Page 154 of Risking the Pucking Defense

“Sorry to disappoint, Hails,” he says, and my teeth grind, hearing him using my nickname for her. “But with these guys all taken, that means Marilyn and I get our pick of the bunnies.” He throws his arm around my shoulder, and my stomach sinks into my feet. “Ain’t that right, wingman?”

I mumble some kind of agreement while Hailee looks between the two of us, her professional mask fully in place.

Honestly, why it took Anthony so long to come to the conclusion that she could still do her job better than anyone else out there, whether she was fucking me or not, blows my mind.

“Wonderful. Just remember our call time in the morning, and the fact you’ve got a game tomorrow night.”

Killer lifts his fingers to his temple, saluting her. “You got it, boss,” he mocks as the elevator stops, and Rett, Killer, and Handsy all move around us to get out.

“Downstairs in an hour,” Rett says, his focus on me, the corner of his mouth twitching in amusement.

“You got it, man,” I agree before reaching for the door close button.

The second they slide together, I push Hailee up against the wall and crash my lips to hers.

We’ve only got five floors to climb, and I don’t intend to waste a second.

Her bag hits the floor with a thud before her arms wrap around my shoulders.

“We’re on the same floor. Did you have anything to do with that?” I ask breathlessly, smoothing my suit jacket as I force myself to take a step back before the doors open.

“No, it’s luck,” she explains, attempting to fix her lipstick that is no doubt smeared all over my face.

“What are the chances of us being neighbors?”

“In a hotel this size? Slim. Don’t push your luck, hotshot.”

“Hmm…I can’t fucking wait to celebrate my goal with you later,” I mutter, risking closing the space between us. I can’t help it. Adrenaline is still coursing through my veins, her scent is flooding my senses, and I have her taste on my tongue. “Maybe we should just stay in,” I suggest as the doors finally open.

I reach for her luggage before she has a chance and carry all our things down the hallway.

“Nice try. People are expecting you tonight. This is me,” she says, coming to a stop.

I glance at her number.

“I’m not next door,” I tell her. “I’m right here,” I say, tapping my card to the panel beside the door opposite.

“And you’re rooming with Brody?”

“That’s what everyone thinks, but I’m planning on hooking up tonight, so I doubt I’ll even untuck the sheets.”

She rests back against her door, her eyes running down the length of my body, her eyes getting darker by the second.

“Is that right?”

“Yeah, and I want to spend hours losing myself in her tight, wet—” The elevator dings, and my words die. “An hour, right?” I ask just as Brody walks around the corner.

“Yeah, I’ve prebooked Ubers.”

“Sounds good. Later,” I say, jerking my chin at her and disappearing into my hotel room, a sulking Brody on my heels.

44

HAILEE

Iswear my door hasn’t even closed when my cell dings in my purse.

Knowing who it is, I pull it out and swipe the screen.