Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 121764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
“Are you kidding? I was born for this,” I told her with a grin, shimmying my hips with a little twerk against her.
She barked out a laugh. “You’re just like your brother.”
I wish.
The thought was sudden, like a bolt of lightning, but it burned out just as quickly.
We boarded the party bus to the roar of two-dozen rowdy teammates, all of them chanting Vince’s name as he hoisted the Calder Trophy high over his head in victory. He propped his foot on the first bus seat and did a ridiculous body roll celly dance with the trophy, making the bus full of hockey players cheer louder.
I’d seen it a million times, my brother celebrating. He was just the kind of person who excelled at everything he put his mind to. The fact that he was currently holding the trophy for NHL rookie of the year, and he could also craft beautiful vases out of clay, was proof of that.
“It’s so loud!” I screamed over the noise.
Maven laughed, squeezing my arm. We paused by the driver at the front of the bus as my brother held his trophy up proudly.
“I’ve dreamed about this moment since I was in high school,” he said, and by some miracle, the guys on the bus calmed enough so they could hear him. “Back then, I saw it as a solo award…”
He continued on, but I only half listened as I scanned the bus full of men watching him with rapt attention.
The Tampa Bay Ospreys.
I’d seen these guys clown around, heard them chirp each other enough that I knew they were like family. But in this moment, they were all focused on Vince, respect shining through their expressions.
He was already a leader to them after just one year on the team, and that made my chest swell with pride again.
As I scanned their faces, my eyes locked with a pair of twilight blue ones in the very back.
Jaxson Brittain.
He was a defenseman for the team, that much I knew because whatever team Vince was on, I made it my mission to know everything about them. I was my brother’s biggest cheerleader — other than our parents.
I also particularly remembered Jaxson because of how those bright blue eyes had trailed the length of me on the tarmac in December when my parents and I had surprised Vince for Christmas.
That was before he knew I was his teammate’s little sister, back when there wasn’t a giant red flag protruding from my forehead.
And in that moment, his eyes had devoured me, had seared my skin and sparkled with dark, delicious promises.
I’d basked in the glow of his attention — however brief it was.
The memory of it now sent goosebumps parading down my spine.
Jaxson blinked, and I tore my gaze away and back to my brother just in time to see him pour a beer into his new trophy before chugging it to the wild approval from all his teammates.
“I hope you’re ready for a long night out,” Maven said to me.
In the next instant, she was tugged into my brother’s lap, and I cleared my throat and looked away uncomfortably so I wouldn’t have nightmares from watching him maul her. I was looking up at the ceiling when my brother acknowledged I was still there.
“Oh, shit, here, Gracie,” he said, moving the trophy and scooting over so I could sit next to where Maven was still in his lap.
I scoffed, pulling my hair behind one shoulder. “Please. I’ll pass on the third wheel.” I turned to the bus full of Ospreys next. “Who’s got an open seat next to them?”
It was silent for two seconds.
And then the bus erupted into chatter, every guy yelling for my attention while they shoved teammates out of seats to make room.
Maven laughed when I waggled my brows at her, a shit-eating grin on my face. I loved to fuck with my over-protective brother, and flirting with his teammates was the easiest way to do it.
Vince’s jaw was tight as he stood up and pointed a death finger at every single one of them.
“Don’t you fuckers even think about it.” He glowered at everyone before focusing on Jaxson at the very back, and with a snap of his fingers, the sergeant gave his order. “Jax, let her sit next to you. You’re the only one I can trust.”
Those blue eyes slid to me again, only this time, they were wide open.
I thought I saw him swallow, which made me grin.
Nothing like making my brother’s friends uncomfortable. I’d been doing that most my life, too, since he’d threatened every friend he’d had to stay far away from me.
Vince pointed at me next. “If any of them lay a hand on you—”
“Oh, my God. Relax,” I said, and then I skipped to the back of the bus, smiling at every player as I passed.