Page 136 of Breaking the Pucking Rules
“So were you,” I tell her with a smile. “I could hear you screaming from the ice.”
Her smile lights up her entire face, and the sight makes my chest contract.
“Hey, little Riv,” Linc says, stepping up behind us and holding his fist out for her to bump.
She beams at him and touches her knuckles against his as if she’s one of the team.
“I hope that’s a Storm jersey you’re wearing,” Linc teases.
Sutton scoffs before placing her hands on her hips. “There will only ever be one name and number on my jersey,” she states fiercely.
Linc shoots me an amused glance before he reaches out and ruffles her head.
“I look forward to the day another player enters her life,” he teases.
“Never going to happen.” The glare she gives Linc makes me laugh.
“We’ll see.”
He ducks off as Mom approaches. “Great game,” she says.
“Thanks,” I mutter as I attempt to discreetly glance over her shoulder, searching for someone else.
“Are you sure you don’t want to go out with the guys tonight?” she asks, dragging my attention back.
“Nope, not tonight. I want to put my girl to bed,” I say, squeezing Sutton’s hand a little.
I cleared it with Coach earlier that I wasn’t hanging around after the game. The only place I want to be tonight is at home.
Next week, we’re heading out for our first road games, and I’m going to miss the hell out of her. I’ll be able to spend time bonding with the guys then. Sutton is my priority right now.
There’s movement behind Mom, and as the crowd parts, I get my first look at Casey.
She’s got her back to me, allowing me to see my name and number on her jersey.
The sight of it hits me right in the balls.
Mine.
I grit my teeth at the memory of having her body pinned against mine the other day, even if it was only briefly.
The need to breathe her in, to slide my hands down her body burns through me.
As if she senses my attention, she slowly turns around and her eyes lock on mine.
It’s like a shot to the chest.
My breath catches and my temperature spikes.
We’re surrounded by people, many of whom could be watching this exchange, but with her eyes on me, it’s like we’re the only two in the room.
“Daddy?” Sutton says, tugging on my hand and successfully ripping my attention from Casey.
I turn back to her and listen as she tells me about a particular play that she was impressed by tonight.
I allow her to sweep me up into her game analysis as I lead her and Mom from the room before I do something stupid like change my mind.
My skin is still tingling, and my blood is surging with desire as I climb into bed a couple of hours later.
