Page 17 of Claiming Her Cougar (Shifting Pines #2)

“Are you enjoying the game?” he asks.

I sigh dreamily. “Yeah…”

I clear my throat and try again. “I am. Thanks so much for this.”

Liam tilts his head as he looks at me, an eyebrow quirked. Is it amusement because he knows how he affects me or confusion? Does it matter?

“Of course. The moms meant it when they said they hope you’ll attend more. They don’t just say that. They like you.”

I can’t hide my smile. “I really like them too. They’re fun.”

“Go!” Daphne screams, jumping to her feet.

Liam and I turn our attention back to the game in time to watch the Flyers’ right wing break away with the puck and streak to the goal, dodging Dallas defenders. He shoots…he scores!

“Yes!” Liam yells, jumping up from his seat and raising his fists in the air. I realize he’s wearing the jersey of the scoring player. I wonder if it’s because he was a right winger when he played.

I stand and cheer too. Liam shocks me by turning my way, hugging me, and lifting me off the floor in his excitement.

Wow. I know he’s just being exuberant, but I haven’t been in any man’s arms since Liam’s in Vegas, and it feels wonderful. Comfortable. Right. He smells so good, like my uncle’s Christmas tree farm. Oh no, Mallory, stop this. Coworkers. Casual. Friends. Maybe fuck buddies. Nothing more.

Liam sets me back on my feet and turns to high-five Jake behind us.

Daphne hugs me while jumping up and down, forcing me to jump up and down with her.

You’d think we just won the Stanley Cup, not merely scored a goal.

Whatever. It’s nice to be with people who are enthusiastic fans.

Nothing worse than watching a hockey game with polite, quiet people.

If I wanted to be bored, I’d turn on golf.

After the second intermission, Teagan sits next to me. Did the women in Liam’s life arrange a schedule ahead of time so they knew who would interrogate me when, or are they leaving it to opportunity?

“You’re a friend of Daphne’s?” Teagan asks.

Okay, this is the way we’re going to go.

“I am. We work together at Morgan Development. You grew up with Liam?” Two can play this game.

“Yes, from grade school through college. Jake too, except for high school. He went to school out of state.” She smiles. “We’re the three musketeers. They’re like the brothers I never had.”

“Do you have sisters, Teagan?” I ask.

“No. I’m an only child. How about you?”

“I have an older brother and sister and a younger brother.”

“Did you grow up around here?” she asks as we’re both watching the action on the ice.

“Yeah, I’m the only one still here. My parents retired to Florida, my sister lives in New York, my eldest brother is in Maryland with his family, and my younger brother is in law school.

” I cheer as the home team scores again.

Fifteen minutes left in the game, and we’re ahead by a goal. I hope we can hold on.

We watch the game and sip our sodas. It’s a little weird, but not that bad. Oh, what the hell.

“When do you switch spots with Jake?” I ask. “Do you have a signal worked out or a specific time in the third period?”

Teagan’s eyes widen, and then she laughs.

“I guess we haven’t been subtle, have we?”

“Not really. You know we’re just coworkers, right? We aren’t dating or anything.”

“I know, but he likes you, and I care about him—as a friend—so I want to check you out. You never know. Maybe things will change…”

“Not happening,” I insist. “I don’t date coworkers, and I definitely won’t date a boss.

” I take a deep breath and lean in. “I care about my career and what people think about me. I don’t want anyone to say I got where I am, if I get anywhere, because of who I was dating or who I was friends with. I want to be judged on my merit.”

“I get that. I like you, Mallory. I hope we can grow to be friends.” A slow grin spreads across Teagan’s face, and maybe that’s respect shining in her eyes. Then she looks to the back of the box and yells out, “Yo, Jake! Want your turn checking out Mallory?”

I want to climb over the railing in front of my seat and escape the suite.

Of course, her bellow comes at the one moment during the entire game the Wells Fargo Center was silent.

I swear the players on the ice look up to our suite and judge me.

Okay, maybe not really, but I’m pretty sure Gritty is giving me the googly side-eye.

“Hey, how you doin’?” Jake asks as he sits next to me, sounding so much like Joey from Friends , I can’t control the burst of laughter that comes from me.

Jake is the definition of tall, dark, and handsome at a smidge over six feet tall with wavy black hair just touching his collar, rich brown eyes that hint at mischief, and a charming white smile with dimples to drown in lighting his face.

He’s lean but muscular. To put it simply, he’s a hunk.

“I’m good. How are you?” I respond.

“Great, thanks. I really don’t have anything to interrogate you on. I think everyone covered it, so wanna just watch the game?”

“Or I could grill you,” I suggest.

Jake laughs and takes a sip of his soda. “Shoot.”

“You grew up with Liam and Teagan?”

“Yeah, we went to school together. Well, I went to high school out of state, but we reconnected for college. We’re the three musketeers.”

I nod. I can see that they have a close friendship. Maybe more.

“Are you and Teagan dating?”

It’s his turn to let loose a guffaw. “Oh, God, no. She’s like one of my sisters!” He shudders. “I love her, but not like that. We’ve always just been friends.” He gives me a shrewd look. “Liam and Teagan feel the same. Just friends.”

I watch the game and think about what else I want to know.

Is there more I want to know? I can’t have a relationship with Liam.

We work together. It doesn’t matter if his best friends like me or not, we’re probably never going to see each other again unless we run into each other at a future game or they come to the office holiday party.

“Do you work for Morgan Development?” I can’t consider dating Liam because we work together, but Jake is another bowl of ice cream.

He’s hot, he has good taste in friends, and he’s a Flyers fan.

Hell, if he was a wolf shifter, I could have his shifter babies.

There’s no spark though, not like I’ve had with Liam from the moment I first saw him in that bar in Vegas. Darn.

“Nah, I work in the casino industry with Teagan. Liam is the real estate guy of our group. You’re a paralegal for Morgan?”

“Yep.”

The Wells Fargo Center erupts in cheers as the Flyers score on a power play. Jake and I cheer along with the rest of our suitemates. The game ends in a victory for the black and orange. My foursome says our goodbyes to everyone and starts the drive home from Philly.

The mood in the car is festive since we won. Liam and I are in the backseat of Logan’s Jeep with Logan and Daphne up front.

“Did you have fun?” Liam asks me as we traverse the Walt Whitman Bridge and reenter New Jersey.

“I did! I’m so glad I went. Thank you for letting me know about it and pushing me into going.” Normally, being manipulated is the fastest way to piss me off, but for once, it isn’t bothering me. I’m not going to think about what that means now.

We chat during the hour it takes to return to Daphne and Logan’s, arriving right after 11:00 p.m. It’s early enough I could make the drive home, but I don’t want to appear ungrateful for the invitation to stay over.

“Liam, do you want to come in?” Daphne asks as we get out of Logan’s Jeep.

“No, I need to get ready to hit the road in the morning. Thanks though,” he responds.

Logan claps Liam on the shoulder, and Daphne gives him a hug, wishing him a pleasant trip as they go into their house, leaving the door slightly ajar for me.

“Goodnight,” I say, smiling at Liam before turning to follow them inside.

“Um, Mallory?” Liam asks hesitantly.

“Yeah?” I stop and look up at him before I go up the porch steps.

Liam walks over to me. “Would it be okay if I texted you while I was gone?” The glow of the multicolor Christmas lights bathes his handsome face and makes the blue of his eyes even more vibrant. He’s so handsome.

“Um…okay,” I stammer.

I know texting and getting to know each other more is probably a bad idea, but I can’t help it.

I like him. He’s always been respectful, even when he was boinking my brains out behind a plant in Las Vegas.

He obviously loves his family, which is hot.

Even though my family annoys me sometimes, I love them, and I want someone who is close to their family too.

The way he was with that mouse he could have easily killed has stuck with me.

How he cradled that frightened little critter gently in his palm and carried it outside says a lot.

He was kind and patient with me when I was scared.

He didn’t know I was me; I was just a strange woman freaking out over a mouse, and he didn’t mock me.

He’s a good man. And he’s hot as hell. Why does he have to work for his family’s company?

It would be so much easier if he was an astrophysicist or a grocery store clerk.

Standing out here feels like coming home from a date in high school and wondering if I’m going to be kissed or not. Of course I’m not getting kissed tonight. I’ve made it clear I’m not looking for that sort of relationship with him. But I wish things were different.

“Cool.” He grabs the back of his neck, looking boyishly awkward and adorable. “I guess I’ll head home then. I’m leaving tomorrow to check out the centers in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. I’ll be back late next week. Maybe we can all hang out when I get home?”

“Maybe. That sounds like fun.” Do I wave? Offer my hand to shake? How do I say goodbye?

“Well, have a safe trip. I hope everything goes smoothly.” I give a lame-ass wave.

“Thanks. I hope everything goes smoothly for you too.” Liam returns my wave and starts backing toward his truck parked at the curb. “Thanks for going to the game tonight.”

I smile at him even though he probably can’t see me and turn to go inside.

“Mallory.”

I look over my shoulder.

He’s standing at the tailgate of his old red truck. “Sweet dreams.”

“You too, Liam.” My throat feels tight. I enter the house and close the door behind me.

“Want anything to drink, Mal?” Daphne calls out from the kitchen.

“A bottle of water, please.” I smile at my friend and accept the bottle she offers.

“Are you okay?”

Her perceptive nature is part of what makes her such a good friend, but I wish she’d turn it off.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I fib, unscrewing the cap and taking a sip of water, hoping to dislodge the lump that’s formed in my throat.

It’s silly to miss someone I don’t even know.

He’ll be gone for a week. Big whoop. I only really met him a week ago.

You can’t count our sexy times in Vegas since we mostly kissed and screwed each other.

We were strangers then and intended to remain strangers.

You can’t miss someone after a week of knowing them.

I know that. Then why does his absence feel like a shadow, and why am I already eager for his return?