Page 23 of Pucking My Grumpy Accidental Husband
CHAPTER 7
TESSA
The pounding on Dax's door feels like a countdown to my professional execution. I’m flushed, breathless, and wildly turned on while my secret husband's best friend is literally three feet away demanding hockey equipment.
"Shit, shit, shit," I whisper, leaping off the bed like it’s on fire.
"Stay calm," Dax mouths. "I'll handle Jamie."
"How exactly are you going to handle this?" Straightening my blouse and trying to smooth down my hair.
"Dax!" Jamie's voice comes again, louder this time. "You up?"
"Give me thirty seconds," Dax whispers, pressing a quick kiss to my lips that makes me want to drag him back regardless of the consequences. "I need to get to my room to answer the door."
I glance over at the connecting door between our rooms, which is standing slightly ajar like a portal to my own stupidity. "The maintenance guy said it doesn't lock properly."
"Lucky us," Dax grins, and even in the middle of our panic, that smile makes my stomach do gymnastics.
"Dax!" Jamie's voice comes through the wall, followed by knocking. "I know it's late, but I saw your light was still on and I’m freaking out!"
Dax slips through the connecting door into his room, and I can hear him moving around, probably messing up his hair and trying to look like he was actually sleeping.
"Coming!" Dax calls out, and I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing at the unintentional innuendo.
I hear Dax open his door. "Hey, Torres. What's up? It's pretty late."
"I know, sorry man. I saw your light under the door and figured you were up. I need to borrow a backup stick—mine snapped during warmups and my backup is acting weird."
He pauses. "Why are you breathing so hard?"
My blood freezes.
"I was doing push-ups," Dax lies smoothly. "Couldn't sleep after the game."
"At this hour? You're weird, man. Anyway, can I come in? I brought leftover pizza from dinner, and my sister Sofia just texted me the most insane dating story. This guy showed up in a Batman costume—not for Halloween, just because it was Tuesday."
My heart is pounding so hard I'm surprised it's not audible through the hotel walls, but I try to laugh.
"Yeah, and about that stick," Jamie continues, and I can hear him moving around Dax's room. "Mine's completely fucked, and you know how psycho I get about using unfamiliar equipment."
"Yeah, no problem," Dax says. "It's in my gear bag."
"Thanks, man. You're a lifesaver." There's a pause, then Jamie's voice gets suspicious. "Are you sure you're okay? You seem... I don't know. Different."
Fuck. Different how?
"Different how?" Dax echoes my thoughts.
"Relaxed. Like, genuinely relaxed. When's the last time you looked this chill after a game?"
Oh God. I've given him post-hookup glow. I've made my secret husband visibly satisfied, and his best friend is going to figure us out.
"Maybe the mental performance coaching is working," Dax says, and I can hear the smile in his voice.
"Dr. Bennett's that good, huh?"
"She's... very effective," Dax replies, and I have to press my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing.
