Page 65 of In My Hockey Era
“Okay, new bet,” I say, straightening.“How long before Chase and Mia get kicked out of this bar for causing a scene?”
Mia gasps.“How dare you.”
Chase takes a slow sip of his beer.“Five minutes.”
Mia winks at him.“Three.”
And just like that, the entire table is laughing again, the weight of whatever that look was from Bennett slipping away.For now.
When our server reappears, we order another round of drinks.Mia and Chase are still going at it—verbal sparring that somehow veers into a passionate debate over the best barbecue in Texas.I have no idea how we got here, but I do know that neither of them is backing down.
Bennett leans in, his breath warm against my ear.“Fifty bucks says they end up making out in the parking lot.”
I snort, sipping the last of my drink.“They haven’t even exchanged numbers yet.”
Bennett just tilts his head toward the table, where Mia is sliding her phone across the surface toward Chase, a smirk playing on her lips.Chase sighs like it pains him but picks it up and starts typing.
I groan.“Great.I’ve created a monster.”
Bennett chuckles, shifting even closer.“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”His fingers trace lazy patterns along my thigh, his rough digits finding the ripped hole in my jeans and sliding along bare skin.I barely suppress a shiver.
“Depends on how this goes,” I murmur, my heart beating a little too fast at the way his lips graze my skin.“If they end up dating, I’ll never hear the end of it.”
“If they end up dating, that means we’ll get to double date.”His voice is teasing, but something about it makes my stomach flip.
“We’re not dating,” I remind him.
He hums, his nose brushing the spot just below my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.“Right.Of course not.”His lips graze my jaw, soft and insistent, and suddenly, it’s very, very hard to focus on anything but the heat spreading through my veins.
This man is dangerous.
His hand slides higher, his mouth pressing an open-mouthed kiss to my neck, and I let my head tip slightly to the side before catching myself.“Bennett,” I warn.
“Lucy,” he mimics, voice low and filled with something undeniably wicked.
I bite my lip, trying to ignore the way my body is melting into his touch.“I have an early shift.”
“I’ll make it worth your while,” he murmurs, nuzzling at my neck.
Heat coils low in my stomach, and for one reckless second, I consider it.But I know if I go home with him, I won’t get a single second of sleep—and tomorrow’s shift will be absolute hell.Plus I have Max to think about.
With every ounce of willpower I have, I place a hand on his chest and push him back, just slightly.“I can’t.”
His eyes darken, fingers flexing against my thigh like he’s weighing his next move.Then, with a slow exhale, he leans back, expression somewhere between amused and frustrated.“Killing me, Quinn.”
I grin, and pat his rough cheek.“You’ll survive.”
He shakes his head, standing and pulling out his wallet.“That’s debatable.”He tosses a couple of bills onto the table before catching my hand and tugging me to my feet.“Come on, time to call it a night before I lose the last shred of self-control I have left.”
Chase and Mia are still bickering—though at this point, it’s definitely more playful than combative—but they both glance up when we stand.Mia arches a knowing brow, and I give her a subtle shake of my head before turning to Bennett.
He lifts my hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to my knuckles before murmuring, “Text me when you get home.”
I nod, ignoring the way my heart stumbles over itself.
We say our goodbyes, Chase and Mia still smirking as we all step outside.Bennett lingers, like he’s considering giving it one last shot, but I beat him to it, pressing onto my toes and brushing a kiss over his lips.
“Goodnight, Wilder.”
