Page 42 of Temptation On Ice

His story fucking breaks my heart. How can anyone be so…fucking horrendous?

But if I dig deep, I know the truth of it, and he’s right. People are the worst, and I should expect this if we’re going down this road. I take his hands and squeeze.

“I hear you, and I know it won't be easy. You gotta stop trying to warn me off. I know this will come with its own set of challenges. Every relationship requires work, so thanks for letting me know what to expect for this one upfront. You’re making it easier to anticipate the pitfalls and jump scares that will hit me rather than be surprised by them at random times. It feels good to have someone a bit more versed in this to give me the rundown.” I smile and hope he’ll relax and just give in already. “Just remember, every relationship comes with its own set of rules and issues, beyond what the outside world brings to it, so even knowing all that awaits us, we’d have plenty to overcome together anyway.”

“You really don't want to be persuaded otherwise,” he says, a note of awe in his voice.

“Hi, my name’s Sebastian Montenegro. My teammates call me Monty, and everyone knows I’m a determined asshole and stubborn as all hell. Nice to meet you. Wanna rub dicks together or whatever it is we’re gonna do?” I ask, sticking my hand out as I smile widely.

He bats my hand away. “I don't even know what to do with you.” He shakes his head, barely holding back his snicker.

“I’ve already told you what you can do with me, but you keep shutting me down. Maybe if you gave in and gave me a try, you’d realize it wasn’t so bad after all?” I argue.

“You have a kid, and you live in the public eye with your job. Don't be impulsive and irrational because you want to try something new. I’m not that much of a novelty. Just give it a few days, okay? I’ll see you at the game later this week. We can talk after that.”

I let my hand drop along with my hopes. This motherfucker is just as stubborn as me, and I’m going to prove that I’m worth his time, even if I have to glue myself to him.

Eighteen

Tucker

I’ve never been to a professional sporting game, but I thought I had an idea of what I was in for with all the college football games I’ve been to. The University of Georgia games are insane in the best way. Go dawgs!

Nothing could have prepared me for the absolute spectacle that is professional ice hockey.

Cami and I arrive early with Ajax, the name fans settled on for the team puppy, and our special passes let us into Olympus Arena without any issues. Cami guides us through the building, following directions provided by McKenna again, and we end up at a hospitality room where families are milling about. McKenna sees us and rushes over, catching the attention of a few women with children around them.

“Welcome to opening night!” she says, smiling brightly and bouncing so her ponytail swings. “I’m so happy Ajax is finished with his intensive training and can join us tonight. He gets the honor of dropping the ceremonial puck, which is a big deal around here, especially with the home opener. Look at this adorable jersey I had made just for him!”

We ooh and ahh appropriately as she hands the small jersey over.

“We’ve been working with him on his drop command to prepare him for his big moment,” I say, trying to find my excitement.

“He’s ready to wow the crowd with his cuteness,” Cami adds, looking up at me with a smile that barely hides her warning.

She’s been on me all week, knowing something’s going on because I’ve been off, but she hasn't been able to get the details. If I told her Sebastian is interested in me, she’d wallop me upside the head and tell me I’m stupid for turning him down and to go get my man. Which is why I’m keeping the information quiet. I don't need any outside influences to sway my already precariously perched decision.

“Great! Tucker, Cami, please meet the Olsen ladies!” she says, gesturing to the women who have come up beside her. “Paige, Harlowe, and Ainsley are married to Hayes, Zander, and Payton, the brothers who own Olympus International and built Olympus Arena.”

“And brought professional hockey back to Atlanta,” Paige, the dark-haired woman with red lips, says as she shifts a little boy on her hip. “The guys are quite proud of themselves for that fact.” She smirks and shares a look with the other women.

“No kidding. You’d think they invented hockey with how much they like to talk about their accomplishment,” Harlowe, the tallest and curviest of the three, with a stunning beauty even I can appreciate, says. She expertly catches the hands of a little boy as he hurtles by, stopping him from launching himself onto the puppy. “Axel, you rocket-fueled menace, you have to slow down so you don't hurt yourself or the dog. Gentle hands, like we’ve taught you.”

“I wanna pet the puppy!” he shouts, swinging from her hands with his momentum.

“You have to watch that one,” the blonde, Ainsley, says with a side-eyed look at the child. She’s the only one without kids clamoring around her and seems to be the most reserved. “I’m praying to any deity that will listen that my child will only have a fraction of his energy and rebelliousness. Otherwise, I don't know what I’m going to do.”

“Ainsley is pregnant with her first. She’s a bit nervous now that she knows it’s a boy,” Paige says, putting an arm around the petite woman’s shoulders. “Don't worry, between me and Harlowe and the six kids we’ve had, we’ve experienced everything and know how to get you through it.” She smiles reassuringly at her sister-in-law.

I swallow hard, thinking of six kids. That’s a lot. Those billionaires like making babies, it seems. I love kids, but no one has ever liked me enough for me to even consider having a family of my own. I’ll probably be the fun gay uncle to Cami’s future kids. Enzo is really sweet, though. I’d want to have kids of my own if I could have a kid like him. Or even him.

Oh, shit. Nope, I'm not looking at Sebastian’s kid as a potential child of my own. That’s too much to even consider.

“Sounds like you have a wonderful support system around you,” Cami adds, because I have no idea what to say as my brain unhelpfully fixates on wishing I could be a parent to Sebastian’s kid when I’m actively trying to convince him I’m not worth his interest.

Ainsley smiles and looks between the other women. “I do.”

“Thank you so much for partnering with the team this year,” Harlowe says, bending down and making sure her son gives Ajax gentle pets.