Page 128 of Caught from Behind

How do I see this?

Because he’s shirtless and wearing the smallest pair of gym shorts I’ve ever seen.

Why—one might ask—would a hockey player have crammed himself into those tiny shorts?

Let’s just say that Ella is devious and determined on her own, but put Kit, Ella, and me together?

We’re spreading happily-ever-afters like fucking glitter bombs, bitches.

Or those were Ella’s words, anyway.

My part in this was to make sure Lake made the bet…and to make sure that Knox was the one to lose it.

Storm, considering he spent half the night putting his hotel room back together last time Knox pulled a prank, was only too happy to assist—both in getting Knox to join in and ensuring the sneaky bastard lost.

And now I present…short shorts.

Which seem to be doing the trick—Ivy has been avoiding Knox like the plague, even though she’s normally riding his ass to push harder—and now he’s the only one left to work with her one-on-one.

“Your knee is in the wrong position,” she snaps, reaching forward as though to correct it then drawing back, probably because Knox is still squatting and her leaning in means that she’s nearly received a faceful of Knox’s junk.

“My knee is in the correct position if I want to target the abductor,” he says, locking gazes with the petite redhead.

Or horns, one might say.

Because you don’t question Ivy—not if you want to be able to walk the next day.

“Excuse me?” I can practically see the steam coming out of her ears.

“I said what I said.” Knox grunts as he does another rep.

“If I wanted you to target the abductor,” she grits out, “I would give you a list of exercises for that. We’re working quads, glutes, and hammies right now?—”

“Those muscles are strong enough.” A nod down at his legs on display.

Ivy’s color begins to rise.

“I need to work on…”

I rotate my head, see that Lake’s registered the same thing I have.

Imminent death.

Or hate fucking.

He nudges Storm and Leo while I knock my foot against Bear’s. There are hand signals and raised brows, nods to the door and mouthed admonishments as we peel ourselves up from the floor and creep out of the room.

Because I don’t want to be in Ivy’s crosshairs when she’s done with Knox.

Because I want those short shorts to have the opportunity to work their magic.

And…because I’m ready to go home to Ella.

I start down the hall but stop when I see my dad standing a few feet away, reclining back against the wall.

Scowling.

And just that quickly, all the amusement I soaked up from riding on Ella’s matchmaking coattails disappears.

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