“Sometimes men can be a dense bunch, especially when we think we can make things work our way through sheer force of will.”

She leaned into me, pressing her hips against mine, and I was instantly hard. I’d always had a healthy sex drive but couldn’t recall getting hard this quickly for any other woman. My dick was like a finely tuned sports car that went from zero to one hundred when I laid eyes on her.

“I can tell by the look in your eyes that you’re worried. Don’t be. I’ve dealt with tougher women than her and lived to tell about it.”

“Have you dealt with crazier ones?”

“Probably. Besides, she’ll never be sober enough to carry out any of her threats. That would involve some planning.” She blew this off, but I saw through her. She was concerned, which meant I was too. My urge to protect her was strong because somehow Bria had shifted her focus to Geneva. Or had she? Would she exact her revenge on both of us? Or on Jock or the kids? Or was it all blustering bullshit?

“I have to get the last load of towels done, or I’ll be here all night.” She gave me a gentle shove and turned to the dryer, checking the towels.

“I’ll help. It’s the least I can do.”

“I’ve seen your folding. I can finish this last load.” She gently pushed me out of the way and opened the dryer, pulling out an armful of white towels.

“I’ll wait until you’re done and escort you back to the hotel.”

“You’re just going to escort me? That’s all?” she teased.

“Well, there will be an escort fee.” I winked at her and ran my gaze down her body and back up again, making it clear what that fee would be.

“I’ll gladly pay your price.”

And I’d gladly accept her payment.

Chapter 25—Payment Due

~~Geneva~~

I was living in an odd mixture of the best time in my life with some of the worst moments. These times were the best because Axel and I spent every night together. We didn’t just fuck, we talked about hopes and dreams and compared dysfunctional families. We bonded physically and emotionally. I was falling for him, and I wasn’t sure how he felt about me.

The team was largely aware we had a thing, as was the equipment staff. I’m not sure our relationship was on anyone else’s radar, and I preferred to keep it on the down low even though we weren’t keeping it a secret.

Over the course of the season, I’d become quite the hockey fan. You couldn’t live and breathe hockey twenty-four seven without gaining more-than-casual knowledge of the game. Besides, I was Canadian, and hockey was in our DNA, so I’d already known the basics every good Canadian knew before I’d been hired by the Sockeyes.

We lost the first game two to one. We’d been tied until the last ten seconds, when the Sidewinders star center and captain, Cody Armstrong, scored on a pass from Toli Petrov. Petrov might be the oldest guy in the league, but he didn’t play like it. Jock had followed Armstrong’s fake one direction and wasn’t able to adjust before the puck sailed over his shoulder into the net.