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

“There!” Reese stands back and admires her handiwork. The open container of blue sequins is at her feet, the needle trapped in between her teeth.

I glance at the row of sequins she replaced and run my hands over them. “Where did you learn to sew?”

Reese smiles. “My gram. I was her shadow when I lived with her. She taught me to sew and cook before I could even read.”

“My gram taught me to garden.” I step off the pedestal and fix my devil horns in the mirror. “I think that’s why I’m so obsessed with plants now.”

Reese laughs. “I think we are the same person, Daisy. Just two old souls.”

“That’s why we became friends in three seconds flat.” I pause. “Or maybe it’s because you were so invested in my mascot debacle.”

She nods. “Well, that too.”

“You good to go?” Cindy pops her head into my dressing room with her headphone piece on.

Today, I am tasked with working extraclose to some of the hockey players for some media coverage. Select players are being interviewed by children with special needs to gear up for their annual special needs fundraiser, and that calls for the mascot being in attendance.

Reese and I walk with Cindy down the quiet hall. I hear nothing but the violent beating of my heart.

“Which players are going to be present for this?” My high-pitched tone gives my nerves away.

I have avoided Kane since the other night. I didn’t tune in for his away game on TV, half-afraid he’d somehow make eye contact with me through the screen. I triple-checked the apartment hallway before coming or going, and I even opted for the stairs instead of the elevator just to be safe.

It’s not that I’m afraid of Kane, but to say I feel stupid is an understatement.

There was an obvious letdown the other night when he decided to stay at the club. I don’t know what I expected, but it hurt.noveldrama

We got caught up in the moment.

He said things he didn’t mean, and I naively believed them.

It’s not like anything was supposed to come from us having sex, other than orgasms, and we both got that, so end of story.

Cindy rattles off names, but I forget them all when she says his.

I make a noise, and Reese snags my eye. She looks at me funny. “I knew it,” she whispers excitedly. “That’s not hatred I feel between you two…it’s…sexual tension!”

I shush her as we follow Cindy into the locker room.

For once, it smells clean and fresh. There’s no stench of sweaty men or their gear. Several kids, all ranging in ages, stand with their parents while waiting for the hockey players.

A few of them smile widely when they see me. One little girl squeals and lets go of her mother’s hand. She has pink braces on her legs, but she doesn’t let it stop her from rushing me.

“Devil girl!” she exclaims.

I drop down to get on her level and open my arms for a hug.

My heart swells, and I forget all about Kane and my wounded ego—for a second, at least.

“I’m Abby!” She giggles.

Before I know it, almost every child circles me like a shark. Hug after hug after hug. The cameras have shown up, but I pretend they’re not there and keep hugging kids and posing for photos.

The air shifts behind me, and I notice the adults in the room all swing their gazes to the door. It doesn’t take a genius to know that the players have entered the locker room. Still surrounded by the kids, I manage to peek through the crowd.

I see him right away. I’m pulled to him like a magnet.

A gust of butterflies fills my stomach.

There’s a tiny hand that finds its way into mine. I look down and smile at the dark-haired boy. He smiles so widely I can see that he’s missing both of his front teeth.

“Want a photo?” I ask.

He nods, his warm brown curls bouncing.

I laugh as he drags me through the locker room, the camera no longer paying any attention to us but instead on the players. “Where are we going?” I ask.

I realize exactly where we’re headed after a few seconds, because, apparently, fate hates me.

The little boy’s dad catches up to us. His hand lands on my elbow, and I slow our pace. “Sorry.” He laughs nervously. “Jonas is nonverbal.”

I smile. “It’s perfectly fine. Do you think he wants a picture with a specific player?”

Anyone other than Kane.

The dad shrugs shyly. “You. I think he has a crush on you.”

I glance at Jonas. He puts his head down quickly. I give his hand a squeeze. “You’re officially my favorite, but don’t tell the others.”

His dad chuckles. He tells me more about Jonas, and I’m fully engaged until a heavy presence appears, shadowing us like a storm cloud. Jonas tugs on my hand and leads me right into the thick of it.

Kane’s body heat mingles with mine, awakening every nerve I’ve tried to cover up. Our gazes catch with Jonas in between us. His dad bends down to get on his level, and it takes everything I have to break eye contact with Kane.

“Jonas, do you want a picture with Barlow? Is that why you’re dragging…” His father glances at me.

Oh, right. Name.

“Da–”

“Daisy,” Kane interrupts.

He’s staring at Jonas’s father like he wants to murder him. Narrowed eyes, flexed jaw, stern stance. When he moves over to Jonas, his face softens. “Hey, little man. Let’s get a photo with devil girl. Yeah?”

Jonas nods enthusiastically. His father steps back out of the way, and Jonas finally drops my hand. Just when I think he’s going to stand in between Kane and me, he turns and puts his arms up.

Without giving it any thought, I bend down and scoop him into my arms.

His father apologizes, and I brush him off. “Please don’t. I really don’t mind.” I wink at Jonas. “I told you he was my favorite.”

Kane hums under his breath, scooting closer to us. I tense right away when his hand lands on my lower back. It’s the only thing I can focus on.

I’m so screwed.

“Did you hear that, Jonas?” Kane leans toward him, meaning he’s closer to me. “You’re her favorite. What a lucky kid.”

Unable to stop myself, I look at Kane.

His dirty-blond hair is pushed over to the side, revealing his soul-wrenching blue eyes fixated on mine. They speak a thousand words, but I can’t decipher a single one of them. Seconds ago, he seemed irritated and maybe a little angry. Now his gaze is bright with something I can’t name. Whatever it is, it zips right to my chest, warming me from the inside out.

I turn away abruptly after I hear the shuttering of a camera.

“Don’t post that,” I say to the pretty photographer.

Pulling Jonas in tighter to pose, Kane follows. His hand creeps around to my hip, and I feel it everywhere. “Look over there,” I say to Jonas.

My smile stays steady regardless of Kane’s fingers rubbing circles against my hip. The thin fabric of my costume does nothing to block his touch.

As soon as the photo is taken, I plop Jonas back down. He runs over to his dad, and I almost do too, just to get away from Kane.

Realizing he isn’t removing his hand from my hip, I shoot him a glare disguised by a closed-mouthed smile. “What are you doing?” I whisper-seethe.

He doesn’t bother looking at me. “Making a point.”

What point?

That no matter how hard I try, my body can’t help but react to him?

Jonas’s father comes over to thank us before holding his hand out to shake Kane’s hand. He slowly drags it away from my lower back and grabs onto Jonas’s father’s hand. He winces, and my eyes widen. “Not a problem.” Kane’s shoulders tense before he lets go. “Enjoy the game.”

As soon as Jonas and his father disappear, I gape. “Are you serious?” I hiss quietly, well aware that there are many eyes and ears. I cross my arms angrily.

How dare he act possessive of me!

Also, how dare my body for liking it!

Kane lowers his voice. “Uncross your arms unless you want the entire hockey fan base to know you’re a brat.”

I do as he says and force a smile on my face. “If they think I’m being a brat, I wonder what they’ll think of watching you nearly break that man’s hand to make an insane point to him.” The fake happiness doesn’t reach my voice. Kane’s peach-colored lips twitch with me all riled up.

“Insane?” he questions.

I turn my back to him. Hopeful to escape him, I search for another willing child to hang out with. I’ll even take the one kicking and screaming on the floor over standing here with Kane.

“Yes, insane,” I snap. “You make it seem like you’re jealous!”

Kane grunts at my back as I make a beeline for the opposite side of the room.

“Jealousy doesn’t even come close to what I feel when I see you talking to another man, Daisy.”

My legs refuse to move any farther. I stop right where I am and repeat his words silently. I hate that the thought of him being jealous coats me with warmth. He stands too close for comfort, electricity buzzing so hot I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a literal spark between us.

“I know why you’ve been avoiding me,” he says.

I stare at him out of the corner of my eye.

“Barlow!”

We both jerk like we’ve been caught doing something wrong, when, in reality, it didn’t even look like we were talking. Rhodes stands tall beside a boy who clearly wants Kane to join in on their photo.

“This isn’t over,” he says before heading in their direction.

I wait until Kane is far enough away before I say, “Yes, it is.”

Reese comes and stands beside me, shielding herself away from the cameras. “What was that all about?”

“Oh, nothing,” I say, feeling like I’ve won because I’ve gotten the last word in.

Little does Kane know, I’m a master at avoidance. I managed to avoid him for several years. What makes him think I can’t do it again?