Page 75 of Breaking the Pucking Rules

“But they’re by far the hottest.”

“Probably best not to lead with that line,” Fletch suggests.

“What the fuck do you know about picking up women these days?” Handsy asks with a smirk.

“From watching you lot, I know exactly what you shouldn’t do,” Fletch laughs. “Right, I’m out. Got a hot woman waiting on me.”

After a quick round of goodbyes, he disappears, the first to leave just like last time. But seeing him walk away, dividing his time between his two great loves—his career and his wife—solidifies my belief that I can also do the same.

I should follow his lead and go home.

When I told Mom I’d been instructed to join the team after the games, she unsurprisingly agreed. Even Sutton was happyabout it. She told me that I should go and celebrate all my goals with my friends. That it’s what she’d want to do if she were in my skates.

I shake my head as I remember the firm way she glared at me, ensuring that I did as my coach and captain said.

Linc glances over from the bar, having seen Fletch depart. He studies me closely, probably expecting me to be next. But as much as I might want to get home, I can’t force my legs to move.

Especially not while he’s standing a few inches too close to the woman who seems to be a constant presence in my life these days.

“Another round?” Handsy asks, but while everyone else agrees, I decline the offer.

Over the next hour, I try my best to keep my eyes off Casey, but it gets harder and harder, especially when it becomes obvious that she’s drunk.

Linc has thankfully moved on to more hopeful targets. He might flirt his ass off with Casey and Parker, but he likes his job and his balls too much to take it anywhere further.

Unfortunately, there are other guys in the bar who don’t have a death wish hanging over their heads, and not ten minutes after Linc leaves them does some other asshole try his luck.

Casey stares up at him from her seat on the stool and throws her head back, laughing at what I’m sure was a shit joke.

My fists curl under the table.

The guys talk around me, but thankfully, they’re too lost in their conversation about our next game to pay any attention to me.

My heart jumps into my throat as Casey slides off the stool and, on unsteady legs, starts toward the bathroom, focusing intently on where she’s going.

As she passes, her addictive scent hits my nose, and my cock jerks as I remember that she tasted even sweeter than she smelled.

The guy she left behind takes her stool and turns his full attention on Parker, but that doesn’t concern me.

I’m still trying to convince myself to leave when she returns.

The sight of her jersey stirs those unwanted feelings that hit me earlier, and my breathing increases.

She should not affect me like this.

As she passes, she pulls her cell from her purse, swipes the screen, and puts it to her ear as she turns to leave. But before she gets to the door, she stumbles and crashes into the wall.

Parker looks over with concern, but Casey waves her cell at her to explain where she’s going before reaching for the door.

It’s too heavy, and she fumbles with it for a few seconds before finally getting it open and disappearing outside.

I should ignore it. Ignore her. I should wait for her to come back and then leave.

But I can’t. The temptation is too much.

“I’ll see you guys tomorrow,” I say as I push to my feet. I don’t know if they hear me or even respond. My sole focus is the door and the woman on the other side of it.

Warm air rushes over me as I step outside and leave the air conditioning behind.