Page 16 of Rookie Move

He knelt on the ice and grabbed the squirmy pup. “Settle down, buddy,” he said, ruffling the pup’s ears.

“Aww, looks like they’re in love. Can a monster and a puppy truly be together?” Baz asked as if narrating a story.

“Fuck off, man. Who you calling a monster with that Chewbacca mess you’ve got going on? How you don’t scare children is beyond me,” Desmond fired back, and grinned.

“A monster?” Rylie asked. “Oh right, Nessie,” she said with a laugh.

Baz was a menace, but Desmond would be the butt of the joke just to hear her laugh again.

Fuck. That was sappy as hell.

“Okay, take this pic before he pees on me,” Desmond said.

“It means he loves you.” Baz chuckled.

“Smile for the fans,” Rylie called out, holding up her phone.

“Me next,” Baz said.

Rylie proceeded to take a bunch of pictures with the guys and then a few group shots before she headed off the ice with the puppy in tow. She’d given him a few smiles but nothing more than she did with everyone else.

Maybe she was able to ignore what was brewing between them.

***

A few dayslater, Desmond walked over to Rylie’s desk. Her dark hair was down around her shoulders. She muttered something as she pushed a strand behind her ear.

“Where do you want me?” he asked.

She gasped, her head flying up to meet his grin.

“What?”

He laughed. He’d fully intended to catch her off guard.

“For the calls,” he said, resting his arm on the edge of the low cubicle wall and invading her space.

“What calls?” She shook her head, the loose strands falling in her face again before she shoved them back. “Oh right. Season ticket holder calls. You got roped into that?”

She almost sounded calm.

“Something about the accent appealing to people,” he said.

“Oh please, it’s not even that strong until…”

“Until what?” he goaded.

“Knock it off. You know what,” she said, her cheeks pink.

“Sorry. Couldn’t resist. So do you have a list for me?”

“Yes. Just take the desk over there and go for it. Introduce yourself and thank them for being a season ticket holder. And tell them that we have Baz bobbleheads on opening night.”

“Oh man. Really? That’s going to go straight to his head. Hope you at least trimmed the beard down,” he said and she laughed.

He settled down in his chair and called the first person, thinking about ways to get Rylie to talk to him.

Chapter 5

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