Our opponent, Winnipeg, already had a slot in the playoffs, so we were hungrier. The team came out aggressive from the first puck drop. The second line scored the first point. They were on fire. The work they’d done with Coop had paid off. I found it hard to concentrate on my job as the game wore on. My gaze kept slipping to Axel, who was having the best game of his NHL career. He was all over the place. His passes were spot on, his skating was insane, and I don’t think the other team was able to keep track of him. He scored two goals, and by the final buzzer, we’d beaten Winnipeg in a hard-fought battle by a score of three to two. My brother was brilliant also, and I was so happy for him.

We were going to the playoffs. Champagne corks were popped in the locker room, and everyone, including the team owner, coaches, and even me, was doused with champagne. None of us minded. This season had its ups and down, but the team fought back and managed to pull it off despite the adversity of losing two top players.

After it was all over, I was a sticky mess, which wouldn’t work well for someone tasked with doing the team laundry. Exhausted and exhilarated, I took a shower in the private staff bathroom and put on clean clothes. Then I went to work while everyone but the equipment staff continued their partying.

I was waiting for the first loads to finish when the laundry room door opened. I turned expectantly and wasn’t disappointed.

Axel stood in the doorway, his hair still wet from a recent shower. He pushed it off his face and grinned at me. He was dressed in the required pants, dress shirt, and a loosened tie, and his suit jacket was slung over one arm. I wanted to take off that tie and lick him all over. There wasn’t anything sexier than a man in a suit unless it was that same man naked and on top of me.

The visual woke up my lady parts, and I did something spontaneous and uncharacteristic. I wasn’t a hugger. No one in my family was a hugger, but I launched myself at Axel and threw my arms around him. After taking a moment to recover, he hugged me back. He smelled of fresh soap and aftershave, like heaven with a dose of naughty. He smelled exactly like a man I’d like to fuck. There, I’d said it. I’d admitted what I wanted. I no longer did relationships because I sucked at them.

When I finally came to my senses and extracted myself from his arms, we both stared at each other. I was breathing hard, even though I hadn’t done anything strenuous, and so was he. His green eyes had gone from the color of an emerald to a dark, lush pasture.

“Congratulations.” I stepped back to put more distance between us. Heat rose from my cheeks with embarrassment at being so demonstrative.