Page 27 of Daring the Hockey Player

It was rather sweet, but I can't be having these types of moments with her, not if we're going to keep things between us only as friends.

I don't say anything and untangle from her arms, sitting up in bed. I shut off the alarm, glancing at her over my shoulder.

"How'd you sleep?" I ask, noticing a text from Kyler. He sent it this morning.

"Good. Thanks for letting me crash here last night."

"It was nothing." I stand and stretch. "How's your head this morning? Do you need me to get you aspirin or anything?"

She bites down on her bottom lip, and her cheeks redden. "I'm good. I hope I didn't embarrass myself too much last night at the bar. I don't usually drink that much."

I gathered, but I don't say anything. "I've got to leave for practice in thirty, but you're welcome to hang out. There's food in the fridge and—"

"No, that isn't necessary," Amber says and sits up in bed. She glances down, seemingly relieved that she's still in her clothes.

Does she not remember part of last night? I didn't think she'd been that intoxicated.

She glances around for her purse and grabs it on the nightstand, looking at her phone. "Did you get a text from your brother?"

I smile. "Yes, I haven't read it yet. I figured he's probably giving me shit about last night's prank."

"Open the message at the same time?" she quips.

There's a nervousness that's back in her voice that had disappeared sometime during our night out, between drinks and the little game that we played.

"Sure," I say.

We both open the text message from Kyler.

After practice, I want you to come over to the house. I'm proposing to Em and want to celebrate.

I glance at Amber, and her shoulders relax, the tension dissipating. I guess she was worried about the prank.

"Your brother invited me over this evening. He's proposing to my sister." There's a natural smile that adorns her face, the kind of pleasantness that shows me she's truly happy for Emerson, and she wants to share in that happiness with her.

"I was wondering when he was going to officially propose." He'd bought the ring and had been sitting on it for a few days. He hadn't mentioned it at practice and made me swear not to tell the guys on the team since they already thought that Kyler was engaged to Emerson.

"I guess I'll see you later tonight?" Amber says with a smile. She climbs out of bed, and I get a nice view of the purple lace panties covering her ass. The Ice Dragons jersey bunches up around her waist.

Sometime during the night, she decided to take off her leggings. She reaches for the clothes on the floor, and I head into the bathroom to shower and dress for practice.

By the time I get out of the shower, she's gone.

There's a text from Amber on my phone, and I open it.

See you tonight at Kyler's place. Should we bring something?

I laugh and answer her text while brushing my teeth.

Aside from ourselves?

She starts to type, and three dots indicate that she's about to send me something. And then they disappear.

She's a tough one to crack. Not that I should. Noah and the guys were right. Hooking up with Amber would complicate things. Already, we're seeing each other again, this time with my brother and his fiancée tonight.

What if I had slept with her, and it was a disaster?

Not that I think it would be bad, but she seems a little nervous, and rushing it isn't the answer. Neither is jumping into bed together. We're about to be family.