Page 36 of Breaking the Ice (Denver Stampede #6)

Pucks made some new besties at One Center. I think @masonjbeauty might be his favorite.

“Mason,” Dani admonished, but I hit post anyway.

“It’s fine. Pucks loved hanging out with everyone, and it’s totally fine to tag his new friends,” I said.

“Thank you.”

“Have you considered changing your hairstyle?” Mason asked.

“What? Like frosted tips? I bleached it when I played in juniors.”

Dani burst out laughing when Mason shuddered.

“Do we have pictures of that?” Mason shook his head. “No. Don’t show me. And never frosted tips.”

“Dani, do you like my hair?” I turned to ask her, knowing how much she liked gripping my hair when I kissed her and fucked her. And the soft, indrawn breath had me believing that she was thinking the same thing.

She shrugged. “It’s fine.”

“And it could be better. A little trim. I know the best stylist,” Mason said.

“I’ll keep that in mind, but I think I’m good for now.”

“Fine, fine,” Mason grumbled, then turned to someone calling out his name. “It was nice meeting you, Gabe.” And he was off.

“Sorry about that,” Dani said, leaning against a wall as she glanced about the open space.

There were kids clustered in groups around the room doing various activities or just hanging out and talking.

I couldn’t wait to get the guys over here.

More than one of the kids asked to play street hockey, and I was already calculating all the gear I could round up.

“The kids love you,” I said.

“I like to believe they think I’m just a cool friend to hang out with and not an old adult.”

I chuckled. “If you’re old, then I’m old because we’re the same age. And I’m definitely not old.”

She barked out a laugh. “No one who gets the zoomies can be classified as old.”

I grinned. “See, we’re young and cool and not sus at all.”

“Sus?”

“Trying to keep up with their words.”

She shook her head at my antics, and I loved it. Fuck, she was beautiful. I wanted to kiss her, but I held myself in check. There’d be plenty of time for that tonight and hopefully tomorrow morning.

“So, how much longer are you here? We still having dinner with your brother, right?”

She groaned. “You’re right. Why did I agree to that, again?”

“Don’t you like hanging out with him?”

“Of course, but you’ve been gone all week, and I was thinking...”

“Dani, there are children present,” I teased, chuckling when she quickly looked around. No one was close enough to hear her, but I still couldn’t help myself. I loved the pink color in her cheeks.

“I wasn’t thinking like that . Okay, maybe I was, but I just—” She stopped herself. “You are very annoying.”

“It’s okay if you want me, the feeling is very mutual.” I wiggled my brows at her for good measure and she rolled her eyes.

“Stop it. And we can head out now.”

“So antsy.”

“I will uninvite you from dinner and sleep by myself if you don’t stop.”

“We both know that you don’t want that, so stop being grumbly and let’s go.” I bit back my chuckle when, instead of responding, she just made her way through the facility and said her goodbyes to everyone.

Maybe I could convince her to come home with me for a bit before we had to meet up with her brother.

“Here they are. Too busy making out to arrive on time,” her brother said a bit too loudly when we walked into the restaurant a few hours later.

“What? Ugh, shut up,” Dani muttered, smacking his arm. “Great to see you again, Rick.” She turned to hug her brother’s boyfriend.

“What the hell? I’m family. Hug me first.” Her brother’s grin belied his outrage.

“You haven’t earned a hug,” she shot back with a smirk.

Clearly, sarcasm ran deep in this family.

“Umm, your table is ready,” the hostess said.

“After you, mean sister. I need to chat with your new boyfriend.”

She linked her arm through mine. “You absolutely do not. No grilling him. We like him.”

“No kidding. I can tell by your mussed hair. And I think you missed a button.”

Her head dipped down and then she glared. “I’m not even wearing buttons, punk.” She reached for his hair, but he skirted away.

“Don’t you dare.”

“Sorry, they’re always like this. It’s endearing. Sometimes. I’m Rick,” Mal’s boyfriend held out his hand to me.

I returned the handshake and said hello. I loved seeing this side of Dani with her brother. “Totally get it. I have three sisters.”

“Then you understand my suffering. And I’m Mal, by the way. Nice to meet you.” I shook his hand as well.

“If you’re done being annoying, the nice hostess is trying to seat us,” Dani grumbled.

“Think she’s hangry?” Mal asked. Rick shook his head.

“She’s going to punch you, and it’ll be deserved.”

Mal scoffed as we slid into the booth. “Some supportive boyfriend you are.”

“Would you rather get a table?” Mal asked.

“What? No. This is good,” she said as the hostess walked away.

“I know you hate attention, which is why this thing”—he waved his hand in a circle in front of us—“is beyond amusing.”

“Oh, shut up.”

“I saw the picture that asshole posted with our father. We’ll post something tonight with the family you actually love. You love me again, right?” Mal asked, giving her puppy-dog eyes that rivaled Pucks’s.

“Of course I love you, dummy. And I really don’t know what Roger’s deal is. I’m still kicking myself for even dating him.”

A few days into my road trip, Jenzy had posted a picture of himself with their father from the Stampede charity event.

He’d captioned it something stupid along the lines of hanging out with his idol, who he considered family.

And a handful of comments had mentioned how sad they were that Roger and Dani had broken up.

She’d been livid about it and part of me wondered if he’d done it just to see how she would react, see if she’d unblock him.

Thankfully, she’d held strong and refused to rise to his bait, but I knew it pissed her off, as it fucking should.

“Assholes shouldn’t be so good in bed. It’s just wrong,” Mal said, grabbing my attention.

“Gabe is way better,” she said. Then she dropped her head in her hands. “Why the hell did I say that?”

My cheeks heated and I felt both smug and awkward as her brother burst out laughing.

“I knew you two were hooking up,” Mal crowed. Her head darted up.

“Geez, baby brother, I don’t think they heard you in Australia. Would you keep it down?” she bit out.

“What? You want people to think you’re together. Isn’t that the entire point?” he said, his voice blissfully lower.

I had no clue what to do to help, so I put my hand on her thigh and gave her a gentle squeeze.

“Sorry about my insane brother,” she muttered.

“You’re fine. I’m sure my sisters say the same about me.” Then I leaned in, my lips against her ear. “And it’s nice to know that I’m better than your ex. I can’t wait to show you how much when we get out of here.”

Her body trembled. Fucking hell, I loved taunting her.

“Men,” she muttered, shaking her head softly.

I brushed my lips against her earlobe for good measure, making her suck in a short breath.

Dinner better be fast .