In Your Wildest Dreams (Wildcat Hockey, #4)(45)

“Yeah, fine, let’s do it.” Everly sets the coffee between her legs and pulls on Jack’s sweatshirt. “But no hovering around me and acting all protective. I’m twenty now. I can take care of myself.”

Jack snorts from the driver’s seat and Tyler shoots him a glare before saying, “Deal.”





Tyler and Piper’s house is filled with people when we get there. There are even balloons and streamers hung up. Piper comes running forward to greet us at the door. She pulls Everly into a hug and then steps back to look the three of us over. “I’m so glad no one was hurt.”

“How did you get so many people here this fast?” Everly asks, cocking her head to the side and giving her sister-in-law an endearing smile.

“All I had to do was ask. Everyone adores you and were more than happy to come help you celebrate.”

“You threatened them, didn’t you?” Everly smirks and raises one brow.

“Little bit.” She grins. “Come on. There’s cake.”

Everly and Grace know everyone already, so I feel a little like the odd man out as we walk around the party. They introduce me and everyone is nice, but it isn’t until I spot Ash in the kitchen that I feel my lips pull into a real smile.

He walks over, two beers stacked in one hand—one on top of the other. He’s changed into jeans and a white sweater since I saw him earlier. His hair is down and tucked behind one ear.

“You’re alive.” His gaze travels down the length of me, holding on my legs for a fraction longer than necessary before slowly dragging up. “And I’m dead. I suddenly understand why there was a brawl at the club.”

My insides light up even if I want to roll my eyes at him a little. “Wow. That was bad even for you.”

“I thought it was clever. Maybe you just didn’t get it the first time. You’re so hot, you caused a bar fight.” He grins proudly. God, he’s too much.

“It was a club.”

“Same difference.” He holds up the beer in his hand. “Want something to drink?”

“Uhhh. Yeah.”

He tips his head and motions for me to follow him farther into the kitchen. Soda and liquor bottles line the counter, along with snacks and a cake.

Ash grabs a cup, flips it into the air with a wink, and then pours several different types of alcohol and mixers into it before handing it over.

“What is it?”

“A little of this and a little of that. It’s good. Trust me. I’m great at mixing drinks.”

I take a tentative sip and then cough. Holy mother of… “I think my throat is on fire. That’s terrible.”

Like he doesn’t believe me, he takes the cup from me and drinks. His face is impassive for a few moments and then he nods. “You’re right. It’s terrible.”

“I think I’ll stick with beer.” Laughing, I take the unopened beer he was carrying and pop the top.

I turn and glance around for Everly and Grace. They’re in a conversation with a few women I recognize as Wildcat players’ wives, so I stay put with Ash in the kitchen.

He leans back against the counter. “Did you have fun tonight? You know, before shit went down.”

“Yeah, I did actually.”

“You seem surprised.”

“No. I mean yes, but it’s not what you think. Everly and Grace are great and hanging with them is always fun. I just forgot how much I missed having friends to do stuff like that with.” I’m a little embarrassed to have admitted that out loud, but Ash doesn’t laugh or make me feel like a loser for being a friendless twenty-two-year-old. “And I feel really bad the night got cut short. Everly would have closed that place down on the dance floor.”

“I’ll bet.” Ash’s eyes sparkle with happiness. He picks up his beer and the mixed drink he made me. “Come on. I want to show you something.”





Ash opens a door to a stairwell and then leads me down to the basement. What I assume was a living room has been cleared out and the furniture is pushed to one side. No one else is down here, but music is playing from speakers hanging on the wall and the lights are dimmed.

“What do you think?” Ash asks, raising his hands out to his sides. “As good as Club Midnight?”

“Not bad,” I say, smiling at the thoughtfulness. I don’t know if it was his or Piper’s idea, but I love that they made a space for Everly to keep dancing the night away. “It’s missing all the cute boys, but close enough.”

He narrows his gaze playfully. Freaking hell, he’s hot even when he’s not smiling. He’s the hottest guy in every room and that would have been true at Club Midnight too. He knows it too, even if he acts all offended by my comment.

He sets both of his drinks on top of a bookshelf, then takes mine and does the same.

“But they don’t have my sick dance moves.” His long, strong fingers take hold of my hand and he tugs me into the center of the room.

When he lets go, my skin tingles. Ash is all smiles as he starts dancing in front of me.

I don’t join in and it just makes him dance bigger and wilder. He steps closer and takes my hands again, forcing me to sway to the beat.

I finally crack a smile and that just eggs him on more.