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“Clara! Come on! I need a picture of you and Darcy!” We both look in the direction of my sister Elliot as she holds her belly at the bottom. I can’t believe my sister is pregnant and that I’m going to be an aunt, but I can’t wait. It’s going to be so much fun spoiling that little guy.
“Coming,” I call to her before looking back at McCoy. “I gotta go.”
He holds up my card, his fingers rubbing the smooth surface of the paper. Fingers I wish were on me. Goodness me, I’ve never wanted anyone like I want him. With his voice low, he says, “I’ll be in contact.”
“I hope so,” I say, way lower and more seductively than I intended. “Bye, Coach.”
“Riggs.”
I pause, and then I curve my lips widely at him. “Bye, Riggs.”
His eyes darken, and he knows I’m flirting. My face burns as I turn quickly and head toward my sister. When I look over my shoulder, Riggs is watching me, his brows pulled together and his lips pressed in a tight line, looking every bit like I’m a rock in his shoe. But I know what his smile looks like.
And I will be rewarded with another.
CHAPTER 3
Riggs
Alex Cruz stays on my last fucking nerve.
He dances on it.
He pokes it.
He drives me up the goddamn wall.
He is the bane of my existence, and if he didn’t keep pucks out of the goddamn net, I’d tie his ass to the goal naked and use him for target practice.
Fucking fool.
Ever since he found out he’s having a boy, he’s been floating across the ice like a goddamn ice skater rather than my winning goalie. I get that he’s excited, that he’s proud, but apparently, it’s impossible to be a goaltender and a future father.
“Aye now, the girls might be looking for another ice dancer for between whistles, but I don’t think you’d look good in the skirt.”
Alex throws his head back and laughs as he skates to the left, his right leg in the air as he glides, his arms out from his body. “Little do you know, I’ve got the thighs for a skirt.”
I scoff. “You’d know for sure, aye.”
He chuckles a bit more before he does a little turn and starts for me. “I can’t help it. I’m so stoked to be a dad. A boy dad.” He beams, and all I can do is nod. I’m happy for him, but his cards will never be mine. I learned early I’m not meant to have the wife, kids, love. I’m supposed to have Gordie and Gretzky and my hockey team. That’s it. But I have to admit, I am a wee bit jealous of Alex.
Not only is he stupidly in love with Elliot, but he’s breaking generational curses by wanting to be the best dad imaginable. I know he’ll do it. The kid doesn’t back down from a challenge. If he wants it, he gets it, and fuck, if he doesn’t deserve it. He’s a fucking idiot, but he is a good man. I’m proud of him.
“I’m gonna need you to rein it in, Cruz.”
He laughs once more, his eyes dancing with excitement and mischief. “No can do, Coach. Maybe if you put yourself out there and found someone to knock up, you wouldn’t be so hateful.”
I tried to be patient, but I can’t.
I throw a puck at him, getting him right in the padding around his ribs. He laughs once more, skating toward me. “I’m sure there is a rule against abusive coaches.”
“Turn me in, please, then I won’t have to deal with you.”
He leans on the boards. “You don’t mean that.”
“Try me,” I encourage, and he grins.
“For real, Coach, get you someone.”
