Page 99 of Hot Puck
Nat
Three a.m. and the party doesn’t look like it’s winding down any time soon.
But the players deserve to celebrate. They put their all into the Rogues from the first day they strapped on skates and stepped out onto the practice rink in Rogue Arena.
My gaze lands on Chase.
He has had a few too many drinks and it’s obvious he’s not used to drinking alcohol. He looks confused a lot, especially when he stumbles or sways. And he’s come close a couple times in the last hour to outing our marriage.
Right now, he’s talking with a couple of the younger players, the ones that appear to have also had a few too many in spite of the fact I know they’re underage. Not that any reasonable law enforcement officer would charge them. Not tonight.
Chase shakes his head, his gaze moving in my direction. His face lights up with a grin and he heads my way. As he gets closer the twinkle in his eyes has me on alert.
When he’s close enough to speak, he murmurs, “My whiff,” and I know it’s time to extricate ourselves—him—from the room.
Oakley is still here with Walker. Hours ago, after Pa left with a sleeping Micky over his shoulder, they promised to stay until the last person wobbled back to their hotel room.
Blake’s already gone, slipping out with Drew, leaving Bran to celebrate with his teammates. Not that he lasted more than thirty minutes after she left.
Two hours ago, Whitney convinced the twins to leave with her. She’s staying with Cami’s parents at the house they own here in Vegas. And Candace is tucked up in bed. Deanne Harper and her daughter Melody volunteered to babysit and took her back to their room right after the game.
I told Chase I’d take care of the girls tonight, let him enjoy the celebration with his teammates. He protested, said I had as much right to celebrate as he did, but I promised I’d have a drink with my three partners another night.
Tonight is about the players and their families. Management can have their own gathering once we return to Baton Rouge.
I notice the older Rogues have taken it easy, while the younger ones are no doubt going to feel it in the morning.
Good thing Coach Alcott gave everyone tomorrow off.
They’d better take advantage of it too. Because he and Coach Watts are planning to push them harder than they have so far. And that’s saying something because I think they’ve been training all day, every day since the final games of the regular season weeks ago.
The smile on my face widens when Chase leans toward me making him sway.
A dopey grin on his face, he says, “I tinks I dunk.”
Laughing, I say, “Yes. I tinks you dunk too.”
“Lie down?” His knees bend and I jump forward, lift his arm and tuck myself under it. His face press into my hair and I go still when he sucks in a breath causing air to rush by my ear, and murmurs, “Yum.”
He drags out the word and a shiver trickles down my spine, warmth pooling in my core. “Come on, let’s get you to bed.”
We’re sharing a suite—as we usually do when I bring the girls to away games. Except tonight there aren’t any children to play buffer. Good thing he’s stumbling drunk. It’ll be easy to resist him when he’s under the influence.
And after the heated looks he’s been sending me all night, I’m surprised nothing in the room has caught fire.
I’m on fire, I know that. Every glance my way has left a scorching trail of desire in its wake.
“Need help with him?”
I turn my head to find Beckett and Cami beside me, and sigh with relief. “Would you? He’s heavier than he looks.”
Cami laughs. “He looks heavy, Nat.”
I send her a smile and move out from under Chase’s arm as Beckett positions himself under the other one so he can take over. “Thanks. We’re on the same floor as you.”
“Are you going to stay down here?” Cami asks.
“No. Oakley and Walker agreed to supervise the rest of the night.” I glance at my watch. “Not that there’s much of it left.”
