Page 49 of Sin Bin

“Awww,” the others cooed warmly. “That’s so sweet!”

A soft smile touched Meadow’s lips. “I suppose it was.”

Bianca shook her head in wonder. “I can’t believe you never told me any of this.”

“I’m sorry. It’s just…” Meadow let out a deep sigh. “Surviving foster care isn’t something I enjoy talking about. I…I had some painful experiences that are hard to discuss, and I can’t handle people feeling sorry for me. As for Logan, well, I hadn’t seen him in fifteen years. I knew he got drafted into the NHL because the local media made a big deal over it. He was a hometown boy and the number one draft pick at just eighteen years old, so it was understandably big news. I was still in high school at the time, and I haven’t really followed his career.” She swallowed. “To be totally honest, he reminded me of a time in my life I’d rather forget.”

There were sympathetic nods and murmurs around the table. Bianca leaned over, put an arm around her shoulders and hugged her. The compassionate gesture made her throat tighten.

Trying to lighten the solemn mood, Ana smiled playfully at Meadow. “So I take it you’ve never seen Logan dance the bachata?”

Meadow shook her head.

“Mmm, qué rico,” Ana breathed, licking her lips. “Listen, mama. If you don’t want to have impure thoughts about your old BFF, you’d better not watch him dance.”

“You ain’t lying,” Bianca purred lasciviously. “Logan is such an amazing dancer.”

“They all are.” Scarlett grinned at Nadia. “Remember All-Star Weekend in Nashville when we went line dancing with the fellas? Remember how good they looked, working their hips and boot scootin’ across that dance floor?”

“How could I forget?” Nadia said with a naughty grin. “I wore Reid out when we got back to the hotel. And we could hear you and Viggo across the hall damn near breaking the furniture.”

The two cousins hooted wickedly and slapped high fives.

“Damn,” Ana grumbled. “I wish I’d been there to see the boys line dancing.”

“Right?” Bianca sighed. “I love my Nelson dearly, but that poor brotha has two left feet.”

“So does Luke,” Ana lamented. “It must be hereditary.”

Scarlett snorted. “If it is, it sure as hell skipped me and Nadia because we can dance our asses off. Ain’t that right, cuzzo?”

Nadia just laughed and shook her head, her hair bouncing prettily from the gesture. It was really gorgeous, so thick and long.

Bianca grinned. “All I know is that it makes no sense for those white boys to have all that rhythm.” She paused. “Well, I’m not sure about Hunter. We’ve never actually seen him dance before. But the other three? Lordy, Lordy, Lordy.”

“Yes indeed,” Ana leered, fanning herself. “When Logan broke out those sexy bachata moves at the band’s wrap party?” She pretended to swoon out of her chair, setting off a round of bawdy laughter.

Meadow chuckled, swirling her straw around the crushed ice in her margarita. “Mr. Tavárez was always listening to bachata music in the van. Logan was the only one who seemed to enjoy it.” She grinned. “Guess it was in his blood.”

This drew feminine purrs of appreciation.

Ana grinned impishly at Meadow. “Since you have the inside track on Bachata Bae, maybe you can help me out.”

“Um, okay,” Meadow said with a cautious smile. “Help you out with what?”

“Well, here’s the thing. My baby sister’s crazy about Logan. Seriously. She’s been dying to meet him ever since Nadia started dating Reid. I tried to introduce them to each other after a game, but the bunnies had their claws in him—”

“Bunnies?” Meadow interrupted, brow furrowed.

“Puck bunnies,” Nadia explained. “That’s what they call hockey groupies.”

“They’re the worst,” Scarlett added with an eye roll.

Meadow grinned wryly. “I think I encountered a group of them after the game last night. They were swarmed around Logan like bees around a honeypot, as my mom used to say. They were all wearing his jersey, and one girl asked him to autograph her, ah, breasts.”

“Yup. Sounds about right.” Nadia and Scarlett shook their heads. “The thirst is real.”

Ana snickered and took a slurp of her margarita before resuming the conversation. “Logan’s perfect for my sister. She only dates white guys, and he looks phenotypically white enough to satisfy her preference—”

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