Page 12 of Press Your Luck

But it wasn't just about us. It was about scrutinizing other teams, analyzing every pattern they had ever shown and every weakness they had displayed. Every detail mattered, from their warm-up routines to their locker room banter. I needed to know everything if we were going to come out on top in the league. I would show everyone—Pierce, Todd, the Silver Nugget fans, and the world—that a woman could be just as successful in this industry as any man. And I wouldn't let anyone stand in my way.

7

Pierce

Iwatched Naomi walk away, feeling frustrated and turned on at the same time. I couldn't stop the dirty thoughts and fantasies that filled my brain as my gaze followed her retreating figure. My dick was hard as steel, and once again, I was the lusty old man wanting to get his hands on the young, strong, nubile woman. Jesus, the woman was twisting me up inside.

Just as I was about to turn away, a firm hand grabbed my shoulder and whirled me around.

Bo glared at me, clearly pissed off. "What the hell was that about?"

Shit. I had completely forgotten about the press I'd sent his way to interview him about his transformation from hockey's bad boy to a husband and father. It was an asshole move. One I made from a feeling I had to protect Naomi. I suspected that if she knew why I'd sent the media off in search of Bo to get them off her, she'd be pissed. She clearly didn't think she needed any protection from the media. To be honest, she didn't. She had the balls to stand up to Big Ed and to me. So not only did I piss her off by taking away her chance to stand up to the media, but I'd also tossed Bo under the bus. Again, what was it about her that was making me do crazy shit?

"I'm sorry." I raked my fingers through my hair, suddenly feeling tired. "I was just trying to make them stop piling on Coach Withers."

He looked at me incredulously. "Why?"

"I don't know." I sighed. "She's a good enough coach that it shouldn't matter what gender she is."

Bo narrowed his eyes and slowly shook his head. His expression morphed from pissed to suspicious. "What's your deal with her?"

I shrugged, hoping the gesture would hide the fact that there was a deal with her, at least with my libido and her. "There's no deal. It was her first game. I just wanted to ease things for her."

"She stared down Big Ed and benched him. I don't think she needs anyone looking out for her."

I'd already come to that conclusion, but only after I'd already sent the media to Bo. “I’m sorry about sending the mob your way.”

"You owe me for this, Pierce." He paused, his gaze steely. "And I intend to collect."

"Not babysitting, I hope." Not that I minded his daughter, Laina. Actually, I liked the kid. She was smart and outspoken like her mother. But I never knew what to do around her. She was very girly, and I knew nothing about little girls. I didn’t have experience around kids. Granted, some of the men I coached were like children, but once I stopped being a kid, I wasn’t around young people. It made me wonder why I’d been thinking marriage and a family might be nice. I suppose it was because Reed, and now Bo, looked so happy.

Bo smirked. "Maybe I'll make you figure skate with Laina." Bo had taken some razzing from the team when he started learning figure skating for his daughter. But I suspect most of us deep down thought it was sweet. Plus, it was hilarious to see someone who was so strong and confident on the ice with a hockey stick look like a drunk toddler when trying to figure skate.

I knew I wouldn't fare any better. I grimaced. "I don't figure skate."

His expression was smug. "We'll see about that."

Shit. I needed to find a way to make this up to him.

Just then, Reed appeared from behind Bo, grinning like a loon. "That was a hell of a win, man." He slapped me on the shoulder. "You and Bo are quite the coaching team."

The tension in the air dissipated a bit, and I couldn't help but smile.

"Thanks." I was relieved for the reprieve.

Reed's gaze shifted to Bo. "But you know, maybe we're underestimating Coach Withers. She's better than we may be giving her credit for. Never in a million years would I think she'd bench Ed Sampson. Would you have done it?"

"If he played like he was tonight, I might have." Bo looked at me, and I nodded in agreement.

"But he wouldn't play like that for us. It's no secret he doesn't like being told what to do by a woman," I said.

Bo snorted. "He's probably like that in bed too. The man is intense and effective on the ice, but a total dickhead otherwise."

"Still, it was risky for her to bench him. She's under a lot of pressure to win. She didn't do herself any favors by pulling him out of the game.” It was strange how much I was rooting for her to succeed. She was my rival. She had a team who could beat us. Hell, they could win the league championship. At the very least, win the bet Reed had with Todd.

Reed's phone buzzed, and he pulled it out of his pocket. "Ah, that's Analyn." He smiled with complete love and contentment. It was a side I'd never seen from him until he fell in love with Analyn. Sometimes, it was annoying. Other times, I was envious.

"I gotta take this and head home." Reed left Bo and me alone again.

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