Page 34 of The Captain's Curfew

---

She shrugs.“Thought you could use a peace offering.”

I fold my arms.“Why do I feel like this is a trap?”

She gasps dramatically.“Logan!Would Ieverdo that to you?”

I lift an eyebrow.

She grins.“Okay, fine.Maybea little.”

I sigh and grab a cookie.One bite, and I know I’m screwed.

It’sperfect.

I chew slowly, watching as Violet watchesmelike she’s waiting for my reaction.I don’t give her one.Instead, I lean against the counter, arms crossed.“So, what’s the real reason you’re bribing me with cookies?”

She bats her lashes.“Can’t a girl just be nice?”

“No.”

She laughs.“Okay, okay.Imayhave another idea for the team’s social media.”

I groan.“Violet?—”

“Wait, hear me out!”She holds up her hands.“What if we lean into theteamaspect of all this?Less about you, more about the guys.Show the fans therealThunder.Practices, behind-the-scenes, road trip antics—make people feel like theyknowthe team.”

I consider it.

It’s… not a bad idea.

I exhale, rubbing a hand over my jaw.“Fine.”

She blinks.“Fine?”

I nod.“But no more viral content aboutme.”

She bites her lip, clearly holding back a comment.Then she grins.“Deal.”

I narrow my eyes.“Why do I feel like I just made a huge mistake?”

Violet beams.“Because you probably did.”

I take another bite of my cookie, watching her.

And God help me…

I think I’m starting toreallylike the way she looks when she smiles at me.

I should tell her, but what would I even say?That I care about her?That I’m falling?That every morning, I wake up and look forward to seeing her face more than I do stepping out onto the ice?

That I don’t know how to want something for myself that badly without ruining it?

Because it’s true.

Every last word of it.

But saying it out loud makes it real.And real means vulnerable.Real means she can hurt me.Real means someone like Declan—someone I respect more than most—might see me as a traitor.As a threat.

And I already know how that plays out.

---