“Fine. Just ready to get out of here. Can I go?”
“I have to check with Parker to make sure he’s okay with it, but I don’t see why not.” Her eyes flick over my head to one of my brothers. “Can he stay with one of you tonight? I want him to be woken up periodically just to be safe.”
“Sure. No problem. They’d be happy to help,” I respond, without even bothering to turn around and ask them if it’s okay because, honestly, I don’t give a fuck. They could drop him on the side of the highway for all I care, as long as he is nowhere near me or Michele for the foreseeable future.
“Beau would love to watch over him,” Cooper responds. “Cole and I have to meet with Coach before heading out and have a little chat about what happened at practice today.”
Cooper is coming with me? That’s news to me, but I’ll allow it. I’ll do almost anything to make sure I can stay here and close to Michele for a little while longer.
“I hope you two aren’t in any trouble,” she whispers, looking up at me from beneath her lashes and turning me to complete goo.
“Nah. He’ll be just fine.” Beau throws his arm over my shoulder and winks at Michele. A possessive growl bubbles up my throat, and he laughs loudly. “I don’t know about you, but I’m beat. Let’s get Jensen some food and into bed. Are there any specific things I need to look out for?”
“Just wake him up every few hours. If he’s groggy, that’s fine, but if he slurs his words or anything like that, call us or take him to the emergency room,” she responds, her eyes never leaving mine.
