Page 272 of Breaking the Pucking Rules
He releases my hip with one hand before he grips my ponytail, directing my line of sight.
“See that redhead?” he murmurs.
I scan the sea of women, all trying to steal any of the players’ attention.
“Yeah,” I confirm when I find her.
“I needed to get away from her.”
“Why? She looks more than willing,” I point out as she gropes one of his teammates, not giving a single fuck about who might be watching.
“Stage five,” he says simply.
“Ah.”
“I’m all for playing with bunnies, but I draw the line at the craziest ones. No one needs a stalker.”
I shake my head. I know this kind of shit happens. It’s a real threat for all professional athletes. But hearing some of the lengths that women go through to try and bed a player blows my mind.
“Ah, so you’re using me,” I tease, wondering just how far my father’s warning reaches within the league.
For so long, I kept away from this scene as much as possible, so I wasn’t aware that anyone even knew I existed outside of the Vipers’ arena.
“I wouldn’t put it like that.”
Knowing I’m safe with him, I keep moving, my eyes returning to the two people in front of me.
For a girl who says she doesn’t want a hockey player, she’s doing a very good job of making it look otherwise.
“Everett is going to lose his shit when he sees them,” I muse. If they know who I am, there’s little doubt they also know who Parker is.
Andrey laughs again.
“Asshole deserves it.”
Spinning around, I put Parker behind me and focus on Andrey. His eyes are dark, his cheekbones strong and perfect, just like his jawline. There really is no denying the appeal.
“I would say good game tonight, but?—”
He chuckles. “It was a close game. Your guys did good.”
My chest puffs out with pride. “Yeah, they did.”
The music continues, but we mostly block it out as we talk hockey right in the middle of the dance floor.
Everything is going well until a shadow falls over me a beat before a familiar angry voice growls, “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
A hand wraps around my upper arm, and I’m dragged away from Andrey at the same time as Parker is pulled away from her dance partner.
I stare up at Linc, my head spinning from the number of drinks I’ve had tonight. I don’t bother saying anything, because if I know my best friend at all, she’s about to rip him a new one.
And to prove me right, Parker steps into Linc’s space and shouts, “What the hell are you doing?”
“Stopping Rett from knocking Westie the fuck out,” Linc seethes, looming over her with his eyes boring into hers.
“Rett’s reaction to me dancing with a guy is not my issue.”
Linc’s jaw tics, his lips twitching like he wants to say something but is biting it back.
