Page 69 of Netting the Goalie

I looked down the hall, hoping to see Shane.A few other guys made their way out of the locker room but not mine.

He’s not yours.You pushed him away.

And if he gave me another chance, I’d make it up to him.

“Hey, Liss, I didn’t know you’d be down here.”

I turned away from the locker room to smile at my brother.“Hey, Mike.You waiting for Jake?”

He nodded, his smile bright.“Yeah, we’re gonna go eat.”Then he looked over my shoulder for a second.“See you later, Lissy.”

I figured Jake had appeared but a second later I heard my name in a familiar voice.A voice that made my thighs clench and my inside quiver.

“Bliss.”

Sucking in a breath, I turned and had to bite my lips against the huge grin that wanted to escape.

“Hi.”

“How’d you get down?”

And just that fast, I panicked again.“Jake put me on the list.I’m sorry.I should’ve warned you.I didn’t mean to put you on the spot.I just wanted—”

He leaned forward and sealed his mouth over mine, kissing me until I could barely breathe.

When he pulled away, long seconds later, I vaguely heard the catcalls from a few of the other guys and laughter from the girls.

But nothing could take my attention from Shane.

“I’m glad you’re here.And I’ll thank Jake later—”

“You are welcome.”Jake smacked Shane on the back as he walked past to bump his fist with Mike.“Just don’t wear yourself out tonight.We have a game tomorrow.Be nice to him, Bliss.He might still not be right in the head.Considering he let you go way too easily the first time, he definitely is not thinking straight.”

Shane’s lips curved, making my heart beat faster.“I’m a fast learner.And I try not to make the same mistake twice.”

I shook my head, wrapping my arms around his waist.“I was the one who made the mistake.Can we—”

“Go?Absolutely.”

Shane got me turned around and headed for the door in a split second, his arm around my shoulders.I had to walk fast to keep up as he made for the door to the side lot where the players parked.

“My car—”

“We’ll pick it up— Shit.I brought CJ.”He stopped, turned and tossed his keys at Jake, whose lightning-fast reflexes allowed him to catch them.

“Give those to CJ.Tell him not to ding my truck.”

Jake’s laughter followed us out of the building but Shane didn’t slow.But he didn’t talk either as we hurried to my car in the lot across the street from the arena.I figured that was because there were still fans heading the same way.

A few of them recognized him, called out congratulations and encouragement for the next game.He acknowledged every one with a smile and a wave but he didn’t slow.

It wasn’t until he folded himself into my front seat and I got us on the street did he speak.

“We’re going back to your place to work this out, right?Because I don’t want there to be any misunderstandings.”

I swallowed hard.“Yes, we are.”

“And we’re going to work this out.Because I love you, Bliss.I don’t want you to have any doubt about that.”

---