Page 17

Wes smirked. “Place has grown since you’ve been gone.”

Figured as much.

I glanced around the area just as a smiling July and December started toward us. Both women had bright expressions on their faces, reminding me just how dangerous they could be. No one ever told a Mayson no. As far as I could tell, that extended to their spouses as well.

“You’re here!” July hugged me tight. As much as I might not have wanted to be there, seeing her again knocked some of the tension from me. The knots in my stomach unfurled and I reciprocated the greeting. “We’ve missed you so much, Thier.”

Warmth bloomed in my chest. It’d been a long time since someone used my nickname.

I sighed, holding onto her for a second longer.

“I’ve missed you too, Blondie.” I hugged December next and laughed when she pulled away.

The squeal she let loose had me wincing.

I cut my gaze to Wes who raised his hands, allowing me to be devoured by his wife and her sister.

“We saw the game last night,” July said. “You looked so professional and handsome behind the bench.”

“You were amazing out there,” December added. “How do you feel?”

“Good. It was different, sure. But the same adrenaline as being out on the ice… I—” Come to think of it, how did they watch the game?

“I’m sorry, you watched the game?” I didn’t know they were televised.

Didn’t even think the popularity of the AHL was that big until I stepped into the rink.

Though, I should have with the size of the crowd in the complex.

“Yep,” December answered.

I glanced over my shoulder at Wes. He nodded. “YouTube. Each team has a dedicated channel. We streamed the game.”

“Cool. You guys should come to the complex sometime,” I said. “You might enjoy it more, live.”

December made a face and looked at her sister. “Did he just invite us to a game?”

July nodded. “Uh, huh?”

“Okay, whoever you are,” December said, “what did you do with the real Thierry Thomas?”

Wes snorted while I stared at both women. “She’s got you there, man. You’ve never invited us to your games. What gives?”

Well, shit, the way they made it sound, I’d cut all of them off after high school.

Thinking about it, I guess in a way I had.

Pope was the glue keeping me connected to everyone else.

Without him, I’d seen little sense sticking around unless they put themselves in my way.

So, I went to college, played for the US team, then entered the league.

However, I never stayed away when Wes called or the guys.

“Lily-Mae came to the game. Guess I understood what it meant to have family members in the crowd cheering me on. It’s different. ”

“You mean you don’t have anyone special in your life yet, Thierry?” Wes wrapped his arm around his wife’s waist. She tucked her head to his chest while staring at me with the saddest eyes. Like me not having a partner, was a bad thing.

“Nope,” I answered, taking a drink of my second beer. Not that I’d ever taint them with my ex. “Not yet. Guess that mystical Boom stuff doesn’t work on everyone.”

The look on July’s face turned downright dangerous as a sinful smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth. “Maybe that’s because you haven’t found the right motivation yet.”

The hairs on the back of my neck stood as the sensation of someone standing directly behind me crawled across my skin.

My heart hammered. My muscles tensed. I closed my eyes, not wanting to make a fool of myself by turning around to find no one there.

Yet, I felt the heat of their body against mine and a shiver chased the unease away.

“Long time no see, Thierry. You home for good?”

Fuck. I was done for.

How dare he stand right behind me after what happened at Flame and act like it was no big deal?

Like he hadn’t fucked my mouth with his pierced tongue.

Hadn’t made my heart race or my dick ache.

How dare he just act like it was no big deal seeing me again!

“Now,” he whispered across my mouth before licking my bottom lip; his obsidian gaze locked on mine. “we’re even.”

I walked away this time. Proud of myself for not making a scene.

I couldn’t deal with Pope. Not that deep voice of his.

Or the raspy drawl. The man I’d seen at Flame , covered in tattoos wasn’t the boy I knew.

He’d changed. So, rather than face my past and be the bigger man, I disappeared into the crowd and got corralled by the wives, including a few new women I’d yet to meet.

“Well, since you’re avoiding a certain someone,” July teased, hooking her arm with mine. “Let me introduce you to the Banks family.”

“The banging wife—er—Ireland,” I said, recalling the nickname Christopher had given Mack at the restaurant. I cursed softly, feeling heat creep into my cheeks. Pope had thrown me off my game.

“You’ve already been to the shop then?” July arched a brow. “Thought you owned a brand-new truck.”

I did—do. “Learned about her and what she did from a teammate. His father owns the machine shop in town.”

“Well,” July stated, “you’re in for a treat because she’s not anything like you’d expect.”

We stopped behind a woman wearing tight capri pants and a red and blue top.

Her red hair was piled on top of her head in an intricate design held in place by a blue polka dot scarf.

When she turned round, her green eyes drew my attention first followed by the myriad of tattoos covering her curvy body.

I could appreciate Christopher’s assessment of her, though I’d never say as much out loud.

“Ireland,” July said, “I’d like to introduce you to Thierry Thomas.”

I extended my hand in greeting. “Good to meet you.”

She shook my hand and gave me a curious look. “You’re kind of like Mack, aren’t you? A member, but not full time?”

I barked out a laugh, drawing a few inquisitive glances in my direction then cleared my throat. “Not even close. Wes and I go way back, that's all.”

“Don’t let him lie to you,” July said, giving me a playful shove of the shoulder. “Thierry is a famous hockey player. He’s one of the coaches for our local hockey team now. He’s also in rehab.”

“Prescription, recreational, or alcohol?” Ireland tilted her head.

“None of the above,” I replied. “Knee.”

Ireland devoured the bonbon in her hand. “Bummer. So, who’s your person?”

“He doesn’t have one,” July said, “we’re going to fix that though.”

“Oh yeah?” Ireland leaned in, a conspiratorial expression on her face, like she enjoyed this shit as much as any of the Mayson did. “Who’s the lucky girl?”

“Um…” It wasn’t a secret. Even if I wanted to keep everything on the downlow, my ex ruined that when he up and cheated on me then decided to blame me for his indiscretions. Like I somehow made him trip and fall sticking his dick into his plaything’s ass.

“Pope,” July stated, wiggling her brows. “For like, ever.”

Ireland dusted off her hands then ran her tongue across her teeth.

This cheerful demented expression filled her features, and I could see now why she got along with July and the others so well.

She was like them, just written in a different font.

“Good for you, Thierry. Now, how do we make this Pope person yours? July? Got a plan?”

“I might,” July answered.

I wanted no part of their shenanigans.

“That’s my cue to walk away before I get into trouble because you did something crazy,” I said, finishing off my third bottle of beer. Guess I was Uber-ing back to the house tonight.

“ Awwwwe ,” July pouted. “Wes won’t get mad at you.”

I snorted in disbelief. “We both know Wes would have my ass.”

“He has a point,” Ireland said. “So, who is Pope? Show me.”

Before I could tell July to leave well enough alone, again, she pointed to Pope, who stood across the space, beer in hand, leaning against the bar.

He reminded me of Sam Elliot in Road House , only darker and broodier.

His elbows were braced against the polished teak and his legs were crossed at the ankle.

The knowing glint in his gaze as he stared at me, had me falling so deep into those obsidian eyes of his, I had to look away. Couldn’t they see how he affected me?

I ate up every inch of his exposed tattooed flesh, curious how far that ink went across his body.

His black hair hung in his face, forcing him to peek through the silky strands.

When he licked his bottom lip, his tongue bumped the piercing at the corner of his mouth, and I saw a hint of metal in his mouth and swiped my tongue across it when he kissed me at Flame.

I wondered what the piercing would feel like on my dick when he sucked me off and that was when I knew I was sunk. Pope had me wrapped around his little finger. No matter how much I wanted to deny this... Whatever it was, I couldn’t quit him anymore than I could quit hockey.

Fuck me.