Page 5 of Hat Trick (Titans Hockey #1)
Chapter five
Gabe
I step out onto the rink and close my eyes.
I suck in a deep breath, loving the familiar scent of ice and my gear.
Overnight, things had gone to shit. I glide around aimlessly, warming up my legs before Coach Thompson sets up drills.
Carter has a child. A child and a nanny that now lives with us.
I understand where Carter's coming from.
He can't very well single-Dad a toddler with our crazy schedules, but living with a woman is a royally bad idea.
Especially one with pouty lips and indecent hips.
She's a distraction. And one we don't need right now.
The last few seasons we'd really figured ourselves out as a team.
We had a real chance at the Stanley cup this year if we kept ourselves focused.
A few professional hockey players had families, but they were the exception to the rule.
It takes a strong woman with a large network of support to weather our demanding schedules.
Most of us don't even bother with women.
Hockey will always come first - will always be the love of our lives. Families come second.
Then when we retire, the good ones turn their love and focus back to their families. A lot never do.
Emily. Emily and her large doe eyes a man could get lost in and her pouty lips that begged to be kissed or bit.
We'd never be able to relax in our own home.
Luca was already smitten and he'd known her for less than 24 hours.
Carter would be the next to fall. The last thing we need is our right winger and team Captain pining over the same woman .
I groan as I set up between the posts. I scuff the ice under me the way I like it and drop to my knees to stretch.
Awareness prickles the back of my neck and I look up, my eyes finding her immediately. Fuck. Emily, in a cute green sweater, holds the little girl to her chest as she carefully navigates the stairs to the ice. Carter and Luca have already seen her and skate directly for her.
"Who's the MILF?" Jonesy asks clapping a hand over my shoulder pads. A growl low in my chest rises.
"That's not a fucking MILF, Jonesy. That's Carter's daughter and nanny." I scowl at him, hoping he takes the hint. Most of the time my scowl's bad enough to get other players off their game. Not Jonesy, though.
"Sweet. So she single?" I punch him hard in the chest. It doesn't do much besides push him backwards on his skates. My gloves and his padding are too much of a buffer.
Curiosity gets the better of me and I skate over, too. Not close enough that she thinks I want to talk but close enough to hear what they say.
"There are my two favorite girls!" Luca shouts in greeting. Annie's clinging hard to Emily's chest, a little pout on her sweet face.
"Someone's not feeling very good after her shots today." Emily frowns, running her hand down the back of Annie's head tenderly.
"Everything else go alright?" Carter asks.
"Yep. Doc said she's healthy. Top 90th percentile for height and weight and he sent in a script for an epi pen.
Mrs. Washington managed to fax him her medical records, so we went ahead and did her one-year immunizations like we talked about.
She took the shots really well - she's strong and brave like her daddy.
But I think she's feeling a little under the weather because of them.
I wanted to stop by to see you, but I think I'll take her home and cuddle her up.
Comfort food and some snuggles on the couch, and she should be fine.
" She asks Carter, but then shoots a glance at Luca and blushes.
Luca's grinning up at her like she hung the moon. Fuck, he's laying it on thick.
"Yeah, of course. Let me know if you need anything. I'll keep my phone on the bench so I can hear it if it rings."
"Great. What time do you think you'll be home? I'll have dinner ready for you."
Carter glances back at me. "What do you think? Sixish?"
I give a single nod. I have no idea what time we'll be home. She's not my fucking nanny. If she starts trying to control when we come and go, I'm going to lose my shit.
Carter gives Annie a quick kiss on her blonde curls before Emily takes her home.
Jonesy uses the break as an opportunity to chat up Carter. "Fuck man. Sucks to be you."
Carter's brow furrows in confusion. "Why?"
"Being around that hot piece of ass all day and not being able to touch her? Special kind of torture."
Carter huffs and shakes his head. "Don't talk about her like she's a 'piece of ass'. That woman stepped up and saved my life when it comes to my daughter. Show her more respect."
"Sure will. Right after you give me her number." Carter punches him too but Jonesy just laughs it off. Luca's face has gone stormy, though. Shit. This is all fucked.
"You gotta get rid of her, man." I say, sliding up next to Carter.
"What the hell for?" He replies, shocked .
"She's a distraction. Not just to you but to Luca too. We don't do women. We don't do distractions. How long do you think Luca will be able to keep it in his pants? Then once he's had her, how long before he's fallen in love and following her around the house like a damn puppy?"
"Look, man. I get it. I didn't expect any of this to happen, but we're just going to have to deal.
We're adults. We're professionals. We can be in the same house as a beautiful woman and not jump her the minute we get the chance.
She's great with Annie. She saved my ass yesterday.
What, do you want me to fire her because she's attractive and find an uglier nanny?
" I grumble something non-committal. "We'll tell Luca she's off limits. That's it. He'll respect that."
I skate back to my posts, my forehead wrinkled in worry.
I feel out of control. I doubt it'll be as simple as telling Luca she's off-limits.
And how long will it be before Carter starts catching feelings?
I hit my stick on the ice a few times, snapping my head back in the game as Coach Thompson approaches.
If Carter isn't going to fire her, I'm going to make sure she quits.