I shrug. “I guess you were right.”

  “Yup,” he says, winking at me again, and I bite down on my lip, squeezing my thighs together. I know he notices it, but he doesn’t say anything.

  “Um… Well, er, thanks?”

  He grins. “No problem. How many sets you got left?”

  “That was the last one.”

  “Awesome. What’s next?”

  “Treadmill.”

  “Don’t do too much cardio,” he advises, putting my weights away.

  I stand up, giving him a look. “Um, cardio burns fat.”

  “Yes, but weight lifting is better for it. It’s slower but more beneficial in the end. I’ll send you an article on it— Oh, wait,” he says, holding my gaze. “I can’t because you wouldn’t give my brother the go-ahead to give me your number.”

  I press my lips together. “Well, I think it’s kinda pathetic you have to get your brother to get my number.”

  His eyes dance with mine. “Well, I wouldn’t have to do that if you hadn’t blown me off last night.”

  “Well, I didn’t blow you off.”

  “Well, you did.”

  “Well, I feel I wasn’t there with you. We just ended up in the same place. So, there is no way I could have blown you off.”

  “Well, I feel we were there together the moment we shared those pickles.”

  My eyes widen. “I never shared with you! You stole my pickles!”

  “And you stole my sauce!”

  I gasp audibly, which makes him chuckle, a low and dirty sound. “You lie! You basically forced me to eat it!”

  When he grins, my heart dances in my chest. “I knew you wanted my sauce.”

  Oh sweet Jesus. “I didn’t want any such thing.”

  He nods slowly. “You did,” he says, leaning in. “But can I tell you what I want?”

  Our eyes lock as I swallow hard. “I don’t think I want to know.”

  His eyes brighten. “Oh, you do.”

  “Doubtful.”

  “You do.” His lips curve, and my kitty cries for him. “I want your number, Pax.”

  I knew I didn’t want to know. My gaze is locked with his, and I know if I give it to him, I’m giving in to whatever game he wants to play. If I don’t give it to him, then I may regret it for the rest of my life.

  “For what?” I ask to give myself more time to figure out what the hell I’m doing.

  He taunts, running his hands down his chest and then to his hips. Not that I watch or that I’m drooling.

  Much.

  I wipe my mouth as he says, “For some texts. Maybe some calls. But definitely FaceTimes.” I fight back a grin as he moves in closer, and I can smell the sweat on his body mixed with that spicy, woodsy smell. He turns his hat to the back, his eyes on full display as he looks down at me, meaning nothing but business.

  And maybe some naughty fun.

  Or maybe I want the fun?

  “Because you’ll need my guidance when you’re lifting, and if I can’t be here, we can FaceTime.”

  “How thoughtful.”

  “Exactly,” he says, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “Also, if I don’t get to see that gorgeous face of yours when I’m on the road, I may play like shit. And you don’t want that on your conscience. Do you?” He moves in even closer, and I can feel the pure heat radiating off his big body. His eyes promise all kinds of things that I am not even the slightest bit ready for. With the most serious and thoughtful look, he asks, “You wouldn’t want me to suck, Paxy? On the ice, I mean.”

  Oh. My. God.

  I’m so screwed.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Owen

  * * *

  I made a promise to myself that I wouldn’t kiss Angie again until she knows she’s hot as fuck.

  But as I stand here, grinning at her, my cock is harder than a barbell, and I’m finding that my promise was the dumbest thing I’ve ever decided in my life. And I’ve promised some pretty stupid shit. Like when I promised Evan all my candy from Halloween if he did my chores. That was dumb. Or when I promised Quinn endless rides the summer before I left for the IceCats. Really dumb since the kid only goes to the library. Who still goes to the library? I was bored out of my mind. Or when I promised Posey I wouldn’t tell Shelli that Posey told Aiden that Shelli farted all the time. I did tell him, and then Posey kicked my ass because Shelli kicked hers. In all reality, one would think I’d learned my lesson about making promises.

  I haven’t.

  And I will kiss Angie tonight.

  Not now, though. I’ve got to keep working my magic on her.

  Angie’s lips part as she looks up at me. Even being a taller girl, she’s still shorter than me, and while this may make me sound like a complete asshole pervert—hell, call me whatever—holy shit, her tits look fantastic in that bra. I almost dropped a three-hundred-pound weight on my face when she took off her shirt. No, I shouldn’t have been watching her, and no, I wouldn’t mind dying that way. I am stoked she took my advice. I am proud of her too. She’s way stronger than she realizes, and maybe instead of promising not to kiss her, I can promise to help her learn her strength.

  Shit, if she keeps looking at me through those long lashes and thick-rimmed glasses, I’ll promise her anything.

  “Don’t put that on me,” she says, holding my gaze. “Plus, we both know girls don’t get in the way of hockey. That was drilled into your head since peewees.”

  I chuckle because she’s right. I’m pretty sure my coaches always told us not to let a girl distract you. They’ll ruin your life. But is that truly a bad thing? I mean, hot damn, look at this girl and her curves. Her sweatpants are high on her waist, but her waist dips in before it expands into some full hips and an even thicker ass. I love how she tucks her pants into her socks. It’s weird as fuck, but I like it.

  “You are not wrong, but I will tell you I sucked because you wouldn’t give me your number,” I tease, and she laughs.

  “Whatever. Fine, where is your phone?”

  I hold up a finger. “One second. Let me go get it.”

  I jog toward where Dart and Thatcher are, both giving me knowing grins. I go to my hoodie, getting my phone out of my pocket as Dart says, “If she turns you down, let me know.”

  I give him a blank look. “She’s not.”

  “She’s really pretty. Her glasses are hot,” Thatcher comments, and I nod.

  “So fucking hot.”

  I get up and run back to her to find that she put her shirt back on. Damn it. I groan, holding out my hand toward her, and right away, she brings her brows together. “Why did you put your shirt back on?”

  She rolls her eyes. “Because I’m cold.”

  “Liar!” I accuse. “You just know I can’t resist you, so you’re helping me out, aren’t you?”

  She pauses and then lets out a loud laugh. “Yes, that’s absolutely it. Are you okay, Owen? Need me to put a hat on?”

  I grin, taking mine off and then placing it on her head. She laughs, giving me a wild look, and I’m breathless. Utterly breathless. “Yup, wear the hat. It’s hot.”

  Her sigh makes my body taut. “You’re killing me, Smalls.”

  “Good,” I say with a wink. “So, listen. Before we exchange numbers, my friends think you’re hot.”

  She gawks at me. “Um. Okay?”

  “This is your only chance to blow me off.”

  She looks past me, a grin playing on her lips. “Yeah, right.”

  “No, really,” I say, before yelling to Dart and Thatcher, “Hey, don’t you guys think Angie is hot?”

  Angie smacks me, hard, on my arm, and I laugh as Thatcher nods. “I think you’re beautiful.”

  “Fucking hot, and I’d totally do you,” Dart says, nodding. “And I’m way better in bed than Owen.”

  “Wow,” she says slowly.

  “I think he has ADHD or something because he has absolutely no filter whatsoever.” I shake my head. “Also, he’s lying. I’m way better.”

  Her laughter is intoxicating as she shakes her head. “Stop.”

  “It’s true,” I say, grinning at her. “So, give me the verdict. Me or them?”

  Paxy’s eyes lock with mine as she crosses her arms over her chest. “I’m not sure what I’m choosing here.”

  “To give your number away.”

  She scoffs. “Oh. And none isn’t an option, is it?”

  “Ha! You know you want to give me your number.”

  She purses her lips. “That hasn’t been proven.”

  “It has with the way you’re pursing those lips at me. You basically want me to kiss you.”

  She snorts. “You’re delusional.”

  “Am I, though?”

  Her face turns red as she looks away.

  “Can I have your number now?” She hesitates only for a second before she spits the numbers at me. Once I save her contact, I look back up at her. “I texted you.”

  “Oh. I guess I’ll text you back.”

  “Yeah, do that. And also, you can do me one better.”

  She raises a brow. “Like what?”

  “Let me take you out.”

  “When?”

  “Tonight.”

  She shakes her head. “You’re kidding.”

  “I’m not. I’m hungry. Are you hungry?”

  Paxy looks down and sighs. It’s like she’s trying to resist me, but we both know she can’t.

  I reach out, running my hand up her arm. She looks up at me. “I know you are.”

  “It’s late.”

  “Yeah. So, we’ll go through a drive-through and then back to my place.”

  She makes a face, taken aback by my comment for some reason. Did she want a fancy dinner? I can do that too. Whatever she wants. “Wow. You assume I’m just going to sleep with you?”

  I blink. “That escalated quickly.” She holds my gaze. “Um. No? I know you like the beach, so I thought we could eat on it.”

  She presses her lips together as a blush fills her cheeks. “Oh.” She closes her eyes, covering them with her hand. “This is so awkward now. I don’t even know why I said that or even assumed that. Like you’d want to sleep with me.”

  I watch as she drops her hand and looks at me, complete embarrassment on her face. I raise my hand, and she looks at me crazy, but I don’t care. “Can we clear something up really fast?”

  She brings in her brows, eyeing me suspiciously. “Um, is it going to make this exchange even more awkward?”

  “I don’t think it’s awkward at all,” I say simply, hold her gaze.

  “It is. I feel stupid.”

  “Don’t. I don’t think that at all.”

  “You’re just being—”

  “If you say ‘nice,’ Angela Paxton, I swear on everything holy, I’ll bend you over my knee and give you a very un-nice, practically naughty, spanking.”

  Her eyes widen as a laugh escapes her lips. “And you say I escalated things! Jesus Christ!”

  “Yes, you will be calling for him.”

  More laughter from her, and I grin widely. “Now, as for clearing that something up. I want you. Hands down. I’d take you right now and fuck you so damn good, you would not walk, you would not think, and you sure as hell would not be asking if I wanted you or not.”

  She swallows hard, pressing her hand to her chest. “Sorry, this is entirely too much information, and I’m having a hard time breathing.”

  I don’t know how my smile grows any more, but it does. I love the color that is filling her cheeks. How her eyes are so wide and glossy. Then those lips, all parted and sweet… I want her. “I have that effect on people.”

  She scoffs. “You’re so full of yourself.”

  I chuckle. “Am I?”

  “Yes, but if I’m honest, I’m actually enjoying it instead of being annoyed by it.”

  “You were annoyed by my confidence?”

  She gives me a look. “Um, yeah. I wanted to be confident like that. And then I wanted your attention, but I never got it.”

  “Because you never gave me the time of day.”

  “Because I thought I was too good for you. I didn’t want some dude who just wanted to fuck me and leave me,” she says, watching me, waiting for my reaction. “Things changed when I saw how wonderful you were with Evan about his mental health.”

  I nod. “Things change. People change.”

  “You’re absolutely right.”

  “And you still are.”

  She scrunches up her face in confusion. “What?”

  “You’re still too good for me,” I say, leaning in and pressing my lips to her cheek. “So, say yes.”

  I pull back, and her lips slowly move up at the side as I take her hand in mine, threading our fingers together. She glances down at our hands and then back up to me. “I’m not dressed for the beach.”

  “We can stop and get you a bikini.”

  She snorts. “No, we cannot.”

  “We can, but I won’t push that. You got on shorts to match that sexy bra of yours?”

  Her eyes sparkle. “I do.”

  “Then you’re good.” She goes to argue, but I squeeze her hand. “Can you drive? I rode with Dart.”

  “Yeah.”

  “All right, let me get my stuff.” I bring her hand up, kissing the back of it before walking away like I just scored one hell of a breakaway goal. I didn’t need a good pass or setup; I had the goal in mind, and I scored.

  And I’m nowhere near done with Angie Paxton.

  “You honestly drive like a grandma.”

  Angie’s eyes widen as she gasps, “I do not! I drive safely!”

  I snicker. “Who taught you to drive?”

  “My dad.”

  “Exactly. Benji is such a cautious driver.”

  “Yes, because he doesn’t want to die,” she informs me as we kick off our shoes. “Who taught you to drive?”

  “Shelli.”

  She scoffs. “I’m surprised you’re still alive. She’s the worst driver I know.”

  I laugh loudly, the sound mixing with the crashing of the waves as we reach the beach. “Funny, that’s what my mom says.”

  Angie flashes me a bright smile as I spread out a large blanket that I took from the couch. I pull off my hoodie as she lays out the food from Nauti Dogs on the blanket. We ate the fried avocados on the way to my place because she drives so slowly and I couldn’t wait. I sit down, unloading our bag full of every type of hot dog they had as she sits down across from me. She takes a long pull of her Diet Coke, and I open one of the dogs, digging in.

  “God, I’m starving.”

  She shakes her head. “You’re always hungry.”

  I nod. “I’m a growing boy, but I worked out like three times today.”

  Her brow perks. “You did? Why? I struggled to work out once.”

  “We had morning skate and then morning conditioning, and I knew you came at night, so I made the guys go bench with me since this morning was all legs.”

  She flashes me a small grin. “You came because of me?”

  “Uh, yeah. When Evan said you didn’t answer him, I needed to find ya.”

  “That’s not creepy at all.”

  “I didn’t think so,” I say simply as I take another bite. “Why did you have to force yourself to go today? You’ve been going almost every day, haven’t you?”

  She picks at the coleslaw and bacon on her barbecue hot dog. “I have. Been pretty damn consistent, actually, but I had a bad day.”

  “Why?”

  She shrugs. “You don’t want to hear about my bad day.”

  “You’re right. I asked because I was trying to be ‘nice,’” I say with one air quote since I’m stuffing my face with my other hand.

  She fights back a grin and gives me a stern look. “Do I get to spank you since you used the nice word?”

  I pause mid-bite. “God, yes. Do you want me on all fours?”

  She chokes with laughter, and man, I love the sound. It’s throaty and even has a little snort. Super joyful. Especially when her eyes light up like they are right now. Even in the dark, with the light from the moon and from the inside of the house shining on her, I can’t get enough. I want to consume her like I am this hot dog. “Stop.”

  “Fine. Tell me about your day, or I will literally get on all fours and wiggle my ass at you.”

  More laughter around her bite, and I think I might find the way she eats even sexier. She does this cute little thing where she covers her mouth but looks right in my eyes. God forbid there is sauce on her lips, because that tongue comes out, and I’m left fighting for my next thought. “I’m not sure which I’d rather do.”

  “Wow, okay!”

  She laughs, her face so bright and happy. I wish she would take off some clothes. She has to be hot, but she stays in her dark-colored sweats. “I told you how I don’t like my boss slash roommate’s boyfriend, right?”

  I nod. “Yeah, he’s a dick.”

  “Super dick,” she agrees. “He’s just very rude to me, so I told London about it this morning, and she just kind of blew it off. Said I was being sensitive and that he was just messing with me.”

  “The fuck?” I say, making a face. “Do you think he is joking around?”

  “No, not at all,” she says around the bite she just took. “He’s outwardly being mean to me.”

  “What’s he saying?”

  She looks away then, shrugging. “Just calls me names.”

  “What is he, five? What the hell?”

  “Exactly. But according to her, he would never be like that. It’s as if she doesn’t even know him, but what bothered me the most was that she wouldn’t even hear me.”

  “She’s not your friend,” I say simply. “A friend would listen to your concerns and address them, even if she doesn’t think them to be true. It’s validating the person, ya know?”

  “Exactly!” she says, holding out her hand to me. “Man, your parents really did a good job raising y’all.”

  I smile proudly. “It’s true. We’re all amazing,” I joke, and she scoffs.

  “So cocky!”

  “Hey, I’m only cocky about the stuff I know to be true.” She rolls her eyes, but I’m not done with the whole friend thing. “But you should tell her about herself.”