Page 16 of Hotshot

“Aspirin?”

“Yes,” I choked out. “I’ll get that. Just…please, put your clothes on so I can take you home.”

“’Kay.” He flashed a sleepy smile and scratched his gorgeous balls.

Yeah, I looked. I couldn’t help it. He was all out there—big and beautiful, not a hint of shame.

“All right. I’ll…” I gestured to the bathroom. “Gimme two seconds.”

“Thanks, cowboy.”

My mind spun with a new game plan as I rummaged through my toiletries. I shouldn’t try to take him home myself. It would be smarter to call one of his friends for help. I’m sure he’d agree…when he was sober.

So it took me closer to fifteen seconds than two to return with ibuprofen. Not enough time for anything catastrophic to occur, right?

Wrong.

Denny Mellon had passed out.

Buck-ass naked.

On my bed.

Fuck.

Me.

I set the Advil on the nightstand and tapped his arm. “Denny, wake up.”

Nothing.

I tried again with a bit more force, nudging his shoulder and chest.

He smacked his lips together and rolled to side. “Nhgn.”

“Denny!”

The little fucker was out cold.

Shit.

I hunted in the pockets of his jeans for his cell, but of course, it was locked. I shoved the screen in front of his face, hoping facial ID would work as a password. If I could get to his contacts, one of his friends could bail me out and take over. I wasn’t sureI could explain how this happened without sounding desperate, conniving, and possibly depraved, but I’d work that out later.

Unfortunately, Denny chose that moment to slide his arm under the pillow and curl into a ball like a koala. Snoring commenced shortly after.Fuck, fuck, fuck.

Now what?

Sure, I was strong, but I couldn’t physically move a massive professional athlete by myself.

This was what I got for agreeing to this fuckery.

You need someone in Vermont, Dad? No problem.

You need water, rookie hotshot hockey star? No problem. I’ll grab you a bottle, and maybe you’ll agree to do me a solid for my dad’s sake.

I paced the perimeter of the bed, mulling over my predicament, and came up blank. I supposed I could go down to the bar and ask Bill for assistance. But we’d left separately over an hour ago and under the current circumstances—you know, naked drunkenness and all—that was probably just enough time to do some damage to our reputations. Not something I was willing to risk. I was new in town, and this guy was their pride and joy.

So I made an executive decision to do—wait for it…nothing. I figured it was in both of our best interests to ride out the tequila and leave this till morning.