Page 36 of Lucky Shot (Moonshot Hockey #1)

NICK

“Can I get another Coke and a pina colada?”

The bartender looks like he wants to murder my ass for ordering a complicated drink while it’s packed, but I set a fifty on the bar and he begrudgingly nods.

“Thanks.”

He gets the soda first and sets it in front of me. Taking it, I turn and rest my back against the bar as I take in the scene of the busy lakeside hotspot.

A live band is playing “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)” and people are dancing around, singing the lyrics at the top of their lungs.

My gaze goes to one person in particular.

Ruby.

Her red hair sways and bounces as she jumps around to the beat. She has my teammates out on the dance floor. Trav and D-Low are singing and dancing with her while Shep and Penn sort of shuffle and sip at their drinks.

Travis glances around until he spots me at the bar, then he leans in and says something to Ruby before walking my way.

He’s grinning from ear to ear when he reaches me. I scootch over to make room for him.

“Your girl is a riot.” He chuckles and shakes his head, then orders another beer.

Ruby isn’t technically my girl, but I don’t mind the label. At least it means he might stop hitting on her.

Once he has his beer in hand, he turns to stand with me. The band has moved on to another classic cover song.

“Can you believe she has Penn out there?” he asks me.

The big goalie looks like he’s seconds from running away when Ruby takes his hands and raises them in the air, except she’s so much shorter than him, they’re only about shoulder height.

“After seeing his dance moves, I think I understand why he avoids it at every turn.”

“No doubt,” Travis quips, then lets out a happy sigh. “Today was a blast. Perfect way to end the summer.”

“It’s not over yet. A couple more weeks.”

“And then it’s hockey season, baby.” He holds his beer out and we cheers.

As much as the time off is needed to rest and recoup, and spend time with Aidan, I love the start of the season. It’s a fresh beginning. I’m still worried about playing, or rather getting injured again, but I’ve had less time to worry about it since I’ve been spending so much time with Ruby.

We stand together, watching our friends and leaning against the bar. I feel a contentment that’s been missing since my injury. A day on the lake, soaking up the sun with good friends and a gorgeous girl. I’ve never been big on the bar scene, but even I don’t want this night to end.

“What the hell happened today?” Trav asks, breaking the short silence. “Shep said you threw his book into the lake and Ruby looked like she was about to burst into tears.”

My jaw tightens at the reminder. For Ruby’s sake I’ve done my best to put it out of my mind, but I’d like to burn every copy in a thousand-mile radius of that damn asshole’s book.

“It’s not my story to tell,” I say through gritted teeth.

Travis’s gaze narrows as he nods. “Got it.”

We’ve known each other long enough that he can read between the lines.

I also trust him more than just about anyone.

He might come across as a guy who jokes all the time and cares about little, but that’s not really who he is at all.

He’s the first guy to call when shit goes down, always has a smile or a joke, but will absolutely throw down – on the ice and off – at the first sign that someone he cares about is in trouble.

I don’t think his happy facade is a cover so much as his innate instinct to put other people’s feelings before his own.

“Suffice it to say, I don’t like the guy.”

“So he’s like the Victor Aven of the book world?”

Victor is a mouthy forward who plays for Houston. Nobody in the league likes him, not even his own teammates.

“Yeah, something like that.”

“That sucks.”

I can’t even fathom how shitty it felt to be betrayed like that by someone she trusted or what it’s like to see evidence of it out in the world daily. That fucking book is everywhere.

“It must be hard for you to think about her leaving,” Trav adds.

“No,” I say quickly. “She was always leaving. She’s got a life in Arizona, family.”

“Right, but now you two are all cozy and cute.”

“It isn’t like that.”

“You don’t want to keep seeing her?”

“It isn’t that I don’t want to, but come on, how would that even work?”

He shrugs one shoulder. “I don’t know, but you’re an idiot if you fuck this up.”

A hearty guffaw breaks free. “I thought you were standing by, waiting for me to screw up so you could swoop in and have her for yourself.”

“Nah, man. If you fuck up, I’m going to kick your ass.”

I arch a brow when he doesn’t smile or laugh. “You’re serious?”

“Hell yeah.”

“Some friend you are.” I chuckle and take another sip of my Coke.

He angles his body to face me. “I’m your best friend and that’s exactly why I’d do it. I’ve never seen you happier. Kicking your ass would be for your own good. You don’t let a girl like that walk away.”

He’s serious. Maybe more serious than I’ve ever seen him.

“Says the guy who’s had even fewer serious relationships than me.” Sure, the only one I had was eleven years ago, but it counts. Trav has never committed to someone for more than a few dates.

“You’re right and I give you permission to do the same if I’m ever in this situation.”

“I see you cozied up to girls all the time. I’d be kicking your ass repeatedly .” I lift my chin up as I emphasize the last word. Is he serious right now? He’s always dating someone but never for long.

He shakes his head. “No. This is different.”

I let out a soft chuckle. “If you say so.”

“You might be too stubborn to see it, but it’s true.”

My stare is back on Ruby. She must feel my gaze because she looks over, movements slowing as she aims a smile at me across the bar.

I stand tall, grab the pina colada from behind me and thank the bartender again. Travis eyes the drink with a smirk but says nothing.

“Can you guys catch a ride back tonight?” If I know my friends, and I do, they’ll close the place down. I have a much better way I’d like to spend the early morning hours.

“Yeah. Go. We’re cool.”

“Thanks.” I only get two steps away before he calls out to me.

“Hey, Galaxy.”

I pause and glance over my shoulder.

His eyes shine with a playful taunt. “Happy is a good look on you, brother.”

“Today was perfect.” Ruby says as I cut the engine. Her head rests back and she stares up at the sky and her arms are wrapped around herself. She pulled on a dress over her suit before we went to the bar, but she’s still cold. She’s always cold.

I stand, taking her hand and pulling her to the front of the boat.

“Oh no,” she says as she realizes where I’m taking her. All day she’s avoided going up here. “I’m going to fall into the water.”

“No, you won’t.”

“Okay, but don’t blame me when I take you in with me.”

“The walkway is perfectly safe.” It’s a narrow path that leads to the seating area up front, and to my knowledge no one has ever fallen in while walking it.

She squeals as I lead the way, tugging her behind me. Once we’re there, she looks around. “This is stunning.”

I chuckle as she spins in a circle, then takes a seat, leaning to resume her position from earlier, sky gazing, with her hands intertwined together at her waist.

“Do you think Danny had sex in this spot?” she asks me as I sit next to her.

“Probably.”

Her nose scrunches. “Oh well. The sun and water probably disinfected it.”

“One can hope.”

I wrap an arm around her and rub my hands up and down her chilled skin.

She lets her head fall to the side to stare at me. “I like your boat.”

I let out another small laugh.

“And your friends. And you.”

I lean forward and kiss her, then because it’s not enough (it’s never enough), I lift her onto my lap.

She shivers against me.

“Want to go inside?” I ask.

Her mouth presses to mine as she shakes her head to the side softly.

I wrap her up in my arms instead as my tongue sweeps out to taste her. Coconut and rum and something that’s uniquely her.

Ruby leans away from me with a sexy grin, then shifts and wiggles as she tries to pull her dress up, so she isn’t sitting on it.

“What are you doing, Red?”

“I’m trying to have sex on a boat.”

My chest loosens with a laugh, but as soon as she stands and shoves her bikini bottoms to the boat floor, I’m one hundred percent ready to go.

She has a mischievous grin as she steps back between my spread legs. Her palms rest on my thighs but instead of climbing back into my lap, she gets on her knees.

I don’t move a muscle as she reaches for the ties on my trunks except to lift slightly so she can push them down far enough to free my dick.

Her tongue darts out to wet her lips before she leans in and presses a kiss to the head. My body is already strung tight, aching for release. She hums, then parts her gorgeous lips and slowly takes me in until I’m damn near hitting the back of her throat.

“Fuck, baby. I’m never going to last like that.”

She bobs over my length twice more, driving me absolutely out of my mind, before she pops off to say, “Good. Otherwise, I’d doubt my skills.”

I push back her hair with a hand on either side of her face. “Your skills are top-notch, Red, but I thought you wanted to have sex on a boat.”

She hesitates just long enough that I know that’s exactly what she wants.

“Fuck, I don’t have any condoms.”

“I’m on birth control,” she says. “And I’ve been tested since the last time I was with anyone else.”

“Same.”

Her lips curve up in approval.

“Thank fuck. I need to be inside you, Red.”

I wrap one arm around her waist and pull her down onto my lap. Our mouths collide in a hungry, eager search for more. I can’t seem to get enough, not even of her lips.

One of her hands wraps around my dick as she lines me up. I’m about to check to see if she’s ready for me, but the way she takes me gives me my answer.

“You’re soaked, baby.”

She slides down slowly, taking me inch by inch. “Boats really do it for me.”

I nip her bottom lip.