Page 158 of Risking the Pucking Defense

HAYDEN

“What the fuck is he doing?” I seethe as Dylan fucking Harvey makes a beeline for Hailee at the bar. My fingers curl around the edge of the cushion I’m sitting on, and I force myself to stay put.

Hailee has no reason to be worried about the bunnies. I haven’t touched one in my first year of playing in the NHL, and I’m certainly not starting now that I’ve got someone worth more than every single one of them put together promising to let me sneak into her hotel room tonight.

As far as I’m concerned, there isn’t another woman on the planet now that Hailee Caldwell is mine.

“Oh, he was the one we saw when we were out shopping,” Bea says innocently behind me.

“What?” I balk. I want to turn to look at her so I can judge her expression, but I can’t take my eyes from Hailee and the asshole who’s standing just a little too close to her.

She looks hot as fuck in her sequined little black dress. It hangs from thin spaghetti straps and skims her curves in the sexiest fucking way. It doesn’t showcase them like her dress from the ball; it’s more of a tease, because it’s obvious that what’s hiding beneath is mind-blowing. And then there’s her sculpted legs, which I’ve now learned are toned from hours of yoga, and the fuck-me heels.

Holy hell, if I don’t want to see what they look like later when her legs are resting on my shoulders as I fuck any and every memory of any other man from her mind.

“We bumped into him while we were shopping for the ball. I had no idea who he was, but obviously Hailee did. He approved of her dress,” she teases.

“He saw her in her fucking dress?” I seethe.

“He was loitering around the dressing room. I thought his eyes were gonna pop out of his head.”

“Yeah, no,” I state before pushing to my feet and marching off. I swear I hear Bea call, “Go get her soldier,” behind me, but I don’t look back, I’ve got my sights on an Ace, who needs to get back in his fucking box.

“You’d love it there,” Dylan is saying when I approach.

“Oh, yeah. I’m sure. It sounds incredible,” Hailee says, her spine stiffening as I step up beside her.

“What’s that?” I ask, blatantly interrupting. I know that I should be more discreet, but there’s no fucking way I’m letting this asshole hit on my girl right in front of me.

“I was just telling Hailee here about a new restaurant that’s opened up downtown,” Dylan states, barely glancing in my direction. “So, when do you leave?”

“First thing in the morning,” I answer for her. I realize my mistake the second her shoulders hitch up. But it’s too late. The words are out, and I’ll do anything in my fucking power to get this asshole away from her. “We’ve gotta call it early tonight. Playing again tomorrow.”

His eyes glance over. “I’m sure you are. But the last time I checked, Hailee isn’t on your team.”

“She might as well be. The Vipers are a family.”

“Excuse me,” Hailee mutters before placing her almost full glass on the bar, before spinning away and marching toward the bathrooms.

“The fuck is your problem?” Dylan asks, finally turning his attention to me.

“You,” I state simply. “This place is teeming with bunnies. You need someone to try and distract you from your game tonight, then I’d suggest you go and find one of them.”

His eyes narrow as he takes a step closer, but before he manages to get a word out, people step up behind me, flanking me.

“Problem?” Rett barks.

Dylan looks from me to him and then back before registering just how many guys surround me.

“And now fuck off,” Killer sings, flicking his fingers to shoo him away.

Dylan’s face twists with anger, but despite going at it with Killer earlier today and landing himself more than one visit to the penalty box, he manages to keep a lid on it.

He takes a step back before sneering, “You were lucky tonight. It won’t happen again.”

Thankfully, he continues backing away before he disappears from our sight.

“The fuck was that?” Killer asks.