Page 7 of Hockey Player Seeking Fan (Billionaires Seeking Wives Club #2)

Chapter Four

T yler

I notice her as soon as she walks into the bar.

Erica Carrington is a stunner, with her long dark hair, big brown eyes, and that sweet sexy smile that does something to me every time it’s directed at me.

She hasn’t noticed me yet, and I’m glad.

I’m like seeing her with a natural expression on her face and not one of hatred or annoyance.

Behind her walks her friend Sabrina, Wes's girlfriend. To many men, she would be the more beautiful of the two, with her long blonde hair, green eyes, and huge boobs. And while I do find her attractive, she doesn’t even elicit one iota of the spark I feel when I look at Erica. Erica is dynamite in my eyes.

“Hey,” Wes says, holding his hand up, and I give him a wave. They all head over to the booth I’ve been occupying, and I stand up.

“Good to see you, Wes.” I look over at Sabrina and smile. “Nice to see you again, Sabrina.”

“You, too, Tyler.” She gives me a smile and then looks back at Erica, who seems to be fuming. I resist the urge to make a smart aleck comment and pretend to throw my drink on her. I have a feeling she wouldn't appreciate the joke.

“And it's a pleasure seeing you again, Erica.” I give her my most devastating smile, but it seems to do nothing to her.

“It’s not a pleasure seeing you again,” she says, blinking at me rapidly. If she were magical, fire would surely shoot from her eyes and burn me.

“Well, tell me how you really feel,” I say, laughing.

It’s funny to me that she can’t stand me.

It’d been an honest mistake when I’d thrown the drink over her.

But she really didn’t seem to think so. She’s been holding a grudge for far longer than I imagined.

Not that I mind. It’s refreshing to have a woman treat me with disdain because so many women treat me like I am their favorite meal or the only man in the world.

She is a challenge. And I love a challenge.

Especially one as pretty as Erica Carrington, though I don't know if I’m going to allow myself to pursue it, as I know Wes will likely kill me if I try to have my wicked way with her.

“Oh my gosh, are you Tyler Kane?” A beautiful blonde rushes over and grabs me by the hand. “Have I died and gone to heaven? You’re even more gorgeous in person. Look how tall you are. And those muscles.” She squeezes my bicep. “Can I get a photo with you? Please?”

“Sure,” I say, giving her a boyish grin, trying to hide my annoyance.

“Take a photo.” She shoves the phone toward a glaring Erica. “Will you take a photo of us, please?”

“Do I have a choice?” Erica responds, rolling her eyes, but the blonde ignores her. Wes gives me a grin, and Sabrina smiles as I pose with the busty blonde.

“What would you guys like to drink?” Wes asks Sabrina and Erica as Erica snaps some photos.

“A porn star martini, please,” Erica says. And I’m about to make a joke, but I stop myself. I still have to be nice because she is Wes's little sister. And even though I very much want to say something inappropriate to see if she’ll blush, I don’t.

“Me, too,” Sabrina adds.

“Two porn star martinis it is. What about you, Tyler?”

“I’m good.” I nod towards my beer. “But thanks.”

“Okay, I’ll be right back.”

“Tyler Kane, I absolutely love you,” the blonde says next to me and runs her finger down my chest. “Like I used to be about football players, and ice hockey was not my thing. But then I was watching TV one day, and you were on ESPN or something, and I saw you, and I was like, 'That man is the finest athlete I’ve ever seen in my life.’ Like you are to die for.

” She looks me up and down. “Are you single?” She presses herself into me.

“He definitely is,” Erica responds for me. “Desperately single.” I look over at her and smirk.

“Not quite.” I wink at her and then turn back to the blonde. “I’m afraid that I’m here with my friends tonight, but it was nice meeting you.”

“I can give you my number. I am actually from Kansas City, Missouri, not Kansas, but I have a hotel room. I can give you?—”

“Two desperados,” Erica mutters, handing the blonde back her phone. She looks like a judgmental nun with her holier than thou expression, but I decide not to tell her that. “Hope you like the photos.”

The blonde looks at her dismissively, then back at me. “So, would you like my number?” She’s practically purring and I have no doubt that if we were in a more private setting, she’d be all over me. Perhaps even on top of me.

“Not tonight. But enjoy the rest of your stay. And yay, Kansas City. Go Chiefs.” She stares at me for a couple of seconds and looks disappointed.

“Are you sure that I can’t rock your world tonight? I mean I’m hot and you’re absolutely gorgeous. I think we can make some magic happen tonight.”

Erica snorts, gives her a look and shakes her head. “She must be blind and desperate,” she says loud enough so that we both hear.

“Jealous much?” I tease her. This is a side of Erica I’ve never seen before and I think I kind of like it.

“As if.” She takes a seat, and I sit across from her. She continues to glare at me, and I watch as the blonde walks away with a sigh. She swings her hips and I smile to myself before turning back to a glaring Erica. She looks cute when she’s riled up and mad.

“Are you just gonna continue to ogle me all night?”

“I’m not ogling you, you pig. I don't even think you’re all that.” She looks me up and down and sniffs like she smells something bad. Which I know is not true. I’m fresh from the shower and smell like the ocean according to my body wash bottle.

“You don’t think I’m all that?” I say, laughing. “I don’t know how many more times I can apologize,” I say. “You know it was your brother that?—”

“He said to throw it at Sabrina. And you were laughing.”

“I was laughing because it was funny.”

“You were laughing because you threw it at me instead of Sabrina, even after you knew.”

“I mean, it was still kind of funny. You—" I pause. I have a feeling I’m not making this better. “What if I let you throw a drink on me?”I point at multiple glasses on the table. “You can use anyone of them."

“Um, no, that’s not gonna be enough to make me forgive you, but if you want me to, I can throw a drink on you just for fun.” She reaches over and grabs my beer bottle. I grab her hand and squeeze to stop her from taking it.

“Not right now, honey,” I say in a low voice.

I squeeze her hand again, and she tries to pry it away from the bottle, but I don’t let go.

Her eyes widen as she stares at my hand covering hers.

Her hand is small and warm. I can feel her heartbeat through her wrist. She looks nervous.

Like I want to eat her up and devour her.

Like she knows I want my lips on her skin.

And her naked spread-eagle on my bed. I let go of her hand abruptly.

“Not right now,” I say softly. Though this time the words are for both of us.

I need to stop fantasizing about taking her. That is never going to happen.

She leans back and blinks. I’m grateful when my phone beeps. I look down, and it’s Elliott. “Hey, not sure if I’m gonna make it. My hot little nerd wants to bang tonight. Wish me a good time.” I stare at the text message and roll my eyes. I’m not even gonna respond.

“So, how have you been, Sabrina?” I say, looking over at her.

“Really good, thanks. Erica and I have been working on the podcast. Episode one is nearly done. We’re really excited to share it with Wes.”

“Oh, cool. And you, Erica? Been tormenting any other men recently? Or is it just me?”

“I’ll have you know that men love me,” she says lightly. “In fact, I have a date tonight with someone who may turn out to be my future husband. So, he’s really not gonna like it if he finds out that you were speaking to me like this.”

Something in my stomach clenches. “What do you mean, you have a date with someone who may turn out to be your future husband?”

“I have a date tonight, and I’ll be leaving in a little bit.” She gives me a seductive smile. “So, while you’re here with my brother and Sabrina drinking your beer, I’ll be out, being wooed by a handsome man who wants to show me the stars and feed me ice cream.”

“That’s the date she’s going on,” Sabrina explains. “He wants to take her out for ice cream under the stars.

“Ice Cream under the stars?” I roll my eyes. “What stars? This is New York City.”

“Ugh, you’re so annoying. That’s exactly what Wes said.” Erica rolls her eyes. “You guys don’t have a romantic bone in your body. It’s the thought that he wants to woo me. He wants to be romantic with me. He’s thinking of ways to impress me.”

“Okay,” I say. “Well, good for you. What’s his name?”

“None of your business.”

“What does he do for a living?”

“I don’t really know yet.”

“You don’t know what he does for a living. And you may or may not know his name. Is he a troll that lives in the park?”

“Of course, I know his name. His name is Darren.”

“So you’re going on a date with Darren, who you don’t really know.” For some reason, a ping goes off in my brain, but I’m not sure why.

“I met him while I was waiting in line at the theater the other day,” she says.

“Okay.” Another ping.

“He was standing behind me, and we started talking, and we just hit it off. And like all true love stories begin, there was amazing chemistry.”

“Love stories?” I raise an eyebrow. “This was love at first sight?”

“I mean, maybe. I’m not ruling anything out right now. At least I know he’s not the sort of man who would throw a drink on me.”