Page 44 of Desperate Pucker (Denver Bashers #6)

Ryker

Speaking is impossible. I’ve actually lost the ability to form words.

That’s the effect seeing Maddy in that dress has on me.

I stammer for a few seconds, then try again. Still no words, just mumbled sounds.

That hot pink gown clings to her body like it was made for her. The swell of her boobs peeks out the tiniest bit at the top, and the fabric hugs the curves of her hips and ass. I catch a sliver of her leg through the slit.

My gaze snags on her face. She’s wearing this bold red lipstick that makes her lips look even more lush than usual. Her fire-red hair is swept over her shoulder, styled in soft waves.

My dick twitches with how much I want her. She looks like a fucking goddess.

Camden walks up next to me and laughs.

He pats my shoulder. “Let me help you out there, Georgie. The word is ‘Hello.’”

Maddy giggles.

Camden’s smartass comment pulls me out of my stupor. I glare at him until he steps away, then turn back to Maddy.

“You look…” I shake my head, at a loss for words yet again. “Beyond beautiful. Just…holy shit.”

She runs her gaze along the length of my body. “You’re insanely handsome.”

My ego gets a nice boost from the hungry look in her eyes.

The corner of my mouth lifts. “I clean up pretty well, huh?”

“Very, very well.”

The urge to grab her and kiss her surges through me, but I stop myself. We agreed to no PDA while we’re at work, and this is a work event.

I wish I could though. I wish I could grab Maddy and kiss her right here, right now. I wish everyone could see that she’s mine.

“Want something to drink?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “I’ll do just water tonight, like you.”

Together, we walk into the ballroom, which has been transformed into a casino.

There are a dozen different casino games set up in the space.

People crowd around the tables to play. We walk past Xander, who’s posing to take photos with fans.

I nod at Del, who’s playing blackjack at a table with some fans.

A few of them ask to take selfies with him.

“So did you sign up to be a dealer for one of the games tonight?” Maddy asks.

I shake my head. “I’m gonna play bartender instead.”

She smiles. “Really?”

“Yup. Should be a blast since I know how to make exactly three cocktails.”

She laughs. “I’m sure the fans who paid to be here tonight won’t care that you don’t know how to make a proper old-fashioned.”

“Wanna gamble a bit?” I ask.

“Yeah, okay. You’re going to have to help me though because I’ve never gambled before.”

“Really? Not even a scratch card?”

She shakes her head.

“Okay, we gotta pop your gambling cherry.”

She laughs and follows me to a blackjack table across the ballroom.

“We’d like to join, if that’s okay,” I ask.

The dealer smiles at us. “Certainly.”

While he hands out cards, the people sitting at the table look over at me.

“Hey, could we get a picture with you?” one of the guys asks me. “We’re huge fans.”

“Yeah, sure.”

Maddy offers to take the photo.

“You look a little grumpy there, Ryker. Try smiling,” she teases.

The fans chuckle when I let a smile break free. She snaps a bunch of photos and hands their phone back.

“You’ve been kicking ass ever since you came back from your injuries,” one of the guys at the table says to me.

“Yeah, you’re on fire,” the guy next to him says. “Even the young guys are struggling to keep up with you on the ice.”

“I was so happy when you got traded to Denver,” the first guy says. “You’re gonna be clutch in the playoffs. I just know it.”

I fight a smile at how good it feels to hear such positive comments from our fanbase.

“Thanks. That means a lot,” I say, then turn to Maddy. “She’s the reason for it all. She’s my skating coach. I wouldn’t be playing well without her training.”

They both turn to her. “Oh, man. You’re awesome!” the first guy says to Maddy. The second guy nods along.

She blushes as she beams, then looks at me.

“It’s a team effort,” she says, nudging me. “This guy definitely puts in all the hard work.”

“Well, whatever you two are doing, keep it up,” the first fan says. “We wanna see the Bashers bring home another Stanley Cup.”

He pats my shoulder and sits back down. Quiet hope settles inside of me. I want that too.

The dealer explains the blackjack rules to Maddy. After everyone is dealt their cards, she frowns at hers.

“I think I want another card,” she says.

The dealer slides her another card face down. When we all flip our cards over, Maddy’s over twenty-one. She sighs and shakes her head.

“It’s okay. Try again,” I say.

This round, she holds back and doesn’t ask for another card. When the dealer shows his cards, he beats her hand.

She chuckles. “Wow. I’m really bad at this.”

“Blackjack takes a while to get the hang of,” the dealer says.

“Wanna try a different game?” I ask.

She nods. I thank the dealer, tip him some cash, and wish the guys at the table good luck.

“Wanna try poker?” I ask.

She wrinkles her nose. “I don’t really like card games.”

I zero in on the craps table. “Let’s do this then.”

There’s a small crowd around the table.

“We can watch for a while so you can see how the game is played,” I say.

Camden is at the head of the craps table. I explain the rules to Maddy. He rolls the die and manages to hit a hard eight. Everyone cheers.

He pumps a fist, then rolls again. Another eight. More cheers.

“Damn, dude. You’re on a roll,” Sam says.

“I need a little bit of extra luck this time.” Camden winks at a pretty blonde standing a few feet away.

He steps up to her and holds out the dice in his hand. She giggles and blows on it. When he tosses it onto the table, he gets another eight.

“Wow. Camden’s really good at this game,” Maddy says.

“More like lucky. There’s not a lot of skill involved in this,” I say.

Just then, a college-aged woman walks up to Maddy.

“I’m so sorry to bother you, but you’re Madeline Macer, right?”

Maddy flashes a tight smile. “Yeah, that’s me.”

“Oh my gosh, I’m such a huge fan of yours.”

Maddy’s smile relaxes.

“I’ve been watching you compete since I was a little kid,” the young woman says. “I made my parents sign me up for figure skating lessons in second grade because of you. You’re my idol.”

Warmth flashes in Maddy’s eyes. “Really?”

The girl nods excitedly. “Yeah! I mean, I’m nowhere near as good as you are, but I’ve always wanted to skate like you. You’re so powerful on the ice, but graceful too.”

Maddy’s cheeks flush. “That’s such a nice compliment. Thank you.” Maddy squeezes her hand. The fan looks like she’s about to pass out from joy.

“I’m not a hockey fan, so when my boyfriend dragged me here tonight, I wasn’t that excited. But then I saw you, and I literally almost peed my pants. What a cool surprise to see you here! I didn’t know you were into hockey.”

Maddy chuckles. “I wasn’t until recently. I started working as a skating coach for the players.”

“That’s so freaking cool!” She holds up her phone. “Would it be okay if I get a picture with you?”

“Yeah, of course,” Maddy says.

I offer to take their photo. She wraps her arm around the fan, who’s smiling so big, she looks like she’s bursting with joy. I take a bunch and show them to her to make sure she likes them.

She squeals. “I can’t believe it! I actually met Madeline Macer. And you’re so cool! And I have a photo with you!”

Maddy beams. “What’s your name?”

“Carly.”

“You made my whole night, Carly. I’m so glad you came up to me.”

“Hey, are you gonna be at that event that the athletic department at Hollis University is hosting next month?”

“I was invited, but I wasn’t planning on going.”

“You should! I’m a student there, and I’m on the figure skating team. You have so many fans that would die to meet you.”

“Okay, maybe I will. Thanks, Carly.”

She smiles and walks off. Maddy turns to me.

“That was pretty cool,” she says.

“Look at you, stealing attention away at a hockey event.”

She chuckles.

“That’s cool you were invited to that fundraiser,” I say. “Why can’t you go?”

Her smile fades. “It’s more like I don’t want to go.”

“How come? If it’s fans like Carly coming up to you, I bet it would be a blast.”

She’s quiet for a second. “I did fan events like that right after the Olympics, and some people were really mean. They brought photos of my crying face for me to sign. Or they’d say rude things while filming me on their phones so they could get a clip of me freaking out.

I stopped doing public events after that. ”

Anger rockets through me. It’s messed up that Maddy is missing out on connecting with her fans because some people choose to act like pieces of shit.

“I just don’t want to deal with that again,” she says. “I’d go in a heartbeat if people were nice and polite like Carly. But I bet there’d be at least one person there who’d be a jerk.”

“What if I could guarantee that only nice and polite people would come up to you during that event?”

She looks confused. “How would you do that?”

“I’ll come with you. I’ll be the buffer between you and any dickheads who try to disrespect you. I’ll tell them off or escort them out. Or shove them into the nearest wall.”

She chuckles. Her expression turns warm. “You’d do that for me?”

“Absolutely.”

She’s quiet for a second while she looks at me. “I’ll think about it.”

I check the time and see that it’s almost time for me to help out at the bar.

“Wanna see my incredible bartending skills?”

Maddy beams. “Absolutely.”