Page 19 of Falling for the Orc All-Star

Iwake up to a pounding on my door and a pounding in my head. I didn’t drink, but those painkillers must be something special. I swing my legs over the couch and immediately let out a howl of pain.

Knee and leg no longer speaking, remember that, idiot.

I grab my crutches and haul myself to the bathroom, wondering if I imagined the pounding on my door.

I’m splashing water on my face and throwing yesterday’s shirt into the hamper when it resumes.

“I’m coming!” I bellow.

Who could this be? I blink at the clock on the wall. It’s almost noon! No wonder I feel like my head is made of cotton wool, and my bladder is about to burst.

Probably Coach.

Please not my parents. They’ll have me on a flight to Inverness before I can pack my skates.

Which are useless right now, anyway...

Maybe it’s Ingrid!

No.

“Coming!” I bellow again.

It’s probably one of the team’s lawyers or medics.

I swing open the door, shirtless, in sweatpants that I’ve slept in, barefoot, and on crutches.

And immediately stare into the eyes of Blonde and Busty, one of the King’s Kuties die-hards.

“Hi!” she says breathlessly, bouncing in a white and plaid sweatshirt and tight leggings.

“Hi?”

“I’m Shari!”

“Hi, Shari, I’m King.”

“I know, silly,” she giggles and bites her lip, looking up at me in a way that’s all too familiar.

Have Shari and I spent the night together? I’m almost 100% certain we never have. I’m careful not to get too friendly with locals—especially ones who might find out my secret and make things uncomfortable.

“I came to check on you,” she purrs, stepping into my space. “I feel so bad. A lot of us threw roses that night, even me.” She pouts, and her hand reaches for my arm. “The thought that I could beresponsible for your injury is eating away at me. I came to make sure you had someone to nurse you back to health.”

I swallow hard. Two days ago, this might have been my horny teenage fantasy come true. Heck, last week’s fantasy come true.

Shari squeezes past me, brushing her breasts against my chest and batting her lashes. “I never realized how tall you were. Let’s get you off your feet, huh? And how about a sponge bath? Or a massage?”

My brain is tempted for a blessedly short period of time before the image of Ingrid slamming a tablet into my chest and telling me to get some manners blazes across my inner eye. “Where did you get my address?”

Shari giggles. “Oh, my dad used to work with your dad, before they moved away. I called him, and he said he’d been over for a Christmas party a long time ago. I took a risk and knocked on a few doors before I found you.”

“Oh. Well. Nice to meet you, Shari. I’m fine, thanks. Not fine-fine, but no sponge bath is required.”

“Okay. How about a distraction?”

Yep. It’s straight out of a porno movie, a badly written one. Shari shimmies and shakes, and I have to hop and hobble out of the way of her all-too-prominent curves.

They’re not mine. Not for me.