Page 19 of Penalty Shot

“Saw your girl out there,” Gordon says from the shower stall beside mine.

“She’s not my girl.”

“Right,” Sean butts in from my other side. “You almost threw a dart in my eye when I tried to help her with her game.” I swear my teammates are mind readers sometimes.

“We’re having fun,” I say.

“For now,” Gordon says before submerging his soapy head under running water.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“At some point, casual won’t be enough for her.”

“You don’t know Elise,” I snap, although the thought still sticks.

Is that how things will eventually play out? Nah, it’s not possible.

We’re alike, that’s the beauty of it. Neither wants to play games. All the sex without the commitment. We could make matching t-shirts.

“She texted me that she’ll be at Pint House after the game. You guys coming?”

“The drama queen gonna be there?” Gordon asks, trying to seem casual but failing. It’s obvious he’s got a thing for Lily.

“Only one way to find out,” I answer.

Half the team tags along. We don’t have practice till two tomorrow so I’m feeling good about the rest of the night, which I plan to spend with Elise.

Had enough of the quickies we’ve managed lately. Don’t get me wrong; every minute inside her is incredible. But it might be nice to take our time. Maybe sleep in at the hotel tomorrow. Thatis, if I can finally convince her to stay overnight. Call in room service in the morning. Or I could haveherfor breakfast. She’ll make an exception for breakfast in bed, I’m sure of it.

Elise is a beacon as soon as I enter the bar. She isn’t even facing me, but I know the shape of her back and the tender dip between her shoulder blades. She’s wearing a red dress with a low back held up by delicate crisscross straps. With her long dark hair in a swinging ponytail and her kick-ass boots, she’s the hottest girl here.

My hand slips around her waist easily. She snaps her head back but then relaxes when she sees me.

“Hey there, Haughland,” she whispers and gives me a peck on the cheek.

I tilt her chin up and give her a real kiss on the lips. She stiffens for a second and then slumps her softness onto my chest, opening her mouth for a single glide of our tongues.

“You’d have been screwed if it wasn’t for Randall,” Lily says to Gordon, drawing our attention. “Hardly saw you on the ice, come to think of it. Were you even there?”

“I was there, sweetheart,” he drawls with a smirk. “Too fast and dazzling for you to keep up, though. Don’t worry about it. Not everyone has hockey IQ.”

“Are you sure you’re using the concept of IQ correctly?”

“What, you think I’m all beauty and no brains?” Gordon asks to continue the teasing.

“Don’t flatter yourself. I don’t think about you at all,” Lily quips to the amused hollering of the table. These two are a hoot.

“Randall, do you think we can talk? Just the two of us?” Elise asks.

“Yeah, let me get a drink real quick.”

“I got you this, actually,” she said, holding up a pint of beer. “It’s an amber ale, like the one you had the first night.”

Could this girl get any better? “Thanks,” I say, indulging in a hearty gulp. “How about you? Need me to get you something?”

She takes a sip from mine and something about the intimacy of us sharing a drink makes my cock press against my zipper.

“I’m good for now.”