Page 47 of How to Puck Your Boss (L.A. Hawks Hockey #3)

D oes it really look…okay? Festive but casual?

” Penny tilted her head critically and wrinkled her nose.

Jack wondered if she was aware she always did that when she was unsure and nervous.

In the last hour, she had almost worn a hole in her new carpet and the wrinkles on her nose had probably become permanent fixtures on her face.

But he didn’t want to tell her and make her self-conscious — he enjoyed her expressions too much for that.

“I told you ten times that it looks fantastic,” he said somberly.

“Yes, but I’m sleeping with you. Your opinion is therefore worthless,” she replied absently and glanced around her living room, where there was no longer a single black or white surface.

Penny had even painted the walls a light mint green.

In his opinion, that color only belonged in toothpaste tubes, but he didn’t tell her that because he was still sleeping with her…

Oh, shit. She was right! His opinion was worthless.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with you,” Dax said, stuffing a handful of chips into his mouth before saying with his mouth full, “Beer and wine go great with the coffee table.”

“She’s talking about the apartment!” Lucy said, rolling her eyes.

“Oh. Um...” Dax scratched the back of his neck, sending chip crumbs tumbling to the floor. “It has walls. That’s what I like about apartments.”

Jack chuckled softly while Penny glanced up at him and muttered, “So he’s the annoying brother, huh?”

“Hey! I heard that,” Dax grumbled.

“She wasn’t trying to hide it, it was intentional,” Matt chimed in, joining them.

Penny had actually invited the entire organization to the housewarming party for their new apartment, but so far, only hockey players had shown up.

That might have been because Jack had kindly and almost non-threateningly advised them to show up on time so as to not disappoint Penny.

“And don’t worry, boss, your brother never invited us to a party at his house, so you’re way ahead in the race right now! ”

“There’s no more competition,” Penny said, alarmed, pointing her index finger at the striker. “That’s over! Gareth and I are equal partners.”

“Sure.” Matt grinned. “Maddie said she wouldn’t even want to dull one of Gareth’s pencils and then be there when he notices.”

Penny rolled her eyes. “He’s not that bad…besides, it would depend on the pencil.”

“Where is your fiancée, Payne?” Jack asked, frowning and looking around.

He waved dismissively. “Oh, she’ll be here, but she needed to empty out her apartment and drive her things over because Rachel is supposed to move up next week.”

“And you left my sister alone with that?” Lucy said in disbelief. “What are your muscles for, anyway?”

“She kicked me out!” Matt raised his hands defensively. “I wanted to help, but she said I was just getting in her way.”

“Oh. Yeah, that sounds like Maddie.” Lucy nodded.

“Who’s Rachel?” Leon wanted to know, carrying two beer bottles in his hands, both for himself. He probably wanted to take advantage of the fact that their coach hadn’t arrived yet.

“Maddie’s and my sister,” Lucy replied tersely.

“There are three of you?” he asked enthusiastically. “Is this Rachel single? Oh, speaking of sisters… I know I’ve told you before, Dax, but your sister is hot. Um…” He frowned. “I mean your sister is hot.” He tapped Jack on the shoulder with one of the beers. “Man, I have to get used to this.”

“Keep your hands off Anna!” Jack snapped and Dax hissed, “I’ll kill you if you even look at her the wrong way, Alvarez.”

Penny snorted and pulled down Jack’s arm, which he hadn’t even realized he had raised.

“God, the poor thing,” she muttered, shaking her head.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Jack exclaimed in disbelief. “She’s lucky we’re protecting her from assholes like him.”

Anna would only get involved with a hockey player over his dead body! Hockey players were self-absorbed, arrogant womanizers who treated hearts like pucks. And he realized he was a hockey player himself, but that just proved that he knew more than most people!

“Fine, my God.” Shaking his head, Leon took a deep pull of his beer before saying something in rapid Spanish to Penny. She laughed loudly and answered him just as fluently.

Jack narrowed his eyes and glanced back and forth between them.

They had been doing that more often lately, speaking Spanish.

Penny said she missed the language and so did Leon.

So, they helped each other out. Secretly, though, Jack was convinced that she was only doing it because she knew it upset him.

“What did you say?” he asked as soon as they paused for breath.

“Oh, only good things,” Penny said, her eyes wide as she tapped his bicep. “We admired your bright golden hair and Dax’s beautiful jawline, among other things.”

Jack looked at her darkly and Leon grinned. “Maybe you’re okay after all, Clark,” he said, before adding hesitantly, “Lyle said it was your idea to try me out in a different position?”

Penny’s cheeks turned pink. “Um, yes.”

“Because of the stats?”

“Yes.”

“Mm hm.”

Jack’s jaw clenched because if Leon had anything condescending to say, then…

“Well…I think…” He cleared his throat and took a sip of beer. “Well, my abilities are much better as a center.” He turned his face away before muttering, “So, thanks. For being the stats witch and persuading Lyle to encourage the coach to convince me to try.”

Penny laughed. The sound of it was so relaxed and carefree that Jack felt it vibrating throughout his body. “On a scale of one to ten, how uncomfortable was that for you?” she asked.

“One hundred and thirty,” Leon said bluntly before turning his back on her and leaving.

“Wow. That was heartwarming,” Lucy said, perplexed, putting a hand on her chest. “He’s never thanked anyone so lovingly.”

“Yes, I enjoyed it,” Penny said, grinning. “It was honest. And rather sweet, right?” Her smile fell from her face. “God, I even like Leon,” she said, looking so perplexed that Jack laughed. “When did that happen?”

“Yeah, the guy is sneaky,” he confirmed. “He’s an idiot for a month, then halfway okay for a second, and then he just sneaks past your protective walls.”

“Yes, and here I was so careful!” she replied indignantly.

“Oh, you’ve been slacking lately,” he whispered in her ear, kissing her gently behind it.

“No, no. I only made an exception for you!” she said seriously. “And for Dax and Lucy. And for Matt. And Fox is easy to like. And Moreau is always so serious that you want to make him laugh. And Leon… Oh.” Her eyes widened in shock.

Jack grinned broadly and pulled her closer. “You’re part of the gang now. Welcome.”

Penny opened her lips, probably to object, but she was interrupted by another female voice.

“Tell me why did Leon see me, turn chalk white, and then almost trip over his own feet trying to get away from me as quickly as possible?” Anna asked, frowning and looking back and forth between Dax and him. “What did you do?”

“Nothing,” they replied in unison.

Anna groaned loudly. “God, you’re idiots. I need a drink. Oh, Penny, Lucy, could you please finally clarify for these two idiots that I’m an adult who can make my own decisions?” She gave her brothers one last annoyed look, then disappeared into the kitchen.

Lucy dutifully opened her mouth, but Dax looked at her grimly and beat her to it, “If you try, I’ll knock you over!”

She rolled her eyes but grinned. “I think I need a drink too,” she replied hastily and hurried after Anna.

“Does that mean you’re on Anna’s side?” Dax said incredulously before following.

“Everyone is on Anna’s side, Dax,” Matt shouted, and then he was gone too.

That was good, because it gave Jack a chance to look down at Penny with narrowed eyes, unnoticed by anyone. He waited for her to do Anna’s bidding, but to his surprise, her mouth remained firmly closed.

“What? You have nothing to say about it?” he asked skeptically.

“Oh, yes, I have a lot to say about it.”

“And?”

“Well, I want to sleep with you tonight, so I’ll keep quiet,” she said innocently, standing on her tiptoes and kissing him on the cheek.

He snorted loudly, but the touch of her lips traveled down to his toes. “We really should stop basing our opinions on sex.”

“Oh, definitely.” She nodded firmly before adding with a frown, “But not today, right?”

“God, no.” He put his arms around her shoulders and pulled her close. “We shouldn’t risk an argument. I have a lot to do, you see.”

“Is that so?”

“Yep. We have to christen every room in this apartment.”

Penny laughed loudly and put her arms around his waist. “What? You really think there’s something that looks better on the coffee table than beer and wine bottles?”

“Definitely,” he replied confidently and kissed her. “By the way, Penny, the apartment looks great. Like a…home.”

She smiled broadly. “Yes. Because you’re in it.”

No. No, that wasn’t true. That was all her.

But who wanted to risk arguing…when they could kiss instead?

THE END

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