Page 14 of The Puck Stops Here

‘Astrid?’ He pushed out of his chair to welcome her properly. The name suited her. Especially her eyes – the colour of rich honey, cosmic and divine – as they gave him the quick once-over before dashing back to Stella, slashes of pink appearing in her creamy cheeks.

‘Thank you for coming in, Astrid,’ the GM said, his voice much more obliging now and Blake couldn’t blame the guy. He was pleased, too. She was a welcome distraction, her presence exhilarating for all the right reasons.

‘Thank you for having me,’ she said, her eyes darting to Blake once more, her words taking on a whole new meaning as he grinned.

‘You must be Aiden, or…’

She wet her bottom lip, the quickest flick of her tongue as he stepped forward. Was she nervous? Or was it mutual appreciation?

‘I can be whoever you want?—’

‘No,’ came his brother’s self-assured drawl. ‘I’m Aiden.’

‘Dammit, bro!’ He looked over her head to take in his twin’s untimely arrival. ‘Give a guy a chance.’

Because if she liked him, she’d sure as shit like A.Everyoneliked A.

She gave a laugh, the colour deepening in her cheeks as she turned from him to his brother, tucking her notebook to her chest so that she could offer out her hand. And why the hell should he get the handshake first?

‘It’s a pleasure to meet you.’

She did the rounds, from Aiden to Coach, to the GM, Stella and then… as her hand slipped inside Blake’s, her notebook started to drop in the other and she dipped as he did, his hand saving it from hitting the deck.

‘Thank you,’ she murmured, straightening back up, her hand still in his, warm and welcoming, her eyes too, and something inside him took off. Was that…butterflies?

He didn’t do butterflies unless he was pre-game and even then, they were promptly quashed before they cost him the ice. But these were hot, and frenzied, and growing by the second.

‘It’s good to meet you, Blake.’

‘You too.’

God, was that his voice? Gruff. Weak.Fuck, get a grip!

He could sense Aiden’s cocked brow, his observant brother not missing a beat, and he promptly released her hand and tucked his own into his pocket as it thrummed to a tune he didn’t recognise. The tune of her touch.

God, he needed a drink.The tune of hertouch,what kind of nonsense was that?

The day had taken its toll if a simple handshake from a woman had him losing his head. So much for wanting to get better acquainted. He needed his own space, stat.

‘I’ll leave you to whatever this is,’ he said, making for the door.

‘Not so fast, Blake,’ the GM said, interlacing his fingers on the desk and stopping him in his tracks.

‘What now?’

He flicked her a look as she tensed.Don’t worry, I’ll come back for you, he wanted to say. She was probably a marketing rep if she was here to talk with Aiden. And he was more than happy to leave them to get the job done and then, when he had his head on straight, he could seek her out for a reintroduction. Minus an audience.

‘Astrid is here to see you. Youandyour brother.’

‘She’swhat?’

‘Why don’t we all take a seat and Stella can explain?’ Coach said, gesturing to the vacant chairs opposite. Three. Why hadn’t he noticed there was an extra chair today?

And why was he seemingly the only one surprised at her presence?

‘Someone wanna tell me what’s going on?’

He slipped her the side eye as he took his seat once again, positioning her between him and his brother and feeling every nerve prickle to life, awareness of her proximity and a rising sense of unease a confusing cocktail in his bloodstream.

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