Setting my phone down, I glance at the files on my desk and check my schedule. Since I don’t have any more patients for today, I decide to pack up my paperwork and take it home with me.

  I’m too curious about what’s lying on my bed and the excitement of the game tonight to stay in this office any longer. I quickly gather up any files I need and my laptop before letting the office know I’ll be gone the rest of the day and to contact me by cell if they need me for anything.

  I walk inside my house less than thirty minutes later. Freya greets me at the door, and I scoop her as I set down my bag on the kitchen counter. Her purr vibrates against my chest, and I smile into her soft fur.

  “I’m happy to see you, too, beautiful girl.” I give her a treat before setting her down and opening my bedroom door. I gasp at the large box on my bed and several other packages lying next to it.

  I recognize some of the designer names and realize he didn’t spare any expense on these items as I run my hand over the pretty boxes before lifting the lid of the bigger one.

  My eyes widen in shock when I see the beautiful black dress folded carefully inside. Picking it up, it feels like butter against my skin as I admire its beauty. It’s elegant with a halter neckline and mermaid silhouette style, but gives off the right amount of sexy with the slit up the side and one between the breasts.

  The next few boxes reveal gold strappy heels, a matching handbag, and several different styles of lingerie that I can’t wait to try on and surprise him with.

  I notice a smaller box as I reach for it and open the lid. A delicate gold chain holds the number twenty-two pendant. Grinning, I quickly try it on. It nestles perfectly between my breasts, keeping it close to my heart. It’s something I can hide from my brothers until we tell them, but allowing me to have a piece of him secretly with me.

  It’s perfect, and something I know I’ll never take off.

  Reaching for the last gift bag, I remove the tissue paper and peer inside, pulling out the small note card with my name written in his handwriting.

  When I was asked what number I wanted to wear in the NHL, it was an easy decision for me. I couldn’t think of a luckier number than the day you came into this world.

  My hands tremble as I reread what I just read.

  He picked the day of my birthday?

  I knew it was the same number, but I never would have guessed that’s the reason he chose twenty-two. I never questioned why he picked it.

  I’ve never given a girl my jersey, nor have I ever asked one to wear my number. You seem to be bringing out a lot of firsts in me that I never thought I would want, but I do want them. I want them all with you.

  I’ve worked hard for that number, but I don’t want to wear it alone anymore. It’s yours now just as much as it is mine.

  I know if you wear my jersey tonight, your family will have questions, so the necklace will have to do until we tell them.

  I finger the gold chain already around my neck and smile as I continue to read his note.

  It’s probably best you don’t wear it tonight, anyway. I’ve fantasized for years about seeing it on your body, so the first time I see you wearing my jersey, I really need you alone, sunshine. I have a feeling I won’t be able to hide what it does to me. Dropping to my knees on the ice might not be the best way to intimidate the other team or make my coach happy.

  I love you, sunshine.

  Love,

  Your obsessed stalker

  I giggle at his joke as my core tightens with anticipation. Reaching into the bag, I pull out the black and white jersey.

  His jersey.

  I see twenty-two on the back with STONE written above the numbers. Lifting it to my face, I grin into the material and take a deep inhale.

  He must have worn this because it smells just like him as I breathe in his sin and spice scent that I love so much. I can’t stop the smile on my face as I inhale one last time before folding it nicely and setting it on the bed.

  Fingering the lingerie lying next to it, I pick up the red set as an idea forms in my mind, already counting down the seconds until we are alone tonight.

  I hang the dress carefully on a hanger and put away the rest of the items before opening my phone and pulling up our texts. He probably won’t see it until later because of all his game prep, but I want him to know how much it meant to me.

  Savi

  I don’t know what to say. You spent way too much and are spoiling me. Everything is beautiful and perfect and so thoughtful. The dress is gorgeous and exactly what I wanted. I’m wearing the necklace now and don’t plan on ever taking it off. I can’t wait to wear the rest for you, especially the jersey. I know it means a lot to you, so thank you for choosing me. I’ll proudly wear your number and will always be your number one cheerleader. I love you.

  Love,

  Your obsessed victim of your stalkerish ways

  I set my phone down with a smile before pulling my work out and getting busy. I want to look extra special tonight, and make sure I have enough time to get ready.

  It’s going to be hard after the game to pretend in front of Miles that I’m not madly in love with his best friend, but I’ve done it before, and I can do it again. Since everyone is going to know soon, this could be my last chance to have a little fun with our secret.

  Forbidden fruit always tastes the best, and finding a way to sneak a bite of him is a challenge I’m up for and a temptation that I will gladly give in to.

  THIRTY-TWO

  KNOX

  Stepping out of the team meeting, I glance at my phone and see a text from Savi. Smiling, I open it up as I walk down the hall to the locker room and read what she wrote before responding.

  Knox

  I’m glad you loved everything. I love being able to buy you nice things. Growing up, I didn’t have much, but now that I do, spoiling you is something I very much enjoy, so you are going to have to get used to it.

  I’ll always choose you, sunshine. Thanks for being my cheerleader. I’ll see you at the glass tonight. ;) Love you.

  Jesus, she has me doing winking faces now.

  What the hell has she done to me?

  I pocket my phone just before Hayes slaps me on the back.

  “This game is going to be a fucking good one,” he grins. “You ready to kick some ass?”

  “Always,” I say, feeling the cocky side of me rear up as game day excitement pumps through my veins.

  “Fifty bucks says I go over one hundred again,” Kane says, coming up behind us.

  “Hit a hundred and two, and I’ll double it,” I nod in his direction, knowing it’s a damn good investment.

  “You’re on,” he grins, opening the door to the locker room and disappearing inside as we follow him.

  Cayden is already in his usual spot with his headphones on. His eyes are closed as he leans his head back against the wall, getting into his zone before we hit the ice for warmup.

  Walking over to my locker, I set my phone on the shelf before grabbing my earbuds and a team iPad. The best way for me to prepare for a game is to know every detail of what I’m up against.

  Sitting on the bench, I study for the next half hour. Each move of the goalie…every maneuver of their players is tucked away into my brain and will be used against them later.

  By the time I’m suited up and hit the ice for our warmups, I’m ready to put it all out there tonight. I glance at where Savi will be sitting and still see the seats empty. It’s early yet, so I didn’t expect to see her so soon, but it’s become a habit of mine to look for her.

  Cayden skates back and forth in front of his net, getting the ice roughed up to where he likes it, as the rest of us do some light passing drills to warm up our muscles.

  “Fuck, I may need to try this relationship thing one day,” Hayes mumbles, looking past me into the stands. “It might be nice to have something shiny and red that I can call my own.”

  “What the fuck are you talking about?” I mutter, passing the puck back to Foxx.

  “I think he means that lucky charm is looking extra hot tonight,” Foxx chuckles, nodding his head to the crowd.

  Turning around, I immediately see what has my team members frothing at the mouth. Full red lips break out into a smile when she notices me looking at her.

  She’s wearing a white Bolts tee that dips in the front, and I see a flash of gold around her neck, letting me know she’s wearing her necklace I bought her. My mouth suddenly turns dry because I know exactly what my number is nestled between.

  “I’ll be right back,” I shoot back to my lineup, not even bothering to look at them, as my eyes only want to focus on one thing.

  As I get closer to the glass, Miles appears with Olivia and Bee, along with Jake and his family. When they notice me, I force myself to stop staring at their sister and pretend I came over for them. Which is no simple feat when I can feel her eyes on me, causing an unseen tether to bind us together with such force that I’m surprised the glass isn’t cracking from the pressure.

  “Uncle Knox!” Bee’s little voice rings out as she scrambles down the center steps, closer to the glass, with Jake’s daughter Charlotte right behind her. They are adorable, just as I thought they would be with their matching pink Bolt dresses.

  Except for Bee’s dark curls, she looks just like Olivia with her hazel eyes and dimples. When Miles told me he was dating a single mom, nothing could have surprised me more, but once I saw the two of them together, I knew she was perfect for him. Little Bee was just an added bonus. She’s become my little bestie over the past few months and immediately took hold of my heart.

  I grin at her and Charlie, holding my finger up to tell them to wait right there before skating over to the extra pucks on the ice. Hooking two with my stick, I stop in front of them again and nod at Miles, who steps behind the girls.

  Flicking one over the glass, Miles easily catches it and hands it to Bee while I toss the other one over to Jake to give to Charlie. Both girls are jumping up and down as they hold the pucks in their hands.

  My eyes get drawn back to Savi as the girls scramble to their seats in excitement. Something stirs in those blues that has my heart pounding something fierce.

  She fingers the necklace around her neck, and I want to scale the glass like a spider monkey to taste that red lipstick on those lips that are making me have wicked thoughts that I have no business thinking around her brothers, let alone their children.

  I glance at her family, and they are busy giving the kids their snacks and getting them settled in for the game before moving back to the one who has me under her spell. A smile plays on my lips as I touch a glove over my heart to where her tattoo lies before giving her a wink and skating away.

  Her words from earlier suddenly enter my mind as I chuckle on my way to the center line.

  Score a goal tonight, and what I’m wearing will be put to good use when it ends up all over you later.

  The red lipstick.

  Well played, sunshine, well played.

  I finish my warmup and head to the locker room before game time with one thought going through my mind.

  I’m getting that goal tonight, and the red color she is teasing me with right now will most definitely end up smeared.

  My legs burn as I push myself forward, landing against the boards as I fight for control of the puck. I knew the Hawks would be out for blood, but I underestimated how badly they wanted this win.

  It’s been a no-scoring game up until they got one in the second period on a power play. Since then, I’ve been fighting like hell to get this leech off my back, so I can get a shot in. I should say leeches since I feel like the whole damn team wants to babysit me tonight.

  Our only chance of winning now is for one of my teammates to slide by, since apparently, they are making it crystal clear that I’m not to get close to the net today.

  “Fuck,” I spit out, straddling the wall quickly as I move to sit on the bench for a change out. “Give me that last play,” I shout to the equipment manager as he hands me the tablet.

  Focusing on the screen, I see where we messed up, and a shot could have been taken. If I can get them off of me for two seconds, then I know we can make this happen.

  “Kane,” I yell down the bench. “You ready to win that bet?”

  “I’ve been waiting all night,” he grins. “Just get me that puck and an open shot, and it’s payday for me.”

  “McCormick, I need you to take care of number eighteen. He’s been up my ass all night. I just need a few seconds to get in there.”

  “Got it,” he says, not taking his eyes off the game.

  I glance up at the scoreboard.

  Five minutes left.

  “If I pull Blade, do we have this, Stone?” Coach says, standing behind me.

  It’s a big risk if they get a breakaway and score on an empty net, but the extra guy on the ice would help me find an opening.

  I look to Hayes and the rest of the guys, who all nod in agreement.

  “Pull him, Coach. We’ve got this,” I ground out, tightening my hold on my stick.

  “Watkins, you’re in with Stone,” Coach yells, waving Blade in as we hop off the bench for a fast change-up, not wanting to lose control of the puck.

  My blades hit the ice, and I immediately go after the puck with two guys on my tail to try to block me. We hit the boards, shoving and fighting for control.

  McCormick comes up on my right and blocks number eighteen, allowing me enough time for my stick to make contact with the puck. I manage to shoot it down the boards toward Foxx, who does a half turn, blocking the guy next to him and sliding the black disc across the ice right into the curve of Kane’s deadly weapon.

  He whips around the other players, stick handling like a pro, as we scramble to give him an open shot. The moment he sees one, his arm reaches back, and the slap of the puck against wood rings out as it sails at a dangerous speed right past the goalie’s outstretched hand, swishing the net in the upper right-hand corner.

  The red light goes on, and the horn blares as we tie up the game with just seconds to spare.

  Kane shoots his broken stick in the air as we surround him with congratulations.

  “Best fucking hundred dollars I’ve ever spent,” I grin, tapping my helmet to his. “Can’t wait to see what that was clocked at.”

  “You forgot something,” Hayes laughs, picking up the other half of Kane’s stick.

  “Couldn’t handle the heat,” Kane grins as he skates back to the bench for a replacement.

  Blade takes his place inside the net again as we face off for the remaining ten seconds to kill the game with a tie.

  Gathering around the bench, we take our five minutes to go over the strategy for sudden death before I’m lining up for another face off.

  Both teams hold their own before the buzzer goes off again, with no goals scored.

  “Shootout time,” I smile, feeling myself get pumped for the one-on-one chance. Shootouts don’t happen too often, but when they do, it’s a rush like never before.

  One player is doing everything in their power to slide it past the red line, and the other is doing everything they can to stop it.

  You haven’t lived until you’ve looked into the eyes of a goalie as you shoot down from center ice, knowing only one of you is going to get what they want.

  “McCormick, you’re up. You want first or second?” Coach asks, giving him the opportunity to make his own decision.

  He glances at Blade as a smile plays on his lips. “Depends on whether Blade wants to stop this fucker’s shot or not before I get mine in.”

  Cayden breaks out into a grin, and I already know what the cocky bastard is going to say.

  “I’m always up for a little more practice. Let’s see what he’s got.” He flips his mask down and takes off toward his net.

  Grinning, I watch him do a few stretches as their player takes center ice. The crowd is silent as the two size each other up before Blade gets into position and stares him down.

  Once he takes control of the puck, the fans get rowdy as they watch with their eyes peeled to the black disc bouncing off the stick.

  Pulling back, he takes his shot, and Blade shoots his leg out and stops the puck, giving the arena a deafening roar as the fans light up with cheers.

  McCormick is next as he takes the ice and stops at the center line, staring down the goalie.

  Gripping the handrail, I hold my breath as he takes hold of the puck and picks up speed. His stick handling is fast and skilled to perfection as he fakes a shot left and slides it by to the right at the last second, landing behind the red line.

  “Fuck yes,” I grin, as our players bang their sticks against the railing in cheer.

  We watch another Hawk player take the ice before Cayden catches it with his glove. He stares down the player before tossing the discarded puck onto the ice at his skates.

  Chuckling, I grin at the smug bastard, knowing he’s loving this just as much as I am.

  Looking up at the scoreboard, I know we need only one more to win after their two empty nets in a row, giving us the advantage in a best out of three.

  I see number eighteen skate around the front of their bench, letting me know he’s next if we don’t get this next goal.

  “Stone, you’re up. Bring us home,” Coach says, grabbing my shoulder as I grin widely.

  “You got it,” I reply, putting all my focus on this next shot as I hop over the bench.

  Tuning out all the noise, the world goes silent as my blades glide across the ice and come to a stop at center line.

  I size up the goalie and look him straight in the eye until the whole arena disappears from my vision and all I see is him. From the footage I watched earlier and by watching his every move in this game, I know his weaknesses and his strengths.

  He crouches low and gets in position as he waits for me to begin. Leaving the puck on the ice, I skate around it and head toward the opposite end before turning and picking up speed. I grab the puck on my way past it, stick handling it back and forth to keep him guessing where I’m aiming for.