Forever Wild (Wildcat Hockey Book 5)

JACK

Hell is Everly in a bikini smiling at me like she wants me to kiss her again.

She hasn’t said anything about the kiss all afternoon, but the way that she looks at me tells me she’s thinking about it as much as I am.

She’s already gone through my email, but she sits with her legs outstretched watching me while I finish my workout.

“Stop looking at me like that,” I warn, cocking a brow.

She’s the one in a skimpy suit, but she’s looking at me like she can see my dick growing harder through my shorts.

“Like what?” she asks innocently.

She wants me to say it. She wants to know how I see her and watch me squirm as I wrangle with the fact I kissed her last night.

I should have done more. I should have fucked that look right off her face last night.

Because now that I’ve had some time and distance, I’m not going to let her push me into acting again.

She uncrosses her ankles, drawing my attention back to her long, tan legs. “I’m gonna swim. Are you coming in after you’re done here?” Her eyes drop to my bare chest as she unabashedly checks me out.

“I can’t. I have to go to the arena.”

“Oh.”

I want to kiss the disappointed look off her face. My head is conflicted. No, that’s not true. My head is clear on what to do, but other parts of me are not on board. Nothing has changed. She’s still too young for me, still my teammate’s sister, and still completely off-limits.

“Maybe you could pick me up later though? I need to drop the SUV off to have some maintenance done.”

“Maybe.” She gets to her feet and then walks closer.

Don’t look at her tits, man. Don’t do it. I do not have time for a cold shower today.

“Or I can grab an Uber if you’re going to be busy swimming in my pool.”

“What time?” she asks with a small laugh. “I have plans later.”

“It shouldn’t take more than a couple hours.”

I want to know what those plans are and if they include Thor, but asking would be admitting that I don’t want her to go out with him or anyone else. Although that’s probably clear after I crashed her date last night. I’m not sorry. Not even a little bit.

“If I pick you up later, will you kiss me again?”

“Ev.” Her name comes out strangled and gruff. She’s killing me and I am going to hell.

“Fine, fine. I see we’re not talking about it still.”

“Talking won’t change anything.”

She shrugs one shoulder. “By my memory of last night, I wouldn’t want to change anything.”

Yep, definitely trying to kill me.

When I get to the arena, it all hits me again. The accident. My career hanging delicately in the balance. All that I have to lose.

I love this place. It will be hard enough to walk away at the end of my career, but doing it years earlier than expected, would be excruciating.

I check in with Coach Miller, give him the update from the doctors, which he already knows because there is little that happens with his team or players that he doesn’t know—except that time Leo was sleeping with his daughter—that was one sticky situation.

I’m feeling good, lighter than I have in months as I head to the locker room. I come up short when I find someone else already there pulling on his skates.

“What are you doing here?” I ask Nick as I walk across the green-carpeted floor. “I thought you were spending the summer in Kansas City.”

“I was until my dad decided I needed a real vacation and sent me packing.”

I arch a brow in question.

“Something about beaches and girls in bikinis.” He runs a hand through his hair and then waves that same hand around to emphasize his next words. “Pina coladas and all that bullshit.”

“And you ended up back here?” The beach sounds nice. So do girls in bikinis. One girl in particular.

“I don’t do fun and sun,” he says like the words pain him. “I don’t know what my dad was thinking.”

“He was probably thinking you could use a break from being a single dad.”

“I don’t need a break from Aidan.”

“I don’t mean it like that, but you do a lot for him all on your own while also managing our chaotic schedule. Taking a few days to recharge doesn’t make you selfish or a bad dad. A break can be good.”

He eyes me skeptically. “When did you become an expert of being a parent? Something you want to tell me.”

“Fuck no. The only action I’ve seen recently is with my hand. And I’m an expert on everything.” I take a seat next to him in my stall. It feels good to be here. The familiarity of it all.

“How’s the rehab going?” he asks.

“Slower than I’d like, but I’m getting there.”

“Are you hitting the ice today?”

“No, I just came to see Coach. The doctor wants me to give my knee a few more weeks before skating.”

“It’s gotta be killing you. What have you been doing all summer?” He finishes lacing his skates and stands.

“Nah,” I say then bob my head. “A little, but I’ve been busy. Therapy, doctors’ appointments, hanging by the pool.” My lips pull into a smile.

“What’s that look?” Nick asks.

“No look. I’m just enjoying the summer.”

“Mhmm.” He lifts both brows and aims a knowing smirk my way. “Who’s the girl?”

A flare of panic blooms and bursts like ice water over my head. Nick stares expectantly, waiting for me to tell him about the newest girl that I’m seeing. I’ve never been big on sharing about my personal life so when I shake my head and say, “It’s not like that,” he just grins at me.

“Whatever you say, Cap.”