Page 8 of Hat Trick Daddies

CHAPTER FOUR

Nick

The hot waterpounds against my shoulders, washing away the ache from practice and the sweat clinging to my skin.

I lean forward, bracing my palms against the slick tiled wall of the shower, and let the warmth seep into my muscles.

There’s nothing quite like this after a tough practice.

Out on the ice, every movement feels sharp and raw, my body stretched to its limit. But here, under the cascade of water, it’s like all the tension melts away. My legs ache a little less, my shoulders loosen, and even the sting of a puck that grazed my arm earlier fades into a dull memory.

I tilt my head back, letting the water stream over my face. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath, savoring the clean scent of the soap.

Eventually, I shut the water off and step out, grabbing a towel from the hook nearby.

The locker room is quieter now, the sound of running water from a few other showers the only indication that some of the guys are still finishing up.

I dry off quickly, the cold air biting at my damp skin, and start pulling on clean clothes. The soft fabric feels like heaven compared to the bulk and weight of my gear.

Just as I’m lacing up my sneakers, there’s a knock at the locker room door.

Before anyone can answer, the door swings open.

Dennis walks in, his usual no-nonsense expression stamped on his face. At first, I don’t think much of it. He’s probably here for another speech or announcement about practice schedules or team events.

But then I see her.

She steps into the room behind him, and for a second, I think I’ve been hit with a puck to the chest.

She’s stunning: honey blonde hair swept back into a mostly tidy bun, striking ocean blue eyes, and a face that could stop traffic.

Her posture is all business, confident, collected, but there’s something about the way she carries herself that’s magnetic.

My gaze lingers on her lips for a moment longer than I should, wondering what it would be like to kiss her.

I glance at Tyler, who’s sitting next to me on the bench.

His expression says it all.

He’s staring at her the same way I am, wide-eyed, intrigued, and probably already planning a dozen bad ideas.

My mind races ahead, unbidden, imagining what a night with her might be like.

I can picture her out of that professional getup, her hair down, her laugh filling the air. The thought sends a spark of heat through me, and I quickly push it aside.

Tyler catches my eye and smirks, the faintest lift of his brow confirming that he’s thinking the exact same thing.

Great. This is going to be interesting.

I lean closer to Tyler, keeping my voice low. “Our new doc is hot as hell.”

He doesn’t even look at me, just nods slowly, his eyes still locked on her. “No kidding,” he mutters under his breath, then sighs dramatically. “Bet she’s off-limits, though. Total buzzkill.”

“Yeah,” I agree, though it doesn’t stop my mind from wandering.

Tyler shrugs, leaning back against the wall like this is just another day for him. “Off-limits just makes it more of a challenge,” he says with a mischievous grin.

Before I can respond, Brooks, sitting a few feet away, turns toward us with a scowl. “Will you two idiots shut up and listen?” he hisses, keeping his voice low enough that it won’t draw Dennis’ attention.

---