Page 2 of Slapshot Baby

"Oh. Have you met Kai yet?"

My stomach drops.

"I—no."

"I'll introduce you."

Before I can decide whether that's a good idea, Riley catches my arm and steers me toward the bar.

Okay. Fine.

This is fine.

He's just a man.

A very large man whose face I've apparently been staring at for the last five minutes, but still.

A man.

"Kai."

He turns at Riley's voice.

Up close is worse. Much worse.

He's taller than I expected, broader too, with dark hair, a slightly crooked nose, and a face that looks like it probably improves after a fight. His brown eyes settle on Riley first, then move to me.

Something hot pools low in my stomach.

Don't.

Riley gestures between us. "Kai, this is Ava Hartley. Her company redesigned the VIP lounge."

Kai's gaze shifts to me. "Ava, Kai Donovan."

"I know who you are." The words are out before I can stop them.

Kai's mouth twitches.

"I mean—" I clear my throat. "You're the captain."

"Last time I checked."

Excellent, Ava. Really smooth.

I stick out my hand before I can make things worse.

His closes around mine.

Warm. Calloused. Firm.

His thumb brushes over the back of my hand, and I have absolutely no idea whether it's intentional or if my suddenly overactive imagination has started inventing things.

"I know who you are too," he says.

That catches me off guard. "You do?"

His gaze moves briefly around the room. "You're the reason this place doesn't look like a furniture showroom anymore."