Page 10 of Three Hockey Hotties

“Of course,” Kane says, as if he has any idea if that’s true or not. There are rules for these events and legal considerations.

Benjamin would know.

But this is all just talk. It’s not like we’re actually setting up an event.

“I mean, specifically, can people walk on the ice? In regular shoes?”

“Absolutely,” I tell her. I step out onto the rink to prove the point. I slide my feet back and forth, and Kane fights the urge to laugh at me. He knows I’m showing off.

Hell, yeah, I’m showing off. I want Abby to think I’m awesome.

“Come on,” Kane says to Abby, joining me on the ice. He holds his hand out for her.

She takes it.

Kane sucks in his breath. If I didn’t know him as well as I do I’d never notice it. He covers up the confusion I can tell he feels with a playful grin.

He’s as surprised as I am by our mutual reaction to this girl.

Abby gives a little squawk as she slides on the ice. “I’m going to fall!”

“Don’t try to walk. Just glide.” Kane takes Abby by both hands and pulls her forward. “Trust me. I’ve got you.”

“What the hell is going on?”

I jump when I hear a familiar voice behind me.

Turning, I spot Benjamin storming onto the ice in his suit and fancy-ass shoes. He points at Kane, who has put himself between Benjamin and Abby. Abby has glided out of earshot. I hope.

“I expect a stunt like this from him. But you?” Benjamin points to me. “You know better.”

I immediately feel defensive on Kane’s behalf. “Hey, this isn’t what it looks like.”

“It looks like my brother brought one of his little girlfriends onto the ice when the arena is empty and is putting us at risk for a serious legal issue.”

I’ve always thought it was cool that in Kane and Benjamin’s house they never distinguished between biological and stepsiblings.

But right now all I hear is Benjamin being the bossy older brother.

It’s annoying, but I’m also not going to argue with him. Kane and Benjamin bicker and poke at each other, but it’s not my style. I hate arguing. Hell, I hate any sort of confrontation. It’s why my dog, Linda, is so spoiled.

Nothing I’m going to say is going to change what they’re going to say.

They both always have a lot to say.

“This isn’t one of my⁠—”

Kane cuts himself off, and I give him a puzzled look. He’s not going to deny that Abby’s a girlfriend? Interesting.

Though I suppose I would have a hard time saying that she’s just some girl who showed up at the arena too.

Also interesting.

“This is Abby,” Kane starts again. “She’s here because⁠—”

“I don’t care,” Benjamin interrupts. “You can’t have her here after hours.”

“It’s not really after hours,” Kane says.