Page 30 of How to Puck Your Boss (L.A. Hawks Hockey #3)

“You’re good,” she finally said, impressed, and the tense atmosphere dissolved. “However, I don’t imagine you came to that conclusion by looking at my face, but by looking on Google.”

Matt grinned. “There were two searches.”

“Hey, that’s cheating,” Lucy complained, but Matt didn’t get a chance to answer because Leon intervened again.

“So, what do you know about us, Clark?” the defenseman demanded, before adding innocently, “More than about hockey, hopefully?”

Penny’s smile remained on her face. She didn’t let his comment unsettle her. “To be honest, what I know about you has a lot to do with hockey.”

“Ah.” Leon didn’t sound convinced.

“Yes, your character reveals a lot about your style of play, but I actually only need your statistics to know everything I need to know,” she continued undeterred.

“Fox here, for example, is a born middle child. He always wants everyone to be happy, mediates quarrels, and therefore distributes the pucks better than anyone else. His passing rate is unbelievable. He just wants all of his teammates to be part of the team and to win. Matt here…” She nodded toward the striker.

“…takes everything lightly. Everything in his life is a game or not that important, which is why he doesn’t mind losing.

He always keeps the team in a good mood and is fantastic at getting back up when he falls.

And, according to his statistics, he does it 2.

3 seconds faster than any other player. Moreau doesn’t feel like he has to impress anyone but himself.

Which is why he is so calm and composed, even when three two-hundred-pound guys are charging him.

Jack wants to win, yes, but to do it as fairly as possible.

It’s as if he has to show the world that he’s a really good guy.

He might not fully believe it himself. Which is why he has fewer penalty minutes than any other player in the NHL and his scoring is fantastic.

Dax just loses control completely when he plays in an effort to be the best, which makes him incredibly focused but also a little wild.

And you, Leon, you just want to show everyone what a great guy you are.

If a player or reporter isn’t impressed by you by the end of a game, you’re dissatisfied.

No matter how good you were. Which is why you’re such a fantastic defender who also scores so many goals.

You want to prove that you can do both.”

She closed her mouth, which Jack found funny, since all the other mouths around the table were hanging open.

“But…I can do both!” Leon finally blurted out. “I don’t have to prove that. Everyone knows that. Right?” He looked around at his teammates for help, which indicated to Jack that Penny had been right on target with her assessment.

“You got all that from our stats?” Dax asked incredulously.

Jack lowered his gaze and smiled to himself. Yup. Penny wasn’t conventional, but damn, she was good. She had hit the nail on the head for every one of them.

Penny shrugged modestly. “Numbers say a lot about us.”

“Guys, am I the only one who finds that creepy?” Leon whispered loud enough for everyone to hear. “Why does she need to know all that?”

Penny laughed. “To get to know you better. You didn’t want to talk to me, so I studied you in other ways. But I could stop being so creepy if you’d just talk to me more often. And don’t always ignore me and forget to invite me to your after-game get-togethers.”

Most of the players stared at their hands in embarrassment, whereas Leon made an annoyed gesture before uttering a torrent of Spanish words, none of which sounded very nice.

Jack was rather certain that no one understood him because their Spanish was crap and Leon spoke incredibly quickly. For his part, Fox opened his mouth to reprimand the young player, but he didn’t get the chance.

At that moment Penny raised her eyebrows and replied in a calm voice – and in perfect Spanish – at least as fast.

Leon fell silent, his eyes wide and his mouth open.

Penny said something in Spanish again. And God, Jack suddenly wished he had paid more attention in class back then so he could understand her. Instead, he leaned forward, frowning like the rest of the team, and glanced back and forth between Leon and Penny.

The young player was now clenching his jaw, pressing out a few words in Spanish before adding in English, “You should have told me you spoke Spanish!”

“I was traveling through South America for three years,” she replied in disbelief. “What did you think?”

“That you’re just as arrogant as the other Americans that think the whole world should learn English so they don’t have to bother using their brains,” he replied heatedly. “Man, it’s annoying that you’re so intelligent. Annoying and awful.”

“Leon, can you stop being such a sexist?” Fox asked kindly.

“That’s not sexist! I find intelligent men just as annoying. They always want to teach you something or lecture you.”

He continued to complain about everyone being against him, but Jack was no longer listening.

He leaned toward Penny almost imperceptibly until her scent filled his nose and his thigh pressed against hers. “What exactly did you just say to Leon?” he asked quietly.

“Oh, that I’m going to call his mother if he keeps swearing. She’ll be interested in what new words he’s learned.”

Jack had to force himself not to laugh out loud, but he felt Dax’s gaze on him, and he didn’t want to give his brother any more reasons to doubt his mental state.

Instead, he maintained a neutral expression and murmured, “You’re late. I thought you were going to back out. We’ve been here for half an hour.”

“I’m not the type to back out,” she whispered. Did he just imagine it or did she briefly press her leg against his? “I had to do some paperwork.” Her cheeks and eyes glowed as she glanced up at him. “I landed some sponsors and then presented my idea for Leon to Lyle and Gareth.”

A smile tugged at the corners of Jack’s mouth. “So, you found leverage.”

“Yup.” She looked so obviously proud and happy that Jack wanted to pull her into a hug.

To congratulate her. Not to do…other things.

That would have raised a few questions and Dax’s voice was still in his head: Have you ever thought about what it would mean for her?

Yes, he wanted to date her, but he didn’t want anyone to know.

He wanted to make her life better, not more difficult. So he just said, “Congratulations.”

She gently bumped her shoulder against his. It could have been an accident, it was tight here, but he didn’t think so. “Thanks,” she whispered. “I followed your advice. I was rude. And man, was it fun!”

He chuckled softly. “I wish I’d seen that.”

“Next time.” Penny’s eyes flashed with amusement and, for a second, their gazes locked. The noisy sports bar faded into the background, the hazy light cleared, and the air crackled between them.

Jack’s chest suddenly felt terribly tight, dominated by a strange sensation. It was a longing for something he knew he could have if he was brave enough to reach out, touch Penny’s cheek, and not give a damn what everyone thought, what people would say.

Then a faint blush crept into Penny’s cheeks, and she lowered her gaze almost shyly before turning her head away.

Shit. He really was in trouble.

“Hey, does anyone want to play darts?” Leon asked loudly.

“Oh, yeah. I do!” Penny replied immediately, raising her hand.

Leon made a face. “Of course you do. Anyone else?”

“I do,” Jack said and pushed his chair away from the table.

“What? No,” Penny said and looked at him warningly.

He ignored her. If she didn’t want to go on a real date to protect her reputation, he would just fabricate a fake one. Normally, he wouldn’t include Leon on a date, but hey, what the heck?

“All right, good,” the defender said.

“No, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Penny announced, rising and wringing her hands nervously. “You love to win, and you’d be sorely disappointed tonight.”

“Uh,” Lucy said with a grin. “That’s quite a challenge. You can’t get out of it now, Jack.”

Jack grinned. “You have no idea if I’m a demigod or a cave bear at darts, Penny. So don’t assume anything too quickly.”

“Yeah, seriously,” Leon agreed. “We’re good at aiming.”

She made a face. “Well, guys, I have three degrees. That means I spent ten years in college — next to a bar where darts were played every night. You can’t beat me.”

Austin Fox laughed loudly. “Oh, boss, you really shouldn’t have said that. Don’t you realize that hockey players are a rather arrogant, ambitious bunch?”

Penny smiled. “And don’t you realize that I’m damn honest and I’ll have a lot more fun beating arrogant hockey players than innocent college boys?”

“Oh, I’ll have to see that,” Dax muttered, shaking his head and standing as well. The other players obviously agreed, because they all squeezed around the table and turned toward the dartboard while Leon ran to the bar to get the darts.

“Oh man, are you serious?” Penny shook her head in disbelief.

“Well, you made quite a statement,” Jack reminded her. “And just for the record, trash talk is allowed. Just so you know.”

She rolled her eyes. “I won’t let myself be distracted by talk.”

Jack leaned toward her before blowing gently on her neck. Penny shuddered and jumped back in shock. Jack grinned before whispering, “Trash talk doesn’t always mean words.”

Penny opened her mouth, closed it again…and then licked her lips invitingly.

His grin grew wider. “Ah, I see. You know how to play the game. Then may the best man win.”

“I won’t let myself be manipulated!” she said in warning. “I take darts seriously.”

“Sure, me too,” he replied lightly and squeezed her shoulder – innocently, a friendly gesture. But as his thumb gently stroked the wildly beating pulse in her neck, he felt her back stiffen.

Then he let go of her and strode across the bar. He thought he heard Penny murmuring “Oh, man.” He would have liked it much better if she had whispered “Oh, Jack.”