Page 91 of Pucking the Team

“Here?”

“No, not here. We’d shock your little buddy Jerry over there.”

“Yeah, that’s true. Maybe when we get back, eh?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

He spun his baseball cap around so the peak was facing away, then set his lips over mine. It was a lovely deep kiss that told me how much he liked me, wanted me, and that he had some serious plans for us getting naked when we got back to the house.

I sighed against him. Our tongues tangled, and I clutched his t-shirt, drawing him nearer. The sounds of the park faded, and I felt a small part of my heart, one of the wounds Steven and Cheryl had inflicted, healing just a little. There were good people in the world, good men, and without a doubt Theo Evans was one of them.

We walked for several kilometers around the park, before stopping for an onion-and-mustard-loaded hot dog that we ate by the Jeep.

The traffic was heavy on the way back as office workers were kicking out and kids heading home from school.

When we reached the house there were more cars than usual parked on the street.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“No idea.” Theo shrugged.

As soon as Theo opened the front door it was clear what was happening.

A party.

Ben sprang from the crowd of people in the kitchen. “Hey, you’re back.” He drew Theo into a hug and slapped his shoulders several times.

“What’s going on?” Theo asked, looking out at the yard that was also full of people.

“I told the guys you’d got the all clear; they said we should celebrate.”

Theo laughed. “You don’t have to do this every six months.”

“Sure we do.” A huge guy with thick stubble gripped Theo’s shoulder.

I recognized him as Rick ‘Ramrod’ Lewis now. A beautiful woman with long brunette hair and red lipstick stood at his side.

“If there is one thing worth celebrating it’s good health,” Rick said.

“I’ll drink to that.” The woman smiled at me and raised a flute of sparkling wine.

“This is Dana, my wife,” Rick said in my direction. “Dana, this is—”

“Pippa Bentley, I know.” She beamed at me. “It’s lovely to meet you. I hope this rowdy lot haven’t put you off hockey forever.”

I liked her smile and the softness in her eyes. “They are rowdy.” I grinned. “And I don’t know much about hockey if I’m honest, or any sport really.”

She reached for a glass of bubbles from the counter and pressed it into my hand. “Neither did I when I met Rick, but that soon changed.”

“Yeah, you’re a mad fan now. Right, wild thing?”

“Stop calling me that.” She poked at his wide chest but she was smiling.

“How did you meet?” I asked.

“I’ve got my own event business, Best Laid Plans. Rick was at an event, and we got…talking.”

“I won her over with my amazing chat-up lines.” Rick waggled his eyebrows. “Didn’t I?”