Meet Your Match (Kings of the Ice, #1)(14)

Vince held back, making himself the last player off the ice, and he paused right in front of where I stood, ignoring the camera and focusing on me, instead.

“Having fun, Maven King?”

“That’s one word for it,” I said. I debated recording the exchange, but tucked my phone away, instead. “Nice shot out there.”

“I did it just for you.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“I did,” he insisted. “I just imagined you jumping up and down when I scored, chanting my name. It was great motivation.”

“I’m sure you would love to hear me chant your name, but I’m not one of your fan girls.”

He tilted his head, smirking like he had a comeback to that, but he kept it locked behind those curled lips of his. Then, his eyes flicked down, and his scarred eyebrow arched high.

“Let me grab you one of my jerseys from the team shop,” he said, staring a bit longer before his gaze found mine again. “Looks like you’re a little cold.”

He was already hobbling toward the locker room on his skates when I glanced down, immediately mortified to find my nipples so hard they were distinctly visible through my top.

I had dressed for a hot Florida day, not an ice rink.

Idiot.

“I’m not wearing your jersey,” I shot at him, folding my arms over my chest.

He turned, walking backward through the tunnel on his skates. “Wanna bet?”

“Only if you want to lose.”

Vince shrugged, smiling like he’d already won. “I’ll take my chances.”

And then he turned and disappeared down the tunnel, just in time for Coach McCabe to stop right in front of me and block my view.

“Sorry I didn’t get a chance to introduce myself before,” he said, extending a hand.

I was still shaken up from the exchange with Vince, which was supremely annoying, and I blinked out of the daze with a smile as I took Coach’s hand in my own.

“It’s perfectly okay. You’re a busy man. I just want to thank you for agreeing to all this.”

“Well, it wasn’t my choice, if I’m being perfectly honest,” he said, withdrawing his hand.

“Oh.” My cheeks heated.

“I want you to feel welcome,” he said. “And I am happy to give you the all-access my general manager promised. However,” he amended, holding up one stern finger. “The last thing we need on this team is a distraction.”

“I understand,” I said before he could continue. “I’ll be like a fly on the wall, sir.”

Coach gave me a quick once over, then smiled and shook his head. “I don’t think that’s possible for you, Miss King.”

Heat blasted my neck once more. It wasn’t like he was checking me out, more like he was just a man appreciating the beauty of a woman.

Also, a coach realizing what a distraction I could be to his team.

“I’m sorry I didn’t dress appropriately.”

“You can dress however you feel comfortable,” he said quickly. “I’m pretty sure you could wear a burlap sack and still stop traffic. All I’m asking is that if the guys start yucking it up for you, if Vince or anyone else starts to lose focus because they’re wanting to be a part of all this.” He waved his hand. “Just… help me keep them on track. Okay? We have a real shot at a winning season this year, and I don’t want that to go up in flames.”

“Neither do we,” I promised him.

I spoke for us as the Tampa Bay Babes, the organization. But in my head, I was also making that statement for me. The last thing I wanted was the attention of a rich, cocky athlete.

I’d been there, done that — still had the scar to prove it.

Plus, this was my first real test from Reya and Camilla. I wasn’t about to mess it up.

He nodded, and then blew out a breath, checking the time on his watch. “Flight is at four. We’ll take you to the airport in one of our cars. Be back here at two-thirty sharp.”

He paused then, and heat washed over my neck as his eyes found mine. He was sexy as hell, a dark line of scruff on his jaw and his suit all tailored to perfection. I half-wondered if maybe it should be him we were covering — especially considering he was one of the youngest coaches in the league.

“And I’d suggest you pack something a little warmer,” he added with a wry grin as he turned toward the locker room. “Boston is cold as hell.”





An Absolute Rocket



Vince



“Ohhh shit, there he is!” Jaxson said when I boarded the team plane, and he started a slow clap that the rest of the team joined in on as they cheered and made catcalls.

I arched a brow, storing my backpack in the space over my seat. All our equipment and luggage was taken care of by the staff, so that backpack was all I had until we landed in Boston.

When the applause died down, Jaxson wrapped his arm around my neck like he was going to take me down in a wrestling move, but he just ruffled my hair instead.

“Our little pigeon has the whole world losing their minds.”

“And their panties,” Carter added with a grin.

“Want me to rub you down with oil next time, Tanny Boy?” Jaxson asked when he released me. He rubbed my pecs to illustrate before I smacked his hands away with a smile of my own.