Page 105 of Puck Love

At the studio,I pulla ball cap down on my head and make out like I’m invisible. Unfortunately, being six-foot-two and two hundred pounds draws a lot ofattention.

Ballbuster waits in the wings with me as we watch Stella film. She’s fucking incredible in a skin-tight mini dress with long sleeves. There are some beads and other decretive shit on it, and from the second she stepped out of the green room I’ve been having trouble hiding my damnboner.

The camera has been rolling for all of about five minutes when the host leers at her and says, “Let’s talk about your love life, and your ties to Calgary’s NHL center, VanRoss.”

I want to punch him in the face. Nobody looks at my woman that way butme.

An image of me decked out in my gear on the ice flashes up, and then that photo of my naked pixelated ass as I punch the paparazzo in the face fills the screen. Stella glances behind her at the image andfreezes.

The host continues. “Can you explain how the two of you met, and just how this shot came tobe?”

“Er, that’snot—”

“Oh, I know we’re not supposed to talk about it, but the whole world is waiting to find out what is going on with you and Canada’s hottest hockeyhunk.”

“Van is . . . um.” Her gaze shoots to us, most likely to the ballbuster for clarification. Lana shakes her head. The monitor in front of me shows a pale Stella, and judging by her wide eyes and the way she’s holding her breath, I’d be willing to bet she’s staving off a panic attack right now. I take a stepforward.

“Van is what,Stella?”

“Van is . . . er . . . that is to sayhe’s—”

“Right here,” I shout, and everyone on set turns to look at me. Ballbuster curses under her breath and steps forward, but I’m an athlete, so it takes me about seven good strides to hit the stage. The host looks shocked out of his mind, and Stella, too, stares at me with her mouth hanging open until she plasters the smile back on her face. I offer my hand to the host and he shakes it, introducing himself as Adam Kennedy. I sit down next to my girl who’s still looking like she mightrun.

“Ladies and gentlemen, VanRoss.”

“Hi.” I wave to the camera, and then I lean in and kiss Stella’s cheek. “You’ll have to excuse my face. I haven’t had time to put my makeup on.” Several people around the studio chuckle, and I really ham it up by winking at thecamera.

“Well this is a surprise,” Adamsays.

“Yes, it is.” Stella shoots me a stern glance, and I can’t help butgrin.

“Sorry for crashing your interview. I just figured we may as well come clean. Stella and I are a thing, so the sooner everyone gets used to it, thebetter.”

“And how long have you been athing?”

“Since the day she drove into the side of my mountain. Of course, she didn’t know it until I showed up on her doorstep two days beforeChristmas.”

Stella shakes her head and laughs awkwardly. “He’s just full ofsurprises.”

“What do you mean, she drove into your mountain?” Adamasks.

“She almost hit a moose, ran off the road, and just happened to park her car in a snow drift outside my house.” I throw my arm over the back of the couch and casually squeeze Stella’s shoulder. The lights are bright, but I’m pretty sure I can make out the shadowy figure of the ballbuster gesturing wildly for me to can it, or for Stella to slit my throat. It could mean either one,really.

“You own a house in Banff,right?”

“Right.”

Adam’s brows knit together. “But wasn’t Stella supposed to play to a sellout stadium full ofpeople?”

“I was,” Stella says. “I should have been there, butI—”

“She was suffering from exhaustion. Out of her mind with worry, and I just happened to be the lucky son-of-a-bitch to findher.”

“Oh, you can’t say that,” Adam says with a hissingbreath.

“Oh shit. I can’t swear on live TV, eh?” I say, cringing. “Crap. I just did itagain.”

“I’m trying to get him to curb his language.” Stella laughs. “Hasn’t happenedyet.”