Page 6 of The Pucking Proposal

“Tell her I said ‘hey’ before she jets out,” I say, and he tilts his beer at me.

We sit in silence for a minute, eyes scanning the crowd around us. Everyone’s smiling, laughing, and having a great time. I’m glad, even if I feel a bit on the outside of it. It’s not that I’m not included. I’m part of the team, part of the family, in the thick of things, but inside, I keep it all at arm’s length. It’s what I’ve always done, how I always am, and everyone knows and respects it, not getting too close, physically or emotionally, with me.

“I’m gonna hit Amara up for a second. I’ll be back,” Shepherd tells me, scooting away toward a girl he’s talked to a few times. She’s pretty, with dark curls, dark eyes, and seemingly zero interest in my boy, which drives him insane.

I take a sip of my beer, and like a beacon from heaven, or maybe karma, shining down on the dance floor, I spy Joy swaying in time to the music that’s playing over the jukebox. She’s wearing jeans with slashes in both knees that let her tanned skin peek out, low-heel boots, and a green sweater over her Moose jersey. She’s smiling as she singsalong with the music, her arms over her head, flashing a sliver of her belly.

Ice dumps into my veins.

Not because of her, but because Max is dancing with her. He’s my teammate, a decent guy, and as close to a friend as I have beyond Shep. I mean, Max and I aren’t swapping-life-stories-over-whiskey types, or anything close to it, but I’d show up to help him move out of his apartment if he asked. Not all the Moose fit that description.

Objectively, he’s not even close to her, merely beside her, effortlessly joining in the circle with Joy, Hope, and a couple of other people. Still, I don’t like it. Especially after his too-easy flirting with her earlier. He’s slipping and sliding down a slope to danger.

My eyes dart around to find Shepherd, but he’s preoccupied and hasn’t noticed one of the guys getting too close for comfort with his sisters.

Well, sister.

I slam my beer to the table and stalk across the floor. I must look like approaching fury because people move out of my way, parting like the Red Sea, until I’m next to Max, bodily putting space between him and Joy. “You got a death wish I need to know about?” I snarl at him.

“Huh?” His smile vanishes as worry clouds his eyes.

“Don’t fuck with the balance,” I warn. Coach has given us that advice at least a dozen times per season. On the ice, there’s a delicate balance between defense and offense, between teammates, between when to go balls to the wall and when to play it smart. Max is on a tightrope, risking the balance with Shepherd by flirting with Joy. It’s not worth it. She’s not worth it. Not when we just had our best opener in recent history, and that includes the season we went all the way. “If Shep sees you, he’ll kick your ass, and as much as I hate to admit it, we need you.”

Max’s jaw drops open in protest, probably about to say something asinine like,We were only dancing, Dad,but someone else is quicker to the punch. Behind me, Joy snaps, “Quit cockblocking, Days. If I want to get railed by a Moose, Max or otherwise, I will.”

She will do no such thing. Not on Shepherd’s watch, and if he’s busy, not on mine.

I whirl to tell her that she absolutely will not be getting railed by any-fucking-one, only to see her grinning so widely that I can nearly count her molars. She bursts out in laughter, which is instantly echoed by Hope.

“Jesus, you should see your face. Lighten up. It’s a celebration,” Joy informs me, as if I’m not already well aware of that fact. “We’re not having sex on the dance floor. I wasn’t even twerking ... yet.”

Still grinning happily—or is she drunk?—she takes my hand and twirls herself under my arm while I remain frozen in place, watching her give me her back and then face me once again. The thought of Joy twerking her ass in those jeans, or worse—better?—withoutthe jeans, sends all my blood south.

“You know, dance-ing?” She says it slowly, like I’m too stupid to understand the word.

“You are not twerking. You are not fucking Max or any other Moose,” I growl, just loud enough for her to hear. A half beat later, I tack on, “Or hell, any other asshole in here tonight.”

I have no right to tell her what she can and can’t do, but the declaration comes out automatically. And if I’d stuck to only sayingMoose, I could probably play it off as a team thing. But I didn’t, and that’s gonna cause problems.

Her smile vanishes instantly, her eyes flaring wide with anger as her brows jump up her forehead. She’s pissed. No, she’s furious, and I can almost sense the scathing words forming in her mind and rushing to her sharp tongue.

On one hand, I can’t wait to hear them. But honestly, I’m not sure I can take her on in my current no-blood-in-my-brain state. Quickly, I try to soften the blow so she doesn’t destroy me. “You’re too good for anyone here, and you know it.”

There. That should do it.

She flips her hair over her shoulder, not buying it in the least. “Obviously. I know my worth. But sometimes, I go on flash sale. Out of boredom mostly. Or when my vibrator needs a good charge.” She leans to the side to wink at Max. “No offense.”

Behind me, he answers, “None taken, ma’am.” I can hear the grin in his voice, and I can imagine him tipping an invisible hat as if he’s a gentleman.

“Not helping,” I toss over my shoulder to Max, keeping my eyes locked on Joy. And definitelynotimagining her with her legs spread wide, pussy dripping, and a toy disappearing inside her. I bet she’s a screamer when she comes. She’s mouthy all the time, so she probably only gets louder when she releases the tight hold she keeps on herself. My balls tighten painfully, which pisses me off.Shepisses me off.

“He could be helping if you’d get out of the way.” Not waiting for me to move, she does it herself, forcing me to turn to follow her. Now, Joy, Max, and I are our own circle of three, but the others are close around us, watching the spectacle we’re making like it’s a live-action reality show.

When I don’t respond, she leans in closer to peer into my eyes like they might contain the secrets of the universe. Suddenly, and loud enough for everyone to hear, she says, “Oh shit. Are you jealous? I didn’t know you and Max were a thing. My bad.” She swings a pink-manicured finger from me to Max, and back again. “I wouldn’t want to get in the way of true love.”

Like the laidback jokester that he is, Max throws a big smile on his face and clenches his hands beneath his chin, nearly shooting hearts out of his stupid green eyes. “Dalton, I didn’t know you had feelings for me! I wuv you too. C’mere, ya big sex machine. I’ll put my stick in your five-hole no problem!”

People around us are looking on in shock at the bold, and again,louddeclaration. I don’t give a shit what they think or what gossip Joy might be instigating, especially since it’s obvious to anyone with eyes that Max is kidding. What I care about is that Joy’s fucking with me.

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