Page 4 of Knot Your Pucking Mate
I should step forward. Should take her hand and say, ‘It’s nice to meet you, too.’ Be polite and represent my team. Instead, I’m frozen in place. Did she say Mandy Paige? Mandy freaking Paige? I must have misheard or something. No way is Mandy Paige standing in my locker room. Gods, I need to pull myself together.
Taking a deep breath, I close the distance between us and take her hand in mine. Bursts of electricity dance across my skin at the contact, and a wave of possessiveness rolls over me. That feeling needs to be squashed. I may be an alpha, but I can’t claim this woman just because my instincts are screaming‘mine’.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Mandy,” I say with a grin, shaking off the feeling as my eyes sweep across her face and take in her perfectly symmetrical features. High cheekbones, luscious full lips and thick lashes. Her eyes—a delicate shade of blue—widen in surprise as she inhales, her nostrils flaring. She covers it with a smile so quickly I wonder if I imagined it.
A faint metallic smell tickles my nose as she drops my hand and steps back. It reminds me of the scent-blocking spray we sometimes use at events. I lift an eyebrow, wondering why she’d be using scent blockers. Could she be an omega? Omegas often use scent blockers in public to protect themselves. And it seems to be a common theme in the PR opportunities Marilyn has been assigning, pairing up teammates with omegas under the guise of positive press.
I’m on to you, Marilyn. And I’m not mad about it.
“You’re planning a hockey romance?” I ask Mandy, genuinely interested in her next project. She’s one of my favorite authors for a reason, and that’s because she writes sweet, funny, realistic romances that feed your soul and make you feel like there’s someone out there for everyone and the meet-cute is on its way to you. That it’ll happen any second now.
“I am. But I need an education on all things hockey,” she admits. “My knowledge is lacking, and I like to make my work as realistic as possible wherever I can.”
“That’s where you come in,” Marilyn adds. “Mandy will shadow you, and maybe a few other players, and you can teach her the ins and outs. The hope is that the relationship will offer positive press, new audiences and marketing strategies, and Mandy will gain the insight that she needs.”
I nod, “Solid plan.” It’s actually pretty genius, I can immediately see how both parties will benefit. And I’ll get to spend time with Mandy Paige. “I’m in.”
“You didn’t have a choice,” Marilyn says, quirking an eyebrow, and Mandy giggles. The sweet, lilting sound soothes something inside me, and I have to work to smother the purr threatening to rumble in my chest.
Holy shit.
“Doesn’t matter,” I reply with a shrug, my eyes locking with Mandy’s again. I’m in trouble here. “I’m more than happy to show you around and teach you about hockey. Chase will help, too,” I add, nodding at Marilyn and nominating my packmate.
He and Mandyhaveto meet. I can’t help but wonder what kind of response he’ll have to her and whether it’ll match the possessive, obsessive need building inside of me.
Marilyn smirks, and I know I’m playing right into her manipulative little hands. I couldn't give a shit.
“How about I show you around the stadium, Mandy? Then maybe we can grab some lunch? I’ll answer any burgeoning questions you have about my favorite sport, and you can hopefully answer a few I have about Purrfect Strangers and what an asshole Brad is to Zara?”
“You’ve read it?” she asks, surprise and approval clear in the way she smiles at me.
“I have,” I say, walking towards my locker and throwing open the door to reveal the stack of books inside. “I’ve read all of your books. There’s a high chance that’s why Marilyn here paired you with me.”
“Guilty as charged,” Marilyn admits, throwing her hands up in mock surrender and backing towards the door. “You leave them lying around enough, the entire team likely recognizes her name. Let’s go grab a coffee, Vae, and leave these two to get started.”
And with that, we’re alone.
Chapter Three
Mandy
It’s taking every ounce of my concentration to ignore the smoky yet comforting campfire scent radiating from the gorgeous, grinning alpha in front of me. It doesn’t matter that the locker room is filled to the brim with alpha pheromones from the rest of his team. My focus is dialled in on him.
Axel Warner.
Number 3.
My scent match.
Every single fiber of my being is dragging me towards him. It’s magnetic. Raw. Undeniable.
I want to climb him like a tree.
The door swings shut behind Marilyn and Vae, leaving the two of us alone. For once, I’m lost for words. Not only does Axel smell delicious, but he also knows my work. Likes it so much, he’s got a few of my books in his locker.
An alpha who reads romance novels is exactly the kind of character I’d write. Because that’s the kind of alpha I want. Someone who’s not only interested in what I do for a living but appreciates the art of it.
It’s like I’ve fallen into the pages of one of my books and am experiencing my very own meet-cute.
