Page 47 of Power Play

We’ve barely made it five feet when a fan accosts us. For some reason, I like the dude-bros who find me on the street better than the slick guys in suits at these types of events. They’re authentic in a way these guys are not.

Maybe because if I hadn’t made it, I would be one of those dude-bros. Living in my hometown, working my ass off to make ends meet, all so I can play a few games of beer league hockey and watch the matches on my TV.

It’s still such a foreign concept to me to have money in my bank account. The two years I played in the AHL, I was lucky to afford rent on the house I shared with five other guys on the team. Once I was called up to the big leagues, I earned the league-minimum salary. It was still above the average salary in Phoenix, but nowhere close to the millions I earn now.

When I signed my big contract last summer, I paid off my parents’ house, and they were able to retire with my abuela to Florida and escape the harsh winters. I have enough in the bank to be comfortable, but if my career winds up in the toilet, I’ll need to rely on those funds to support my family.

My daughter. My wife.

“Do you have a favorite pizza place around here?” Riley asks the fan, and I startle back to the conversation.

The fan responds with the name of a bougie pizzeria, and I clear my throat.

“It was great chatting with you, man. I need to get my wife a drink. Excuse us.”

Grabbing hold of Riley’s hand, I lead her away, and she lets out a sigh of relief.

“Sorry I left you hanging,” I apologize as we head to the bar—for real, this time. “I got a little overwhelmed.”

“You’re fine.”

I stop in my tracks, turning to face her. “It’s not fine. This is my job, and I didn’t hold up my end of the bargain. You shouldn’t have to⁠—”

“Al.” She lays her hand on my arm, and I feel her touch like a brand straight through to my soul. “It was small talk. I can handle that in small quantities. It’s fine.”

“But—”

“Are you going to do it again?” She raises her eyebrows expectantly.

“No.”

“Then it’s fine. It won’t happen again.”

Blowing out a breath, I tug her into a hug before I can recognize what I’m doing. But it feels right. Her small body pressed to mine, her soft curves against my hard muscles.

Slowly, her arms come up to wrap around my waist, and I bury my face in her hair. Her perfume, sweet and floral with a woodsy undertone, tickles my nose in the best way possible.

“There you are!” MacGregor’s voice calls from behind me. I cling to Riley tighter, not ready to face the music.

My captain claps me on the shoulder. “You can’t hide all night.”

“Watch me,” I mutter. But I disentangle from my wife, immediately reaching for her hand. “You remember MacGregor, right?”

“Aidan,” he says, offering his hand for a shake. “Nice to see you again.”

“This is some party,” Riley says, gesturing at the room.

“My sister’s on the foundation board,” he boasts. “This event is her baby. They put on three a year, all supporting different causes.”

“That’s admirable,” she says. “It seems like a lot of work.”

“We work hard, but we play harder.” He winks, and she giggles.

Red-hot ire floods my system. How dare he flirt with my wife right in front of me. My hand curls into a fist, and I take a deep breath.

Before I can do or say anything rash, Riley squeezes my hand. “We were on our way to the bar. Do you want to join us?”

“Sure.” MacGregor tips his head in that direction, and the three of us finally reach the drink line without further interruption. “How did you like the game?”