Page 4 of Her Power Play

“Yeah,” I mutter.

“Cupcake Girl is hot,” he calls out, except he does it softly, which surprises me because he usually doesn’t give a shit if he embarrasses me in front of a woman. And I don’t care if I embarrass him in front of one, either. The women are plentiful for us, so it’s not a big deal.

But Cupcake Girl is different.

“Yeah,” I say. “She is.”

Forcing myself to turn away from her, I attempt to focus on the task at hand, which is helping Bouch with his shot. Except I can’t focus on helping Bouch because all I want to do is figure out how to help myself to Ruby.

“Attention,” a voice calls out over the loudspeakers. “We need the ice cleared for the vendors. All players, prepare for the event.”

That entire announcement is just a nice way to say get the fuck off the ice and get your ass to the locker room. We need to get dressed for all the people expected to spend their money and donate.

I hate this kind of shit.

I would much rather visit children’s hospitals or something that feels useful and helpful. This doesn’t feel that way at all. What I feel like is a doll dressed up and paraded around for a bunch of people who pay for the experience of feeling special.

Big whoop.

I’ve been around rich people all my life, and all I can say about them is they’re boring. Every single one of them. And nine times out of ten, they’re assholes too. I mean, of course, not everyone who has money is an asshole, but unfortunately, it’s a recurring theme and has been since the beginning of time.

I’d much rather figure out how to get Cupcake Girl's number.

Bouch and I skate off the ice and head toward the locker room in silence. Well, maybe he’s talking, but I’m too lost inside my own head to hear anything.

Tonight is one of those events where we have to ditch the jerseys and wear a suit and tie. Just another reason why I fucking hate it. The only reason I hurry to shower and change is for the chance to talk to Cupcake Girl again, maybe get her number, possibly know what a Sunday morning deep inside her body feels like.

Hey, a guy can have dreams.

FIVE

RUBY

After my third trip to and from the car, I am so much more comfortable walking around on the carpeted ice than I was the first few times. It also helps ease my nerves to know that the hot hockey player has left for the locker room.

He completely unnerves me.

He’s so damn sexy, and he kept smiling and flirting with me, although I’m fairly certain that was all just him being charming. He probably talks and smiles to every woman that way.

“Oh, Ruby,” a voice calls out just as I’m placing the last cupcake on the display.

I take a step backward, careful not to have my feet anywhere near the ice, and take in my artwork. I’m still trying to make sure I keep at least one of my goals for the day. I’m trying really hard not to fall.

“It’s stunning,” the event coordinator states as she walks up beside me.

I keep my gaze focused on the cakes. The display is pretty. I spent hours and hours piping the team’s logo on the frosted cupcakes, and my fingers and hands still ache from the work. But they’re here, and it’s done. It was definitely the right choice to do it all by hand rather than printing the logo on rice paper, the way the event coordinator suggested. I really don’t like the mouthfeel of that paper.

“Thanks,” I exhale.

She hums. “You can stay. You did all this work. You might as well eat some amazing food and drink free booze.”

Her offer sounds amazing, and I’m considering taking her up on it even though it goes against all my personal policies. Never get mixed up with paying jobs. Drop off the cakes, thank them, collect my check, and vanish.

But he’s going to be here. I know that he is, and I want to see him again, even if it’s across the room and I don’t actually speak to him. I just want to be near him, and I know just how creepy that sounds, so I don’t say it out loud.

I open my mouth to politely decline when she takes one step toward me, then another. She’s so close I can’t help but wonder if there is going to be a whole other drama, because while I think she’s pretty and everything, I’m not into women at all. But when I hold my breath, wondering if she’s going to kiss me, her lips curve up into a grin.

“Don’t say no, I won’t accept it.”