Page 7 of Playing for Keeps (Seattle Hawks Ice Hockey #4)

“Babe, I think you can come up with something better for my cock than that… god of thunder, maybe, JJ’s beast perhaps… but JJ junior? Just no.”

Her hands fly up to her ears, she covers them with her palms and pretends to sing. Her sweet twang echoing through my bedroom as my mouth twitches in a smile.

“That’ll do with the over descriptive names for your quivering member, Jay. I think I get the picture.”

I chuckle as she backs out of the door, still covering her ears like I’m going to say something she can’t unhear.

She’s not impressed at all by my NHL status, my fame, nor my fortune. And definitely not my boyish good looks, blonde hair, baby blue eyes and a smile I’ve been told is equal amounts cheeky and devilish.

Last night’s memories rush back as I uncover myself from the comforter again.

Her presence makes it all abundantly clear – in just a few moments of interaction – exactly why I’m waking up alone.

We stayed up way past my bedtime after our pizzas.

I think we even went to a karaoke bar and Jade came back to my place to watch a movie.

I remember that part because I never bring girls here other than to fuck.

And Jade and I are definitely not fucking.

I pull myself up out of bed, cracking my neck from side to side as my feet find the floor.

I reach for my sweatpants at the end of my bed and tug them on, pulling them up to my hips as I throw on my Seattle Hawks hoodie. I slide into my favorite pair of moccasins because I don’t want to pad around the polished concrete floors barefoot while I shuffle out to the kitchen like an old man.

Even though we’ve all enjoyed a much-needed break from the NHL recently, and there’s been plenty of time for rest, it’s still taxing on your body.

Now it’s October and the new season has just started.

I guess there’s that certain expectation with us beating Vegas in the finals on our home turf.

We have to work that much harder now we’re into the first games of the new season.

The few months I had off the ice were busy. I like to have plenty of things to do. Not that I officially threw my skates away for our break, in fact, I skated most days and went to the gym.

Since junior high I’ve lived and breathed hockey, never stopping for much else. It became my lifeline in a very big way and I’ve never wavered from it. Even during the off season, I never fully let go. I just can’t.

I’m always in control, no matter how aloof I may seem. And last night, for some reason, I kinda lost a little control. Maybe it’s everything catching up with me. I may be turning twenty-eight soon, but surely it’s not all downhill from here.

I walk down the long hallway to my open-plan kitchen, which looks out onto a large dining and living area.

Double doors frame the back of the den, opening out onto a large wrap-around balcony.

There’s a perfect view of the Space Needle and the high-rise buildings that surround it.

Traffic is a never-ending buzz below us, but luckily I can never hear it unless I’m outside on the patio.

When I round the corner I see Jade’s tiny frame preparing breakfast. It’s an odd thing in itself to see her here, but a welcome surprise. The food also smells fucking fantastic.

“This beats McDonald’s when I can’t be bothered cooking first thing,” I muse seeing scrambled eggs being tossed around in a pan, hash browns, tomato and bacon grilling in another… fuck. She’s also found my toaster and has four slices of whole-wheat browning nicely.

I gladly accept the steaming mug of coffee Jade holds out to me with her delicate fingers. Her nails are painted a soft pink and match the color of her light-weight sweater. A dainty gold charm bracelet jangles a little as she moves, creating a cute little tinkle which is uniquely hers.

“It should taste better, too,” she says with a warm smile.

Not for the first time I think she’s a sweet little thing. Always has been.

She’s five-foot nothing and certainly not the annoying little sister Tanner was always shooing away.

Though she was quiet at dinner last night; she opened up a little after having some wine.

I know last time she was in town visiting her friend, she was nursing a bad breakup, and I think it rocked her confidence a little.

Or maybe a lot. Because while she’s always bubbly, that spark in her eyes isn’t quite as bright.

I don’t know all the finer details, but I’m one hundred percent fucking sure the guy didn’t deserve her.

I haven’t seen her much over the years but she’s always been a ‘root for the underdog’ kind of gal. She’s always had that knack of helping someone when they’re down and offering a kind word. I guess that’s because she’s that much of a fucking angel. Unlike me.

The unfortunate part for her is that sometimes the guys she dates either take advantage of her good nature, or they’re beyond salvaging. I think the last guy, some basketball rookie, was the latter.

I watch her with amusement as she works busily. She slides over to the oven where she pulls out a stack of warming pancakes she’s already made, and urges me to take a seat at my breakfast counter.

“You know I could get used to this, Sweetheart .” Seeing her working around my kitchen is definitely a sight for sore eyes and not something I’m used to. I almost feel out of place.

“Are you saying none of your lady friends stay over to cook breakfast for you in the aftermath?” she quips cheekily, stifling a laugh, as she walks to the refrigerator to grab the butter. She places it in front of me on the white speckled quartz countertop.

“Not likely.”

Her eyebrows knit together. “Is that because I’m implying they stay until morning?”

I chuckle now, taking a sip of the liquid gold she’s prepared for me, and press my lips together, contemplating my answer.

The perfect amount of hot coffee slides down my throat, soothing my senses and making me sigh.

The implication isn’t something I usually worry about, but coming from her it seems different somehow.

“You’re on fire this morning, Kiddo.” Avoidance is usually key, when awkward subjects like this come up.

I’ve called her Kiddo since high school. She hated it when we were younger, and I admit, I did it to erk her, but she never tells me off anymore. The nickname has just kinda stuck.

She ignores me and starts plating up our breakfast like a ninja with tongs and a spatula, placing two pancakes on each of the plates with the eggs, tomato and a separate pan with bacon in it which I figure is for me as she’s a vegetarian.

Just as the toast pops up, my phone buzzes, as if on cue it knows I’m about to eat.

I didn’t realize where I even left it, but some kind person, probably Jade, put it on charge for me so my battery didn’t drain. Still, I choose to ignore it.

Nothing is going to interrupt a breakfast that looks this good.

“You want me to grab that for you?” She quirks an eyebrow, passing my plate over, followed by a knife and fork and some syrup.

“Nope.” I shake my head, accepting my plate with the glee and the enthusiasm of a small child. “I want the day to start out just perfect. Texting or answering calls can ruin it pretty fast.”

She smiles, rounding the huge island bench and takes a seat next to me. Sliding onto the stool, her short legs barely touch the footrest. That makes me smile as I pick up a slice of bacon and shove it into my mouth.

“I know that to be true,” she says, picking up her fork and tucking into her scrambled eggs.

“And I don’t have lady friends ,” I tell her, knowing I’m late to the party with that comment she made just before.

I pour a ridiculous layer of syrup over my pancakes, then cut off a chunk and shove a forkful into my mouth.

I'm aware I make a groan that sounds more like a sex noise, as the flavors rapture my taste buds.

Yep, definitely not used to this in the morning.

She side-eyes me, biting back a smile. “Really? No lady friends? What am I then?”

I sigh as a bead of silence hangs between us while I take another sip of coffee in between mouthfuls.

“Okay, you’re different,” I start. My words get caught as I pause.

And I give up, just like that. “You’re Jade , it’s different.

” It’s lame, I know. Like that explains everything.

But the simple fact is true. I’ve always thought Jade is attractive, okay, sexy as hell – from her tiny frame, her golden tan, those sharp blue eyes that don’t miss a trick and a smile that shows her dimples – who couldn’t love her?

But I’ve never thought about sleeping with her…

at least not until that night in the bar when I didn’t know it was her until later and I nearly gave her an orgasm against the wall.

Thank God, in a way, Ulrich, the goalie for the Hawks, interrupted us.

Her vivid blue eyes flash with amusement. “ Different , huh?”

“We never got busy between the sheets,” I supply, in case she needed reminding, while tucking into my scrambled eggs and taking a bite of buttered toast.

She makes a new face which indicates I should quit while I’m ahead. “You tried to pick me up that night in the bar,” she points out.

“You were the cutest girl there,” I blurt without thinking.

I feel her head turn in my periphery. “You think so?”

“Not the first time I’ve told you that, Sweetheart.” And I’m pretty sure it won’t be the last.

“It seems I’ve interrupted your winning streak with the ladies since I’ve been here.” She always has the knack of changing the subject when compliments come up. I need to get to the bottom of that soon because it’s not the first time she’s done it.

I shove more bacon into my mouth and cut into another pancake. “Trust me, even the best of us need a breather.”

“Ew.” She makes a face again.