Page 86 of Sweet Thing

Sensible was not the word to describe this.

Adeline licked her lips, tasting me, savoring the sensual promise in it. “My dad can’t know. No one can know. This season is important for him. For you all.”

“I know.” Anything that interfered with the team’s dynamic—and Theo finding out I was fucking his daughter was right up there—would tank our chances. My captain and I had built a partnership on the ice, and if I had any sense, I would kill this thing with Adeline before it could mess with that.

“Here, let me take her,” she said. “You need to get ready for your meeting with Ryder.”

I watched as she headed into the living room to put Mabel down in the play-prison. Following, I leaned against the door, my entire body itching to claim her. Instead I offered one more warning, one more grasp at common sense.

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

“I’m a big girl, Lars. Let me worry about my feelings.”

The assumption being that mine were of little concern.

ChapterTwenty-Three

Chicago Rebels defenseman Lars Nyquist has been assessed a three-game suspension following reports of a physical altercation with teammate Rowan MacFarlane at Viper, a nightclub in downtown Chicago. Inside sources tell us that MacFarlane was on a date with Adeline Kershaw, daughter of Rebels captain Theo Kershaw and nanny to Nyquist’s baby daughter, when Nyquist arrived to take her home. Witnesses say Nyquist had his daughter with him at the time, which has prompted observers to wonder if Child Protective Services should be involved. (And where is the child’s mother?)

- Hot Goss

Lars

A couple of hours later,I walked into a scene straight out of a Western. In the Rebels saloon—sorry, gym—O’Malley and Hatch were restraining Theo, who was all up in MacFarlane’s face. I immediately placed myself between them.

“Gentlemen, control yourselves.”

“Like you did last night, Narc-quist?” MacFarlane poked a finger in my chest. The darkening bruise on his jaw gave me a shit-ton of satisfaction. “Heard from the league about your suspension yet?”

“Pretty sad about the lengths you’ll go to get more ice time. Draw my fire so you can get me out of the way?” I tutted. “Like making enemies on your own team, do ya?”

“You might want to ask that of yourself.” MacFarlane had that sly, know-it-all look I hated. “You’re out at all hours rescuing the nanny. Do these guys here know you’ve got the hots for Adeline?”

This fucker. “I showed you my fist last night because you disrespected someone I care about. Talking smack about me isn’t going to improve your shot at the D-line.”

I turned my back on him and placed a hand on Theo’s chest. Fury rolled off him, and it was kind of scary. The guy was so good-natured, rarely giving in to dark thoughts, not even on the ice.

This was my fault. I fucked around and now I was finding out.

Worse, this was going to be bad for the team. With my suspension, Theo would be forced to pair up with a guy he didn’t like. MacFarlane was a good player, but that kind of dynamic never boded well.

“Let’s cool off a bit. How about a smoothie, cap?”

Hatch squeezed his dad’s shoulder. “Yeah, go to the lounge and take a breath.”

Theo inhaled, and with one last glare at MacFarlane, exited and headed to the lounge. I followed.

He pulled at the fridge door and started laying out ingredients. “What did Ryder say?”

“That I’m an idiot for letting MacFarlane get to me.”

“You were defending Adeline. I appreciate that, really, I do.”

Shame washed over me. I’d broken his trust. He hadn’t even warned me off her because it would never have occurred to him to do so. It never would have occurred to him toneedto do so.

“She said it’s happened before.”

“What? MacFarlane?”

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