Page 4

One year later…

The bass thumped in Matt’s ears as he carried two glasses above his head, winding through the bar and parting the crowd in front of him like Moses parting the sea.

Being six feet tall and a famous hockey player had its advantages.

People didn’t want to get in his way, especially not in the Ice Lounge, which was known as the Hawks’ regular bar.

And, if someone blocked his way, it was usually just…

“Hey, Matt, I’m Carrie.” A tall, dark-haired woman stepped into his field of vision and looked up at him from under long eyelashes.

“You played incredibly well today. Really.” She took in a long breath and her cleavage rose toward him.

He couldn’t miss it, even in the hazy light.

“I always thought hockey was brutal, but with you…it’s just manly! ”

He smiled. “Is that so?”

She blushed. “Yes, it is. So, do you want to come and tell me about that last goal? It all happened so fast! I barely noticed it.”

His smile broadened. Man, he had been hit on in many different ways, but he never got tired of the explain to me why you’re so incredibly good at your job version. “Sure,” he said lightly. “I…”

“Not her!” He suddenly heard a female voice. The next moment, someone took one of the glasses from his hand and he was being dragged through the crowd by the arm. “Definitely not her.”

“Why not?” he asked indignantly and peered down at Maddie, who was sipping her tequila sunrise while dragging him away from the woman who had found him so incredibly masculine. And rightly so. “She’s hot!”

“Yeah, I noticed that. And the bridal magazine sticking out of her purse.” She nodded meaningfully over her shoulder at the black-haired woman he had left standing there.

“Oh, shit.” He made a face. Maddie was right. “How could I have missed that?”

“You were distracted by her breasts,” she replied with a grin. “Not that I blame you – even I was drawn to them. But if you sleep with her, she’ll want more and will end up getting hurt.”

He sighed. “Yeah, yeah, I hear you. Fine. I’ll keep my hands off her. So, which of the ladies here is available for a one-night-stand?” He raised his eyebrows and put his non-alcoholic beer on one of the bistro tables opposite the bar.

Maddie looked up at him with narrowed eyes, took two big sips of her cocktail, and yelled, “I was wrong, you know. I believed you weren’t a big ladies’ man, but you are.”

He chuckled loudly. They’d been seeing each other almost every week for a year and she’d only just come to this conclusion. “Well, at least I’m not a womanizer like many of my teammates.”

“That’s only because I keep you from sleeping with the wrong women,” she informed him wisely as she placed a hand on her own chest. “After all, I want you to make your mother proud. So…” She surveyed the crowd — when her face lit up.

“Ah, yes, she’s cute.” She pointed to a short, curvy blonde dancing with a few friends near the entrance.

Matt looked down at her, studied her face, and swiveled his head from side to side. She was pretty, but… “Nah, she has that future mom look.”

Maddie snorted. “Since when are you a ‘look’ expert?”

“Since you taught me to pay attention.” He grinned and added softly, “You happen to have that particular look too.”

“Oh. Gosh, I’m such a good teacher,” she said enthusiastically. “Okay, I’ll keep looking. Give me a few minutes. I’ve never let you down, have I?”

No, she hadn’t. He didn’t know how Maddie did it, but she had found him at least a dozen women in the last year who just wanted to have a bit of fun.

Meanwhile, his teammate Leon Alvarez had already had to move twice and change his phone number four times because he’d slept with yet another super-groupie who thought she was about to get a ring on her finger…

the kind who stalked the hockey player hoping her fantasy would become reality.

“You know, at some point, I’ll have to return the favor and find you a guy,” he suggested.

Maddie snorted. “Please don’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because Lucy is right: Your taste in men is terrible!”

Acting hurt, he gasped. “Excuse me?”

“Exhibit one: You like Dax.”

“Lucy – your sister! – also likes Dax.”

“Yes, but Lucy was blinded by his six-pack, so that doesn’t count.” She waved him off. “Also, exhibit two: You like Leon Alvarez!”

He made a face. That was a valid point. “Leon can be…nice.”

“Hmph. Sure.” She gave him a mocking look. “But don't worry. You’re my furniture mover and I’m your wing-woman. That’s the deal! Besides, you only ever find men good-looking when they have an animal on their face.”

“Not an animal, a magnificent beard!” he corrected her precociously.

“Which usually looks like the remains of a sick raccoon! Seriously. What is it with you men and beard jealousy? I don’t get it. I don’t constantly compare my leg hair to my girlfriends!”

Matt laughed. “Well, first off, I’d love to hear that conversation. And second…” He stroked his stubbly chin. “It’s not jealousy. It’s deep, honest admiration. Because, man, not everyone can grow a great beard, let alone wear it with dignity.”

“Oh, Matt,” Maddie said with a grin, patting his shoulder in mock sympathy, “there’s no reason to be sad because your face will remain forever bare. Really. I’m sure you can grow other hair. Under your armpits, for example, or…”

“Oh, shut up,” he said with a snort, rolling his eyes.

She laughed loudly and took the last sip from her glass.

He raised his eyebrows in surprise. “What happened to your tequila sunrise?”

“I finished it,” she said innocently. “I’m nervous because I have an important meeting tomorrow with a music producer who wants to be a Match Me!

client. Apparently, I drink when I’m nervous.

” She frowned. “Tell me, am I some kind of pimp? Because you’re paying me in tequila sunrises so you can sleep with random women. ”

Grinning, he shook his head. “You’re not a pimp. Just bonkers. Let me get you another.”

“Yes, please.” Her face lit up. “You always get drinks right away!”

That was true. Carl, the owner of the Ice Lounge, wasn’t only a fan of the L.A. Hawks, he was practically an honorary member. He threw drinks at the whole team.

Matt was about to make his way through the crowd when Maddie abruptly grabbed him by the elbow.

“Oh, no, wait!” She pulled him back and looked up at him meaningfully.

“You can’t go now. I’ve found the perfect woman for you.

” The next moment, she let go of him and stepped aside to stop a pretty waitress in a black uniform.

“Hey! I’m Maddie,” she said with a big smile.

“And this is Matt.” She nodded at him. “He thinks you’re incredibly cute, he’s just too shy to talk to you. ”

He could barely stop himself from laughing out loud. Because, damn, she was over the top.

“Really?” the waitress said, peering up at him with interest, and then blushed.

He raised his eyebrows in surprise. Okay, he took it all back. Maddie wasn’t over the top! Yep, the woman looked incredibly good and she had that sparkle in her eyes…which meant a lot of fun and no stress. He definitely wouldn’t find a bridal magazine in her purse.

Shaking his head, Matt glanced at Maddie and then focused on the waitress again. How did she do it? She always found exactly what he was searching for. She was the best bud he had ever had! She smiled knowingly at him and disappeared into the dancing crowd the next moment.

“So,” the brunette said, tucking her hair behind her ears, “you’re shy?”

“Oh, yes, terribly,” he replied seriously.

The dark-haired woman laughed. He grinned. And that was all it took.