Coach Bryant blows the whistle around his neck, raising his hand to signal the players to approach the bench. “I have to get going, honey,” he says to Bex. “Take a seat over there.” He points to the first row of seats in front of the glass. “I’ll meet you there after we’re done. Maybe we can get dinner. Taylor, you can come, too.”
Good, no cafeteria food.
I smile in response.
“Yeah, that sounds good, Dad,” Bex says, then he goes back to coaching his team.
She tugs on my arm, steering me toward our seats. After we sit, I glance over at the bench, not the least surprised to see Preston staring hard at Bex. Like he wants to eat her. Claim her. Do something dirty to her. Holy hell, his eyes are so intense, my body trembles. Drake looked at me the same way earlier this week in the cafeteria.
“You have an admirer,” I inform her.
She turns her head, and he winks once he has her attention. Bex doesn’t return his gesture or even acknowledge him. Weird. Despite her defensive demeanor, she seemed excited about her date with him. I would have thought she would at least wave to him. Typical Bex. She’s always so closed off that she pushes everyone away except me.
“The way he’s looking at you is giving me chills,” I say to break the silence. “What I wouldn’t give to have someone look at me like that.”
Still burning a hole through her with his eyes, Preston removes his helmet, his sweaty hair sticking up in different directions. His dark, messy hair and the sexy look on his face catches Bex’s attention. She stares at him, her mouth agape.
He affects her whether she wants to admit the truth. I know my friend well enough to see she will fold like a cheap chair if Preston as much as brushes his fingers along her skin.
Once practice ends, Coach Bryant orders his team to hit the showers. Bex is busy lusting over Preston, and Drake Donovan still enamors me. As Drake walks off the ice and heads toward the locker room, I get a better look at him. His eyes meet mine for a second, and a ripple of pleasure shoots through my body.
Dammit.
I wish I didn’t want him.
But damn him for being so sexy that I can’t form a single thought when he looks at me. I’m not the girl who falls head over heels for a guy. So, why do I care that Drake can’t stop looking at me like I’m his dinner?
Speaking of food…
“Where do you want to eat?” I rub my stomach. “I worked up an appetite watching these hockey hotties.”
“I bet that’s not the only appetite you worked up,” she deadpans. “Don’t think I missed you obsessively watching Drake. I don’t blame you. I was doing the same to Preston.”
Holy shit, Preston is behind Bex. I didn’t even hear him approach until he was on her heels.
I clear my throat and tilt my head toward Preston. When she spins around, her eyes bug out.
Busted.
A wicked smirk turns up the right side of Preston’s mouth. “Funny meeting you here.”
Speechless, Bex opens her mouth, but nothing comes out. This is a first. Even I’m stunned by his sudden appearance. He must have overheard our conversation. So, now he knows I like Drake, even though I don’t want to like him. Ugh, how awkward?
“Did you watch me play?”
Bex nods. “Uh-huh. My dad asked me to stay behind.”
“Parker, stop bothering my daughter,” Coach Bryant yells. “Time to hit the showers.” He claps his hands. “Let’s go.”
Bex lets out a sigh of relief. “Saved by the bell.”
“For now.” Preston wiggles his eyebrows in this adorable way that makes him even sexier. “Wait for me. Right here.”
Bex makes a strange face. She hates being told what to do. “And why would I do that?”
“Do you know how to skate?”
She snorts. “My dad is a hockey coach. I grew up at a rink. Are you serious?”
