For as dazed and sexually frustrated as she felt at that moment, it was nothing compared to the want in his eyes. Fucking A. Whatever happened next was going to go down in the history book of oh-my-God-yes, right next to standardizing bread being sold in sliced loaves and whoever thought of double espresso lattes.
But then, Ian just brushed his lips across her forehead and left without even one of his signature grunts. Meanwhile, she stood there, dumbstruck with her fingers pressed to her kiss-swollen lips, trying to untangled what in the world had just happened and what would happen next.
…
Attempting a breakaway while pulling a Zamboni would have been less difficult than leaving Shelby’s hotel room. But he’d done it. Kissing her hadn’t been part of his plan when he’d gone to her room.
Yeah, like you even had a plan, buddy.
All he’d known was that he didn’t want her to have all those shitty comments in her head. The need to spare her that had gotten him out of his room before he’d even considered what he was doing. And then he’d kissed her, because not doing so was pretty much impossible and he didn’t have a single fucking regret about it.
Not until he noticed that Christensen was standing in his open hotel room door, watching Ian as if he were the best reality TV show there was. He really should have checked the hallway first before walking out of Shelby’s room. God knew what Christensen must be thinking.
Pretty much the same as you would be, boy-o.
Ian glared at the other man. “Why do you look so damn happy?”
“Because I was starting to lose patience waiting for you to make your move,” Christensen said without any hint of embarrassment about getting caught gawking.
“What are you talking about?” He regretted the question as soon as it was out of his mouth.
This was what came from that practice session yesterday. Now the door had been cracked open between them, and keeping Christensen out would be that much harder. The guy knew him too well. That’s why he’d had to shut everything down between them with brutal efficiency. The Ice Knights forward had the skill on and off the ice to find an opening.
“You walking out of Shelby’s room with what looks like a smile on your face,” Christensen said. “I mean, I can’t be sure, since it’s been so long since you’ve done anything but glower.”
“Fuck off.” Ian crossed over to his door.
“What, you’re not interested in her?”
As if he was going to tell Christensen that. Instead, he just grunted and used his key card to unlock his door.
His former best friend made an exaggerated huh sound. “I’ll take that as me being cleared to move in.”
Ian knew what this was. It wasn’t the first time Christensen had busted his chops like this—or he’d done it to him. Used to be it was their preferred pregame warm-up. Talk shit, let out the nerves, and get ready to go kick ass. If he thought he could use the same tactics to make him jealous, he had another think coming because he knew Shelby like Christensen never would.
“You really think she’d go for a never-shuts-up pretty boy like you?” he asked.
“Why not?” Christensen smirked. “Women find me irresistible.”
Oh yeah. This guy was very much not Shelby’s type. Who was her type? Ian was. “Okay, go for it. Knock on her door and try your best.”
“I will.”
“Go ahead.”
Christensen looked at her closed door, the first twinge of oh-fuck-what-did-I-get-myself-into giving his face a pinched look. “Now?”
Ian crossed his arms and waited. One Mississippi. Two Mississippi. Three Mississippi.
Finally, the other man walked over to Shelby’s door and gave it three quick taps.
Shelby opened it. “Hey, Alex. What’s up?”
Christensen leaned against the doorjamb and gave her a grin that graced the billboard ads he got the big money for. “Just came by to say hi.”
“Um, okay.” She looked over at Ian, her eyebrows raised in question, and then back at Christensen. “Hi.”
“So,” Christensen said, “did you want to go grab coffee?”
“I’ve got some already brewed,” she said. “But you’re sweet to have thought of me.”
He winked at her. “Anytime.”
“Okay, then.” She started to shut the door, first making eye contact with Ian as if to ask what was going on. “Bye.”
As soon as the door shut, Ian did the slow clap. Okay, maybe he was the cocky asshole, but he had to go with his instinct. The Shelby who’d nearly laid him out with a Taser wasn’t the type of woman to melt at Alex Christensen’s insincere flirting.
Mind obviously blown, Christensen turned to him, his face scrunched up with confusion. “What the hell, man?”
Was he enjoying this moment a little too much? Probably, but he could live with that. “You don’t understand a woman like Shelby.”
Christensen scoffed. “And I suppose you do.”
“Without a doubt.” Now that was definitely a step too far, but he understood her a helluva lot better than his brother.
She had no time for bullshit. It was something they had in common.
The elevator dinged its arrival at the end of the hall, and Coach Peppers walked out, carrying a steaming cup of coffee in a to-go cup. “There you are, Petrov.” He took a sip and twisted his mouth in revulsion. No doubt because there was actually coffee in the cup as opposed to the 99 percent milk and sugar the coach was used to. “Doc’s given you the all clear. You’re playing tonight. I expect to be amazed by you two. Morning skate in an hour.”
On. The. Ice. He was finally getting back. Jacked up on an instant
