Page 144 of Never You

“So much better.” Satisfied, I place my hands on my stomach, listening to Hunter’s opening. After a small introduction of the charity chosen for tonight, the teams skate onto the ice, and the crowd gives them a loud applause.

“You know they asked me to play for the all-stars team?” he asks the crowd, and cheering erupts in the arena. “But I declined,” he continues, followed by an echo of boos that makes him chuckle. “I know, I know. But I promised my wife I wouldn’t fight anymore, and I’m pretty sure these guys won’t hold backonce I get on the ice. I don’t need my ass kicked on the ice, or my wife will do the same at home.” His eyes search for Charlotte in the crowd, and when he finds her, he gives her a short wave and a wink. “I love you, babe.”

She rolls her eyes, her cheeks getting a bit flushed as people turn to find her, and a grin forms in the corner of my mouth.

“Quite the charmer, that husband of yours,” I joke.

“Don’t I know it.”

“Any players we know of the veterans?” I ask not to anyone in particular, when Hunter introduces the all-stars team.

“Haven’t checked. But I’m sure you’ll know one or two,” Kayla replies before Bodi gives her a small kick.

“What?” she screeches as I watch them carefully. She scowls at Bodi, then gives me her finest smile. “I mean, you’ve worked in the NHL. I’m sure you’ll recognize some of them, right?”

Before I can reply, Hunter’s booming voice catches my attention when he starts to introduce the all-stars. A few old names seem familiar, and I start to get a bit excited about the game. But when I think the game is about to start, he chuckles through the mic.

“So, to give the first team a handicap, our center, Korhohen, and left-wing, Jordan Pence, will be playing for the all-stars team!” Cheers go through the rink, and the Finnish guy skates over to the team, waving toward the crowd. “But to keep it fair, our newest player will be filling the void. This man just won the Stanley Cup.”

My heart stops.

Nope, this is not happening.

“Making him officially the best defender in the league.”

Then my heart picks back up, frantically beating against my ribcage.

“And we are very excited to welcome him into the Hurricane family.”

My lips part, even though I can’t seem to breathe.

Don’t say it.

“Give it up for Jared James Jensen!” Hunter’s words echo through the rink, and the crowd goes ballistic while the world seems to go quiet around me.

“Fuck you, Kayla.” I hiss, my eyes never leaving the ice.

Time freezes as I watch Jensen skate onto the ice with that knee weakening smile on his face. He skates around the ice, waving to the crowd, and I swallow hard when he gets closer to our section. I blink, trying to keep my emotions in check, but really, I’m like a damn bouncing ball. I want to disappear into the ground, hoping he won’t see me, and I want to run downstairs to wrap myself around his body all at the same time.

But deep down I know exactly what is about to happen, and in seconds, I’m trying to figure out if I’m ready for it.

When light blue eyes find mine like a lighthouse, I gasp, the world around me completely forgotten. He quickly comes to a stop, giving me that smile filled with lust and longing.

The entire rink grows silent, all attention going to Jensen before they all follow his gaze, and eighteen thousand people stare at me all at once. Goosebumps trickle my skin, and I’m paralyzed. His gaze pins me down in my seat.

“But before we play, there’s something Jensen has to do.” I barely register Hunter’s words coming through the speakers until the people around me start to whistle and clap in encouragement.

I glance around me, feeling freaking unsettled with everyone’s attention.

“What is this, Kayla?” I clench my jaw, plastering a fake smile on my face.

“I don’t know.” She shrugs. “Maybe you should go and find out.”

I move my attention back to Jensen, who’s crooking his finger at me.

Nope.

I shake my head, nervous as fuck.

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