Page 9 of Trouble

“This town is awesome,” Aiden says from his spot in the corner of the booth. He’s got his arm around Lennox’s shoulder. “I’m glad we had time to come out here before our game.”

“Boston tomorrow, then Philly, right?” Lennox asks, nuzzling into his neck. “I can never remember where he’ll be on any given week,” she says to Melina. “Unlike this lucky bitch”—she points a pink-painted nail at Sara, who, like my sister did for so long, travels with the team as their head of PR—“I don’t get to travel with my husband.”

Aiden presses a kiss to her forehead. “You can travel with me anytime. But I get it. You don’t want to be a trophy wife, no matter how much I beg.”

Lennox shrugs her shoulders in an exaggerated manner, her pink hair fanning across her neck. “I would make an excellent trophy.”

“That’s what I’m telling ya,” Aiden crows as the rest of the group laughs.

“What’s your favorite city?” Melina asks Cade.

There I go, back to watching the two of them together.

He drops his head back against the bench seat, studying the ceiling. “Hmm,” he says, dragging the sound out. “I love renting a motorcycle in Vegas and disappearing into the mountains. And hiking before sunrise in Denver is unreal. Don’t even get me started on the surfing in La Jolla.”

Sara pushes forward, resting her forearms on the table. “You’ve done all those things? How?”

Cade grins. “While you two are off screwing around before away games,” he says, pointing to his goalie, “I spend time exploring each city.”

Brooks has the decency to blush, but Sara just shrugs. “We like public sex, so sue us.”

I practically choke on my own spit at that flippant admission. I cough and gasp for air. When I can breathe again, I find Cade watching me in amusement.

“I like exploring,” he says, his tone a little dark and full of hidden meaning. When he turns back to the group, his voice is casual again. “I used to go alone, but then Daniel discovered my routine, and now he joins me.”

“Wait,” Aiden says, leaning around Lennox. “You and Daniel hang out before gameswithoutme?”

With a groan, Cade roughs a hand down his face. “Fuck. I should have kept my mouth shut.”

Melina shakes with laughter on top of him.

“You think this is funny?” he asks, tickling her sides. “This idiot is going to be following me around singing songs he makes up about every city we’re in now.”

Aiden shrugs, a lazy grin on his face. “Guilty.”

The group falls into a fit of laughter.

I watch on, here but not really part of their banter. This is how I exist. At the station, the guys all talk around me, half the time probably forgetting I’m even there. Which is good. I don’t want them to censor themselves around the boss. I like being in their presence, even though I rarely have anything to add.

Normally, when I speak, the mood grows serious. My tone often suggests action, not fun, I suppose.

Cade whispers in Melina’s ear, and her cheeks turn a lovely shade ofpink again. Fuck, would I love to see whether that color spreads to other parts of her body when she’s aroused the way she is right now.

How could any woman not be aroused around Cade? He oozes sex. I know exactly what they’ll be doing when we get back to my house.

I’m annoyed at the idea, but I’m more annoyed with myself.

Because it shouldn’t be hot.

I shouldn’t like the idea of his hands on her when I want my hands on her. But fuck, I’m half hard just watching her sit on his lap.

My perverse thoughts are interrupted by the flash of a camera. Without hesitating, I’m on my feet, immediately blocking Melina.

“What the fuck?” I growl at the man holding a camera and trying to shift around me for another shot. Guy’s got balls, I’ll give him that. I’m about to squeeze the life out of them, though.

To one side of me, Brooks puts up a hand, blocking the man’s attempt.

“I’ll say it again,” I grit out. “What the fuck?”

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