Page 28 of Lucky Shot (Moonshot Hockey #1)

RUBY

A knock on the cabin door pulls me from my edits. I put my laptop on the coffee table and stand.

Nick is on the other side of the door wearing jeans and a white T-shirt. His dark hair is wet like he might have showered recently. I just saw him yesterday morning, but wow, every time it’s like a shock to my system.

“Hi,” I say, happy to see him but surprised all the same. “Did I forget about something we had planned?”

“No.” His rough laughter skates over my skin.

My body relaxes and I step back to let him inside. “I just finished writing the first hockey game scene.”

“Yeah?” His expression morphs to something full of excitement and maybe pride. “Can I read it?”

“Soon,” I promise. “I need to triple-check all my hockey facts, so you don’t think all this research has been for nothing.”

His grin widens. “In that case, I know just what you need to celebrate.”

“What?”

“To watch a hockey game,” he says simply, walking over to my couch and making himself at home. “Wear something warm. The rink gets cold.”

A small huff leaves my lips. “I…” A dozen excuses are on the tip of my tongue.

Nick arches a brow like he’s silently daring me to come up with a single good one.

“I’m a mess.” I glance down at my cut-off shorts and then bring a hand up to smooth over my ponytail.

“I’ll wait.” He kicks his feet up on the table next to my laptop.

Twenty very rushed minutes later, we’re in the truck. The music is on but turned down low.

“Who’s playing?” I ask when I realize I didn’t get a lot of details beyond him taking me to a hockey game.

“Aidan.”

“Wait. Really?”

“Yeah, his club team is playing.”

He pulls up to a rink smaller than the one in Moonshot, but inside it’s filled with people. Nick walks with purpose and I lengthen my stride to keep up with him. As we’re going up the bleachers to our seats, I spot Travis, then Conrad, Danny, and Penn.

“Do they all have kids that play too?”

Nick chuckles. “Nah, they come for Aidan.”

Somehow it doesn’t surprise me. The limited time I’ve spent with them, I can see how close and supportive they are of each other. “That’s so nice.”

Travis stands as we get close.

“Ruby-Doo!” He holds his arms out to his sides, and I step into a hug.

“Hey,” I say with a laugh. I’m still not used to his easy charm and affection, but he’s sort of impossible not to like.

“Nick didn’t tell me you were coming. I would have dressed up, brought flowers.” He tosses a grin at his friend.

Impossible not to like and an incorrigible flirt.

I sniff the air, the scent of popcorn wafting from a concession stand somewhere. “Popcorn is the way to my heart.”

“Noted.” Travis releases me, then hugs Nick.

I move over, smiling and waving at the rest of the guys.

“Hey.” Danny is the only one that speaks, but the other two men acknowledge me with smiles and Penn lifts a hand.

Conrad scoots over and I take a seat next to him. Down on the ice, I look for Aidan.

“Number nine,” Conrad says, pointing to the right side. It’s possible those are the most words I’ve heard him say.

I find Aidan, then grin. He looks so much like Nick.

“Thanks.”

He nods.

“Do you all go to all of Aidan’s games?” I ask him, but then glance to the others.

“We make it when we can,” Danny says.

“That’s really nice.”

“Ruby,” Nick calls my name. He’s still standing with Travis a few feet away.

When I meet his gaze, he says, “I’ll be right back. You good?”

I give him a thumbs-up, and he and Travis head down the same stairs we just came up.

“So, how’s the book coming?” Danny asks, leaning over from the other side of Conrad.

“Slow,” I admit. “The more I learn about hockey, the more I realize how little I know.”

His chest lifts and rises with a silent laugh. “I’m sure it’s great. You’re a fantastic writer.”

My face heats and my eyes widen. “You’ve read my books?”

It didn’t even occur to me, probably because ninety-eight percent of my readers are women, but I’m instantly self-conscious.

“I binged you this week.”

I open my mouth, then close it. I don’t quite know what to say to that.

“Dude. You made it weird,” Conrad says to him.

“No,” I say quickly. “I’m just surprised.”

“Danny’s a huge book nerd.” Conrad has this low, quiet voice and timid expression that I can’t quite get over. He’s ridiculously good-looking and doesn’t seem to realize it.

“Me too,” I say to him then to Danny, “You really read all of them? Like all ?!”

He nods and grins wide. He has a small gap between his front teeth that’s hot and adorable at the same time.

“Thank you.” I don’t know how else to respond.

“I’m excited to read more. Are you going to write a sequel to Love Bites ?”

“I hadn’t planned on it,” I say, thinking. No one has ever asked me that before.

“I loved Xander. I bet you could write a hell of a story for him.”

“He dies,” I say.

“But did he really?”

I laugh. I didn’t explicitly show it on the page so I guess he’s right.

“When is the one you’re writing now coming out?” Danny asks.

“Early next year.”

“Cool. I look forward to it.”

“I’ll send you a copy if you want.”

“Hell yeah.” His body rocks back and forth with his excitement.

I sit back in my seat, grinning as I stare down at the ice. Molly will be so happy to know I’m garnering more male readers while I’m here.

The kids on both teams clear off the ice to their respective benches.

When I spot Aidan again, he’s heading for the center.

Instinctively, I look for Nick. He and Travis are at the bottom of the stairs, staring out at the ice for the puck drop.

Nick’s mouth moves but I can’t make out the words he sends his son.

“He’s such a good dad.” The words, which I absolutely did not intend to say out loud, not only are spoken but also come out dreamily.

I’ve seen how hard it is being a single parent.

My sister juggled being a single mom for years before she met Flynn.

I respect him a lot for his dedication, especially knowing what Nick gave up so Aidan could have both parents in the same place.

My cheeks flush and I wince as I glance at Conrad to confirm…

yep, he heard me. His brows lift and then a slow smile curves his lips.

He has these bright blue eyes and dirty-blond hair.

He’s one of those guys that gets cuter the longer you look at him to the point I’m wondering if maybe he ever did modeling as a kid.

“That was an inside thought.”

He huffs a laugh. “It’s cool. And yeah, he is. Nick’s a good guy all around.”

I can only nod. All signs do point that way, which is great because I still need to finish my book and there’ll be more questions for sure. It has nothing to do with the fluttery feelings I get when he’s nearby. Or when I talk to him. Or he looks at me.

I focus hard on the puck drop. Aidan wins the face-off and the guys around me cheer. I get lost in the action. These kids are seriously fast and skilled.

Travis comes to sit next to me. He’s holding a drink in one hand and nachos in the other. I eye the food, stomach grumbling.

“I wanted to get you popcorn,” he says, then side-eyes the man walking up behind him. Nick stops in front of us, rolls his eyes dramatically and then holds out a bag of popcorn to me. My mouth waters. For more than one reason. There are those fluttery feelings again. Probably hunger pangs.

After the game, I’m more amped up than Aidan.

“That was incredible. You’re so fast!” I tell him.

He grins, looking shy and proud all at once.

“What’d you say?” Nick prompts him.

A hint of annoyance creeps into his expression but he says, “Thanks, Ruby.”

“You’re welcome.”

A couple approaches us slowly. I know instantly she’s Nick’s ex, Beth. She’s every woman’s nightmare ex-girlfriend. Tall and beautiful. She has an effortlessly chic look about her. Simple clothes, hair pulled back in a low ponytail, minimalistic makeup. And still stunning.

Nick spots her, smiles, then ruffles Aidan’s hair. “See you tomorrow.”

“All right.” Aidan nods and hefts the giant duffle bag onto his shoulder. The amount of gear these kids carry around is impressive.

Beth and the man I assume is her husband hang back, giving Aidan time to say goodbye to his dad. Nick waves when Aidan turns to go to them.

I’m still staring at her when Nick says, “Ready?”

I tear my gaze from her to him. He’s wearing a cheeky smile.

“For what?”

He tips his head. “The guys want to hang out with you.”

I glance over at where Travis, Conrad, and Danny are standing waiting for us. Penn must have left.

“If you don’t want to go, I’ll make some excuse,” he says.

“No,” I say quickly. “I do. Are you sure you don’t mind me tagging along?”

His mouth pulls up on one side. “I’m sure.”

We go back to Moonshot and to a bar that has a view of the lake and an outdoor patio. It’s packed. I stick close to Nick as we navigate through the place. Nick glances back to make sure I’m still with him. I shuffle closer and loop a finger through the belt loop of his jeans.

He grins as he glances down to see me holding on to him, then continues guiding us to the bar. Once we’re there, he places an arm around my back, placing me in front of him and boxed into the space.

“What do you want to drink?” he asks, leaning next to my ear and sending a shiver down my spine.

I open my mouth to order a vodka tonic. Sometime over the past few years it became my very boring, go-to order. I want to try something new.

“What’s your usual order?” I ask Nick.

“Corona.”

I wrinkle up my nose.

“Get whatever you want, Red.”

“That’s the problem. I don’t know what I want.”

He thinks for a second. “Anything you don’t like?”

The bartender is getting antsy in front of us. I flash her an apologetic smile.

“Scotch. Red wine. Beer. Ooh, no tequila.” I shiver at the memory of the last time I had it. It was post-Matt. Olivia invited me out with her and Flynn and a bunch of his teammates. The night got blurry after the third round of tequila shots.