Rush the Edge: A Brother’s Best Friend Hockey Romance (Blue Devils Hockey Book 3)

Keeping my distance has been harder than I thought. Without there being a game for two days, I was counting on the fact that I wouldn’t run into Daisy in that revealing devil’s costume at the rink, but leave it to River to be fucking clueless and invite her to go out with us.

He rarely gets any time off, but whenever he does, he wants to go explore the city—something I’m fine being a wingman for.

Until he brings Daisy along for the ride.

Talk about a cockblock, and I can’t decide if I’m referring to her or if I’m referring to him.

“Where are we going?” River asks. “I’m starving.”

“Starving?” I chuckle. “What about thirsty?”

The only way I’m getting through this night is with booze. I won’t overdo it, not with Daisy in proximity with that stupid dress hardly covering her ass, but one or two will at least knock the edge off.

“That too,” River adds.

“A club downtown.” I nod to the left, and they follow closely behind. “It’s exclusive.”

Daisy’s annoyance skims my skin, and I grin.

“It better not be a strip club,” she grumbles.

River laughs. “I wouldn’t mind.”

Daisy makes a gagging noise, and the filthiest thought enters my head.

I glance over my shoulder at her mouth.

Is that what she’d sound like gagging on my cock?

She glares at me, and I turn away with a tight jaw. This is going to be a long fucking night.

When we get to the club, music vibrates the soles of my shoes. I flick my chin to the bouncer, a long-time Blue Devils fan who lets us cut the line—something I don’t feel bad about. The sooner we get in, the sooner we get out.

Every male on the other side of the red rope gives Daisy a once-over. My fist flexes by my side.

River leans in. “Get used to it.” He chuckles dryly. “It’s been like this for years.”

It has?

It wasn’t like this in high school.

Daisy was always preoccupied with other things—like me.

Her nose was either buried in a book, or she was out in the backyard, picking dead leaves off her plants and gathering pretty flowers for her mom. She’s always been beautiful, but she wasn’t like the other girls our age who stripped their sweaters off the moment their parents looked the other way. When teenage boys see a little skin, they’re hooked. Daisy went unnoticed, except by me.

Now, though, everyone notices her.

I don’t like it.

With Daisy taking in the vibrant colors of the club, I glance at River. “How many punches have you thrown because of guys looking at her like they’re doing right now?”

He laughs and raises his voice so I can hear him over the music. “Only a few.”

My eyebrows raise.

His heavy arm wraps around my shoulder as the other one goes around Daisy’s. He pulls us through the crowd with a grin. “I don’t have a temper like you,” he adds. “That’s why I wasn’t surprised when I came across an article about you and how you’re one of the biggest hotheads in the league right now.”

I clench my jaw.

So what?noveldrama

I’m a little angry at times.

Half the time, it isn’t even because of the game, but when you’re already on edge over something else, it doesn’t take much to fall over it.

“Funny…” Daisy leans forward and looks me dead in the eye. “I came across an article about Kane too.”

“What did it say?” River asks.

Here we go.

Daisy’s claws are out, and I’m more than ready to be scratched.

Her flirty smirk itches something inside of me that is just out of reach.

“It said he was the biggest man whore of the league, always pictured with a new puck bunny on his arm.”

What a little liar. I sometimes bring them home, fuck them on the couch, and then they’re off on their way. There is no time for photos in between all of that.

I chuckle. “Lying doesn’t look good on you, Daisy-Petal.”

She makes a sarcastic noise, stepping past her brother to spar with me. “I could say the same about you.”

River puts his hands out and pushes us apart. “What is with you two? Apparently, we all need to let loose tonight.”

He turns to Daisy. “Well, as much as you can I guess.”

Daisy angles her chin and glances to the packed bar. “One drink won’t hurt.”

River drops his hands and shoots her a look. “Daisy.”

She shoots him one right back, and I find myself wanting to stand up for her, even though I’m fully on River’s side.

Her hip pops out, and three men behind her break their neck to get a look at her ass.

Like an animal, I bare my teeth at them.

“Moderate alcohol consumption can be good for Lupus,” she argues. “That’s something you told me and then was later confirmed by Dr. Gibson. Plus, none of my current medications have reactions with alcohol, so I’m fine to drink one, River.”

I expect him to argue again. Maybe he’ll even tell her to leave, which would probably be for the best.

“Fine,” he says.

I snap my attention to him.

“Wait, what?” I ask.

He ignores me and continues with the conversation. “Only one.”

Daisy plays with a lock of her hair and smiles mischievously. “Whatever you say, Dr. Sullivan.”

Then she turns and takes off toward the bar to get her one drink.

River and I make eye contact, and I hate to admit that I’m the only one who seems perturbed by this. I quickly smooth my face to hide the fact that I’m filled to the brim with tension when it comes to her, even more after the other night. I rattle off my drink order so he can get the first round and find us a corner table to hang out at. I pull my phone out of my pocket and text for some reinforcements.

Slipping away for a few minutes to handle the rest of my brother’s bullshit won’t go noticed, but the more eyes on Daisy, the better. With her short black dress held up by nothing more than a few flimsy straps, some drunken idiot is bound to push the limits. I’d hate to throw him through a wall and show Daisy just how wildly possessive I am when it comes to her.

River returns with our beers after a few minutes with Daisy following closely behind. She’s got this flirty look in her eye, and I can’t help but ask what has her in such a good mood.

I stare at the side of her delicate jaw, the blush on her cheekbone catching the light above us. “I got a free drink.”

My nostrils flare. I follow her line of sight and glare at a group of guys with hard-ons, looking at Daisy. She raises her fruity drink in the air, and they do the same.

“They just want in your pants.” Malt flavoring coats my tongue as I take a swig of my beer, hopeful it’ll cancel out the taste of jealousy.

Daisy’s girly laugh fills the air. “Obviously.” She shoots me a look that makes me want to wrap my hand around her neck to bring her mouth to mine. “This isn’t my first time going out. I know how men work.”

River, clearly oblivious to the raging war going on inside of me, shakes his head. “Daisy and Natalia were masters at getting free drinks in college.”

“Well, they weren’t always free.” Daisy puts her glass up to her lips, but I can still see the outline of her sexy grin.

“Meaning?” I ask.

River clears his throat. “This is getting gross. Later.”

With his beer, he heads toward the bar where a few women are standing. I should join him, just to put Daisy in her place, but I’m too interested in her answer to move even an inch.

“I mean, what do you expect when you buy a girl a drink?” She toys with the rim of her cup, licking the salt off the top. I know she’s doing it on purpose. “Oh, wait.” She laughs sarcastically. “You don’t have to buy them drinks. I’m sure those slutty puck bunnies you’re so fond of just open right up for you.”

My beer clanks to the table with force as I set it down. I quickly lean in, and Daisy’s knowing grin disappears right away. “Stop fucking with me.”

The teasing glint in her eye disappears, and I know a challenge is coming. Her shoulders straighten, and she pushes her chest out so I get a direct view of her irresistible cleavage. “Or what?”

It’s sort of sad that she thinks she can beat me at this little game. I tap my fingers against the table. “Or I’ll really give you a reason to be jealous.”

Daisy’s lips part, but she keeps the charade up by acting unfazed. “The only person who is going to be jealous tonight is you.”

My mouth curves. “You’re going to regret saying that, baby.”

Daisy snatches her drink, and I watch as she downs it in one gulp.

Ah, hell. Here we go.

“We’ll see,” she quips.

Before she can get too far, my hand winds around her waist briefly. I slip my mouth right next to her ear. “I’ll win, little devil…” I move in front of her so she can’t beat me out to the dance floor. “‘Cause I always get what I want.”

And what I want is her.