Page 22 of Love in Overtime

“Sure.”

I can’t help but watch as Cooper moves through the crowd toward the food—he’s kind of hard to miss. Some of the guests wave to him, and then he’s stopped by two women, who I’m sure would be considered Puck Bunnies.

I learned that term only recently while doing my hockey research. Who knew there was a nickname for hockey player groupies?

I don’t need to be nearby to know they are flirting withhim. From here it doesn’t look like Cooper is bothered by all the hair flipping and giggling, and admittedly I feel a twinge of jealousy. Estelle mentioned Cooper had quite a large female fanbase. I just figured that came with the territory, but that was before we came to Maple Falls and before my crush.

After Cooper escapes the Puck Bunnies’ clutches, the girls squeal in delight. Seriously, they couldn’t be more obvious … or pathetic.Well, hello, jealousy.

A few minutes later Cooper returns with two small plates of food. And a third plate of only pumpkin bread which he places in front of me.

“Ooh, thanks.”

“Sorry it took so long.”

I grin. “It’s to be expected. You’re a celebrity here.”

He pops a few roasted pecans into his mouth. “Uh, I don’t think so.”

“I do, and so do those women over there.” I point to the table with the Puck Bunnies who had just stopped him. One of them is now looking in our direction, and if looks could kill.

He rolls his eyes. “No, thanks.”

I couldn’t be more relieved to hear him say this.

“Come on, I’m sure you’d rather hang with some of your biggest fans over your publicist,” I say with a nervous laugh.

“Not a chance.”

My pulse speeds up, and I’m at a loss for words, which isn’t something that happens often.

“Okay,” I say my voice barely above a whisper. “Um, I know you don’t want to stay long, but maybe we can chat with some of the guests and then head out.”

“Yes. Please.”

We finish eating and then mingle with the most important people in Maple Falls. Cooper is on his best behavior,and when he meets the mayor, he doesn’t slip up and call the town by the wrong name. I’d call it a successful night.

When we return to the lodge, I sit down in the lobby to take off my boots because my feet are killing me.

Cooper watches me with an amused expression. “Take those off anywhere?”

“Judge me all you want, I don’t care,” I exclaim as I stand up and tiptoe to the elevator in my socks.

“No judgment here,” he says while we wait.

When the doors open, he motions for me to step inside first.

“You did great tonight,” I say as we climb to our floor. “Sorry I sprung the party on you like that.”

He shoves his hands in his pockets. “That’s why we’re here, right?”

Exactly. Cooper and I are here because he’s playing hockey and I’m representing him. That’s it—nothing more.

The elevator door opens, and when I start to move, my sock slips on the tile. As I lose my balance, my boot flies out of my hand and hits Cooper in the forehead.

He doesn’t flinch as he launches forward and catches me before I hit the ground. His arms tighten around my waist, and I grab onto him. It probably looks as cliché as it sounds.

“I got you,” he says softly. And I let him.

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