Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 105679 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 528(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105679 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 528(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
Something about Ivy hooked me a few months ago when I ran into her at the Hockey Hotties calendar fundraiser in the park. We chatted for a while about Denmark, and she peppered me with questions about the country I’m from. She was especially curious why I didn’t have an accent. Well, when your diplomat parents move to the States when you’re young, you tend to lose it, I told her. They’ve since returned to Copenhagen, and so have my brothers and sisters. I didn’t tell Ivy I miss them terribly.
Instead, I entertained her with stories of the pranks my friends and I got into on the houseboats there once upon a time, then listened as she told me all the places she wanted to travel to in the world. Ivy was easy to talk to, fast, and clever with her mouth, and witty girls get me every time. It didn’t hurt that she had a certain mischievous look in her midnight-blue eyes the whole time we chatted. What can I say? I like mischief. Even though she’s Ryker’s sister, I still looked her up that night after the event, since I was single for the first time in years. But I learned she was dating some douche named The Dapper Man. I mean, who else would call himself that but a twat?
And now she’s not dating him, and she’s not a teammate’s sister.
The runway is all clear.
With flushed cheeks—perhaps from changing into that costume quickly—she’s standing next to Hayes, adjusting Blob under her arm. I flash her a smile. “I don’t get a preview of the costume too?”
“You’ll have to wait till I hit the ice,” she says and sticks out her free hand, adopting a more business-like persona. “It’s good to see you again, Stefan.”
This is how we’re doing it? All professional? Fine, fine. It’s still contact and that works for me. I take her offered hand and shake. Her skin is soft, and her palm feels good in mine, but as much as I’d love to read into a handshake, I don’t. I believe in winning women over with the total package of me.
When I let go, she steals a glance at Hayes, and something seems to pass between them. I file that away for later, then focus on the now.
I gesture to the costume. “I’ll carry that for you.”
“Thanks,” she says, taking me up on my offer and handing me the thing.
I tuck Blob under my arm. “Oliver had to take a phone call. So he sent a responsible adult.”
“And you qualified?” Hayes says dryly.
“That’s debatable,” I say.
“Are any of us really though?” Ivy adds.
“Questions I ask myself every day,” I say, then gesture down the hall toward the ice.
When Hayes makes no signs of leaving, the three of us walk together, my teammate and I flanking Ivy. Doesn’t bother me that he’s here. Just makes things more interesting as I try to read the room with her. She seems to be doing the same with both of us, looking from him to me with questions in her pretty blue eyes rimmed with gold. “I guess I have two escorts to the rink,” she says, seeming a little amused we’re both with her.
“The mascot is a very important job,” I say.
“We can’t have anything happen to you,” Hayes adds.
“This is Mascot Protection Service then?”
“We’re all about the full-service treatment here at the Avengers,” I say.
Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Hayes stifling a grin. Cheeky fucker. After he clears his expression, he says dryly, “Yes, it’s our specialty.”
It’s my turn to hide a smile and I do it by shifting gears, focusing my attention briefly on my teammate. “Hey You, you better have my fresh-as-a-daisy jersey for me very soon.”
“Hey You?” Ivy asks.
With a grimace, Hayes grumbles, “My nickname.”
Ivy snickers.
“Don’t laugh,” he mutters.
“Too late,” I say.
Ivy’s brow furrows as we turn the corner, and once again she looks from him to me. “I’m getting the vibe you two are friends? And not of the we just became besties when Hayes joined the team today variety?”
“We skated together in college,” I say.
Before I can add that we’ve stayed friends ever since, the social media manager rounds the corner, then brightens when she spots my new teammate. “Hayes, can I borrow you to show you this picture we took of you at practice before I post it?”
“Of course,” Hayes says, and huddles with Parvati.
Since Ivy’s due at the ice in a few minutes, the two of us continue ahead without him.
“You must skate. Are you a hockey player as well? Or did you figure skate?” I ask. She must have done one or the other. The mascot doesn’t only dance in the stands. The mascot straps on skates and races around the ice in between periods.