Page 26 of Dirty Groom (Slayers Hockey 7)

Every single one of these guys is watching her like they’re about to drop their gloves and start pulling jerseys for her. I’m already reaching for the back of Kellog’s shirt when she sees me.

“Liam, you came!” She breaks away from Nichols’s side, something I’d swear is relief in her eyes as she shimmies past the idiots too distracted to move for her.

“Noel said you weren’t coming. God, I’m glad you changed your mind,” she sings, moving into my side as my arm comes around her, that beast in my chest chilling the fuck out.

Damn, this girl fits.

“I wasn’t, but when he said you’d be here, I figured since we both hate parties, maybe we could hate this one together.”

“Yes!”

I love the way that smile opens up for me. “Pretty sure my teammates are going to be gunning for me when we hit the ice tomorrow, though.” Looking over her head, I wink at the guys still staring after her like they had any chance with a woman like her.

Static flips me off, and I grin. “You’re gorgeous, and that dress is killer.”

Her eyes drop. “Don’t suppose you have a suit jacket around here somewhere, though?”

I check my charcoal slacks and black dress shirt.

“Did I need one?”

“No, no you’re fine. You look great,” she assures, with a pretty shake of her head. It sends a dark curl into the valley between her breasts, and I force myself not to stare. “This dress is maybe just a littletookiller for me.”

At my raised brow, she goes on. “Misty decided it’s time I get on with my dating life and hijacked me after work, brought me downtown to a spectacular hotel suite to get ready for the party, and then stole my clothes while I showered.Allmy clothes, Liam. And then she left me with this. I know it’s beautiful, but I’m not a ‘two strings of spaghetti and a couple scarves’ type of girl.”

“Damn. She means business.”

“And here she comes,” she says with a look that’s part accusation, part adoration. “Misty.”

“Oh no, you don’t,” her sister scolds, wagging a finger my way. “Stormy already said you guys were just friends, so, sorry, Diesel, but… cockblocker,be gone.”

Stormy coughs, and I rub a hand over the bare expanse of her back.

Holy shit, there’s nothing there.

“Cockblocker?” I turn my attention back to Misty, choosing to ignore the reference to Stormy and I being just friends. Because that’s not exactly where my head is right now even though it should be.

“Don’t think I didn’t hear about what happened back at the Five Hole, mister. Everyone thought you two were together.And you let them.”

Yeah. Sorry, not sorry.

Misty’s posture relaxes, and she takes Stormy’s hand in hers and leans in.

“I want you to have a little fun, is all. And by fun, I mean I want some guy’s tongue tonsil-deep in your mouth at midnight. Preferably with the accompanying sketchy photo showing up on social so Ray can see.”

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I try not to let the image take root. But it’s too late.

Only it’s not going to be one of my teammates or some random from this party kissing her at midnight.

It’s going to be me.

* * *

Stormy

Noel comesover with a couple of friends, his arms swallowing Misty in a big hug like it’s been weeks since they touched instead of minutes.

Liam excuses himself to get a drink at the bar, leaving me to shiver at my sister’s side in this stupid dress. Of course, Misty tells him to take his time.

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