Page 11 of Breaking the Pucking Rules
I shake my head. “I haven’t broken anyone’s heart.”
“I’m sure that’s not true,” he assures me as he demolishes his entree in record time. Proving he was subjected to Dad’s intense preseason training schedule today.
“Trust me, it is. No one has ever cared enough about me to throw anything. We can’t all be special like you,” I mock.
He freezes for a beat, and I mentally kick myself.Strangers, remember?
Thankfully, they spread the team throughout the tables. Whether it’s to allow everyone to mingle or to prevent anyquestionable behavior from them, I don’t know. I’ve heard many, many stories about the players’ nights out. I’ve longed to join them for years, but it’s just another thing that the coach’s daughter isn’t allowed to do.
Kodie is the only Viper at this table. I recognize a couple of others, but I can’t place who they are. Hopefully, that can be said for them, too.
If anyone knows who I am and screws this up for me…
My stomach knots. Not only would Kodie run as fast as possible, but my father would find out, and that can’t happen.
My biggest fear is disappointing the man who has given me everything.
Being here? It’s the biggest risk I’ve ever taken in my life.
But sometimes…sometimes you just have to follow your gut. And right now, mine seems to be leading me right into Kodie Rivers, a place I’ve wanted to be forever.
“Come on, you must have a story,” he urges.
I do have a couple of stories. Mostly of being caught doing things I shouldn’t be by my father. Probably the reason he threatens bodily harm on his team should he discover they’ve come anywhere near me. But I can’t risk confessing to those.
“Since we’re being honest, I’m the one who’s usually left with a battered heart.” He frowns. “I don’t have very good taste in men. Or I didn't before I made my oath.”
“Your oath?” he asks, falling for my trap.
“Yep. I no longer do anything that lasts more than a night.”
“One night?”
I nod.“Exactly. That way, everyone has fun—or at least they should—and no one gets hurt.”
“That’s very?—”
“Unladylike?” I offer, giving him an out if he wants to be sexist about this.
He shakes his head, smiling. “Not at all. I was thinking more…safe.”
“That’s what I’m going for. Hit it and quit it.”
Kodie snorts, barely stopping himself from spraying the entire table with the sip of water he’d just taken.
“I’m not sure I’ve ever met a woman like you before,” he finally confesses once he’s managed to swallow his water and take a breath.
“Well,” I start, shamelessly shifting a little closer so that our thighs press together beneath the table. “Maybe tonight is your lucky night.”
As if I timed it, the server returns to take my plate, giving me an excuse to lean even closer.
“What do you say, stranger? Wanna make tonight an experience you’ll never forget?”
My heart slams against my ribs as the question rolls off my tongue.
Never before have I been so forward. But this might be my one and only chance, so I figure I have nothing to lose.
If he says no, then I can take my lonely ass up to my hotel room and sulk with room service and a cheesy rom-com.
