Page 20 of Falling for the Orc All-Star

Ingrid is for me, even if she doesn’t know it. Even if I’ve blown it, my heart won’t give up so fast. “I have cable and five streaming services. I’m good, thanks.” I’m trying to be polite. Be the good guy, not the cocky guy. At least, that’s what I’m trying to do.

Shari pulls off her sweatshirt to reveal a tiny tank top, so small that the tops of her bra cups show over it. “Can your streaming services give you a 3D experience? More like 3 Double-D?”

My spine stiffens. “Out.”

Her face changes, losing the seductive smile. “What?”

“Out! Get out of my house. I have friends and family to look after me, thank you.”Be gracious to the fans, be gracious to the fans, be gracious to the—

“Is this how you treat your fans? You throw them out?”

“I love my fans. More than you know. But I don’t love them like this. And you don’t love me, either.”

“I do!”

“I’m glad you love my hockey playing. I meant me as a person.”

“You’re gorgeous. And so tall. Can we get a selfie? Will you keep your shirt off?”

My skin crawls with disgust, but if it makes her go, then sure. I’d have to go find another shirt, and I want her out as soon as possible. “Sure. One photo. And again, thank you, but no thank you.”

Shari fumbles with her phone and then holds it up, beaming and licking her lips as she poses.

“Sure you don’t want me to stay? You know I’m always in your cheering section, King. How about you givemesomething to cheer about?” She reaches for my chest, and I grab her wrist and shove it away.

“Stop trying to touch me. I have someone I’m interested in, and it’s not you.”

“She’s not built like this, though, right?”

“No. She’s built considerably better. And it doesn’t matter what she looks like, you’re not her. And I only want her!” I hop backwards and slam my door. “Go before I call the cops! If a guy did that to some lady, he’d be in jail! You get a warning this time!”

“Kev. I’m not going to go tonight.” I’ve been trying to work up the courage to say it all day, but now, as we’re closing up the office, I finally blurt it out.

Kev doesn’t seem to be listening. Instead, he’s holding out his phone, mouth open. “Ohhhh. Oh, my God. We’re viral.”

“We’re what?”

“Viral. You’ve gone viral.”

“I don’t post anything except pictures of landmarks and whatever I crochet!” I hiss, backing up.

“Marina just sent it to me. Everyone in town is watching this video. Some girl tried to livestream earlier. She tagged it, ‘Kissing King Silverbow, Hockey Heartthrob.”

I feel like I just drank a bottle of vinegar. Sourness shoots through me and burns my throat.

Well. Guess I was smart. Shouldn’t have been taken in by that charm and pretense of vulnerability.

“How do I enter into this?” I ask, pulling my keys out of my pocket.

“She tried to delete it, but not before someone at the PR NYU campus, one of her followers, I guess, reposted it. They added some commentary and tagged Pine Ridge in the comments. Now it’s all over town. All over the state.” Kev shows me his phone.

“This is the wrong one. This isn’t King. It says ‘Hunky hockey star’s declaration of undying love backfires on ice bunny.’”

“Just watch.”

Unable to look away, I watch some jumbled mixture of scenery before staring into the face and cleavage of some incredibly cute blonde with a fake tan.

The hockey bimbo licks her lips and makes eye contact with the phone, but it’s up higher now. A shirtless, scowling King is in the background.