Page 13 of Hot for the Hockey Player
“No shit.”
“Yeah, but anyway … I’m not even sure what Icoulddo if there was anything to do on the island, since I’m supposed to be resting and shit.”
“Jagger—one of my cousins—and Raina, one of Gabrielle’s cousins, are part of a book club.You could join that?”
I snorted.
A mischievous twinkle sparked to life in his eyes, and he snapped his finger like he’d just solved an impossible math equation.“I’ve got it.There’s a Sewing Circle that meets here every day.Sometimes they don’t even sew; they crochet, knit, embroider.In the summer they move to the flower garden at Let it Rise, the bakery.But during the shittier months, they have a standing reservation at that very table over there.”He pointed to a big booth in the corner that was currently occupied by two men in their late sixties or so.“They’ve got the thing all day if they want.It’s all ladies that I know of, but I’m sure they’d be welcome to a strapping young athlete.”
I snorted again.
“It would mean you could see me all the time.”He laced his fingers together, then spread his arms wide and tucked his hands under his chin before tilting his head and batting his lashes.
I fixed him with an amused look, one eyebrow raised and everything.
“Still no?”He smiled wide.“Honestly, besides the summer months that can be filled with hiking, the beach, kayaking, and boating, I’m not sure what to do.I’m as bored as you’re about to be.If it wasn’t for this job and my new girlfriend …” He made a face.“Ah, who am I kidding?I’d still be happy to be here.I’d probably just take up whittling or something.”
Whittling … hmm.That didn’t actually sound like the worst hobby in the world.
The front door swung open and two more people entered the pub.
Logan gave them a friendly wave and smile.“Anywhere you like, folks.Last call for the kitchen is in about fifteen minutes though.”
The couple, who were probably in their mid-fifties, headed to one of the far tables near the windows.I’m sure on a sunny day, the view of the water was beautiful.For now, with a few more weeks of winter and before we turned the clocks ahead for daylight savings time, it was an endless void of nothingness.
“Well, if you want to … I dunno, play video games or stare at the edge of the water like Moana, give me a call.I work a lot, but not all the time.And we’re going to be neighbors, so if you don’t want to give me your number, we can always hook up one of those tin can phone systems from your window to mine.”
I rolled my eyes.“Give me your number, dork.”
Chuckling, Logan rattled off his phone number and I added it to my contacts, then finished my beer and shot him a text so he’d have my number too.
He placed his hand on his chest when his phone buzzed in his pocket.“I swear, with the beer gods as my witnesses, that I will not share this number with TMZ or any of those other terrible gossip rags.”
I liked Logan.“Appreciate it.”
“Hey, man, you’re not the only celebrity we have on the island.You know Brooke Barker, the bombshell actor?”
I nodded.Who didn’t know who Brooke Barker was?Hermits in the woods living in their one-bedroom cabins made of logs and moss, maybe?
He hooked his thumb over his shoulder.“I live with her.She’s with my cousin, Clint, the brewmaster.And I haven’t shared her number with a soul.”
“Ah, so you can definitely be trusted,” I said sarcastically.
“Damn straight.”He took my empty beer glass from in front of me.“Another?”
“Surprise me this time.”
“You got it!”
I honestly could not remember the last time I closed down a bar, pub, or even a restaurant.
I’d been so focused on my hockey career since I was a child, and had it hammered into my brain by my dad and older brothers that those who kept their bodies and reputations clean did better and made more money.So I always went home way before the rest of my teammates from after-parties.I never drank too much, and I definitely didn’t drink so much that I couldn’t remember what happened the night before.
Unlike some of my teammates who had blackouts and woke up with girls they had no memory of meeting, I was up at the crack of dawn and in the gym or on the ice.I did it all while remembering exactly what happened the night before and who I went to bed with—which was usually just myself.
Tonight was a bit different though.
I didn’t have practice in the morning, and I wasn’t even allowed to go to the gym.So I sampled all the beer on tap at the pub, and let Renée mix me one of her “concoctions” which was mostly just tequila with melon liqueur and lime juice.
