Page 64 of Don't Fall for the Goalie
And then, he begins stretching.
My eyes widen slightly as he drops into a deep lunge,one massive pad sliding smoothly across the ice while he stretches his hips and legs.
“Oh my God,” I whisper.
Harper snorts beside me. “First time seeing goalie stretches?”
“I didn’t know people bent like that.”
Allie laughs. “Just wait.”
And somehow it gets worse. Or better, depending on how morally questionable my thoughts are.
Daltyn braces his stick against the ice and lowers even farther, broad shoulders flexing beneath his chest protector while his massive thighs strain against the gear.
Sweet baby Jesus.
“He’s basically doing yoga in forty pounds of armor,” Harper says helpfully.
“I’m trying very hard to be respectful right now.”
“That’s cute,” Allie says. “Respect left the building the second he stepped onto the ice.”
My face burns hotter as Daltyn rolls his shoulders, then pushes back upright in one smooth motion before stretching again.
“How are goalies flexible enough to do that?” I ask weakly.
Harper grins. “Trauma.”
Allie nearly chokes laughing.
And then, like he senses me staring, Daltyn’s masked face turns toward me.
Even from this distance, the full force of his attention locks onto mine. My stomach flips violently.
“Oh no,” Harper whispers dramatically beside me. “The goalie has acquired a target.”
“I hate all of you.”
“No, you don’t,” Allie says cheerfully.
“You’re right. I don’t.”
I feel his smirk before he turns away. But my eyes don’t leave him.
“I support women’s rights,” I murmur. “And women’s wrongs.”
Harper and Allie howl with laughter, causing the guys to look up. Including Daltyn. My face burns from embarrassment.
Luckily, Ford says something, and the guys turn their attention back to the ice.
The second Daltyn settles into the net and lowers into position, something about him shifts completely.
He’s sharper. Calmer. Focused in a way that steals the air from my lungs. Like this is the one place in the world where he knows exactly who he is.
The guys skate toward the bench for water while Ford and Connor start chirping each other.
But my attention stays locked on Daltyn.
