Page 5 of Blind Date with a #HOCKEYBOY (Love Canyon: Blind Date with a #BOOKBOYFRIEND #2)

QUINN

“ T he best way to get over somebody is to get under somebody new, ” Meredith quipped, and my jaw dropped. She glanced at me as I gawked at her. “What?”

One finger raised, I said, “Number one, I did not agree to anything and two,” Second finger raise, “I am not getting under some stranger to get over anyone.” I buried my head in my hands, and sank down onto the couch with a groan.

“You do realize Mikayla and Ryan probably banged all over the place,” she snickered.

I jumped up from the couch. “Stop!”

Nan graciously let me stay in her pool house during my visit, and up until now, I hadn’t thought about…any of that even though I knew all about Meredith’s cousin’s romantic fake dating turned real dating romance.

The sunlight filtered in through the sheer white curtains, and my eyes immediately darted in the direction of the main house.

Meredith waved her in a dismissive gesture. “The trees block everything. Trust me, I checked that out years ago. And they’ve grown since then, too. Nan probably has cleaners in here once a week even when no one is staying here, so no blacklight specials.”

I groaned, hands up in the air as I glared at her. “Meredith. I swear.”

“Oh, you love me.” With a snort, she headed to the small closet where I hung my clothes, rifling through them and making dismissive sounds before turning back to me. “This was all you brought? Not one remotely sexy or date worthy?”

“It’s not like I expected to go on a date. Damn wine,” I muttered.

“Oh, you can blame the wine if you want, but it’s all Nan and the fact that underneath it all, you do want to get under to get over,” she snickered once again, then let out a sigh. “I’m calling reinforcements.”

Twenty minutes later, two women I’d only met at Love Canyon book club while abuzz were thrusting clothes against my body, one after the other. Sounds of disapproval coming from both Tessa and Andrea.

“The thing is, axe throwing is only slightly physical,” Tessa sighed as she pushed her glasses up her nose. “So, you can be cute, but-”

“No heels,” Andrea agreed as Meredith nodded, barely containing a huge grin. I glared at her as she wrinkled her nose at me evilly. “Maybe a wedge?”

The two scrutinized my feet as I glared back at them like some crazy science experiment they were trying to figure out and analyze.

They continued as if I wasn’t standing less than seven feet from them.

“Can she stand in heels?” Andrea asked as Meredith fought back laughter and tears. “Because while I’m sure he’ll catch her, what if she throws and,” her hands waggled, “face plant into the wood bar thing that keeps everyone safe from flying axes?”

“Not a great way to spend a blind date,” Tessa agreed.

I stomped my foot like a petulant child. “I can walk in heels, in fact, better than,” I sputtered with a dramatic fling of hands and fingers, “her!” Meredith let out a cackle, and handed me a wine glass, which I stared at with suspicion. “Isn’t that what got me into this mess in the first place?”

The traitor plopped down on the couch with a shrug.

“Could turn out to be top tier, so I say why not keep the party going with what worked? At least this time, you’re getting dinner and a date with a member of the opposite sex instead of hanging out with a bunch of horny chicks.

And Clara.” She shuddered with a wicked grin and raised her glass.

I begrudgingly took the other glass and clinked it against hers.

“I just hope when I’m her age I can regale the masses with tales of my sexual exploits. ”

“She’s kinda scary and amazing all at once,” Tessa said, awe in her tone. “I mean, imagine the way she defied the constructs at the time. Fearless.”

I drained the glass in one gulp, because why not?

If I was going to have to go on a blind date with some hockey guy, at least I’d calm my nerves.

After breaking off my engagement, there was no way I’d catch feelings but…

I hadn’t been on a date in almost four years.

I still hadn’t told my brother’s best friend from the Corps we’d broken up.

I flinched and recovered quickly, hoping no one caught the action.

Owen Lockwood had promised my big brother he’d take care of me, and Owen took the vow seriously. So seriously in fact, I’d worried that he’d put his own happiness on the back burner until I told him I’d gotten engaged.

One more fuck up I had to deal with sooner or later. But first, blind date from Love Canyon Book Club.

“Black keyhole cropped and dark jeans,” Andrea said, eyes narrowed on the couch. “The black wedge heels will be perfect.”

Meredith reared back. “Guess I can call you a MILF now, Drea.”

She shrugged. “Might be married but I’m not dead.

Just lacking in romance because of two toddlers,” she added wistfully as she scooped up the outfit and shoved it in my direction.

A hand flung toward the bedroom. “Get dressed for your blind date, and then text us all night so we can live vicariously through you. Shoo.”

MEREDITH: Remember. Get under to get over is totally ok. Or not. Just don’t kill him with the ax. Mikayla and Nan would be sad cause he’s Ollie’s bestie.

QUINN: No getting under. There is something wrong with you.

I bit my lip and suppressed a grin as I made my way down the sidewalk towards the axe throwing place where the blind date with my hockey boy was supposed to take place.

MEREDITH: You know you love me. Get laid. Please. I hear hockey boys have stamina. Even goalies…

My cheeks flushed even as I imagined the possibilities. Did hockey boys have more…stamina? And he’s a goalie? Wait, Ollie’s bestie? My feet got the memo, and stopped as my fingers flew across the screen of my phone.

Google did its thing. And as I clicked on images, Meredith, my wicked best friend sent a GIF of a goalie on the ice, yep, doing that move in warm-ups. I swiped before my stamina-starved parts got any crazy ‘get under’ ideas, and Google didn’t disappoint.

Oh. My. Sweet Baby Jesus.

Noah LeCavalier looked like the kind of boy you grew up to next to and had a crush on while staring at through your bedroom window…

then watched take the cheerleading captain to homecoming.

But cuter. And definitely more…man than boy.

The scruff. The eyes. And the muscles? “Nope, Quinn,” I scolded myself and slid my phone in the back pocket of my jeans, “We are not going to even entertain the thought of getting under, on top of, or in front of a hockey boy let alone one that looks like that. No feels, no more relationships. It’s all about the career and making a life for yourself not dependent on anyone else.

” I nodded, proud of my pep talk and rounded the corner.

Straight into a wall of muscles that smelled so decadent and male and spicy that I nearly swooned before my eyes made their way up the tight white t-shirt over muscles that screamed touch me, to the very face I’d just Googled on my phone.

He steadied me, one hand one on my elbow and the other at my hip with a grin that reminded me of something I couldn’t quite put my finger on, but then my brain shut off when he spoke.

“Woah, beautiful,” he murmured with a lopsided grin. Scruff, hair, and deep brown eyes. The way he smelled immediately caused my thighs to clench.

Oh. God.

The haunted house. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. My hockey boy. I’d known the Triumph players were all the haunted house’s haunters, but until this second I hadn’t connected the dots that maybe I’d meet him again.

Same words, different place, almost same situation.

The scent of his skin washed over me again, just like it had that night.

When he kissed me, almost twenty four hours after the break up. That kiss made me realize I was going to be all right…in a really crazy, weird I’ve never kissed a stranger in Halloween makeup in the woods at night kinda way.

Fuck. And he was my blind date?

Thick brows drew together in worry. “Are you ok?” Hands felt along my arms, then one cupped my head. “No head injuries?”

“No,” I breathed, finally finding my voice. Hands out, I steadied myself and took a small step back, putting a little space between our bodies before all the independent thoughts fled from my brain and I did something that would embarrass both of us.

He canted his head to the side. “Wait, are you my blind date?” The way his lips lifted made my damn heart flutter.

I refused to acknowledge its treacherous ways. But, I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. “Maybe. Are you my hockey boy?”

His heard ducked, but then he bit his lip and looked at me through his lashes. “And if I said yes?”

I laughed, and extended my hand. “Quinn.”

“Noah.” Tingles danced along my arm when he took my hand in his, and turned into little lightning bolts when he added, “Confession. Mere texted me your picture.” One hand went to the side of his face, like he was telling me a secret. “But you’re much prettier in person.”

I rolled my eyes, full well knowing Meredith probably sent the most embarrassing picture she could find. “Well, I’m much more photogenic than any crazy picture, and she’ll pay later,” I promised.

His head went back and forth, as that signature grin I noticed from a few of the images Google popped up spread across his face. “I think you misunderstand me. The pictures? Yeah. But in person? Beautiful.”

There was that word again.

My cheeks flushed, and I didn’t trust myself not to fall for those brown eyes or the grin. Nope. No feels. Feels make you weak, and vulnerable. “Flattery will get you a drink and hopefully not an axe to the head,” I quipped. Noah chuckled and offered me his arm. “Afraid I’ll fall again?”

The shrug and grin combo were lethal. “Or maybe I’m just being polite because my two besties back home would kick my ass if I wasn’t.

” I shot him a quizzical look. “Eden and Zoe will probably get a play by play. Or I’ll never hear the end of it.

But, only if that’s okay with you, of course?

” His hand went to the door of the axe throwing bar, holding it open for me, because of course he would.

I had serious reservations about the combination of alcohol and axes, but Meredith ensured me it was safe…ish. I only hoped this wasn’t another of those times she convinced to do something that would turn out hilariously wrong.

Or worse.

One foot in the door, I halted, and turned to face him. “Wait, your best friends are girls? Meredith said Ollie…” My voice trailed off as I a couple slid past us inside.

“Oh, he is. But E and Zoe, too. Eden is dating my teammate, and Zoe is dating my brother. So, yeah.”

“Oh,” I said, and stepped out of the doorway.

He gripped the back of neck. “Makes things interesting, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I already got us a lane-”

I wrinkled my nose. “Lane?” The low hum of people laughing, thuds of axes hitting targets or whatever, and clinking of glasses or plates filled my ears but all I could think of was how to keep the secret from this irresistible man without a glimmer of recognition in his eyes.

“That’s what they call them,” he teased. “Number 13. Ready?”

But, that didn’t mean I couldn’t have a little fun. As long as he didn’t remember that kiss.

And I didn’t catch feelings.