Page 8 of Hot Shot
She got what we’d talked about. What we’d decided to wait for.
God! I let him talk me into waiting until?—
“Blake?”
The anguished cry has me dropping the roll of towels and running in the direction of the bedrooms only to collide with Bran as he bursts into the hall. Bouncing off his hard chest, I crash into the wall and would have landed on the floor if he didn’t have lightning quick, hockey-honed reflexes.
“Sorry.”
“Not your fault. I was rushing.” Something I need to put a stop to. I might want him for the team, might want to try to rekindle our friendship, but I can’t let myself be consumed by him and his needs no matter how much I want to make him feel better.
“I thought you were a dream.” His hands tighten on my upper arms, his eyes searching mine. “Are you really assistant coach for the new NHL team?”
“Baton Rouge Rogues. We’re the Rogues.”
The grin he gives me does crazy things to my belly. It’s swooping and twisting and I know I’m fucked.
There’s no way I can stop my old feelings from resurfacing—for the hurts that have festered for years from oozing out to taint what is now.
“The Rogues, huh? So what, Walker is Captain Rogue?”
“Oh my god! That’s it!” Pulling from his grip I race back to where I left my bag. Searching inside, I grab my phone and fire off a quick text to the girls.
Team mascot. Captain Rogue. Pirate.
Nat
Love it!
Oakley
That fits perfectly!
Cami
Good job, Blake.
Wasn’t me. Bran came up with it. I’ll explain later. Gotta get back to securing our hot shot.
“I’ve missed that smile.”
Bran’s voice has my head snapping up. His words may say he’s happy to see me but the frown on his face doesn’t. “That’s not a good thing?”
“What? No. Missing you is not a good thing. It’s horrible. Gut scraping.”
“Then why wouldn’t you answer my calls? Why did you cut me off—” I throw up a hand. “You know what, I don’t want to get into that right now. I haven’t eaten since the plane. What have you got in the way of food?”
I don’t give him a chance to argue when I brush past him and head for the kitchen. Seeing him again is dragging up things I thought I’d be okay handling. Except I don’t think I am. And while I still think securing him for the team is the right thing, I’m rethinking my idea that I’m the right person to convince him.
“If the offer is real, I’ll take it.”
I spin around to find Bran right behind me.
So close.
Too close.
Taking a step back, my butt bumps up against the kitchen counter. “What?”
