Page 5 of Hat Trick Heart

Definitely not me.

The server stops by and grins at me, her eyes sparkling with temptation as she runs her gaze up and down my body. “Well, well. Frostbite. I see you’ve been having a bit of a rough streak. I bet I could fix that for you.” She giggles.

I fight to keep the disgust off of my face. I don’t like puck bunnies and I sure as hell don’t like being propositioned. I like to be the one doing the asking. Push me and I’ve got no interest in you. Simple as that. I like a challenge.

This girl is no challenge at all.

But I’ve got to be nice to the fans so you can’t just tell them off. I gotta keep that shit under control and make sure that our fans aren’t disappointed.

I smile at her. “I’m sorry. But thank you for the offer. Very generous of you.”

She smirks. “You can cash in that offer whenever you want to. Just so you know.”

I smile like I’m actually considering it even though I’m not.

“What would you like?”

“I’d just like a beer. Whatever’s on tap. I’m not picky.”

She grins and pats my arm, her fingers lingering on my bicep. “Good to know. I’ll get that for you.”

I keep the smile plastered on my face with some effort. When she leaves, I glance around and my whole body goes still and then lights up like a fireworks display.

I only got a glimpse of her from a fair distance but I know those curves and that glorious rusty auburn hair curling around slim shoulders.

I stiffen when I realize that she’s sitting with two men and the woman who was at the arena with her.

One of the guys leans into her and I can tell that she’s on a date. My heart jumps and then a pain streaks across my chest. I rub at it and eye the table closely. I listen to the guys around me discuss our chances but I can’t see anything or anyone but her.

After about a minute, I see her head come up and she starts glancing around the bar. It takes her about half a minute and I see her laser-blue eyes widen, her body stiffening.

I stand up and shift over so that I can see what’s going on at that table. She’s startled but her face is flushed and I can tell that she looks pissed. Her friend is happily chatting with the guy she’s with and it looks like they know each other quite well if the way they’re touching each other every chance they get is any indication.

On the other hand, she’s stiff as a board, her smile is forced and there’s no happiness in her smile or her eyes. If I had to guess, I’d say this was a fix-up and she’s not happy about it.

But I know one thing. The guy reaches over and tries to lift her onto his lap and I see red.

Who the fuck does this guy think he is, touching what’s mine?

I jerk to a stop when I realize that I’m on my way across the room and I’m pissed as hell. I want to rearrange this guy’s face and then I want to drag her out of here and steal her away with me.

That’s fucked up, right?

I don’t even know her name or anything about her. I can’t just walk up and destroy a guy and steal his date.

Can I?

But his octopus hands reach out and try to grab her again and she’s struggling and that’s it for me.

I stalk across the room and glare down at the guy’s head, grunting when he doesn’t even look up. Death is staring at him and he’s so stupid or drunk he doesn’t even see it.

But she does. She stills and I see her face go pale and then flush bright red when she sees me stop beside them.

“Get your hands off of her, man. Before I fucking break them.”

The guy finally realizes that the grim reaper is standing right next to him and he looks up and pales.

“Hello? Can I help you?”

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