Page 19 of Playing for Keeps (Seattle Hawks Ice Hockey #4)

Jade

I text Jay while Beth and I are finishing up our lunch.

Beth is quite capable of giving me a ride home, there’s still time to change before the dance class, but something about the way Jay kept asking me to message him when I’m done echoes through me.

It makes sense we just go straight from here since we lined it up to start right after practice finished.

“Are you sure you don’t need a ride?” Beth asks.

“Nah. Jay’s picking me up and we’re going to that dance lesson for the wedding.”

A well-rounded smirk suddenly appears on her face. I try my best not to react because she will only pounce on anything I say, but my eyebrows still lift at her expression. “We’re the maid of honor and best man,” I remind her.

“Shouldn’t be too hard then to get reacquainted on the dance floor.” She covers her mouth with her hand, trying to suspend her laugh. Boy oh boy, was she there that night Jay and I got it on with the dirty dancing escapade, and she’s not about to let me forget it.

“That was months ago.” I wave off her insinuation, hoping that will help. It’s fruitless though, I know she won’t let it go.

“So what? You said so yourself he’s a cutie and always has been.”

I frown. “When did I say that?”

She throws me another look of exasperation. “You’ve said it heaps of times, and besides, I know you like him from the way you’re always trying to deflect whenever he’s brought up.”

“Bethany Jo Marsden!”

“Try and deny it.”

“Of course I like Jay, we’ve known each other a long time. But he’s a well-known fuck boy in hockey circles. And besides, I’m done with dating athletes.”

“Jay wouldn’t be like that with you!” she protests. “From what you’ve told me, he completely adores you. And you can’t tar all sports guys with the same brush.”

I roll my eyes. “Can’t I?”

“So you wouldn’t even consider something more with Jay if he wanted to?”

I once again try to deflect and play that notion down as I grab my bag from the floor and we get ready to leave the cafe. It’s been a lovely afternoon sitting here watching the world go by. We don’t get to do this often enough.

“He wouldn’t want to,” I say. “Remember that whole fuck boy thing?”

“And remember how I said he wouldn’t be like that with you? Maybe he just hasn’t found the right girl yet.”

“And I’m sure he doesn’t want to. Just this morning at the rink, he had some busty blonde calling after him, trying to hook up right in front of me.”

Her eyes bug wide, stopping just outside the cafe doors as we exit. “What?”

“Yeah, you should have seen it. I had to skate away, she was practically hanging over the barricade to try and get to him.”

“Holy shit. What did he do?”

“Seemed like he blew her off and skated over to me.”

“Well, there you go then. Did he seem remotely interested in her?”

I think back, tapping my fingers on my chin.

I know how annoyed it made me feel this morning, but it’s exactly how it is for these sports guys.

And I’m a friend, nothing more. I’ve no claim over him just because we accidentally kissed months ago and shared a reggae dance at that bar.

“Actually, he seemed to want to get as far away from her as possible.”

“That’s a good sign, J.”

I let out a breath. “A good sign of what? I’m not interested in Jay that way.”

“What way?” A voice says behind us.

I shriek, clutching my chest as I turn on my heel and see none other than the man in question standing right behind us.

Low and behold if he doesn’t have a quizzical expression on his face.

His cute head tilted, a wry smiling playing on his lips like he’s deciding whether to expand it or not.

I wish he would; he looks cute when he smiles.

“Oh, hey, Jay!” Beth chirps brightly.

“Hey.” Jay grins like a Cheshire cat, immediately sticking his hand out toward my bestie. “I don’t think we met formally that night at the bar, I’m Jay.”

She juts her hand out to connect with his and gives it an enthusiastic shake. “Hey, I’m Beth. Jade’s right, you really are cute!”

“Beth!” I whack her on the arm as Jay laughs under his breath, shuffling a little awkwardly from one foot to the other.

“Nice to know what she says about me when I’m not here.”

They share a conspiratorial laugh together as I look from one to the other.

“Well, it’s better late than never to say thank you for the drinks. How’s Jake, by the way?”

I literally facepalm myself. She hasn’t shut up about that since the night they met.

“Jake is doing just fine. Come to think of it, you two looked pretty cozy yourself in that bar, strutting your stuff. Want me to drop in a good word for you?”

Beth laughs like it’s hilarious, then sobers. “What, really?”

Jay shrugs. “I’m great at playing Cupid, trust me.”

“Remember what I was saying about sports stars,” I mutter under my breath to Beth, but she’s deliberately not listening to a word I’m saying.

“I’d be fine with that!” She beams.

He pops a shoulder and seals it with a wink. “Leave it with me.”

Beth is practically jumping up and down on the spot in delight. “You two have fun at your dance lesson now, won’t you? Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” She winks back at Jay and I stare at my friend, mouth open, wondering what the hell has gotten into her.

“You’re welcome,” she mouths to me as we part ways. Jay is gesturing over to the curb where he’s parked his black BMW XM SUV.

I point a finger at her and am about to retort a snappy comeback when I feel Jay’s hand touch mine, or rather, the bag of equipment I’m still holding from the photoshoot.

Glancing up at him under my lashes, his smile makes me forget whatever I was going to throw back at her. Instead, I smile sweetly.

“You ready?” he asks.

“Sure thing. See ya, Beth.” I’ll be texting you as soon as I’m in the car.

Her returning smile is about ten feet wide as she does a little skip step towards her car, parked just down from Jay’s. “See you two later. Have fun!”

“Sorry about that,” I say to Jay when we’re on our way to the dance studio downtown. He punched the address into his navigation system and we find out it’s not far from where he lives, but maybe a little too far to walk since it will be dark when we’re done.

“She’s a real hoot,” Jay says, he’s been unable to wipe the smile off his face for most of the ride. What I’d give to know what he’s thinking right now.

“She sure doesn’t mince with words, and she’ll ditch me in a heartbeat to be your new best friend if you hook her up with Jake Hudson.

” Okay, so maybe that’s not exactly true, Beth and I go way back, but despite what she said previously when I brought it up, she sure would love to pick up where they left off last time.

“I’m sure that’s not true,” he muses. “But she may wanna rethink things if she’s looking for a permanent thing. Jake is pretty new to the scene, so he’s just out there having fun for the moment.”

“Aren’t you all?” I quip with a laugh to my tone.

I don’t mean it to sound haughty, it just flies out before I can stop it.

Jay turns his head toward me; his five o’clock shadow suits the golden glow to his face.

And the way the late afternoon sun is coming through the window as he drives bounces off his golden locks, making it seem like he’s suddenly been granted a halo.

I press my lips together, even thinking about that notion is absurd. Nope. One thing Jay will never be is an angel, not in that sense, anyway.

“Have you been reading the sports pages again?” Jay jokes, with a gleam in his eye, looking back to the road. “You know, half the stuff they print in those gossip pages is bullshit.”

I didn’t know this until the night I spent with some of the team that a scandal was exposed by the press with Cindy Carter, who’s Tyler Peterson’s girlfriend and the captain of the Seattle Hawks.

Tyler was photographed with Cindy in the park with their dog, Henry, as well as his heavily pregnant ex on the same day.

The Seattle Times printed a story about Tyler being the bad boy of the ice and dating both women at once.

It wasn’t true. As in, Tyler hadn’t been with his ex for over six months.

And his relationship with Cindy was new and being kept secret from the team.

They know firsthand that the things often written in the papers aren’t anywhere close to the truth.

I don’t know about Jay, though. He’s renowned for having a new woman on his arm every five minutes.

It’s not that I’ve kept up with him over the years, it’s just common knowledge.

“I’m not so sure about that,” I say. “You seem to have a legion of fans lining up to get another date with you.” I’m referring to that girl from this morning, of course.

And I don’t mean to sound catty or jealous bringing it up, but I am interested in his reaction.

“Janey?” he splutters.

“Hey, you can’t blame a girl for trying!” I say as I fish my cell out of my pocket so I can text Beth and say thanks so much for blurting that out in front of Jay. I’m sure he’s only seconds away from bringing it up again.

“I’m not interested in Janey. She wouldn’t let up this morning, sometimes chicks are like that.”

“Puck bunnies?” I say, feeling silly even saying the words. But Beth has been looking into the NHL more and more since the night at the bar, and all the lingo that goes with it.

Jay rolls a hand over his face for a second, letting out a breath. I can see the hesitation in his face as his lip curls under and his brow furrows slightly.

Why does he suddenly seem a little uncomfortable?

“It comes with the territory,” he sighs.

“Hey, it’s fine,” I quickly say. “I’m sure with your sort of fame it happens a lot and you can’t go anywhere without being noticed.”

“I’m sorry she was kinda rude this morning,” he goes on.

I pop a shoulder. “It’s fine, I didn’t notice.”

He glances at me again. “But you noticed I’m cute?”

There it is. I meet his intense blue-eyed stare and forget my own name for a second. “Huh?”

“Beth… she said.”

Of course, he remembered that. “Oh.” Yes, that. I glance down to my cell in my hand, ready to send her that sarcastic thank you text. “You know Beth, she’s always spouting some nonsense.”

“Actually, I don’t know Beth,” he chuckles. “I just met her.”

I sit back in my seat, trying to settle my sudden nerves fluttering in my stomach over Jay’s cuteness comment.

I watch as the sky clouds over, Jay shifting through traffic with ease.

He doesn’t even bristle one iota to any idiots on the road when he drives.

It’s like nothing in the world bothers him at all. This could be a good and a bad thing.

“It’s an endearing term,” I finally say. “And you are kinda cute in your own way.”

He guffaws and quirks a brow in my direction. “I’m trying to work out if that was a compliment.”

“It was.” I say with a single nod.

“And what was that about not being interested in me in that way?” He accentuates the word in the only way he could.

Another thing I have to try and wave off. I will strangle Beth later. “Beth was just spouting some nonsense,” I say. “She won’t let up about us at the bar.”

His soft chuckle stirs something in me, a sudden warmth radiating under the surface. “I’ll pretend to believe you.”

“Well, I also said you’re a nice guy, you always have been.”

“And that’s why you’re dragging me to dance class for your brother’s wedding?”

“Dragging seems such a strong term, Jay. You said so yourself that you’re up for a challenge. And it’s going to be a super fun wedding out in the wilderness of Nevada.”

“Well, that part I can agree on. I talked to Tanner earlier, he seems calm about it all, even as it’s getting closer.”

“I’m glad. I’m pretty sure Deb has it all under control. I can’t wait to see little Luca dressed up in his tiny tuxedo.”

“Now that I’ve gotta see,” Jay agrees. “I haven’t seen the little guy in ages.”

I rub my hands together excitedly. That little flutter in my stomach taking precedence, knowing that in less than two months’ time we will be spending an entire weekend there at The Las Vegas Resort and Spa near Red Rock Canyon.

I’m looking forward to the planned spa day with the girls and the after-party breakfast the day after the wedding.

I don’t want to admit that I’m looking forward to Tanner’s wedding in more ways than one. That would be stupid.

And despite Beth’s insinuations, I’m not dating any more sports guys.

It’s off the table. No matter what she or anyone else says. I’m done with them.

I glance at Jay.

“It’s gonna be fun,” he says with an eyebrow raise.

“And so is this dance lesson, you’ll see.”