Page 69 of Breaking the Pucking Rules
“There are a million reasons why I can’t.”
She steps beside me as we make our way to the friends and family suite. “But are they really good enough? The way he looked at you, Case. That was…” She fans herself with her hand. “So fucking hot.”
“All of them are good enough,” I force out, hating that my words might be true.
Would I like the chance of a repeat and then to maybe see if things could go anywhere? Sure. I’d be an idiot not to.
But we can’t.
That night has to be enough.
He has other things that need his attention, and I…I have a life that I love that doesn’t involve getting hot and heavy with one of the men who’ve been warned off me.
But doesn’t that only make it more tempting to break the rules?
We step inside, excited chatter about the win filling the room.
“We need drinks,” Parker says immediately, dragging me to the bar.
“Okay,” I laugh, happy to follow her lead.
She orders while I’m looking around the room.
I recognize almost everyone, and more than a few wave and smile at me in greeting.
I’m about to spin around when a slightly older woman catches my eye. But it’s not her who really captures my attention; it’s the little girl she’s leaning down to talk to.
Sutton Rivers.
I swear to God, she is the cutest kid I’ve ever seen.
She isn’t just wearing her father’s jersey but the whole uniform, and she’s clutching a bear stuffy to her chest that’s in a matching outfit.
Her eyes sparkle with excitement. Looking at her, you’d have no idea that it’s more than likely past her bedtime.
“She’s cute, huh?” Parker muses, having seen who has captured my attention. “Looks like us as kids.”
She does. “Nah, she’s cuter than you ever were.”
Parker gasps, and when I turn toward her, I find she’s got her hand over her heart.
“Brutal, Case. Brutal.”
Laughing, I turn to get our drinks.
“Uh…shots?” I ask, staring at the four small glasses in horror.
“Yep,” she agrees, lifting her first one. “Tonight, we’re letting goand having fun.”
“Sounds dangerous,” I tease, hesitantly eyeing the two shots before me.
“We haven’t had a good night out in forever. Come on.”
She gives me her best puppy eyes, not that I really need convincing. She’s right. We are long overdue a night out.
Without saying a word, I reach for the first shot.
“One for fun,” I say, holding it up.
