Page 32 of Puck Me Back to Life

“A little,” he admits.

I smile. “But that's really what it is. Trust. Communication. Knowing somebody well enough that they can hand you control and know you're going to take care of them.”

Hayes listens intently. Every word seems to pull him in a little further. The conversation has become strangely quiet. His hand rests on the table beside his drink. Mine is wrapped around my glass.

As I'm talking, my knuckles brush his. The contact is brief. Still, neither of us moves immediately.

“I like making my partner feel everything there is to offer.” The words leave my mouth before I can soften them.

For a second, the space between us feels charged. Hayes's eyes don't leave mine. The blush along his cheeks deepens. And suddenly I'm very aware of the fact that he's handsome. Dangerously handsome.

The realization isn't exactly new. It's just becoming harder to ignore.

Hayes swallows. The movement draws my attention immediately. His gaze flicks down toward his drink, then back to me. Like he's trying to decide whether to ask another question.

Before he can, a familiar voice cuts through the moment. “There you are!”

Dante. Of course.

I close my eyes briefly.

Dante points at both Hayes and me. “Shots.”

“No,” I say.

“Yes.”

“No.”

Dante grabs both of our shoulders. “Absolutely yes.”

I laugh despite myself.

The spell breaks instantly. Hayes sits back in his chair. The tension dissipates.

Dante continues talking. Neither of us is listening. Eventually I stand. The team is already calling me over.

Hayes rises too. Probably planning to escape before Dante recruits him into whatever terrible decision is unfolding at the other table.

He takes two steps away from me. I catch his arm lightly. The movement stops him. For a second, he looks up at me. Questioning. Curious. Still slightly pink.

I keep my voice low enough that only he can hear. “If you're interested...”

His breath catches almost imperceptibly.

I smile. “I'm willing to show you what I meant.”

The blush that follows is immediate. Spectacular.

I release his arm before he can respond. Then I turn and head toward the rest of the team. As I walk away, I can practically feel Hayes staring after me.

The thought follows me all the way to the shots table.

And for the first time all night, I'm not thinking about hockey at all.

5

Kai