Page 9 of Slap Shots & Sweethearts

I snort and text back.

Me: Oh please. You know you only need to bring a plate of something from your bakery and the guys will come flocking.

Maria: As if. If I hear one more guy tell me I should cut carbs…

Me: Preaching to the choir.

Seriously, when I'd tried online dating my inbox was flooded with messages to hit the gym or try some MLM meal replacement program to lose the extra weight. People can be jerks. There are only two groups of people I feel comfortable around. Book club and the team.

From the moment Maria invited me to book club I'd found my people. Book club is an excuse to gush over fictional book boyfriends, eat all the treats I normally limit myself on, and hang out with the best ladies who accept me for me. My friends don't watch or shame me for eating anything. They bring food because they intend for it to be eaten. My sister would be horrified.

The team, well I never have to worry about someone telling me to watch what I ate when anyone of the guys can bench press me and they all eat like they are starving. Hockey players are big and I'd always been told it was too bad I was a girl because Lou and I would be unstoppable. As much as I grumble about Lou, in moments like that I was glad Lou made people regret it if they hurt my feelings.

The familiar squeaky wheel of the delivery cart reaches me, and I put my phone down. Then I think about how fun it would be for fans to see the flowers and I decide to take a few more photos. The overpriced bouquets of red roses mock me from Sam's delivery cart. He's stopped the cart in the hallway outside my office, using it as a base point as he delivers flowers to the other hockey team employees in the area. Seeing as most of the people I work with are men, they are probably taking those flowers home with them at the end of the day.

Tiffany of course squeals loud enough from her office across the hall when Sam delivers a red rose bouquet to her. She'd bragged more than once about her long distance boyfriend who likes to spoil her.

Sam's cart has two bouquets left. One was a glass vase filled with two dozen long-stemmed roses and baby's breath that looked like something out of a wedding catalog. It is so pretty it makes the small wilted bouquet of six long-stemmed roses look all the sadder. I know the sad flowers are for me before Sam reads the card on it.

He reads the card for the third time and frowns. I've been waiting all day for these flowers to be delivered, but I suppose I should give the florist grace since it is Valentine's Day and I'd ordered the flowers at the last minute for myself after wallowing in my singleness. Next time I'll opt for a banana fudge milkshake and the last of the Girl Scout cookies I've been saving in the freezer.

Now I'll have to carry the pitiful flowers with me to speed dating. Which of course will not do me any favors.

A commotion catches my attention and I watch as my brother Lou stomps up to the cart. He completely ignores Sam as he picks up the vase with the gorgeous roses and whirls around to a few of the other hockey guys on the team.

"Dan the vase is here!" He waves the vase around like a trophy.

Visible relief washes over the team goalie as he takes the vase from Lou. No doubt the roses are for his new wife and are meant to be delivered to the sports medicine office for her. But it is almost closing time, and I'm sure the two of them will want to go home. Nate slaps Dan on the back like men do and says something to him. But I don't catch what because of the fourth hockey player outside my office.

Matt.

He looks even better than he had this morning. His dark hair is styled in that combination of just showered and finger combed. A signature smirk on his face as he stands with his hands in his pockets as Nate and Dan get the flowers from Lou before he can drop it.

Sam frowns at Lou. "You're not supposed to touch people's deliveries."

Lou places a hand over his heart, and with an overdramatic look of remorse that I don't believe for one second, says, "It was a quest of the utmost importance. Dan couldn't stop a puck to save his life he was so distraught over the lost flowers destined for his love. As penance, I shall help with the rest of your deliveries."

Sam and Lou reach for the pitiful bouquet at the same time.

Lou is faster.

Cold horror washes over me as Lou picks up my clear cellophane-wrapped bouquet and reads the card.

In slow motion I can see his posture stiffen and his smile is replaced by a scowl.

He stomps all two hundred and fifty pounds of angry hockey player into my office. Matt, Dan, and Nate follow behind him, too curious for their own good. I swear hockey players can be as bad as my Gram's knitting circle when it comes to gossip.

Holding up the flowers he stares me in the eye, "What's this?"

I link my fingers together so my hands won’t shake, and lean forward to rest my elbows on my desk. "They're called roses."

His scowl grows. "Don't sass. You know that's not what I was asking. Hannah, who sent these?" His voice holds a hard edge I've heard many times over the years when his overprotective, neanderthal-brother-brain takes over.

The horror starts to ebb away, and laughter wants to take its place. I couldn't have planned for a worse scenario, but for once I have my brother panicked over a prank. Big brother Lou is worried about a fake admirer.

"Doesn't it say on the card?" I bite my cheek to hold back a smile, since I know it doesn't.

He looks at the card and reads it out loud. "I hope your day is as beautiful as you are."

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