Page 71 of Breakaway Bet

She nods. “What happened?”

“He was trash-talking all fucking game, and I was sick of listening to his noise, so I lit him up.”

“Did you get in trouble?” she asks.

“Five minutes in the penalty box, and my coach laid into me. It really fucks up a game to lose a player for five minutes, especially a center.”

“What did he say that pushed you over the line?” she asks. “I saw him mouthing off in the video, and I was dying to know what you two were saying.”

I lift a shoulder. “It was all fuckin’ night. He was shit-talking West, and it was his rookie season with the Vengeance. Eventually I told him if he didn’t shut his mouth, I’d kick his ass. He didn’t shut it and came for me, so I made good on that promise.”

“Well,” she says softly. “It was hot as hell.”

I raise my brows. “Yeah?”

She nods slowly. “Oh, yeah.”

I chuckle. “Okay, then. Duly noted. The lady likes the fights.”

“It’s even hotter now that I know you were sticking up for a teammate. You’re so…I don’t know. Like such a gentleman off the ice. But seeing you in your element in that video, watching you just freaking fly over the ice, your aggression there finding the puck and what you do with your stick…and then throwing your gloves off…God, I’m getting all hot again just thinking about it.”

My lips lift as I lean across the seat. I kiss her neck just under her ear. “I’ll be a gentleman until you ask me not to be.”

She squirms a little, and fuck, I can’t wait to get her naked.

I think tonight just might be our night.

CHAPTER 24: Ivy Maddox

I’ll Catch You if You Fall

They were right. Vivi’s has the best cheeseburgers in town.

I’m stuffed, and I don’t usually opt for a beer on a date, but I just ordered the same thing he did, and a burger, fries, and a beer from this place was actually perfect. It was delicious, and now I am completely stuffed.

Cash treats, and we swing by the table where Kellan and two other guys are sitting. Cash nods at the two others and slings his arm around my shoulders.

“This is Ivy, my wife,” he says, and it’s like a jolt to my system every time I hear it. “Ivy, this is Alex and Nick.”

“You’re married?” the one he introduced to me as Alex says.

“As of a few weeks ago, yeah.” Cash smiles as the two look between us, disbelief all over their faces.

“Yeah, but it’s not real, right?” Nick asks. “I saw some headline about a quickie Vegas wedding…” He trails off at the look of death Cash casts in his direction.

“It’s real,” Cash says softly, but the vehemence in his tone is enough to prevent this guy from asking further questions. “And we have a date to get to, so we’ll see you around.”

“Nice meeting you,” I say as I wave.

He grabs my hand and escorts me out.

We get back into the truck. “Sorry about them,” he mutters as he backs out of the space.

“For what?”

“The whole it’s not real thing.”

“But…it’s not. It’s fine.”