Page 300 of Playing the Pucking Game

“What was the point?” Mom asks, beaming from ear to ear. “As soon as anyone sees the way that man looks at you, they’d know.”

“Mom,” I warn, blushing furiously.

“What?” She laughs. “The second you walked up to the table the other night, we knew. And I won’t lie; we’ve been waiting a long time for it.”

I sigh. “And you couldn’t have stopped Rett from barging in?”

“Baby, you know as well as I do that we can’t stop your brother from doing anything.”

“How is Linc?” Dad asks. “Rett didn’t go easy on him tonight.”

“He says he’s okay, but?—”

“He’s lying.” Dad laughs as he fondly remembers old times.

“Yeah. Tomorrow his going to hit him hard.”

“Speaking of tomorrow,” Casey pipes up. “We’re going for mani-pedis after work.”

“Mom too?” I ask when she glances over at her.

“Of course, I’m not missing out on girl time.”

“Me neither,” Kodie’s mom adds with a wink.

Why do I get the feeling that I’m going to get grilled all afternoon?

As we stand there chatting, players begin arriving, and the volume in the room only increases.

The second Kodie appears, Casey takes off, practically running across the room to jump into his arms, Sutton right behind her.

I watch with a smile as he lifts Sutton, propping her on his hip and kissing the top of her head before he turns and does the same to Casey.

“He looks good on her,” Mom muses.

“They both do,” I agree. “I’ve never seen Casey so happy.”

“Or Kodie,” his mom pipes up. “I’m so glad they found each other.”

Sutton is deep into her game analysis when the three of them come over.

“That referee, though, Daddy. What was he thinking?”

Everyone chuckles at the disgust in her tone.

“I know, Peanut. He should have called it,” Kodie agrees before greeting everyone.

The rest of the team, and a few of the Bandits, filter into the room, but we continue to wait for Linc, Coach, and to see if Rett is going to show his face. I have no doubt he’s about to get reamed by the Bandits’ coach for his performance tonight. I wouldn’t be surprised if he just slinks off back to their hotel to drown his sorrows. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time he’s bailed.

The moment Linc steps into the room, a few of the guys cheer.

My heart jumps into my throat as I watch him scan the room. The moment his eyes land on mine, everything around me falls away.

A smile curls at his lips, and he surges forward.

My temperature increases with every step he takes, and by the time he gets to me, I’m burning up.

“Missed you, pretty girl,” he muses before wrapping his hand around the back of my neck and pulling me in to kiss me as if we’re the only ones in the room. Hell, we might be. He’s the only one I can see.