Page 50 of Over the Moon

Why did that bother me?

He was one of the biggest names out there right now in professional hockey.

“I’m a physical therapist,” I said, as I glanced back out at the ice at him.

“Oh, that’s cool,” she said. “I heard you were in town working with him. I’m Sasha, and this is Laney.”

“Hey, I’m Eloise. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you, too,” Laney said. “So you get to work with all the hockey players? That’s a damn good job.”

I chuckled. “Yeah, my dad is a coach, so I’ve been around the sport my whole life.”

“You’re so lucky. My dad is a surgeon, which sounds cool and all, but I think I’d prefer a hockey arena to a hospital,” Sasha said with a laugh, and I didn’t miss the way both of them kept returning their gaze to the ice.

“Are you guys Lions fans?” I asked, but I already knew the answer. They were here for him.

“We’re big Clark Chadwick fans,” Laney said with a laugh. “I’ve crushed on him since I was a senior in high school. He was a few grades ahead of me, and he’s just a super nice guy, too. Well, I suppose you probably already know that.”

Of course, I did. Clark was the whole package.

A ridiculously sexy hockey player and a really good man.

So why was I so irritated by the comment?

She liked him. He was single. They’d look great together.

“Yes. He’s a great guy,” I said, clearing my throat as I noticed him moving faster than normal down the ice. “I’m so sorry, can you excuse me for a minute?”

“Oh, of course. Nice to meet you,” Sasha called out as I made my way down to the glass surrounding the ice.

“Hey, slow down out there!” I shouted, as he once again raced from one end to the other in an all-out sprint.

“I’m just skating, Eloise,” he said, his voice light and laced with humor.

It caught me off guard because I couldn’t remember him ever using my actual name.

I stormed around the side toward the entrance and made my way onto the ice just as he started making his way down to the other side.

Fast.

Faster than necessary.

This was just a time to skate around while he had the ice to himself. This was not the time to risk an injury.

It was ludicrous.

“Chadwick!” I shouted, my feet sliding from side to side as I tried to get closer. My tennis shoes were no match for the slick surface, and I looked up to see him skating toward me. His eyes were wide when he realized I was out there.

He skidded to a stop abruptly, shooting ice all over me.

I gaped at him, trying to wipe the shards of ice from my eyes, and he used his big hands and tucked my hair behind my ears.

“Are you all right?” he asked, before grabbing both of my shoulders to steady me. “I could have hurt you.”

“You could have hurt yourself,” I said, brushing the ice from my tank top before blowing out a breath. “I told you to slow down.”

“You also told me I could open things up on the ice today.” He moved back as if he wanted space from me.

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