Page 47 of Cheap Shot

Luke cleared his throat as they stared awkwardly at each other. He thrust out a hand and they shook, quickly letting go.

“So,” Thad said, still recording. “How did it feel to spend the day with your biggest hater, Crawford?”

Sebastian let out a choked laugh.

Luke glared at the cameraman. “No comment.”

After that, Luke got a long hug from Harper and a shorter one from Brie. But when she pulled back, she looked up at him, grabbing his forearm and holding on.

“Thank you all for being so wonderful today. Harper was justsoincredibly happy to be here, and you really went out of your way.” Brie let go of his arm to wipe at her eyes.

Luke cleared his throat again. “It was, uh, our pleasure. She seems like a great kid. Sorry to hear things have been so rough for you two.”

“Do you have kids?” she asked.

Luke shook his head. “No.”

“Well, you’re great with them. You’re going to make awonderfuldad someday.”

He winced. “Uhh, that’s quite a compliment. Thanks.”

Honestly, he didn’t think it would ever happen and he was tired of people assuming it would. He liked kids but the idea of being in the kind of relationship that would allow him to do that had never felt right. He’d always figured it was enough to spend time with Connors’ kids and stuff.

But man, Harper sure tugged at his heartstrings.

She was over with some of the other guys now, taking part in an impromptu dance party with Jesse, Kady, and Tanner that had broken out in the lobby.

Thad was still recording. And, thankfully, far enough away he wouldn’t pick up what Luke wanted to say next.

“I’m fuckin’ sorry to hear about your ex,” Luke told Brie quietly. “If you ever need to have the guy punched in the nose, let me know. I’d be happy to do the job. I can’t fuckin’ imagine what was going through his head.”

She gave him a rueful smile. “That is tempting. Thanks for not punching my brother today.”

A few feet away, Sebastian made a sputtering noise.

“I’m just saying,” Brie said with laugh. “After the stuff he’s said at games, I canunderstandit if you wanted to.”

Luke chuckled. “Your brother is, uh, creative, I’ll give him that. But hey, today was for Harper and the chirping, well, it’s all part of the game. I don’t take it too personally.”

“True. I suppose that makes sense. Seb used to be a hockey player after all.”

With that little information bomb, she said goodbye again and the three of them left after Harper gave Luke one last hug.

“Sooo,” Tanner said after they stepped through the doors and out into the parking lot. “Did you ask for her number?”

“Huh?” Luke said, turning away from the wall of windows at the front of the building. “Whose number?”

“Brie. The hot mom.”

“Uhh, no,” Luke said with a frown. “Why would I?”

“Because she’s a hot mom who was flirting with you and you totally hit it off with her kid.Duh.”

“She wasn’t fucking flirting with me,” Luke said with a scowl. “She was just … being nice.”

“Suuure she was,” Tanner said doubtfully.

“Well, I don’t fucking want to date her,” Luke said with a roll of his eyes. “So quit your fuckin’ matchmaking.”