friend.
“And speaking of tomorrow, did you decide to bring anyone to the wedding?”
Bliss knew Faith had closed the door on their other conversation. And really, what more was there to say?
“I told you not to hold that spot open. I just don’t have anyone in my life right now.”
Immediately, images from last night popped into her head. Shane, naked and braced over her body on strong arms, his hips pounding against hers, his mouth on her breasts.
Damn. If she wasn’t careful, she’d have a hot flash and need to change her panties.
“Uh huh.” Faith’s tone definitely held a hint of laughter so at least Bliss had been able to lighten her friend’s mood. Even if it was at Bliss’s expense. “I’m thinking maybe you wish there was.”
Nope, not touching that. “All right, lady. Let’s see—”
Her cell rang and her heart gave a little extra thump.
Stupid.
She picked it up, checked the number, and didn’t recognize it. But that didn’t mean anything. She used this as her work number and she got calls all the time from vendors.
Swiping it into voice mail, she refocused all of her attention on Faith. Where it should be. And not on a random hookup that would never go anywhere.
* * * * * *
His call went straight to voice mail and Shane was all set to end it when he heard her voice.
“Hi there. You’ve reached With This Ring Bridal Salon. We can’t get to the phone right now but we want to help you find that perfect dress. Please leave us a message and we’ll call you back.”
And damn if he didn’t get hard.
So, yeah, he waited through the recorded message, trying to figure out what the hell he should say.
“Uh, hey, Bliss. This is Shane…from last night.” Christ, he sounded like a fucking teenager. “I’d like to see you again. I’m free tonight or tomorrow night. Oh wait, tomorrow’s Christmas Eve. You’re probably busy. We have a game the day after Christmas but then I’ll be gone for a few days after that. Road trip.” Which she probably didn’t care about. “Anyway, give me a call. If you want. I had a great time last night.”
He cut off before he sounded like even more of an idiot.
So now what?
Blowing out a frustrated breath, he pushed away from the dining room table and tried to think of something else to do today that didn’t involve sitting in front of a screen alone.
Only a couple of guys from his team were still in the area, including the Russians. Actually, only Vladislav Marchenko was Russian. Jakub Mozik was Czech and got super pissed if you called him Russian. So, of course, they all did.
They held the first-line defensive positions and were pretty much inseparable. Had been since being drafted by the Redtails’ NHL affiliate, the Philadelphia Colonials, when they were eighteen and sent to the Colonials’ ECHL affiliate before being called up to the Redtails last season.
Those two would probably play video games all day, order in pizza, and sleep off a couple bottles of vodka. They had the ability to drink men twice their age and size under the table.
Not exactly how Shane wanted to spend the day.
No, he wanted to spend the day with Bliss.
With a sigh, he figured he could at least do something worthwhile. Like the wash piling up in his bedroom. He hadn’t been near a washing machine for a couple weeks. Might as well get that out of the way.
So he was in the basement, where he got totally shitty reception, when his phone rang.
He didn’t recognize the number at first glance but then his brain kicked in and he started to grin.
“Hey, Bliss. I’m glad you called me back.”
“Hi, Sha…How are you do…I was hop...I know it’s…but—”
Shit. The reception down here sucked. He ran for the stairs.
He got to the first floor in time to hear her say, “Shane? Are you—”
“I’m here.” He had to take a quick breath because he’d taken the stairs two at a time. At least that’s what he told himself. “Sorry. Bad reception in the
“And speaking of tomorrow, did you decide to bring anyone to the wedding?”
Bliss knew Faith had closed the door on their other conversation. And really, what more was there to say?
“I told you not to hold that spot open. I just don’t have anyone in my life right now.”
Immediately, images from last night popped into her head. Shane, naked and braced over her body on strong arms, his hips pounding against hers, his mouth on her breasts.
Damn. If she wasn’t careful, she’d have a hot flash and need to change her panties.
“Uh huh.” Faith’s tone definitely held a hint of laughter so at least Bliss had been able to lighten her friend’s mood. Even if it was at Bliss’s expense. “I’m thinking maybe you wish there was.”
Nope, not touching that. “All right, lady. Let’s see—”
Her cell rang and her heart gave a little extra thump.
Stupid.
She picked it up, checked the number, and didn’t recognize it. But that didn’t mean anything. She used this as her work number and she got calls all the time from vendors.
Swiping it into voice mail, she refocused all of her attention on Faith. Where it should be. And not on a random hookup that would never go anywhere.
* * * * * *
His call went straight to voice mail and Shane was all set to end it when he heard her voice.
“Hi there. You’ve reached With This Ring Bridal Salon. We can’t get to the phone right now but we want to help you find that perfect dress. Please leave us a message and we’ll call you back.”
And damn if he didn’t get hard.
So, yeah, he waited through the recorded message, trying to figure out what the hell he should say.
“Uh, hey, Bliss. This is Shane…from last night.” Christ, he sounded like a fucking teenager. “I’d like to see you again. I’m free tonight or tomorrow night. Oh wait, tomorrow’s Christmas Eve. You’re probably busy. We have a game the day after Christmas but then I’ll be gone for a few days after that. Road trip.” Which she probably didn’t care about. “Anyway, give me a call. If you want. I had a great time last night.”
He cut off before he sounded like even more of an idiot.
So now what?
Blowing out a frustrated breath, he pushed away from the dining room table and tried to think of something else to do today that didn’t involve sitting in front of a screen alone.
Only a couple of guys from his team were still in the area, including the Russians. Actually, only Vladislav Marchenko was Russian. Jakub Mozik was Czech and got super pissed if you called him Russian. So, of course, they all did.
They held the first-line defensive positions and were pretty much inseparable. Had been since being drafted by the Redtails’ NHL affiliate, the Philadelphia Colonials, when they were eighteen and sent to the Colonials’ ECHL affiliate before being called up to the Redtails last season.
Those two would probably play video games all day, order in pizza, and sleep off a couple bottles of vodka. They had the ability to drink men twice their age and size under the table.
Not exactly how Shane wanted to spend the day.
No, he wanted to spend the day with Bliss.
With a sigh, he figured he could at least do something worthwhile. Like the wash piling up in his bedroom. He hadn’t been near a washing machine for a couple weeks. Might as well get that out of the way.
So he was in the basement, where he got totally shitty reception, when his phone rang.
He didn’t recognize the number at first glance but then his brain kicked in and he started to grin.
“Hey, Bliss. I’m glad you called me back.”
“Hi, Sha…How are you do…I was hop...I know it’s…but—”
Shit. The reception down here sucked. He ran for the stairs.
He got to the first floor in time to hear her say, “Shane? Are you—”
“I’m here.” He had to take a quick breath because he’d taken the stairs two at a time. At least that’s what he told himself. “Sorry. Bad reception in the
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