Page 13 of Goalie's Obsession

“Blake!” Sophia grins as her fiancé beelines for her, bag slung over one arm, grin crooked, and hair a total disaster.

I try to look away as he kisses her like they’re the only people in the room, not surrounded by glittering signage and horrified caterers trying to fight enormous hockey players from the arrangement of delicious hors d'oeuvres.

I snort at Natalie's eyebrow wiggle, both of us trying to look away as Sophia melts into Blake’s arms.

I roll my eyes. “Do we really have to do this in front of the branding?”

“Relax, Lucy,” Blake calls out, his big arms still wrapped around Sophia. “Just giving the fans what they want.”

“Your tongue on her tonsils?”

He grins. “Exactly.”

Natalie snickers and nudges me. “I’m just saying… Hunter may be hotter in a suit, but Blake’s got strong pickup truck and ruin-you-in-the-backseat energy… don't you think?”

I groan and slap a hand over my eyes.

From the other side of the room, I hear Connor laughing. He’s now leaning against the catering table like he didn’t just body-check my emotional stability on the way in.

I don’t look at him.

Irefuseto look at him.

Because if I do, I’ll notice the way that compression shirt is clinging to his chest, or how his practice joggers sit dangerously low on his hips. Or the stupid towel that’s somehow made him look both sweaty and good enough to fool around with in a stairwell somewhere close.

Nope. Not today.

I need to make sure this charity auction goes off without a hitch.

I turn away from Connor and grab the stack of nameplates for the auction display, carefully sliding them into their acrylic holders. One by one. Alphabetical order. Focused. Productive. Definitelynotpicturing that towel being used in ways that violate workplace health and safety policies.

I adjust Blake’s placard, then Connor’s—maybe just a little more crooked than the others—and step back to double-check the spacing.

Ryder flops dramatically into one of the stools and flexes, because of course he does. “So, where’s the auction signup? I’m thinking I open with twenty grand.”

Connor raises a brow. “For yourself?”

Ryder shrugs. “I’m the youngest. Fresh face. Hot body. I’ve gotrookie appeal.”

“You have the maturity of a goat,” Connor says dryly.

Blake’s already laughing. “Still might get the highest bid, though. Some fan out there probably has a whole Pinterest board dedicated to his chiseled features.”

Ryder nods solemnly. “It’s calledRyder or Die. She DMs me inspirational quotes daily.”

I nearly choke on my water. Natalie slaps a hand over her mouth to muffle a laugh and Sophia leans into Blake and whispers, “Tell me that’s not real.”

Ryder just winks.

I duck my head and busy myself with the name cards again, adjusting the placements even though they’re already perfectly aligned.

I don’t say a word. Because I amnotengaging today.

Then, Connor strolls closer, his voice far too dangerous and amused behind me.

“Come on, Luce,” he says. “Don't pretend like you're ignoring us."

I sigh dramatically and start rearranging the name cards for the third time, like shuffling cardboard rectangles will protect me from his bullshit.

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