Page 65 of Dirty Pucker

We’re sitting at the lobby bar of Aria, a luxury hotel on the Vegas strip, waiting for the guys to join us. The Bashers players and all the team staff are staying here while they’re in Vegas.

I tap my fingers against my water glass. “Yeah. It was wild.”

“It’s been awhile since he pulled a hit like that. That was downright dirty,” Maya says.

I nod along and think back to the game this evening. I was sitting in the stands with Maya watching the game. I saw Del and Owen talking to each other before the hit.

Only talking isn’t the right word for it. It looked like Owen was shit-talking Del judging by the smirk on Owen’s face and the fact that Del wasn’t even looking at him the whole time he was talking. He was glaring though.

“Maybe Owen said something to get under Del’s skin. I saw them talking a few minutes before Del slammed into him. Del look kind of pissed,” I say.

“I bet you’re right.” She sighs and swipes her long, dark brown hair over her shoulder. “Hockey is so brutal sometimes.”

“It really is.”

“I wonder if he’ll get suspended,” Maya says.

I sink deeper into the plush velvet couch we’re sitting on and glance down at the swirly blue carpet pattern underneath my heels.

I wonder how Del’s feeling, if he’s doing okay or still upset about whatever went down between him and Owen.

“I could tell he didn’t like Owen when they ran into each other yesterday at the photoshoot,” I say. “I asked him about it, but he didn’t really explain.”

Maya and I met up for dinner last night right after she landed in Las Vegas to watch the Bashers game. I filled her in on Del’s nude photoshoot and the awkward run-in with Owen.

Maya tilts her head at me. “Maybe it has something to do with that. Maybe Del was jealous that Owen was flirting with you.”

“Crashing into Owen from behind and injuring him seems like an overreaction, even if Del was jealous,” I say.

Del definitely was bothered to see Owen talking to me. Maybe he was a little jealous, but I can’t imagine he was so upset that he targeted Owen for a dirty hit.

The server stops by to ask if we want another round of drinks.

Maya looks at me. “How about a bottle of champagne? We could use some bubbles after tonight.”

“Yeah, that sounds nice. And could we also have an alcohol-free lemon spritzer too?”

The server says no problem and walks off. A minute later, Sophie makes her way over to us.

“Hey, sorry I’m late,” she says through a breath. “I would have come straight from the game, but my clothes were gross.”

Maya makes a face. “Blood?”

“A little blood. Mostly drool and sweat though.” Sophie sits down next to me on the couch and smooths a hand over the skirtof the pretty emerald green sheath dress she’s wearing. “I’m glad I changed since I have to sit next to you two glamazons.”

Maya and I laugh.

Sophie kicks up a gold stiletto. “Even with four-inch heels I’m still shorter than you both.” She chuckles.

I pat her arm. “You look really pretty. I love that dress.”

She beams. “Thanks, it was a Valentine’s Day gift from Xander. He took me to my favorite boutique and let me pick out whatever I wanted.”

“That man is addicted to spoiling you,” Maya says.

Sophie rests a hand on her chest and flashes a dreamy smile. “He really is. I’m so lucky.”

“Let me guess: his only caveat was that you had to pick out new lingerie too?” Maya wiggles an eyebrow. I chuckle.

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