Page 187 of Playing the Pucking Game

It takes a couple of seconds, but everything about his expression changes when he turns his eyes on me.

“My quads are tight,” he shouts through the plexiglass. “Can you check me over after?”

I frown. He doesn’t look like he’s struggling, but I guess he knows his body better than I do.

“Yeah, of course,” I agree as his eyes continue to hold mine. They’re darker than usual, and the thought of him thinking about our kiss, about our night in my bed, has my thighs clenching.

Nothing happened, but from the way he’s looking at me, you’d think so much more was going on here.

And Mitchell is observing every second.

“Thanks, Donnelly. You’re the best.” He winks before shooting Mitchell a glare and skating off.

Mitchell scoffs at the blatant insult and saunters off with his shoulders tensed.

When I look back at the ice, Linc isn’t paying his surroundings any attention; instead, it’s all focused on me.

My chest tightens, and my heart rate increases. Looking at him through plastic gives me some kind of protection, but in an hour or so, he’s going to be lying on my table, and I’m going to have my hands on him.

I’m not sure how I’m going to handle that after everything.

Much to my relief,Mitchell disappears after morning skate, leaving Jarad and I to work on players in the trainers’ room, not that any of them seem to mind having us instead.

Linc doesn’t appear, and I hate that I spend more time worrying about where he is than I do focusing on Kodie, who’s lying before me while I work on his shoulder.

Thankfully, he doesn’t say much, but then, Kodie never does. The only time I see him truly smile is when he’s with Casey and Sutton. Here at work, he’s nothing but focused.

I’m almost done when his deep voice suddenly rumbles through the room.

“You and Casey have a table booked at seven tonight.”

“W-what?” I stutter, convinced I just misheard him.

“I’ve booked you a table.”

I frown. “Why?”

“Because I feel like you need a girls’ night.”

I shake my head, a smile playing on my lips.

“And what makes you say that?”

“Storm. He’s in a weird mood, and I’m guessing it’s got everything to do with you. He’s got something he needs to say but won’t, and I figure you might need to get something off your chest as well.”

“Nothing’s happened,” I say quietly, aware that my boss is standing only a few feet away. He might be deep in conversation with another member of the team, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have one ear on what we’re saying.

“I didn’t say it did. But he’s stressed, and selfishly, I need him focused on the rest of this season.”

“So do I. I want you guys to go all the way this year.”

“And we can. But not without Linc.

“Go out with Casey tonight and?—”

“You just want the gossip,” I tease. Whatever I tell her will undoubtedly get back to him.

“I can assure you, I don’t.”