Page 5 of Daring the Hockey Player

"That's because I never gave it," I say.

He watches me climb into the car and shut the door. I lock it before starting the vehicle, and he takes a step back, watching to make sure that I'm safe. I'm backing out of the parking space when he starts heading back toward the bar.

I hope that Tripp doesn't give him any more trouble.

But I can't worry about Jasper Greyson, and I'm pretty sure he can take care of himself, being a hockey player and all that.

Heading out of the parking lot, I dial Charlotte, having to unload all of my drama on her.

TWO

JASPER

Six months later…

"Not that I want to talk you out of it, but are you sure you're ready for that level of commitment?" I ask my older brother. He's only older by three years, but I swear, it's like there are decades between us at times.

He's got his shit together. Not that he had much of a choice, with a six-year-old daughter and an NHL career on the line. He's done well for himself, investing his half of our parents' life insurance policy when they passed away.

Kyler has always looked out for me. I'm not jealous of him, just what he has with his new girlfriend, which is more complicated than a daytime soap opera.

I'm happy for them, most of the time.

I do miss hanging out with Kyler, and I almost never see him after a game when we have drinks and hang out. He's always spending it with his daughter and fiancée. Although, the fiancée thing was part of his fake girlfriend act.

Complicated.

I'm still trying to unwrap that whole thing in my head.

"I'm in love with Em," my brother says.

I'm happy for him. It's obvious that he's had feelings for her for months, but I just haven't been able to tell if they're real or if it's more out of lust. It's been a while since he's gotten laid. I mean, he's got a kid. Kyler can't just bring home random women and fuck them when he wants, not without Bristol asking a thousand questions. And that girl can talk.

"Yeah, but is that enough? I mean, she's cute and, from what I can tell, great with your kid, but do you guys connect?" I ask, gesturing with my hands to his dick in her vagina.

He smacks me upside the head.

"I'm not telling you about our sex life," Kyler says.

I throw my hands up into the air. "Fine. Your funeral when you marry her and realize she's as vanilla as a soft serve cone."

"Trust me, she's not vanilla," Kyler quips. "Hell, you saw her giving me a BJ when I had the guys over."

I laugh. That had been nearly a year ago. "Yeah, I guess I did," I say. "Never thought I'd walk in on that going on in your house. Noah, yes, he's always banging the next chick he can get his hands on, but you've been cautious since having a kid. Worried that you might create another spawn?" I joke.

He smacks the back of my head again. "Watch your tone. We're meeting Em's sister at the jeweler."

"She has a sister?" I'd asked her once if she had any siblings. She'd mentioned her sister liking pussy, but I'm not sure she wasn't trying just to tell me to go fuck myself. That would be a very Emerson thing to do.

"Yeah, Amber Ryan. She's meeting us at Tiffany's."

"Of course she is," I say. Why would I think that he'd shop anywhere else for an engagement ring? "You do know that Em doesn't care where you get the ring, right? She's not marrying you for your money."

I may not know Emerson well, but I've never gotten the gold digger vibes from her. And I'm usually a pretty good judge of character.

"I know, but I want to surprise her, and with the fake proposal at the hockey arena, I owe her a real proposal."

I pat Kyler on the back. "Well, hopefully, she'll say yes."