Page 34 of Pucking the Team

I staggered backward, only to hit a chest as solid as a brick wall. I gasped and wiped the back of my hand over my mouth, trying to get rid of Steven’s taste.

“What the hell?” Steven had also reeled backward, arms flailing and his balance offset. I now saw he’d been literally dragged off of me.

“Who the fuck are you?” Theo shoved Steven to the right.

He lurched, only to bump into Ben who shoved him back to Theo—a human ping-pong ball.

“Hey, get off, asshole.” Theo shunted him again.

Again Steven staggered, his spine stooped over like a hunchback while he gasped in surprise.

“You okay?” A solid arm curled around my waist and held me tight.

I refound my balance and twisted to see Dylan’s darkly stubbled jawline. His eyes were full of concern and also a healthy dose of anger.

“Yeah. I’m fine.” Boy was I glad to see him.

“Didn’t look like you wanted company.” Eduardo stepped between myself and Steven with his fists balled, his bodyreminding me of a coiled spring about to unfurl into action—much the way he had on the ice.

“I didn’t.” I stayed in the safety of Dylan’s wide, strong arm. “At least nothiscompany.”

Steven straightened, and he shoved his hand through his hair again. He then pushed down his shoulders and tipped his chin, mimicking the pose he produced when about to step onto a catwalk or runway. “Don’t you know who I am?” He glared at all four guys in turn

I swear the idiot pouted. “Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I muttered. “As if they would know who you are. As if they’d care.”

“I’m guessing you’re the douchebag who’s been cheating on Pippa here,” Ben said, his voice a low growl, very different to the soft one he used with me. His features were different, too; he was angry, riled up, indignant on my behalf.

What a guy. A little bubble of appreciation swelled my heart.

“The fiancé who’s been playing around, right?” Theo added with equal disdain in his tone.

“You’ve only heard one side of the story.” Steven pointed at Ben and then Theo. “And what’s it to you anyway? Who are you? Who are you guys?”

“Let’s just say,” Eduardo said, “we’re helping Pippa out of the tight spot you put her in.”

Steven paused for a moment, then, “You’re nothing to her. She’s mine. Why are you helping her?” He stepped around Eduardo and went to reach for my hand. “She’s coming home with me. I’m her fiancé. We’re going back to London now.”

“What? No.” The thought repulsed me. No way was that going to happen. “No I’m not…to both of those.”

Suddenly, Steven was yanked backward. Eduardo had hooked his arm around Steven’s neck and dragged him in a way that totally unbalanced him. He was struggling to get the flat ofhis feet on the floor. His entire body was at an unnatural angle and balanced against Eduardo’s broad chest.

“Argh.” Steven grunted and clawed at Eduardo’s forearm. “Get the…fuck…off…”

Eduardo ignored him.

Dylan squeezed me a little tighter. Holding me in a reassuringly firm grip.

“She’s not yours,” Eduardo said through gritted teeth right beside Steven’s ear. “She’ll never be yours. Not now. Not after the way you’ve treated her. Got that? Huh? Got that?”

Steven screwed up his eyes and grunted as he struggled to get out of the steely grip he was locked in.

“She could have been yours, this smart, coolheaded woman, but you blew it and now it’s over,” Eduardo went on.

“It’s not…over.” Even through the shadows I could see Steven’s chiseled face reddening and his cheeks puffing up.

“Itisover, Steven,” I barked. “It could not be more over.”

“You heard the lady,” Theo said, folding his arms and stepping up to Steven. “She said it’s over.”