Page 4 of Some Like It Hot

I watch him approach the woman and witness her huge smile when he says hi. Wonderful. Hayes will have someone to kiss at midnight after all. I’m going to kiss a bottle of Blanton’s in my hot tub and toast to a championship victory in six months.

My gaze finds Alexsei, Owen, and Luna. Cameron is with them now. I knew he was here somewhere. They’re all laughing together. Alexsei’s hand is resting on Luna’s lower back, and she’s leaning against Owen’s side, his hand on the back of her neck. They look so happy and in love.

Good for them.

I love seeing people happy like that.

It’s not for me. I’ve been married to hockey since I was old enough to slap a puck with a stick.

My love for the game hit early and hit hard and I’ve never had time, energy, or interest in anything else since. My dedication to the game, my travel schedule, the publicity—which includes attention from lots of women—has proven to be too much for the couple of women I have tried dating. And that was a long time ago. They accused me of caring about hockey more than them, and they were right.

Plus, I love being alone. Like love it. The idea of having someone around, in my life, in my decisions, taking up my time, twenty-four seven makes me itchy. Then you add to that their friends and family, social obligations like family dinners, birthdays, vacations…nope. Not for me. I don’t need anyone in my life like that.

My plan after hockey is done is to head to the woods of Minnesota to my family's secluded cabin and to finally become the hermit I’ve always dreamed of being.

I watch as Cameron leans in and kisses Luna. It’s a little strange to see while she’s standing with two other men touching her with clear possessiveness. But it also looks very natural. She reaches up and runs a hand down his face, her smile soft. Then she smiles up at Alexsei as Owen kisses the top of her head.

The four of them look right together. That’s the only way to describe it.

I wonder what Elise is doing tonight. And with who.

I frown. Okay, so Luna is Elise’s friend and boss at the bakery Luna owns and where Elise works part time. That is why I thought of her. Not for any other reason.

Not because of what Travers said to me tonight about sliding between her thighs.

Not because I can’t shake how much I fucking hate that Justin has been with her.

Not because whenever Elise is around I can’t keep my eyes, or thoughts, off of her.

Clearly, she doesn’t even have to be around for me to be thinking of her.

Dammit.

I straighten, look around to see if there’s anyone I need to say goodbye to, decide that no, I’ll see them in a couple of days.

I start for the elevator. No one else is leaving yet, so I’m waiting alone. Which is perfect. The good mood the guys helped me capture is gone. I want to go home, where I can soak my annoyingly painful hip in my hot tub, sip my favorite whiskey, and watch the clock roll past midnight and into my official retirement year.

The doors to the elevator swish open and I start to step forward, only to stop when I realize a couple of late comers are getting off.

Then my brain registers who they are.

It’s Wade, the guy who dresses up as Sammy the Malamute, the Racketeers mascot.

And Elise.

Because of course it is.

She’s dressed in a curve-hugging black dress that leaves her shoulders bare, plunges low in the front, showing off her mouth-watering cleavage, and black heels. Her dark hair is in large curls that fall softly around her shoulders and those lips—the ones that haunt my dreams—are painted crimson.

She looks so fucking gorgeous.

And she’s staring right back at me, those kissable lips parted in surprise.

Slid right in there. Just like me between Elise’s thighs.

Justin Travers’ voice echoes in my head and I growl, stepping forward. I take Elise’s upper arm and step her back into the elevator.

“What the he—” she starts to protest.

---