Page 35 of Breaking the Pucking Rules (LA Vipers #1)

KODIE

S utton was up with the sun this morning running as usual, chattering at a million miles a minute. But for the first time in quite a long time, she wasn’t the only one who woke up with a spring in her step and excitement shooting through her veins.

The second I opened my eyes, I reached for my cell and re-read last night’s conversation like a pussy.

I didn’t care. I needed it. And fuck, if it wasn’t almost as hot as it was last night.

I woke up hard with thoughts of her in my head, but reading her words, picturing her getting herself off as she messaged me...fuck.

I’m so fucking fucked.

Thankfully, I was able to get ten minutes alone in the shower to fix the situation before I dived head-first into being a father.

“Is it time to go yet?” Sutton asks as she chases a ball around the kitchen island with a hockey stick.

I chuckle and glance at the clock.

If she got her way, we’d be first at Coach’s house. I, however, would rather be fashionably late.

Today is going to be all kinds of torture. I might want to spend as much time with Casey as possible, but doing so while her father, the team, and my daughter are with us isn’t quite what I have in mind.

Plus, there’s every chance she wasn’t lying about that bikini…

I drag my hand down my face and glance at the bags sitting at my feet and the platters of food on the counter.

Sutton had the best day of her life when we attended Coach’s barbeque last year. The team was new to both of us, and they invited us in and made us feel like we belonged, just as I’d hoped.

My only regret is not paying enough attention to my new coach’s daughter. She was there—I remember seeing her. But I was so concerned about ensuring Sutton was happy that I didn’t have much time for anything else.

Something tells me that this year will be different.

“Yes, we can go now,” I concede, making Sutton squeal in delight.

She immediately reaches for her Vipers rucksack and throws it on her back before grabbing the grocery bag full of chips and crackers.

The rules are that we bring meat and beer, but when Mom and Sutton went shopping yesterday, they went a little over the top.

I throw my own duffle bag over my shoulder before grabbing the platters of marinated meat ready for the grill that Mom prepared and follow Sutton as she bounces out of the house.

The twenty-minute drive to Coach’s house passes in the blink of an eye, and Sutton’s face is practically pressed against the window as I pull into the drive behind a handful of cars. I breathe a sigh of relief that we’re not first. I’m not sure I’d cope being in a house with only Casey and Coach.

My heart slams against my ribs.

What are you doing, Kodie?

I shake my head. I have no fucking idea.

I know what I should do. I should walk away and force the memories of Casey to the dark depths of my mind.

But I’m not going to.

I can’t.

She’s too addictive. Too tempting.

Holding back from messaging her this morning was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.

I’m trying really hard not to look like a crazy stalker.

A laugh bubbles out of me without instruction from my brain.

“Are you okay, Daddy?” Sutton asks from the back seat.

Chastising myself for letting her see that I’m barely holding it together, I suck in a calming breath and turn to look at her.

“Of course. Excited for today.”

“Me too,” she says with a wide smile, which I can’t help but return.

“What are we waiting for, then?” Without overthinking, I push the door open and climb out.

Our arms loaded with goodies, we make our way to the front door.

Thankfully, someone sees us coming, and the door opens before I have to figure out how to ring the bell with no hands.

“Little Rivers,” Killer announces, ignoring me and turning his attention straight to Sutton. “Ah, and you brought Big D with you, too.”

Sutton sighs. “Someone had to drive me. I can’t reach the pedals yet.”

Killer barks out a laugh as he gestures for Sutton to enter.

“Can I help you with your bags?” he asks her, like the gentleman he most certainly is not.

She happily lets him take the weight before instructing both of us where to put everything. It doesn’t matter that she’s only been here once before; she owns the place. Everyone else who’s already here watches the scene play out with amused smirks on their faces.

“Little Rivers, bossing it as ever,” Linc says, coming over to bump knuckles with her.

I watch happily as everyone else greets her.

“Good to see you,” Coach says, dropping to his haunches. “There are some kids already playing field hockey in the backyard if you want to—” Laughter rips through the air as she races toward the open doors and disappears from our sight before he can finish his sentence.

“I think we know who’s going to captain that team,” Reese, Fletch’s wife, correctly guesses, earning another round of laughter. “Your daughter is a firecracker, Kodie. I love her.”

“She’s sure something.”

“All the drinks are outside; the grill is already fired up and...” Coach’s words trail off as someone else walks into the kitchen, and my eyes lock on hers.

Holy shit, she’s beautiful.

The voices and laughter surrounding me vanish.

Her green eyes darken as she moves closer, and my blood begins to heat, my cock forgetting about whatever hand action it had this morning.

There’s movement behind her, but I don’t pay whoever it is any mind as my eyes drop down Casey’s body, finding her wearing a wide armed Vipers tank and a tiny pair of denim shorts.

She’s totally wearing a bikini under that…

“Daddy. Daddy.”

Someone tugging on my hand brings me back to myself, and when I look down, I find Sutton looking between me and Casey with a small frown on her brow.

“H-hey, Peanut, what’s up?”

“We’re going in the pool. Is that okay?” She stares up at me with her large, brown eyes, and I have a very firm word to myself to keep my reactions to Casey in check.

It’s not just Sutton watching. It’s the entire fucking team.

It’s Coach.

“Of course. I’ll be right out, okay?”

She nods happily before racing away, pulling her t-shirt off as she goes, revealing her swimsuit beneath.

“You made a really fucking cute kid, Rivers,” Parker announces as she steps up to the island beside a woman I don’t think I’ve ever seen before.

“Thanks,” I mutter, rubbing the back of my neck as I watch Sutton disappear around the corner. “I should probably—” I thumb over my shoulder and turn around.

Thankfully, everyone else is also moving outside, and I pray that no one noticed my lapse in judgment.

“Casey, do you need any help with anything?” a familiar voice says.

I look back over my shoulder just in time to see fucking Monroe step up to her, already wearing nothing but a pair of swim shorts and a shit load of muscle.

Fucking asshole.

“Uh…no. I think I’m okay,” Casey says, sounding confused. “Go and enjoy yourself.”

“I don’t mind,” he mutters before turning to the other woman. “Hi, I’m Hayden but everyone calls me either Monroe or Marilyn.”

Parker and Casey smother a laugh while the other woman looks at our rookie with sympathy in her eyes.

“Hi, I’m Freya.”

“And she’s not interested,” Parker adds for her.

“Here, take this bowl out,” Casey concedes, giving Monroe a smile that makes me want to claw his eyes out.

“Shall I come back?” he offers like an eager little puppy.

“No, go and enjoy yourself.”

“Rivers, you want to put those hands to use as well?” Parker asks, turning all attention onto me.

“Sure,” I agree, shooting a Casey a look.

“Take these. Just make sure they stay in the shade. No one wants a hard baguette in their hand.” Parker’s eyes hold mine, mirth dancing in them as both women on either side of her snort.

“Parker,” Casey cries as I take the breadbasket.

“I’ll do my best to keep it soft,” I inform her flatly before turning around.

Their sniggers fill the air as I move away from them, and I can’t help but smile.

I was right. Today is going to be a whole new kind of hell.

“ B OMB,” Handsy shouts before racing to the pool, curling his gigantic goalie body into a ball, and landing right in the middle of the water, splashing everyone around us.

“Uh, you got us wet,” Parker calls.

Parker has proved to me today that she’s as much of a handful as her best friend. The third one of their little trio is much quieter, though. She’s spent most of the day hiding behind her sunglasses with her head buried in a book.

“It’s what we’re good at,” Linc barks back, making her face twist with frustration.

Linc, Killer, and Monroe all run toward the pool and jump at the same time, causing a tidal wave to cover Coach’s backyard. Kids squeal in delight, the women sitting around sunbathing cry out in irritation, and the rest of the guys laugh.

Coach turns from his spot at the grill and shoots us an amused smirk. Man, I’d have loved to have known him when he was a player. Something tells me that he was a fun teammate to have.

It’s a pretty fucking perfect afternoon, apart from the fact Casey is on the other side of the yard, lying on a lounger with those fucking shorts undone and a tiny green bikini top doing very little to hide her tits.

All the guys have looked; I’ve fucking seen them.

Thankfully, all but Monroe have kept their distance.

He’s the only stupid motherfucker who’s been shamelessly trying to entertain all three of them.

He’s not getting anywhere, which is giving us all more entertainment than I think he’s aware of.

Even if I want to rip him a new one every time he so much as glances at Casey.

“Daddy, come and get in the pool,” Sutton calls from her giant pink inflatable donut that’s bobbing on the water.

“Sure,” I say before pushing from my lounger and standing to full height.

Fire burns down my side, and I glance over at Casey. She’s wearing big, dark sunglasses, but I know she’s watching me.

Reaching behind my head, I drag my t-shirt off with one hand, exposing my torso to her.

Parker wolf whistles, apparently watching the show too, but I don’t bother looking at her.

Combing my fingers through my hair, I stalk toward the pool’s edge, letting Casey get her fill before diving in.

The water is a little too warm after the summer heat to do anything about the fire that’s raging inside me.

I surge up beneath Sutton, and without her seeing me, I flip her out of her donut.

She screams before going under.

“Daddy,” she squeals the second I lift her up. “That wasn’t what I meant.”

Furiously, she wipes water from her face.

“Oh, what did you mean then? This?” I say before throwing her, letting her splash back under the water.

This begins a very loud and boisterous game as all the kids demand to be thrown around by their fathers or anyone who’s willing to get involved.

Every time I glance in Casey’s direction, she’s watching.

“Oh no, don’t you dare,” a familiar voice screams.

Spinning around, I find Linc closing in on Parker, who’s relaxing on her lounger wearing nothing but a fire-engine red bikini and a pair of sunglasses.

“Lincoln Storm, walk away from me right now,” she demands loudly.

He might have his back to me, but I can picture the cocky smirk playing on his lips.

She hops up and begins backing away from him, but she’s forced to turn to the left, leading her closer to the pool.

“Shit,” she shrieks before she takes off running.

If she thinks she can outrun him, then she really needs to reconsider, because not three wide strides later does he catch her, wrapping his arms around her waist. He launches both of them into the pool, her scream piercing the air for a few seconds before they go under.

Laughter erupts around us, and when I glance back at Casey, I see that she’s got a wide smile playing on her lips, joy radiating from her.

“You gonna join her?” I shout over.

“Nah, I’m okay here,” she replies with a smirk.

“Ah, come on, Watson,” Monroe predictably calls. Of course he wants her to strip down and get wet.

She’s too busy focusing on him to notice that Killer and Handsy have slipped behind her lounger, both dripping with pool water.

“Yeah, Watson. I didn’t have you down as a scaredy-cat,” I taunt.

I can’t see through her glasses, but I’d put money on her shooting daggers at me right now.

Her lips part to say something, but it’s too late; they’re on her.