Page 20 of One Goal in Mind

“They’ll probably keep calling. It could be Berkeley or one of the coaches.”

“Fine,” I groan and step away from her to answer it. Unfortunately, she’s right and it’s her brother calling. “Hey, Coach.”

“Fucking hell, Campbell! We’ve been trying to reach you for hours. Smith was hospitalized and the league is asking for a suspension. We’re trying to keep it to ten games, but Québec is asking to pull you for the rest of the season.”

“I hit him with my twig for fuck’s sake. He’ll be fine.”

“It was your skate. The blade nicked him and he lost a lot of blood.”

“No, I missed,” I insist, raking my hand through my hair, recalling how my gear got in the way.

“You did, but when you were pulled away from him, you sliced into his neck. We’ve been reviewing the footage, and it was an accident, but the league is taking it seriously.”

“What about what he did with Scarlett?”

She whisper-shouts, “I’m okay.” I press my finger to her lips, not wanting her brother to suspect she’s here. While I don’t want to hide from him, now isn’t the time to divulge that I'm in love with his sister.

“His team will take care of it; there was video of that as well. My concern lies with you and your career. We’ll sort this out, but for now, try to stay home and avoid all press. We don’t want to add fuel to the fire.”

“Understood. Thanks, Coach.”

“Get some rest, we’ll talk in the morning.”

We hang up and I rest my forehead on Scarlett’s. “He’s hospitalized.”

“I heard,” she sighs. “It was an accident, but you shouldn’t have attacked him in the first place.”

“He touched you,” I seethe, a rumble vibrating my chest.

“I’m a big girl, bestie,” she teases, pulling back and bracing her hands on my shoulders. “I can handle myself. I’ve worked in a male-dominated field all of my life. An ass grab or smack comes with the territory.”

“The fuck it does! No one should ever touch you without your consent.”

“You’re right.” Scarlett closes the distance and kisses me. It’s soft and gentle, not the playful licks and nips I’m used to with her. She speaks against my lips, “I only want you to touch me.”

CHAPTER 9

SCARLETT

Agrowl erupts from Russ’ chest as he grips my ass, bringing me impossibly closer. He wraps my legs around his waist and lifts me off the counter as if I weigh nothing. Keeping my lips on his, I’m unsure where he’s going, but I can only assume it’s his bedroom.

He sets me down in front of his ensuite, and I whimper the moment he breaks our kiss to ask, “Can I shower with you?”

“Is this really the best idea?”

His lips tilt up in a smirk, little crinkles appearing next to his eyes. “Probably not, but we both know if you take a shower alone, you’ll overthink this.”

Excitement swirls in my core; I’ve never seen him naked. He’s sent me shirtless photos before, even ones where he’s only in boxer briefs. Never completely naked. While I work out four days a week, my body is significantly softer than his. It’s intimidating.

“Okay,” I concede.

“I was serious when I said no one should touch you without your consent, Red. If you’re worried about this”—he gestures between us—“I won’t touch you.”

“It isn’t that I don’t want you to.” I chew on my lip and inhale a deep breath. “I’m scared of losing you.”

Russ tucks my hair behind my ear and keeps his fingers cupped behind my neck. “You’ll never lose me.”

“You don’t know that. We both have grueling travel schedules.”

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