Page 8 of These Pucking Boys

It makes my blood boil. “For fuck’s sake. She just got dumped, and you’re hoping to score? How low can you get?”

His eyes widen. “Calm down. It wasn’t my idea. It was Jake’s.”

I turn to him. “Is that true?”

“Yes. I feel bad for her. No one deserves that kind of humiliation. And I promise you, I won’t let Ryan get near her.”

Ryan throws his hands in the air. “Jesus! I’m not that bad.”

“All right, boys. I got her details,” Melissa butts in, staring at her phone. “And the security cameras indicate she’s still in the arena.”

“Wow, that was fast,” Ryan replies.

“It’s what I do.” She smirks. “I’m going to find her. I doubt she’ll be answering calls from random numbers.”

“Probably not,” Jake replies. “Good luck.” He turns to us. “Come on, boys. Let’s get back to the team.”

I follow them to the locker room. I should be thinking about the game against the Boston Zodiacs, but all I can think about is that pretty lass. Melissa had better find her.

CHAPTER 5

JUNE

Ihave no idea how long I’ve been hiding in the bathroom when someone calls my name. “June Summers? Are you here?”

My spine goes rigid, and I don’t dare breathe. Who’s looking for me? Did Bill convince a stranger to enter the women’s restroom to find me? I reject the idea immediately. That’s not his MO.

“In case you’re here, my name is Melissa Sanders. I work for the Titans.”

What? Why would the Titans send someone after me? Are they mad that I screwed up their programming with my epic fail?

I press a hand against my forehead, feeling dizzy. I’m glad I’m sitting on the toilet. “I’ll be out in a moment.”

I’d love to keep hiding in the bathroom stall, but my curiosity is wins out. I grab a wad of toilet paper to dry off my wet cheeks, then walk out.

Melissa Sanders is a stunning woman—the kind who draws admiration and envy in equal measure. She’s standing in front of the bathroom stall I was occupying, wearing a snug pencil skirt that’s long enough to be professional and a white button-down blouse. She looks polished, powerful, and sexy—the opposite of me. Her tanned skin is flawless, and her long dark-brown hair shines like silk. If I weren’t straight, I might develop a crush on her.

“What can I do for you?” I ask.

“The right question is what can I do for you.”

“I don’t understand.”

“We’re very sorry about what happened at the arena, and we’d like to make it up to you.”

My brows furrow. “It wasn’t your fault.”

“I know, but three of our star players saw the whole thing on TV, and they’d like to invite you to the team party tonight.”

My face heats as embarrassment returns to the surface. My fiasco was so terrible that now I have three pro hockey players feeling sorry for me. “That’s extremely kind of them, but I’m not sure I want to show my face in public for the next decade.”

Melissa tilts her head and arches a brow. “Are you sure? There will be food, and it’s an open bar with top-shelf liquor. Besides, I take it your ex is a Titans fan?”

“Yeah… huge fan. He even bought me this T-shirt tonight and made me wear it because my dress had the Zodiacs’ colors.”

Melissa’s lips become a flat line, and her turquoise-blue eyes shine with intensity. “What better way to get even than by hanging out with his idols?”

I nibble on my lower lip, pondering her logic. She has a point. Bill would eat his heart out if he found out I met his favorite players. And the prospect of free booze is enticing. I’m not usually one to turn to alcohol as a coping mechanism, but I’d do anything to forget the pain of his and Danika’s betrayal. God, the thought of them together makes me sick.

---