Page 27 of Pucking the Team

“Nah.” She wafted her hand. “Getting injured is part of their job, he’s not worried. Not to say he likes it, but he’s all about keeping the opponents’ puck out of the Vipers’ net.”

Raven Starr suddenly turned, seeming to sense his wife nearby. His helmet cage was down, but his face softened slightly.

She blew him a kiss.

“I haven’t seen him for weeks. I’ve been with my family here in South Wales while The Vipers have been touring.” Shegiggled and nudged me. “I’ll be clock-watching for this game to be over so I can have some alone time with him.”

“Sounds good.” I managed a smile.

“So who are you with?” She gestured at the row of huge guys on the other side of the panel. “Which one is yours?”

“What? Oh no, nothing like that…I…”

She laughed again and passed me a pair of gloves out of her bag. “Don’t sweat it, it took me a while to settle on Raven. Oh, and you’ll need these.”

“What do you mean?” I turned my attention back to her and pulled on the gloves.

“To start with I dated Todd Carty, you heard of him?”

I shook my head.

“He was The Vipers’ star striker for a few seasons, a real charmer, and a pretty boy at that.”

I’d met more than a few of them over the years. “Go on…”

“We dated for a while and…”

“And?” Fiona was intriguing me.

“Let’s just say there was a bit of an overlap, but the guys didn’t seem to mind, not one bit, and besides, Todd is with Matthew now.” She shrugged. “I guess I was never going to cut it as the love of his life.” Again she shrugged, but with a grin. “Being female.”

“Oh, now I do know who you’re talking about.” I nodded enthusiastically, the cogs of my mind working. “Matthew Foster, right?”

“Yes, did you see it in the media?” She raised her eyebrows. “Was a big deal at the time.”

“No, no, I’m actually friends, or rather colleagues with Matthew, I haven’t seen him for a while, but yes, I remember hearing on the grapevine that he was dating a hockey player. It’s falling into place now. They’re still together, aren’t they?”

“Yes.” She tipped her head, examining my features. “And very happy. I hear they’re planning on adopting.”

“That would be nice. Matthew is a great guy, great photographer, too.”

“He is.” Fiona nodded slowly. “So what do you—?”

“So why am I here?” I blew out a sigh, not ready to talk about how I knew a world-famous, award-winning fashion photographer. “It’s a long story. Maybe I’ll tell you afterwards, because right now the game is starting.”

“Oh yes, it is.” She stood and clapped. “Come on, Vipers!”

I did the same, banging my gloved hands together.

A drum bellowed from the speakers, and the players shot out onto the ice like arrows fired from a bow.

For some reason my heart rate picked up. The crowds’ excitement was infectious, and the guys were so big and fierce and went so fast, sticks at the ready. I swear they were all more comfortable on blades than in shoes.

“Raven’s not starting,” Fiona said, leaning closer so she could be heard over the noise. “But the Evans brothers are, they’re awesome. And so is Eduardo Dubois; he’s a bit of a star, especially now Todd’s gone. The ladies love him.”

“So he has lots of…?”

“Rink bunnies?” She offered me a piece of gum.