Page 4 of Slapshot Summer
“Yeah, that’s us.I take it you’ve attended an event there?”
“Iamone of the events there.”Chuckling, Josh shook his head.“What I meant was I play for—”
The guy’s eyes lit with recognition.“You’re the goalie for the Philadelphia Forge, right?”
“Yep.”Wasthe goalie.
“Sorry about your team’s early exit from the playoffs.That had to be rough, but you’re probably used to it after missing out the last bunch of years.”
Josh was a competitor.He nevergotusedto defeat.It left a bitter taste, and he downed half of his drink to wash it away.This was his first day of vacation, and he didn’t have to drive anywhere, so why not?
“Yeah, winning is always preferred,” he muttered.Losing was the norm when you played for a bottom feeder—which made them not extending him even more puzzling.He had the experience.He was a great goalie in the prime of his career.He was a leader in the locker room.And hadn’t he put in the grueling rehab work after his injury?No matter what the coaching staff said, he was back to his old form, damn it.Why wouldn’t they believe him?
So much for leaving it all behind.
Neil nodded.An awkward beat passed before Josh added, “Getting an early summer break has its perks, though.”He gestured around the expansive space.
Neil readily agreed.“Can’t argue with that.And if action’s what you’re after, there should be plenty to go around.”He threw back his tequila, set the empty shot glass on the bar, and signaled Matt for more.“And speaking of action …” Neil’s eyes darted to the opposite side of the bar.
Josh followed his gaze and narrowed his eyes on the redhead who had blocked everyone on the shuttle and slammed into his back.She looked different.Maybe it was the off-the-shoulders gauzy white dress she’d changed into.It hit her mid-thigh and hugged her in all the right places—and she had all the right places for it to hug.Sandals with high heels accentuated shapely legs, and long auburn hair he hadn’t really noticed before was brushed back, skimming her shoulder blades and revealing a heart-shaped face.
“Do you know her?”Josh asked.
Neil shrugged.“Not yet.I’m not into redheads, but I could make an exception for that one.”He pointed toward a different woman who stood off to one side, seeming to survey the clientele.“That one’s more my speed.”
Unlike Red, this woman was a long cool customer with dark brown hair and eyes to match.Her tanned body was impeccably displayed in a red-and-white tropical number that exposed cleavage—cleavage that looked manufactured.She was gorgeous in an exotic sort of way, but an invisible sign flashing “High Maintenance” over her head was a turnoff.Josh had sampled his share of high-maintenance women, and the clues were unmistakable.No thanks.
Neil ogled her shamelessly, his grin exposing his pointy white eye teeth, and Josh nearly laughed out loud.“The redhead’s all yours,” Neil offered.
“No thanks, man.I’m looking for a quiet week.No drama.”Josh wasn’t going to touch this week, but look?Oh yeah.He could lookplenty.Didn’t cost anything and would definitely lift his black mood.
The redhead zeroed in on a table for two, where she took a seat, crossing her smooth legs and tugging at the hem of her skirt.She looked uncomfortable doing it, as if she wasn’t used to wearing short skirts, though withthoselegs, shorteverythingneeded to be her go-to.
Neil’s eyes remained pinned to the dark-haired woman.“You here alone?”
Josh nodded.“My brother was supposed to join me, but he came down with COVID and had to bail.”Probably better that way because Brad would have been trolling hard, despite the fact his divorce wasn’t final.Josh had been his unwitting “fishing” companion in the past, and it had caused friction between them when Josh had pointed out that Brad had a lovely wife at home.Might’ve explained why said wife was divorcing his brother’s ass.
Their father’s abandonment and the demise of his brother’s perfect union were two of the main reasons Josh didn’t believe in happily ever afters.
Neil yanked him back to the present.“I’m by myself too.If I can’t convince that stunner that I’m the only man for her tonight, maybe you and I can have dinner together.”
Why the hell not?“Sounds good.”
Neil chuckled.“Hopefully luck’s on my side.”
Something told Josh Neil didn’t need it.He polished off the rest of his drink, started on the next, and signaled the bartender to bring another round.As he did so, he felt eyes burning into him, and he looked up to find Red’s gaze pointed his way.Not athim, though.She was lasered in on Neil.Josh stared at her a few beats, but her gaze didn’t waver.If he could read a woman’s mind—and he’d proved time and again he couldn’t—he would’ve guessed she wanted to get to know his new companion.
The seat across from her remained empty.Maybe she was alone too and hoping someone—Neil?—would fill it.
Huh.
Tossing back what was left of his second cocktail, he scanned the rest of the crowd, purposely avoiding Red … until his eyes ignored him and wandered back to her.
Chapter 3
Bait and Switch
Lexitookapictureof her piña colada and sent it to Anna so her bestie would know she was putting herself out there and having a spectacular time.Well, at least she was putting herself out there and enjoying her tropical cocktail.
