Page 7 of Rainbow Kisses

I smiled and shrugged, trying to look like everything was fine. “Brian, you’re not the first guy we’ve brought onmidseason.” I didn’t add that he wasn’t even the first guy Dad had hired simply because he needed a job or a fresh start. There was always wiggle room in our league. Rules were rules, sure, but sometimes the guidelines were more like…just not there.

Lifting a hand, he shoved it through his hair, his gaze shifting away from me before staring at the ceiling for a quick second.

Then he looked at Rowdy, who grinned at him, then at our dad, who nodded, looking stoic, like Dad always looked, except when he looked at my mom. Finally, Brian looked at me and sighed. And I wanted to bat my lashes at him and swoon. Which wasn’t happening.

“Ok. Just show me where to sign.”

THREE

Brian

“Thanks again,Colonel. I know this was?—”

“Unexpected, yes.” The Colonel shook my hand, patted me on the back, and basically pointed me toward the door. “But it’s nice to have you back, Brian. Rainy’ll help you figure out all the details.”

Rowdy walked me to the door of the Colonel’s office, his arm around my shoulder.

“I’ve got a few things to finish up with Pop, but why don’t we plan to meet for lunch? Rain should be done with you by then, right?”

Rowdy glanced at his sister, the woman I’d been avoiding looking at since I’d signed the papers making me a Devil again. I already had way too much baggage with her and now I’d basically had to beg for a job, and she had to clean up the mess.

Okay, maybe not beg, though I still felt like I was getting preferential treatment. But this wasn’t just about me. It was about Maddy too. And what was best for her.

And St. David was best for Maddy.

“Shouldn’t take that long to do the paperwork. Just come down to my office when you’re ready. It’s the last one at the end of the hall.” She made a face at Rowdy that I couldn’t figure out then shot me a smile that made my gut flip. “It’s got my name on the door and everything.”

That smile sent my blood flowing south. Which was totally not happening. Nope. I bit my tongue and willed my dick to behave. But I couldn’t quite rip my gaze away from her quick enough. The look Rowdy leveled at me let me know exactly what he was thinking. So I ignored that and held out my hand, which he took with a slight smirk. If we were on the ice, he’d totally get an elbow in the gut for that.

“Thanks again for everything, Rowdy.”

“Whiskers, if you say thank you one more time, I’m going to make you do the Rookie Rumble.”

My brain stumbled over that one, and my expression must have shown it. Rowdy’s smile became downright diabolical.

“What the hell is that?”

“Something we started last year. But I think I’ll let you find that out on your own.”

“I’m far from a rookie.”

“Yeah, but you’re a Devil again. You know we don’t do rules here.”

I shook my head, feeling my lips curve for the first time in a while. “Just guidelines, huh?”

“And those are more like suggestions.” His expression turned serious then, which didn’t look as wrong as it would’ve a few years ago. “Look, I know you’ve got a lot on your plate right now, but we’ve got your back now. Concentrate on Maddy and hockey. That’s all.”

Good advice. And yet, I couldn’t stop thinking about the one woman I really shouldn’t be thinking about. Not only because she was this man’s younger sister, but because I needed to bepresent for my niece. She needed all my attention when I wasn’t on the ice.

And when you are on the ice?

Well, that’s why we were here. Because I knew this town and these people. They wouldn’t let her struggle or disappear. They’d look out for her when I couldn’t.

“Thanks, Rowdy. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. For us.”

“Don’t thank me too much.” His grin widened. “You still gotta play hockey for the Devils.”

I wasn’t lying when I said, “That might be the best thing I’ve heard all week.”

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