Page 32 of Off The Ice
Who knew people cared so much about hockey?
The way security at the arena gave me the third degree alerted me to the fact that people—strangers, actually, tried to get into a closed practice. I thought only celebrities had that kind of following. Frankly, I was getting sick of being mistaken for a crazed fan.
“I’m here to see Liam,” I explained for the tenth time. “I’m his—”Roommate? Friend? Sister’s friend?
Which one would get me closest to lowering the security guy’s scarily high defenses? I mean, really, what did he think I was going to do, even if I was a crazed fan? Any of those hockey players could throw me over their shoulder and toss me out the side door. And I really needed that key.
“You’re his what?” he dared me to continue, causing me to blush all over.
“Cassie!” Liam’s voice broke through the awkwardness like an angel descending down to earth.
“Liam! Thank God,” I said, watching him jog over to me.
He lookedgood.His hair was slick with sweat, and his cheeks flushed with exertion in a way that was undeniably masculine.
“Look, see.” I took the liberty of reaching over to Liam when he got close enough and dragging his arm over as if he were my physical proof. “I’m here for this guy.” I pointed up toward him. “I’m not crazy.”
He smelled minty and somehow fresh despite the fact that he’d clearly been working out pretty intensely.
“Debatable.” Liam snickered, peering down at me.
“Hey!” I said, shoving him away, if only because the smell of him combined with the flushed look on his face left me feeling jittery.
“What?” He laughed. “I’m just saying that you standing here convincing someone that you aren’t crazy looks a little crazy. I heard you from all the way over there.”
“It’s not my fault,” I pouted. “This guy didn’t believe me when I told him why I was here.”
“Mr. Brynn?” The security guard looked toward Liam for confirmation of my story.
“She’s with me.” He nodded, lips twitching in amusement.
The security guy gave Liam a clipped nod, and then I was being led away by Liam.
“Locked out, huh?” he said, bringing us deeper into the arena.
“Yeah,” I admitted, shoulders dropping shamefully. “Sorry.”
“You’re fine.” He chuffed out a laugh before leading me toward the bleachers beside the rink. “It happens.”
“Woah,” I said, my jaw dropping as I watched gigantic men skate around with more grace than I ever thought capable. “They’re so fast!”
“They are.” He grinned in agreement. “I think that’s why the NHL signed them.”
“Ah!” I embarrassed myself by squealing but couldn’t contain the utter amazement I felt at seeing the way they moved with such ease. “Did you see that? He just…He moves like he was born on blades—fast, smooth, and just cocky enough to make it look easy.”
“Haven’t you ever watched hockey?”
“Well, yeah. In passing.” I nodded. “But this is way different up close. I didn’t think people could actually move like this on ice!”
“I’m sure they’ll be honored by the high praise,” he said, bending over to reach into a duffel bag.
Suddenly, my attention was all on him, taking in the way his broad stature filled out his gear. He really was something, and I was finding it less and less difficult to see why everyone thought I was here to stalk him.
Did I actually just think that? About Maggie’s brother?
“What?” Liam turned in concern, fingers working to pull a key loose from its ring.
“What?” I asked back.
