Playoff King (Puck Battle Book 7) Page 2

  “Get off the road,” she yelled, running towards the street. Her heart leapt into her throat as the gap between the dog and the speeding hunk of metal narrowed. “Stop!”

  Seconds before the car zoomed by, a man scooped the dog and rolled onto the ground a few feet in front of her. The car didn’t stop, and neither did she. The man groaned when he stilled on the concrete by her feet. This person risked their life to save an animal. She’d never witnessed anything so brave and stupid in her life.

  The man grumbled and held out the puppy for her to take. He wore track pants and the hood of his jacket covered his head, preventing her from seeing his face. Their hands brushed as Jill took the shaken mutt. She tucked it against her chest.

  “Wow. That was… something else. I’ve never seen anything so selfless. Thank you for saving him.” She scratched the soft fur on the dog’s head and watched the man rise. Her breath hitched, and she swallowed hard as he towered over her. The man had a solid build; at least double her width. Intimidating. “This little bundle owes you his life. I wonder where he or she came from.”

  He dusted himself off. As his hood fell back, her jaw dropped past her knees. He was stunning. His hair was cropped short, drawing her eyes to his strong brow and ruggedly sexy beard. He had dark and hypnotic eyes. His gaze was sharp and intense, capturing her breath and holding it hostage. He looked young enough to be her kid, but hot damn he was attractive. Her inner Mrs. Robinson switch flicked on.

  The silence wasn’t uncomfortable, but she fidgeted under his scrutiny all the same. He didn’t speak a word as he looked at her. First at her lips, then her throat. Her heart rate sped as the seconds ticked by. His gaze swept down her body at such a slow and sensual pace. She shivered, and it had nothing to do with the slight chill in the air. She felt ready to combust by the time their eyes connected.

  “OMG. Thanks for not letting Harry get crushed,” a girl said, jogging up to her on the sidewalk.

  Jill had been so mesmerized by the handsome stranger she hadn’t heard the couple approach over the distant traffic and the loud thunder in her chest. The teenager collected the puppy and fussed at the animal

  “That tuck and roll maneuver was epic,” the boy announced, tossing an arm over the girl’s shoulder. The pair was decked out in Puck Battle hockey gear.

  The stranger shrugged his shoulders, dropped his chin to his chest and rubbed the back of his neck. He didn’t respond. It seemed as if he didn’t want the praise. She couldn’t take her eyes off him. He shoved his hands in his pockets like he was ready to bolt and stepped back from the group further into the shadows.

  “You should have a collar on him,” Jill admonished the kids.

  The boy pulled one from his pocket. “He wriggled loose when we weren’t looking. Anyway, thanks for finding him before something bad happened.” The two turned and raced across the empty street with their pet.

  A few moments passed and neither of them spoke. Her pulse raced as his eyes flirted with her exposed skin. “Hi, I’m Jill,” she said, breaking the silence.

  She’d done it. She’d made the first move. Now what?

  CHAPTER TWO

  S he didn’t extend her hand for a proper introduction because it seemed too formal. Plus, he seemed a little skittish, and she didn’t want to scare him off. Jill chewed her lip, hoping he’d respond.

  “Good evening,” he finally said. He spoke with a heavy Slavic accent. “I’m Luka.”

  Jill smiled. “Well Luka, you were at the right place at the right time for that pup. Are you okay? You took a mighty tumble there.”

  He pulled his hands from his pockets, inspecting them. They were huge, like everything else about him. Her eyes darted towards his pants and back up. He caught her and smirked. “No harm done.” He turned to face the street. Even his side profile was striking. Strong and chiseled.

  “Um… were you out for a run or something? It’s kind of chilly out.” She rubbed her bare arms as the wind picked up.

  “Energy to burn,” he responded. The way he said burn ignited a fire over her skin. As if his touch alone would brand her for eternity. “Are you cold, Jill?”

  The May weather was far from warm, but this was the first conversation she’d had that didn’t revolve around her kids or hockey. She wasn’t ready for it to end. “Can I buy you a drink? A reward for your bravery, or something.”

  The desire to facepalm was difficult to resist. No wonder she never left the house. Flirting was not like riding a bike.

  “I’m no hero, but I am thirsty.” Luka tilted his head towards the hotel.

  She nodded. “Yes. Great.” Jill clapped her hands and turned towards the hotel.

  He opened the door for her and she smiled. They entered the pub, and she headed towards her abandoned bottle of wine. There still weren’t many patrons. The group of men in the booth and a few couples.

  “Is this okay?” She pointed towards the vacant bar stools. “Or we could get a table. There’s no shortage of spots to sit.”

  “The bar is good.” He waited until she sat before sitting next to her.

  Their knees touched as she pivoted towards him. She didn’t move away as heat transferred, spreading towards the apex of her thighs. She cleared her throat, which sounded more like a whimper. “So how has your evening been so far? Her hands balled the fabric on her thighs, exposing more of her legs.

  The corner of his lip lifted, but not enough to be considered a smile. “Some would say successful. But there’s always room for improvement. How about you?” He placed his large hands in front of him and splayed his thick fingers wide over the wooden bar top.

  “It—”

  “Didn’t expect to see you tonight, Luka. Can I grab you the usual?” the bartender interrupted her.

  “Yes. Thank you, Mitch,” Luka answered never taking his eyes off her. “You were saying.”

  Jill pinched the stem of her wine glass. “How do you know the bartender?” She wanted to follow it up with the clichéd line of ‘do you come here often’ but didn’t.

  “I’d rather talk about you. What brought you here tonight? Besides chasing puppies in the street.” His smirk chipped away at some intimidation.

  “I’m only here for one night. This is my first solo trip in forever. It’s been a little lonely to be honest.” She couldn’t believe she’d told a stranger she was lonely. “I’m so used to having my kids around,” she added.

  His eyebrow lifted. “You have children, but no wedding ring.”

  She glanced at her empty ring finger. It had been void of jewelry for over a year. “That’s very astute of you to notice. The marriage didn’t work out, but I have three fabulous kids. Two rambunctious boys and a girl.” She pulled her phone from her purse and showed him the home screen. Seeing the photo of her kids, made her heart ache.

  The bartender delivered a tumbler filled with a clear, bubbly liquid and an orange slice as a garnish. She quickly put her phone away and dismissed the rising guilt. Talking with this man wasn’t wrong. A woman living only half a life was wrong. That had to stop.

  “Add them to my tab Mitch.” Luka twirled the glass on the bar in a semi-circle before raising it to his mouth. A sliver of his tongue poked out and connected with the rim of his glass. Three large swallows later, he emptied the contents. The liquid left his lips wet.

  An urge to taste them swept through her. It would be as simple as leaning forward an inch and she’d be sampling the excess moisture. That was insane, given this man was half her age. Mingle and flirt, but that’s it.

  “I offered to buy you a drink, but thank you. What um… so why aren’t you partying outside with the rest of the city?” She mimicked his posture, leaning against the bar with one arm.

  Luka shrugged his wide shoulders, put his empty glass down and rubbed the back of his neck. “Why aren’t you?”

  “Touché,” she answered. “I’m not much of a hockey fan these days. How about you? Did you watch the game?”

  The bartender laughed out loud. She faced him as he covered his mouth. “Sorry. Did he watch it? Ha!”

  “Mitch.” Luka’s tone lowered. He narrowed his eyes at their bartender as his lips curved into a full, brilliant smile.

  Damn. Those perfect teeth and his killer grin were lethal. Her nipples hardened. She thanked her lucky stars for padded bras.

  “My bad. I didn’t mean to laugh.” Mitch held up his hands in surrender but continued to chuckle. “This city is hockey central right now. Round three and all.”

  “Don’t you have other customers to harass?” Luka plucked the orange slice from his glass and sucked the fruit from its peel.

  The non-sexual act brought her straight into the gutter. She pictured those lips on her breasts and then lower. Her neglected core tightened, and her legs twitched.

  “Can do. Either of you need anything before I go?” Mitch asked, and they both shook their heads. “Have fun.” He winked at her and walked away.

  “To answer your question, yes, I caught the game. It was very close,” he said, inching his body closer.

  She smelled the citrus on his breath. Her mouth watered. “It was a win. That’s all that matters for the team.” She picked up her wine and swallowed the last few drops.

  “That’s not the only thing that matters.” He grabbed the bottle of wine, and she nodded for him to top up her glass. One hand covered hers as he poured. “The last thing I want to talk about is the game. I wasn’t in the mood for big crowds, but not ready to be alone either in my apartment.”

  The contact was to prevent the glass from tipping, not flirting. That’s what she told herself to calm the fluttering in her stomach. “Big crowds aren’t my thing either,” she breathed. “With the time change, I’m not the least bit tired. I’m happy to discuss any topic besides the NHL.”

  When he didn’t remove his hand, something passed between them. An invitation of sorts. She couldn’t explain it, but that one insignificant move now seemed very relevant.

  The rough pad of his thumb caressed the inside of her wrist. One small circle sent goosebumps racing across her arm. He moved his hand and scratched along his beard. “What is your thing, Jill?”

  That was a loaded question. She had no idea how to answer and opted to take a sip of her drink. The crimson liquid spilled down her throat as he waited for her response. She took another sip. Stalling.

  “You’re staying at this hotel.”

  It was phrased as a statement, but she felt compelled to answer. “Yes. I have a suite with an extra-large Jacuzzi. Not that I’ll use it, but it’s there. I have one at home and use it often. It’s a great way to relax, soak and ease sore muscles.” An image of Luka’s wet body pressed against hers clouded her vision. “Sorry, I’m rambling. Have you stayed here? Probably not, since you are from Winnipeg,” she answered her own question.

  “No, I’m not original to Canada, but I live here. For now. I’ve seen the suites. They are nice.” His eyes moved to the exit and then back to hers.

  The move was subtle, but she now understood how these things worked. People didn’t have to come right out and announce their intentions. She didn’t know much about Luka, but she got the impression he was interested in checking out her room. If she took his hand and lead him into the elevator, they’d be kissing before the doors closed. Or it was all in her head. She couldn’t be sure.

  One thing she knew with one hundred and fifty percent certainty was she wanted him to kiss her. Age gap be damned. She wanted those lips on hers. Feel the scruff of his beard against her cheeks. There was only one way to find out if he wanted the same thing.

  Jill sipped her wine and closed her eyes, breaking the connection. There was no way in hell she would ever come right out and say what lurked in her head. Her fragile ego couldn’t handle the rejection. Her hormones were a mess after reading that steamy book through dinner. There’s no way a young stud would be interested in her. It made little sense. She must have misinterpreted his friendliness for more. She opened her eyes and exhaled.

  “You mentioned you’re not from here. Where are…” The words fell away when his hands landed on her knees. His legs were on both sides, caging her in. Only a thin layer of nylon prevented skin to skin contact. She wanted that in the worst way. Suddenly, her earlier assessment didn’t seem so wrong. The flirting wasn’t in her head. She forgot how to breathe.

  “Tell me more about yourself Jill. What brought you here?” Luka asked with a smile.

  She considered herself a private person, but his smile made her want to open and tell him all her dreams. All her desires. It was silly. “I’m here for some me time. My eldest just turned sixteen, and she’s perfect in every way, but she can be extremely demanding. She’s starting a rebellion phase. My boys came much later. They are two and a half and seven. They keep me on my toes. Are you a parent?”

  “I’m not, though I love kids.” His hands remained on her as he spoke. “I can’t believe you have a sixteen-year-old. Did you have her when you were ten?”

  She laughed. “You’re a charmer. Are you hitting on me?” The question popped out. “Don’t answer that,” she added.

  “Would that be a bad thing?” He squeezed her legs, and she shivered.

  “Not bad at all,” she answered.

  “Jill, I’ve had a rough night with too many things not going my way. Do you know what it’s like when you expect things to happen one way and then everything goes sideways?”

  Why was he touching her and how could she get him to touch her more?

  To prevent herself from blurting obscene comments, she chewed her lip and nodded. If she spoke it wouldn’t make sense. Breathe in and out, she reminded herself. Passing out from a pat on the knee would be mortifying.

  “Tell me something. How is a beautiful woman like you here alone?”

  She swallowed past the lump in her throat. “You must need glasses. I’d lend you mine, but I left them upstairs,” she joked. When he didn’t laugh, she filled the silence. “I… It just happened. So, you think I’m beautiful.”

  “Very. The way you carry yourself is sexy.” He inched his hand onto her thigh and paused. If he was waiting for her to push him away, it wouldn’t happen. He licked his lips and leaned forward. Smooth, like a move he’d performed countless times. Seductive and effective.

  “Luka,” she inhaled his combination of citrus and man. “What are we doing?”

  The corner of his mouth lifted in a sinfully sexy grin. “We are talking and learning about each other. No?” He pushed the hem of her dress up, revealing the top of her stockings. A predatory look came over him as he eyed her black garters.

  “Right,” she answered.

  Luka grit his teeth as his fingers greeted her bare leg. He leaned forward until his beard tickled her cheek. It was so soft. “We are touching,” he whispered into her ear.

  She ran her fingers through the short hairs at the back of his head. “Physical contact is good.” Jill felt like a live wire ready to explode. “What else?”

  “Feeling,” he said, grazing his palm along her thigh until the tips of his fingers met her panties.

  No one had touched her there in far too long. She struggled for her next breath as his heat penetrated her core. “That might be something for private.”

  “Would you care to show me your bath? You said you enjoy soaking your body. We could relax together and continue our conversation in private.” He removed his hands and leaned back.

  She nodded. The reaction was instantaneous. No second guessing. She was all in for spending more time with Luka. Especially if it involved him half naked and wet. She was almost purring at what that might look like. Jill slipped from her stool. Her legs wobbled, but she didn’t fall over.

  Taking him to her room would lead to many possibilities. They knew nothing about each other. A moment of hesitation followed as she grabbed her purse. He could have been an axe murderer or something, but a sociopath wouldn’t have saved a puppy. Besides the obvious attraction, he seemed like a decent guy. Anyone in her shoes would have accepted his offer. Right?

  “Follow me,” she croaked, moving from between his legs towards the door that connected the bar and the hotel.

  He reached past her and opened the door. “Ladies first.”

  Her heels clacked against the tile at warp speed as she led them to the elevator. His heat was only inches away as he kept the pace behind her. Her brain slipped into overdrive. This getaway had been booked to spend time with her ex. His effort to reunite her family. Being intimate with another man wouldn’t help make that happen.

  Luka’s hand landed on the small of her back when they reached the wall of elevators. Her heart pounded so hard she felt it throbbing in her ears. Once she did this, there was no turning back. Then again, hope for her marriage had fled long before this trip. It was a lost cause. Terry no longer shared her dreams anymore. But this fantasy was real and happening.

  She pressed the button and leaned her hand against the wall. They were two people about to share a hot tub. It didn’t have to go beyond that. But she’d be lying if she didn’t admit to wanting more. Jill ran her fingers through her hair to steady the shaking. It didn’t help.

  Luka wrapped his arms around her, pressing his chest to her back. “You’re shaking like a leaf. Are you cold?”

  If he meant, did she have cold feet? Yes and no. If he meant temperature wise, the answer was no. She was burning up.

  “I’m okay,” she said, melting into his embrace and letting her head fall against his chest.

  He was so much taller and broader. His size no longer intimidated her, but she was far from comfortable. It had been too long since she’d gotten this close.

  He leaned down, pressing his nose into her hair. He collected her hair around his hand and inhaled. The growl that followed made her core quiver. “We’ll warm you soon,” he whispered, pushing her hair over one shoulder.

  The doors opened. He moved her forward, keeping his body pressed against her. No one followed them inside. She pressed the fifth floor and turned to face him. Her eyes focused on his lips. She inched onto the tips of her toes.