Page 37 of The Husband Game

“You want a beer?” Dustin asked Charlie. “Or there’s wine and …”

Charlie shook his head. “Water, please. I’m parched.”

Dustin swiped a bottle of water off the counter, grabbed a beer for himself, then gently herded Charlie through the patio doors.

There was a stone patio set up with a grill, several tables and chairs, and a few loungers. He guided Charlie to a lounger in the light shade.

He settled onto it, feet on either side, and held out a hand to Charlie. “Join me?”

Charlie quirked an eyebrow at him, but took a seat between Dustin’s spread thighs, carefully arranging himself.

Dustin guided Charlie back so he rested against his chest, then stretched out his legs alongside Charlie’s.

Charlie crossed his ankles and there was a flash of pink on his toes through the strappy sandals.

Mmm. Definitely hot.

Charlie was amazing from top to bottom and damn was this going to be a long year for Dustin if he only had his own hand to get him through it.

Still, if that was what Charlie wanted, the least Dustin could do was respect it. Charlie was already doing him a huge fucking favor by agreeing to stay married.

Dustin handed over the water and Charlie cracked open the top. “Thanks,” he murmured.

Dustin nuzzled in close to Charlie’s ear, both because he didn’t want anyone else to hear and because Charlie smelled good.

“You doing okay? Is this too much?” he asked quietly.

He couldn’t quite put his finger on the scent Charlie wore, but it was light and sweet and playful. It smelled like summer days and happy times and Dustin breathed it in deep, his fingers tightening reflexively on Charlie’s waist.

Seriously, this was going to be torture.

Oh well, at least he’d have this much.

“I’m fine, don’t you worry,” Charlie said, patting Dustin’s thigh.

Dustin’s shorts had ridden up and Charlie’s palm was warm against his bare skin.

“If you ever need a break or anything, tell me,” Dustin urged.

Charlie turned his head, his cheek grazing the tip of Dustin’s nose. “Why are you so worried? Are your teammates more cutthroat than they seem?”

“Only on the ice. No, I’m worried because Matty and I kinda roped you into this party without you getting much say and I’m feeling guilty,” he admitted. “And I know this is a lot to handle on your first day here.”

“This is like … a third of the team and their families, right?” Charlie asked.

“Yeah.”

“Then I guess I better get used to it, huh?” he said with another arched eyebrow and a defiant jut of his chin. “This is just the beginning.”

CHAPTER NINE

Charlie didn’t have a clue why Dustin was so worried about him.

These were all very nice people.

And Charlie knew how to handle himself around a hockey team. He’d spent plenty of time with the Evanston River Otters.

Although, he supposed it was one thing to hang out with a team as a friend of one of the players and another to be married to one.

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