Page 267 of Securing the Pucking Rebound

This party is exactly what I was hoping to find when I canceled my flight back to New York and booked a last-minute one to LA.

In hindsight, I really should have warned Sienna that I was coming. It would have saved a fuck load of embarrassment on all fronts. Well, maybe not Calvin’s. He didn’t seem overly concerned that I walked in on him and my sister…I shudder just thinking about it. The less I know about what they get up to behind closed doors, the better. Sienna might be my big sister, but still, I prefer to continue thinking she’s all sweet and innocent. Like Mom.

As Darcy walks out, my gaze automatically drops to his ass. He might not be a hockey player, but he seriously takes care of himself. And that butt…yes, please.

I watch him until he disappears down the hallway that leads to the bathrooms, leaving me in the middle of the dance floor. We’re closing in on midnight fast. And while I didn’t come here to find someone to kiss and ultimately hook up with—you are such a fucking liar, Garrett Wentworth—I get a little anxious that Darcy might not return in time.

Whoever was on the other end of that call put an expression on his face I didn’t like.

Who am I kidding? I barely know Darcy. We hooked up once and haven’t spoken since.

I glance around the room to see if there is anyone else to dance with—Kodie Rivers's little girl, maybe?

Fucking hell. What has my life come to?

I’m willing to dance with a kid just so I’m not alone when the ball drops.

I should have gone back to New York. I knew that the second Sienna saw me that she’d have questions. A lot of them. But I’m not ready to talk about it. Not yet, at least. But before I give up, because Sutton is way too distracted to even consider dancing with her dad, let alone a guy she doesn’t know, my eyes snag on someone who’s been sitting at the edge of the room all night.

Cooper Nash.

My breath catches.

Just like every other hockey player in this room, he’s hot.

But he’s not just hot because he plays hockey. Oh no. He’s hot in the brooding, I’ll-throw-you-around-and-make-you-my-toy-and-you’ll-love-it kinda way.

And this isn’t the first time I’ve caught him watching me tonight.

One side of my mouth twitches up in a kinda half smile before I make my way off the dance floor.

If I don’t have a partner to keep me company, then I need a drink.

I shoot another look over my shoulder as I make my way over to discover what Nash is drinking. He’s no longer looking my way, and it gives me a second to appreciate his side profile, that strong, scruff-covered jaw. It tics, and I can’t help but wonder why he’s here.

He hasn’t spoken to more than three people, as far as I can tell—the Vipers’ owner, the GM, and his defensive partner, Alexei Mororov.

He doesn’t scream, “I’m a party person.” He’s more of a loner type who’d rather be at home, celebrating alone. Or maybe I’ve just read far too many articles about him since his trade was announced.

“Hey, what can I get for you?” the barman asks the second I approach.

“Uh…what’s the guy over there drinking?” I ask, jerking my chin in Nash’s direction.

“Gin and tonic.”

“I’ll have two of those then, please. Can you deliver it over there? He looks like he needs a pick-me-up.” The barman chuckles, clearly agreeing with me.

My drink arrives a few seconds later, and I don’t spin around and look as the barman walks across the room to hand-deliver Nash’s next drink.

I have no idea whether he tells Nash that I was the one who sent it over or keeps it a secret. I didn’t specify either way, so I guess we’ll see.

I’m three-quarters of the way through my drink when Darcy joins me at the bar.

“I’m so sorry—I’m going to have to go.”

“Oh?”

“Family stuff,” he says with a regretful shrug.