Thomas dives back center, but Kel is already tapping the puck in through the five hole for the score. There aren’t any rousing cheers and no one throws their hands up in victory over the goal. That’s because this isn’t a game, but rather our first practice session of the season, and we’re just doing drills. Basic stuff to get warmed up and acclimated to the ice.

Hitting his goalie stick to the ice in frustration, Thomas mutters, “Great job.” Kel taps his stick lightly against Thomas’s calf in acknowledgment and we all skate back to the other end of the ice while the next set of three gets ready to go.

I come to a halt next to Alex, resting my hands at the top of my stick as I let the blade rest on the ice. “Want to go grab some lunch when we’re done?”

“Sure,” Alex says as he watches the next drill. “Sutton’s meeting Olivia for lunch, so I’m free.”

Olivia.

Damn, that woman is hot. And funny. And bright. And did I mention hot?

I was seriously bummed she wouldn’t go out with me, and even more bummed when Sutton pretty much nixed any further attempts on my part to seduce her. While I really had no more intentions other than seeing if I could fuck her, I had to admit to myself that the chase itself was more fun than any I’ve ever had. There was something about her smile and her flirty voice, and the challenge she presented.

“So, why don’t we hook up with both of them for lunch?” I ask benignly.

Alex shoots me an eye roll. “There will be no ‘hooking up’ to be had between you and Olivia. I thought Sutton made that clear.”

I snort in amusement. “Your woman has no say-so in what I do.”

Shrugging, Alex merely says, “It’s your scalp she’ll have. I’m just trying to protect you, man.”

Coach gives three sharp blows on his whistle after the last drill and yells out, “Okay. Great work today, guys, but time’s up on this session. You knuckleheads clear out for group B.”

Damn…practice is over already? I was so juiced to get back on the ice, and the time just seemed to fly by. Pushing off on my skates, I start heading toward the door that leads under the arena seating and toward the locker room.

As I step onto the concrete flooring, I glance back over my shoulder at Alex. “Seriously…why doesn’t Sutton want me to go out with Olivia? Am I not good enough for her?”

Alex pokes me hard in the back with his stick, causing me to stumble forward a foot. “You know Sutton adores you. She’s just protective of her cousin, that’s all.”

“It’s not like I’m going to corrupt her innocence,” I grumble as I reach the locker room. “It’s just a date, for fuck’s sake.”

Alex snorts as he follows me in. “Seriously? A date? Is that what you’re calling it these days?”

“Yes, a date, douchebag. It’s not like I haven’t ever gone on a date before.”

“Yeah, but your idea of the perfect date ends up with you in the sack, busting a nut.”

“So what?” I mutter. “Who wouldn’t want to end a date like that? In fact, tell me you didn’t want your first date with Sutton to end that way.”

Alex’s face flushes guilty red and I smirk knowingly at him. I don’t give him a chance to deny it and hit him hard. “Besides…I’ve gone out on plenty of dates that don’t end up with the chick in my bed, and if Olivia just wants to go out for a nice time, then I’m all for that. I don’t have any expectations one way or the other.”

I have hopes, but no expectations.

Hanging his head in resignation, Alex grumbles, “All right, I get it.”

I grin over my victory and sit down on one of the benches to remove my skates. But the victory is short-lived when Alex brings me back down to earth. “But she already turned you down, dude. So it’s kind of moot, right?”

My eyebrows furrow in consternation, because, yeah…Olivia was pretty adamant that she didn’t want to go out with me. But I’m also not one to give up so easily. If I was that type of person, I would never have made it as a professional hockey player.

“Do you have Olivia’s phone number?” I ask Alex.

“Nope,” he says, looking a little relieved not to be tangled up in this.

“Call Sutton…get it for me.”

“No fucking way,” Alex says forcefully. “Sutton would wring my neck for even asking. You’re on your own, man.”

Asshole, I think to myself, but then a devious smile comes to my face. No matter. I know where she works. I think I might be in need of a fresh floral arrangement. My brain immediately starts thinking of how I can approach Olivia and get her to reverse her decision not to go out with me.

—
I push open the glass door to Fleurish, immediately hit with wonderful scents. Some floral, but some spicy. My eyes are then treated to a barrage of colors as I’m overwhelmed by the sheer volume of plants and flower arrangements that are perched on tables and various stands. Subtle mood lighting is reflected with small, decorative lamps strategically placed around the store. I’ve never been in a flower shop before, but it’s…nice. Definitely calming.

“Can I help you find something?” I hear a somewhat effeminate voice that I don’t recognize as Olivia’s.

As I look up, my eyes round with surprise, taking in the man standing before me. He’s short, at least a foot shorter than me, and very thin. He’s wearing a pair of dark skinny jeans, Doc Martens, and a bright pink wife-beater with the armholes cut down almost to his waist. His hair is almost a white-blond, with a long, pink-tipped Mohawk sticking up at least a good five inches. A floral design of pink crystals starts at his right eye and extends over his cheekbone.