Page 8 of Breaking the Ice (Denver Stampede #6)

“A bunch of people have already commented, most of them nice, but @32Kingofsaves posted ‘looks like a downgrade.’ I don’t remember that being his handle, but it definitely sounds like him. If his number is thirty-two, that’s totally obvious.”

I snorted. “Yeah, it’s one of his other accounts. He uses it to hype up his main posts.” I shook my head. “What the hell did I ever see in that guy?”

“No idea. He’s hot? And I remember he was kind to you at the start. But his true colors are waving loud and awful now. All I can say is, keep a folder of everything and screenshot it on your phone. You know, just in case.”

I hated the small inkling of fear that had just sparked in my belly.

I wanted to believe he wouldn’t escalate, but maybe I didn’t know him as well as I’d thought.

I needed Roger gone from my life, and he needed to clearly understand that we were never getting back together.

Hopefully, a month or so with Gabe would do the trick.

I was going to have to kiss that man again. The fear disappeared and heat filled my body.

Fucking hell.

What had I gotten myself into?

TUCKS

“So, you going to fess up about what is going on with you hard launching a new girlfriend on Insta yesterday? I saw the pic from Anna’s bakery with you two looking all cozy.” Dom paused. “Wait. Was that Jenzy’s ex?”

I’d just lined up my putter to finish out the sixth hole when Dom opened his mouth and verbally screwed up my shot. We were taking advantage of a warm day in early October before the season fully started in a few days.

“Her name’s Dani. Also, rude. I’m trying to finish out this hole.

No talking.” I didn’t take my eyes off the ball and, after a few seconds of silence, took my shot.

It rimmed the cup but didn’t go in. “Dammit, you distracted me. That’s a do-over, right?

” It wouldn’t make a difference and we all knew it.

I was terrible at golf, but a few of the guys needed a fourth, so I’d joined in.

Micah laughed. “No fuckin’ way. You’re a goalie, you should be able to tune everything out and focus.”

“Right. Dani. What’s up with you two? She’s Jenzy’s ex, right? And you really are shit at putting.”

Dom was like a dog with a bone, even worse than Pucks, who was currently scanning the rough along the edge of the course for who knows what.

I reached down and ruffled his ears. He loved going golfing with us, and the guys loved it too, once I’d convinced Pucks to stop hitting the balls off the green like he was a damn cat.

“I’m excellent at mini golf. It doesn’t make sense for that not to transfer here.”

“Maybe we can ask them to set up a windmill on the next hole,” Timmy said. “And who’s Dani?”

Dom barked out a laugh. “That was a good one. Harper’s really rubbing off on you.”

Timmy’s cheeks pinked and Dom knocked his shoulder into Timmy’s. “Not what I was implying.”

“Of course you were. Aren’t you always?” Micah chimed in.

Dom smirked. “Maaayybe. Like your head didn’t go to rubbing off on Josie as soon as I said it?”

“You’re all just a bunch of horny bastards,” I said.

“So, back to Dani,” Micah started.

“If I tell you, it’s gotta stay in the vault. And not the team vault. Like, just us.” I waved my hand in a circle. “And Josie and Harper and Ally, of course. Fuck, this isn’t going to work.” I raked my hand through my hair. This was already becoming a mess.

“Alright, alright. Just explain and we’ll figure it out,” Micah said.

“Fine. I convinced Dani to fake date.”

“I noticed Jenzy was extra dickish the other night,” Timmy said.

“Such a prick,” Dom agreed. “So, you think this will work?”

I sighed. “It’ll be fine. I felt bad about letting him get to me and then implying that Dani and I are a thing, so I want to help her convince the dick that she’s unavailable.

From what I can figure out, nothing else has worked so far.

Hell, the night I met her, he tracked her down at the bar because he knew she liked going there. ”

“Jackass. It really is a shame that we can’t touch the goalie on the ice. I’d like to sucker punch him for that type of shit,” Micah grumbled.

“Yeah, totally annoying,” Dom said.

“Don’t I know it, but I doubt it’d get him off her case anyway. And I just want to do the right thing, help her out somehow.”

“I don’t think anyone has ever claimed fake dating was the right thing,” Timmy pointed out.

“It’s very popular in the books Josie works on. She calls it a trope.” Micah shrugged on the last word.

Dom quirked his brow. “Are you reading those books?”

“What? Some of them are really good.”

“Any recommendations?” Timmy’s ears went pink after he said it.

“Looking for tips to make Harper scream?” Dom grinned.

“Eh, she screams a lot already.” His ears were almost red by this time, and we all burst out laughing.

“She definitely rubbing off on him. He used to be such a good boy,” Micah said with a laugh, reaching down to scratch Pucks’ head as we walked.

“Bet she calls him that,” Dom added.

“Fucking hell, you done?” Timmy squawked out.

“Yeah, can we get back to me here?”

Micah tutted. “So selfish, Tucks.”

“Shut up,” I muttered.

“Yes, back to Tucks. Good idea. So, fake dating, huh?” Timmy asked.

Micah and Dom burst out laughing.

Timmy glared at them. “Fuck off.”

“Fine, fine. Back to Tucks and Dani.” Micah held his hand out. “Please continue.”

“We agreed to fake date for a bit, make a show of it so Jenzy gets the message and backs off.”

Micah’s expression turned serious. “Is he a threat to Dani?”

“Yeah. It’s just him being a menace, right?” Dom asked.

“She hasn’t given me any real details, but she didn’t seem twitchy when he showed up.

I don’t trust him, though, and he was an asshole to her that night at the bar.

You know how he’s always running his mouth on the ice and getting in people’s faces?

I mean, on-ice behavior isn’t how any of us are off the ice, but yeah, it definitely is in his case.

” Fidgety, I tapped my putter on the green.

Now that we were in this together, I hoped Dani would tell me if she was afraid of her ex or if he started harassing her even more, but I knew she didn’t owe me all the nitty-gritty details of their relationship.

“Fake dating or not, she’s part of our family now, so if you need anything, we’ll help,” Micah said.

Dom nodded. “Absolutely.”

“Thanks, uh, but I’m hoping it doesn’t come to that. Trying to stay optimistic that now that we’ve come out as a couple, he’ll finally move on. The fewer people who know the truth, the better, but yes, I would appreciate it if you could go along with our ruse when and if you are around us.”

Their willingness to help Dani just because I had managed to get myself involved was one of the best parts about hockey and this team. We were a family, and that was something I would never take for granted.

“We’ll let the ladies know to act like you two are madly in love,” Dom said.

Micah grinned. “Bet you won’t mind kissing her again.”

Heat hit my cheeks, and it had nothing to do with the intense autumn sun beating down on us. Kissing Dani again, even if it was just for show, was something I was definitely down for.

“They’re going to fall in love,” Dom singsonged. “Mark my words.”

“I don’t know. Dani looked more in love with that cookie in the picture than with Tucks. Can’t say I blame her,” Timmy teased.

“Hey, you’re supposed to be the nice one,” I fired back. But I stupidly loved that we had the same favorite cookie at Anna’s.

That was pathetic, right?

“So, when’s the next fake date? And where are you going?” Micah asked.

“No clue. Our photo’s gotten traction. People think we’re adorable,” I bragged.

I’d noticed a few rude comments, but trolls were always to be expected.

Even Jensen hadn’t been able to resist commenting.

Yeah, it wasn’t his normal handle, but I knew it was him.

I was not a fucking downgrade, and I hadn’t taken his bullshit personally.

Had Dani seen the comment? She hadn’t reached out yet.

“He’s totally going to fall.” Dom grinned. “You’re going to have a new mommy, Pucks.”

Pucks perked up at his name and trotted over to Dom as I rolled my eyes.

Dom chuckled. “You got any treats in your pocket, Tucks? Or you going to let this poor boy starve?”

I pulled one out of my pocket and tossed it in the air for Pucks, who immediately inhaled it.

“Should be entertaining.” Micah paused. “As long as it doesn’t fuck with your game. So far, you’ve been okay, but the regular season starts in four days and Booksy’s still looking stiff.”

“This won’t mess up my game, I totally got this. And Booksy’s better. Not one hundred percent, but he’s getting there. The D guys just need to do their jobs so we don’t have to stand on our heads.” I smirked, unable to resist goading our top D pair.

“Fuck right off with that shit,” Micah growled.

“Yeah. We’re solid,” Timmy agreed. “And I’m sure everything will work out. Now, can we finish this round? I’m ready for lunch.”

“Yeah, let’s get this done so I can take all of your money,” Micah said.

“You’d really take money from a young father just trying to give his daughter the best life possible?” Dom clutched at his heart.

Micah chuckled. “Oh yeah, you’re hard up. Didn’t you just sign a new contract?”

“I do it all for Livi,” Dom replied. “Did I show you the latest pic? I swear, she’s going to be walking soon, and then skating.”

I shook my head. “Dude, she’s nine months old. Let her learn to walk first.”

“Ally okay with you getting her on the ice so soon?” Micah asked.

“Please, she bought her skates already. Harty wants to teach her, but I’m her father, so I’ll be doing that,” Dom said. Ally’s brother Harty—Ethan Hartnell—played for the Strikers, which was Dom’s and Timmy’s old team.

“Dude, he’s just starting to like you again. Don’t piss him off,” I said.

“I gave him a niece he adores, so I’m back in his good graces.” Dom looked smug.

Last season, when Harty found out that Dom had gotten his sister pregnant, it’d been fucking rough.

That first game against the Strikers, the fury coming off Harty had been intense.

But they were all good now, and Livi was adorable so I never minded seeing more pictures of her.

She made me miss my nieces back home in Seattle.

I’d loved being home over the summer and spending as much time as possible with them. At least Seattle wasn’t too far away from Denver, but with the season starting, there wasn’t going to be a lot of time for trips back there, unfortunately.

I definitely owed them a Facetime soon.

My phone pinged in my pocket and for a second, I wondered if they knew I had been thinking about them and messaged me. But that would’ve been ridiculous.

It was Dani.

Dani: Roger showed up outside my office as I was leaving for lunch just now.

“Son of a bitch,” I exclaimed.

“What’s wrong?” Dom asked.

I held up my hand. “Hold on.” I quickly dialed and had a stab of relief in my chest when she picked up immediately. “What did that jackass do?”