Page 49 of Daddies on Ice

We set boundaries.

We don’t lie, but we also don’t hand over our private lives. You two appear together. You let yourself be seen being decent. You give this story a different ending.”

Tish’s lips part, but no sound comes out. A thousand tiny reactions cross her face, each one gone so quickly it’s impossible to read them.

Ash’s jaw tightens.

My own mouth has gone dry.

Part of me wants to say no on instinct. Another part recognizes how neatly this fits since she already knows the media lanes and the importance of getting ahead of any rumors.

But can I really pretend to be with one woman?

Even if that woman is Tish?

The thought of appearing in public with her, my hand at the small of her back, does something stupid to my insides.

A quick burn of desire sizzles through me. I can see her dressed to the nines, her small, beautiful body draped in an expensive designer dress as she looks up at me with those enchanting blue eyes.

How far would we have to take this?

Would we kiss in public?

My dick hardens at the thought of having Tish wrapped in my arms, my mouth taking hers.

Would she wear her long dark hair up high or down and free? My hands actually itch from the want to run my hands through those strands and see if they’re as soft and silky as they look.

I imagine her locks sliding through my fingers as I run my hand through her hair, then grip the back of her head and pull her in for my kiss.

Carl clears his throat, ending my fantasy like a puck to a face mask.

He stares at each of us, wincing a little when he sees the stricken expression on Tish’s face.

He stands with both palms on the back of the chair across from me like he’s bracing the room. “Think about the team, the season, and your next contract.”

The look he gives me says the Thunderwolves may not renew my contract if I don’t take care of this.

No one speaks.

The iPad screen times out with a soft click.

“This would have to be Tish’s decision,” I say, my tone firm, letting him know I won’t push her to do something she would feel too uncomfortable about.

“No shit,” Ash remarks.

“That’s a given,” Carl says.

All three of us look at Tish. Her eyes widen as her panicked gaze snaps from me, to Ash, to Carl, then back to me again.

17

TISH

My mouth hangs open. I can’t move, can’t breathe.

The silence that follows Carl’s announcement is so heavy I swear it rattles the walls.

For a second, I expect someone to laugh. A smirk, a chuckle, a quickjust kidding. But no one laughs.