Page 60 of Hat Trick Holidate

She pats my leg and pulls a burp towel over her shoulder, covering Christine’s eyes while she nurses. “I like for her to breastfeed without the fluorescent lights shining in her eyes.” She pauses. “Bryce isn’t the guy he’s portrayed. I mean yes, he’s been a playboy in the NHL, but he’s been abandoned by his parents and his ex-girlfriend. In college, he was always with his girl. Never cheated. Never hung out at the baseball house or football house unless she was with him. He’s one of the sweetest, most caring people I’ve ever been around… and extremely hot. Don’t tell Reed I said that. But sometimes people can take his quietness for grumpiness or disinterest. I promise you he’s always listening.”

I nod and before we know it, the guys are back on the ice as the second period begins. Even from afar, I can see the frustration in Bryce’s body language. They’ve altered the lineup with Bryce sitting on the bench. Reed and Roman are skating with Lykins as their center.

As I’m watching the game, I’m attacked from the back. “Rusti!” Arms wrap around me, squeezing. “I’m so glad he found you.”

I turn, and it’s Lettie. She’s beaming with happiness and a boat load of energy. “Nice to see you again.”

“I knew it was an alias, like Jennifer Garner. God, I loved that show. Dane!” She waves him over. “AliasorCSI?”

“CSI,” he answers, and I have no idea what they’re talking about.

Lettie bursts into a cackle. “Are you serious? You used to get a chub in your pants every time we watched an episode ofAlias.”

“Nope. Never happened.” Dane grins.

“This is Emmaline, a.k.a., Rusti.”

Dane’s eyes are soft and sincere when he says, “Nice to meet you again. Lettie talked about you for months and how much fun we had dancing and playing drinking games in the VIP room. How did you meet up with Wynward again?”

“My brother Roman Rustavelli is his teammate. He was traded to the Jets this season.”

“Sounds like it was meant to be to me.” Lettie claps in quick succession.

“My brother doesn’t know, so I would appreciate it if you kept this between us. Reed and Brooke know about that night, but I don’t want him to know, especially since I’m Bryce’s nanny.”

Lettie’s face looks like someone just pulled the shade, shutting out the sunlight. “Oh, okay.”

Dane leans down and whispers in my ear, “She’s always wanted you in our friend group. And one thing I can tell you is when Lettie wants something, she makes it happen. She just never knew where to look.”

“Thanks, but Bryce and I are friends.”

I hate lying to the people who obviously are excited for us to be a couple, but Bryce and I can explore each other more.

chapter 25

BRYCE

“How the hellam I supposed to act?”

All the Stallions who are in Nashville are at Dane and Lettie’s house after the game. I invited Roman, hoping to get into his good graces. It seemed like a good idea before we took the ice, or they took the ice, but now, I can’t handle his positivity.

“Like a grownup and not a sixth grader who got benched.”

“I wasn’t medically cleared—much different from getting benched.”

He chuckles. “You didn’t play. I get it, but…”

“Shearer, why don’t you take Rustavelli on a tour of the house?”

Dane chimes in, “He knows it as well as we do. He’s a great babysitter if anyone needs one.”

Shearer grew up one of ten children. I think he’s number three or four in the rankings. He was always quiet, intimidated by all the personalities on the team. There wasbrooding Reed and Joe, whose dad we thought was in the hockey mafia. His dad earned three championship rings, and he popped off about it all the time. Brooke’s dad was the hockey coach, and he had come from a big-time university. But Corbin Shearer was a Kentucky boy with raw talent that was recruited by the former coach, so he kept his head down and hung out with his friends from his hometown. After I left, Shearer came along, learned from Reed, Dawes, and Flynn, and turned into a role player for the Nashville Notes. Every time I see him or talk to him, he always likes flying under the radar. Never any girls on his arms. Not a playboy. It’s his fifth year in the league, and he’s never been on TMZ.

Jolie skips toward me with one of Dane’s kids behind her and damn, she’s adorable in her little mini jersey. “Hey, sweetheart. Are you having fun?”

She gives me an enthusiastic nod. Her hair is in two braids, one on each side. Not sure what it’s called, but her blond hair shimmers and shines in the early evening sunlight. “And who is this?”

“I’m Laney. Mommy said you would remember me.”

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