Page 24 of Breaking the Ice (Denver Stampede #6)

I tipped my head toward her, wishing I was tucking that stray curl over her ear that was currently brushing her cheek. Fucking hell, I wanted this woman. My fake girlfriend.

Would she ever date me in real life? Probably not.

I internally shook my head. Now was not the time to think about that. I had a game to win and a fake girlfriend to kiss.

For show, of course.

I snorted.

Keep telling yourself that.

When she met my gaze, I tapped my helmet with my glove and then turned back to focus on the ice, but not before I caught the slight pink in her cheeks and that small smile. Would it be wrong to guilt her into sitting in those seats for every game?

“For the good of the game, right, boys?” I said, tapping my posts again.

Then I did a little hop on my skates and got into position just as one of Montreal’s forwards, Luke Hamilton, snagged the puck and started skating toward me.

Lamb skated back toward me on my right, keeping his eyes on Hammy, and Tally and Santa crossed over the center line just after the guy, Sin just behind them.

Tally tried to poke the puck away from the Montreal forward but missed, and Fishy skated into my sight line, ready to block the shot.

Hammy had tried to go five-hole earlier in the second period, but I wasn’t going to assume he’d try that shot again. I shifted in my crease, primed to move into whatever position I needed to in order to stop that puck, and nudged Fishy with my stick when he got too close.

“Sorry, Tucks,” he said, not taking his eyes off the opposing players.

“Get it,” Sin barked out as the Montreal player knocked it to his teammate.

Santa tried to snag it, but the other player cradled the puck on his stick, closer to his body.

He deked left, and I tuned out the noise around me, narrowing my focus to where it should be.

And when the guy tried to line up his shot between Lamb and Fishy, I was quick to drop into a butterfly and stop the puck.

“Nice try,” Sin called out to Hammy as I covered the puck.

I tossed it to the ref and they all moved to the face-off dot to my left.

Tally easily won and knocked it back to Santa.

Our first line was gassed from their shift, and with two minutes left, Santa tapped the puck back to Lamb just as they all cleared the center line.

Tally, Santa, and Sin cleanly made it to the bench while Dom, Haldy, and Xan took their places.

Lamb knocked the puck to Dom, and with time winding down, I rolled back my shoulders, tapped my posts, and hoped they’d get a goal before the final buzzer blared.

But a minute later, they were back in my zone. Montreal’s line was in sync, passing the puck back and forth with my guys unable to snag it away. I didn’t take my eyes off whoever had it, and when they ended up in the corner to my right, with Dom trying to dig it out, I narrowed my focus again.

They skated behind my net, one of Montreal’s forwards too close to my paint, so I nudged him with my stick.

And at that exact moment, Montreal’s center swooped around to the other side of my net, the puck on his stick, and took his shot. I dove to the side and stretched my blocker out at an odd angle. The puck bounced off and Micah cleared it out before Montreal could take another shot.

I popped back up on my feet, ready for the next shot on goal, but we had possession now.

“Sweet fucking save, Tucks,” Micah called out before he skated up the ice. I knew Dom, Xan, and Haldy were exhausted, and they exited the ice as our third line hopped on, skating the puck into Montreal’s zone.

My gaze moved from watching the ice to peeking up at the Jumbotron again, and when Sweets, one of our centers, managed to get the puck past Montreal’s goalie with only fifteen seconds left, I jumped up and down, wishing I could celebrate that goal with my team as the horn blared.

Shortly after, I got to do just that when the final buzzer sounded and we beat Montreal two to one.

Fuck yeah, we did.

I skated across the ice, picking up speed as the guys celebrated the win, and as the rest of my teammates flooded onto the ice, I jumped.

And missed.

Sprawled out on the ice, I couldn’t help but laugh. Fucking hell.

I was surrounded by laughter and shouts of, “Dude, you okay?” and “Fuck, man” as I pushed myself up.

“What the hell happened?” Micah asked, humor lacing his tone.

I shrugged. “Guess I got the zoomies like Pucks.”

He chuckled and slapped my back. “Fucking zoomies, dude.”

“Man, you just face-planted.” Dom chortled. “Fucking amazing.”

“You okay, man?” Tally asked, knocking his gloved hand on my helmet.

“Yeah, the pads saved me.” Had Dani seen my fall? Hopefully, it made her laugh.

Timmy grinned at me. “Zoomies is the perfect description.”

After the rest of the guys teased me and we all head-tapped, congratulating each other on a great game, we headed back to the locker room.

“First round is on me tonight,” Tally called out just before Millsy walked into the center of the room.

“You should totally play up that face-plant to Dani, Tucks. Women like to be caring and helpful when we’re injured,” Sin said.

“Seriously, I get why you’re perpetually single, but how are you still getting laid?” Santa called out, and I burst out laughing. Also, Dani would probably just throw me an ice pack and ask if I was okay.

Tally grinned. “It’s the best when Santa’s got jokes.”

“Ladies love me,” Sin boasted.

“Until they wake up in the morning,” Tally said.

“Please. I don’t let them stay the night. In and out,” Sin said.

“We don’t need to hear how you’re a one-pump chump, Sinclair,” Millsy shouted.

I snorted as Sin blustered. The rest of the guys taunting Sin doubled over in laughter. Damn, I loved them.

“I believe that’s what we call a burn,” Tally said. “Nice one, coach.”

“I try. Now sit your asses down so I can tell you that you weren’t awful tonight but maybe get a few more goals next time so I don’t have to stress pull out my hair until the last ten seconds.”

“Will do, Coach. And it was the last fifteen seconds,” Dom yelled.

“Fuck off. Go shower. Dom, Tally, Tucks, I’m pulling you for media, so be quick.”

“You should mention the zoomies, Tucks. The press will love that shit,” Micah said, chuckling.

“Oh fuck off,” I muttered, but someone was bound to ask anyway. It was endearing to be a goofball, right?

After my shower, I pulled on my clothes and grabbed my phone, spotting a text from Dani. Had her father reached out to her? I hoped he hadn’t shown up at the family suite. She didn’t need that shit tonight. Not that the man should be allowed in there, but sometimes rules were broken for legends.

Dani: Congrats on the win.

Dani: Are you okay? What the hell happened?

Dani: Hope you aren’t injured, but you’re on the ice, so just press your face against it or something.

I snorted.

Dani: I’m heading to Tipsy with the girls. I’m not really in the mood to stay out late, but we should celebrate your win.

My chest bloomed with heat. I couldn’t wait to see her.