Page 107 of The Puck Stops Here

‘Good luck,’ she mouthed.

His gaze swept over her, not that she could see his eyes clearly through his visor, but she could sense their approval as he took in her Titans jersey. It had been a last-minute purchase on her way in, not so much an attempt at blending in with the masses butbeingone of the masses. A few weeks living and breathing the hockey world and she was as caught up in the team and the game as the next fan.

Didn’t think to catch Aiden’s eye though, did you?

Oh God, she really was useless! She hunted him out now, caught the back of his 88 jersey…

‘Both teams are hungry for this win,’ the announcer was saying. ‘The Titans want to maintain their lead, the Knights want to steal it, so buckle up, fans!’

Aiden turned, throwing her a grin as he settled into position.Bullseye!

She gave him a double thumbs up and then gripped her fists beneath her chin as the ref prepared to drop the puck…

* * *

Astrid was going to need a fresh manicure. Hockey was savage. It was fast. And it was giving her acid reflux. How could theystandit? The players, the fans, the poor refs caught in the middle…

Her gaze zipped up and down the ice with the puck, barely blinking as the closing minutes were upon them. The crowd around her buzzed as the Titans headed for a shutout. Their first against the Knights in a decade and perfect fodder for her article.

The twins were incredible. Seeing in the flesh what she’d only ever seen on screen and read about – the connection, the ability to know where the other was, where they were going to be, what they needed. It was evident in every play.

And Blake had escaped the penalty box – something the fans near her were all passing comment on. Questioning it. Judging it.

She didn’t care. She was just glad he was in one piece. The way they hit the boards… she was gonna crack a tooth! But she hadn’t dwelled on her PMDD. Not once. Who knew hockey could be another coping mechanism!

The ref called time, and she roared with the rest, the Titans’ celebratory lap rousing the crowd further as the Knights left the rink and she stood there mesmerised. She’d never been big on spectator sport, never had the time or the inclination, but she was hooked now.

‘Come on, Foxy, it’s time to celebrate!’ Harry hollered from the benches. ‘Get yourself down to the locker rooms, stat.’

The woman beside her gave her a wide-eyed grin. ‘He talking to you?’

‘Yeah, he’s talking to me.’

‘Wow!’

‘Right.’ Lips pursed over a giggle, she fought her way through the crowds to the private tunnel, flashing her pass as she went and feeling every bit the VIP. The noise emanating from their locker room reached her long before she reached it. And then she was being tugged into the madness by one rookie as another thrust a beer into her hand.

‘Is it always this crazy?’ she laughed out. There were half naked bodies everywhere, bottles of booze being sprayed, noise, so much noise.

‘Depends on the win!’ Harry said. ‘Against the Knights, always!’

And then Blake appeared in the throng, his grin making her own quiver… along with her nether regions.

She licked her lips as he approached, her feet rooted to the spot.

‘Hey, you enjoy the game?’

‘You bet she did, Fury,’ Harry said, ‘just look at her.’

‘Why? How do I look?’

He came up close, his body towering over her, his protective gear making him feel twice the size. ‘You look good. Especially in this…’

He tugged the sleeve of her jersey.

‘Do you think it’s my colour?’

‘Everything’s your colour, Twinkle Toes.’

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