Page 5 of Hat Trick

The material is silk, like rippling water over her bare skin, and though it’s wintertime in Boston, Gwen’s dress can’t be described as anything other than “slinky.” Thin, hardly-there straps arch over her shoulders, and the front V-neck is deep and enticing. A slit creases the skirt, and I spot a toned thigh slippingthrough.

Like Gwen, the dress is classy with a sexual edge—and a very clear reminder that I’ve never stopped looking and have never been given the opportunity totouch.

Unfortunately, my cock has never gotten the memo, and even now, in the middle of fucking Cheers, I’m hard as arock.

Gwen’s fingers to my chin snaps me out of it, and I meet her gaze unapologetically. Her plum-painted lips move, and I register the words just as she steps away toward the stairwell leading up to the secondfloor.

Feeling turned on,Marshall?

She knows I am. And for the first time since I’ve met Gwen, I decide I’m not willing to play our gamesanymore.

The woman owes me a date, and I plan to finallycollect.

3

Gwen

Ba-dum-ba-dum-ba-dum.

The sound of my heart thudding in my ears blocks out the low murmurs and clinking glasses as I enter the wood-paneled room above Cheers Restaurant. Hockey players swarm the Victorian-era space, most of them balancing white porcelain plates on one palm as they shovel finger sandwiches into theirmouths.

A few years ago, when I first started working for Golden Lights Media, Boston’s top PR firm, I’d been in awe of theenvironment.

In other words, big biceps, crooked grins, and the ever-present threat of hot men dropping towels and showing off thegoods.

The Blades are a newer franchise within the NHL, less than a decade old, but you’d never know it based on the talent of theteam.

Including MarshallHunt.

Just the thought of him sends my pulse into overdrive, and I throw a quick glance over my shoulder at the emptydoorway.

His big body fills it a moment later, shoulders so broad I’m surprised he doesn’t have to turn to the side to fit through. His brown hair is trimmed short on the sides, a little longer on top.Perfect to grab when—no, no grabbing ever. Against my will, my gaze continues to track him in a way I didn’t allow myself when we collidedoutside.

Navy-blue fitted suit and shiny dress shoes. I watch as he strips off his jacket, revealing a crisp, white button-down. Blunt fingers that have never once touched me sexually un-do the buttons at his wrists before slowly rolling up the sleeves to expose cordedforearms.

Just then, his pewter eyes lift and hone in onme.

I feel that look like I’ve been doused in boiling water, and I suck in a deep, unevenbreath.

There’s no missing the way the corner of his mouth hitches in a half-smile.

Marshall Hunt knows he’s undeniably sexy, and he doesn’t bother pretendingotherwise.

For years he’s pursued me, on-and-off, depending on whether we’re in contact. Besides the fact that I’m three years older than him, he also witnessed the most humiliating experience of mylife.

He witnessed me at my lowest, when my heart was scraped raw, and I learned very quickly that everything my mother had ever whispered in my ear wastrue.

Sexy or not, I’m not the type of person who enjoys ruminating in my mistakes—unfortunately for Marshall, my brain has lumped him in with that experience, right or wrong. And even if there are times when I can’t help but thinkwhat if?I’m quick to push those crazy daydreamsaway.

Based on his track record for being the NHL’s version of Leonardo DiCaprio, dating Marshall would no doubt be the equivalent of dating TyCorwin.

It would only be a matter of time before someone else caught his fancy and he moved on to a new model, both literally andfiguratively.

I dip my chin in acknowledgment and turn away. I need to find Zoe. Or my other close friendCharlie.

Anyone, really, whoisn’tMarshall.

I don’t search long. Charlie Denton can always be found near food, and after scoping out the buffet table, I see her curly blond head bent over a display of red velvetcupcakes.

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