Page 144 of Offside Devil

“And seeing you on the ice will get her all hot and bothered and you can take her home and?—”

“We get it,” I interrupt.

Aiden is at preschool for two more hours. If Mira is home, then I’ll have just enough time to get her in that shower before I need to go pick him up.

“It’s not every day I get to be my winger’s wingman. Mostly because, in all the years I’ve known you, there’s never been a woman for you to woo.”

It’s starting to sound like Jace has read the same articles Daniel has. I had no idea all of my friends were such mushy monogamists.

Or that I’d turn into one right along with them.

“Yeah, well… There’s one now. Will be for a while.”

I can practically hear Jace’s smile over the phone. “Fuck yeah, man.”

He says Rachelle will text the sleepover details later, and I hang up just as I reach the landing.

“I’m Zane’s assistant, not hers.” Hanna’s voice echoes around the curve of the hallway, as sharp as the click of her heels against the tile. “I don’t get paid to pass messages along to the nanny.”

I frown and move silently down the hallway.

After I told Hanna a few weeks ago not to show up at my apartment unannounced, she’s kept her distance. Purely professional emails. Brief, informational phone calls when absolutely necessary.

So what is she doing here now?

“I’ve knocked. She isn’t here,” Hanna snaps. “And I don’t want to get fired, so I’m not giving you the address. Whatever you have going on with his nanny, sort it out on your own time.”

I round the corner and Hanna jumps out of her skin.

“What in the hell is going on?”

She silently panics for a few seconds and then chirps, “Please hold,” into the phone before slapping her hand over the mouthpiece. “Zane. Hello.”

“You aren’t supposed to be here.”

“I know how this looks, but I’m not dropping in. I didn’t even bring my key.”

“It doesn’t matter. I changed the locks.”

Something unreadable flashes across her face before she continues. “I didn’t come here on business or to talk to you. I’m here to talk to the nanny.” Hanna doesn’t quite nail the casual tone she’s going for. “Some guy has been calling me nonstop trying to talk to her.”

I bristle. “What guy?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know and I don’t care. I told him I’m your assistant, not hers, but he won’t give it up and she won’t return my emails. I thought I’d come here and let her talk to this guy, but she isn’t home.”

After days of Mira coming on my cock with my name on her lips, I should be able to ignore another man trying to get in touch with her.

But I’m clearly not as evolved as I thought I was.

I snatch the phone out of Hanna’s hand. “Who is this?”

“Who is this?” a deep voice parrots back. “I’m looking for…” He pauses over the name. “Mira McNeil.”

“Who are you?”

“Are you Zane Whitaker? I saw photos of her with your son,” the guy says, not answering the question. “I’ve been looking for her for a long time.”

“Why have you been looking for her?”

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