Page 56 of Pucking the Team

“Come, this way.” Eduardo was striding ahead with his rucksack thrown over one shoulder. “I will show you where to sit, and today’s practice, it is a short one, the coaches have their monthly meeting this afternoon.”

“That’s good, I didn’t fancy six hours in the arctic.”

“I will get you a coffee…no, no, a tea, you drink tea.”

“No, no, don’t worry, you get on with your practice, it’s your job after all. I’ll be fine. I’ll get one if I want one.”

The rink came into view, and I spotted several people seated near the tunnel. They were all huddled in big jackets, hoods up or winter hats on.

“Over there,” Eduardo said, standing close. “Just up these few steps and you’ll see the way.” He paused and peered forward. “Mae is here, she is Wolf’s wife. Sit with her.”

“Okay.”

“Mae French.”

“Ah, is she French? Like you?”

He laughed and squeezed my shoulder. “No, no, she is from Austin, Texas, you have not heard of her?”

“Mae French,” I repeated. “Ah, yes, she is a country and western singer, right?”

“Oui, and very successful.”

“She must be for me, an average Brit, to have heard of her. Country and western isn’t exactly on our radar.”

“You are anything but average.” He leaned forward and gently brushed his lips over mine.

I stood very still. A kiss wasn’t what I’d been expecting, but I wasn’t complaining. He smelled divine, his lips were fulland soft, and the twinkle in his eyes told me there were many more layers to Eduardo for me to discover.

He smiled. “Wait for me, and I will come and find you.” He glanced at the rink. Several players had shot out on the ice along with what appeared to be a coach. “Merde, I am late, Mike will have my guts strung up.”

“You got distracted with cars and women, huh.”

He chuckled. “My only two vices, I promise you.”

I watched him stride off, his butt exceptionally cute in black jeans. I wondered what it would have been like if he’d been the guy to take me back to my room at the hotel in Cardiff. Dylan had been up for a fast, hard fuck, at least that first time. Would Eduardo have insisted on slow and seductive? Would he have forgone sleep for round two? I couldn’t help but wonder what the handsome Frenchman would be like between the sheets.

As I approached the small group of rink-side spectators, I spotted Mae French. Even in a pink bobble hat and a huge black padded jacket she looked like a star. It was the way she sat bolt upright, the carefully applied makeup and the huge sparkling earrings in the shape of cowboy boots.

She turned and saw me. “Hey.” She made a come-over-here gesture. “Take a seat.”

Her friendly smile put me at ease, and I took a seat one along from her.

“Pippa Bentley,” she said with a grin. “And you are just as beautiful in real life.”

“Oh…I thank you.”

“Gina told me about you coming over with the guys.” She delved into her purse and pulled out a pair of fluffy white gloves. “Here, you’ll need these. It’s cold enough to freeze the ass off a penguin in here.”

“Thanks, I appreciate it.” I slipped the gloves on.

“She also said you were a runaway bride.” Her Southern drawl was thick and long.

“She did?”

“Yeah, wanna talk about it?”

I sighed and watched the players passing the puck at lightning speed to one another. “He was a cheat, I found out just before I stepped onto the aisle, and turned and ran the other way.”