Page 11 of Charming Crosschecks

“He’s always in a half-decent mood; you’re the grump, Coeur,” Giroux volunteered easily. “You and Lafreniére. Sheesh.”

“Puh-lease…moi?”

The banter continued, warm and easy, as a few players gave the coach playful welcome to the mysteries of married life.

“The wife is always right…” Giroux volunteered, grinning.

“Even if she’s wrong, non?” Batiste laughed, slapping the other man on the shoulder. Both Coach and his fiancée shared a look and laughed.

“Toilet seat always goes down.”

“And you are supposed to use the bread ties – not just spin the bag and lay it down.”

“Pile of shoes by the door…?”

“GONE!” Giroux and Batiste said in unison, sharing a pointed look before laughing again.

“Wow, everyone’s popping the question around here. Kind of terrifying thought, eh?” Lafreniere said in a hushed voice, nudging Gerry’s shoulder.

“What do you mean?” Boucher said warily, looking at him like he’d sprouted another head on his shoulders, whereas Coeur rolled his eyes before speaking.

“Well, Batiste just asked his girl to marry him. Girouxismarried, and I think Thierry has the hots for…”

“DO. NOT. UTTER. HER. NAME. ALOUD,” Gerry snapped hotly, practically leaping to his feet. His eyes darted around as if Molly might materialize out of thin air. She was getting under his skin, and just last night, he woke up in a pool of sweat after having a dream about her.

“Like Beetlejuice?” Coeur began mischievously, winking at Boucher, who grinned before cackling wildly. They had come up with the nickname that seemed wildly appropriate.

Yeah, they all knew Gerry was trying his hardest not to be around the woman. He didn’t want to look at Molly, work with her, or talk to her – especially not after the last time. It was hard to hide his growing attraction to the woman.

Lafreniere leaned in close to Gerry, whispering loudly, “Molly! Molly! Molly!” and before he could berate the man for teasing him, the door to the locker room opened.

Gerry couldn’t help it – he yelped. Not because she appeared but because she was wearing that ice-blue sweater he loved so much and a pair of skin-tight jeans that hid nothing from his already vivid imagination. He tried to back away and do his usual thing by turning and running in the other direction, only to realize he was sitting on the bench.

Well, hewas…

He was now sitting on the floor behind the bench, his rear on the tile while his legs were over the wooden seat, his skates on his feet dangling precariously in front of him – framing those hips.

His mouth went dry in two seconds flat.

Gerry barely noticed the riotous laughter from the guys as he stared at Molly. All that black hair, those eyes, that skin, combined with those eyes that looked like tidepools. He wanted to touch the sweater to see if it was as soft as he imagined, run his hands over the curve of her jeans, memorizing them, and…

“I heard there was a reason to celebrate,” Molly said, her voice warm and inviting as she held up a pink box. “So, I picked up some Crumbl cookies for you guys before you hit the showers.”

“You brought cookies?” Coach Mike asked, smiling easily as he plucked two of the cookies from the box – handing one to Brandi, before he kissed the woman on the cheek. While it was sweet, Gerry’s blood was hammering in his head as he continued to stare at Molly, who was starting to look uncomfortable at his attention.

“To celebrating with friends and family,” Coach Mike began, and Brandi moved to stand next to Molly, shaking her hand. The woman paled in comparison to his Molly… and he needed to get his head back in the game.

“This was so sweet of you,” Brandi began. “I’m Brandi, and you are?”

“Beetlejuice,” Boucher mumbled, choking on laughter.

“I’m Molly. I handle the team’s physical therapy and keep them in shape—which reminds me—Thierry?”

He’d just now managed to get himself off the floor and re-take his seat while trying not to look at her again. No, she needed to wear other things, decent things, like a nun’s habit or one of those Amish dresses, something that covered her shape. He was going to have to talk to the coach again because she couldn’t be wearing pants like that – not if he wanted him to focus.

Gerry glanced up reluctantly. “Yeah?” only to see Molly standing a little closer to him, so close he could smell her perfume mixed with the sugar of the cookies that he knew he wasn’t going to be allowed to have… or they were mixed with some insane low-calorie item again. Molly held out a large cookie topped with bright orange icing.

“I saved a pumpkin one just for you. Last one they had.”

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